Maidstone is a popular town for tourists and home seekers in Kent thanks to its beautiful historic landmarks and its proximity to London. But it also has a slightly more obscure attraction: its status as a county town.
What is a county town?
County towns don’t have a single, definitive definition, but various definitions consider a county town to be the most important town or city in a county.
County towns are typically the administrative capital of their respective county, meaning that the local government is based there. For Kent, the county council is located in Sessions House in County Hall, which has given Maidstone its title. But how did this come to be the case?
A Brief History of Maidstone
When reviewing the history of Kent, it seems unusual that Maidstone would hold the title of county town over Canterbury. Canterbury is the only city in Kent today and was once the capital of the Kingdom of Kent way back in the 6th Century.
Maidstone acquired its title due to a series of fortunate circumstances. For starters, Maidstone already had key infrastructure for an administrative capital: a prison and police HQ. The next logical step was to introduce the council following their introduction in the Local Government Act of 1889. This process – called accretion – saw new institutions moving into the town, attracting other institutions to follow suit, growing the town exponentially.
Maidstone’s location in the middle of Kent, right by the River Medway, gives it a fitting centrality for the county. This is something the Romans also noticed and Roman quarries were built in Maidstone to help fortify London, bringing huge industrial growth to the region and leading to a population surge.
Even today, Maidstone’s population is more than triple Canterbury’s, despite Canterbury having city status. This larger population is another logical reason to have Maidstone as the county capital. More nuanced insight into the historical growth of Maidstone’s industries can be found at local histories.
Maidstone today
Maidstone’s relatively large population and status as county capital have led to significant growth in the region, and it’s becoming an increasingly popular location for people to settle. Its central location in the county and proximity to London are still attractive features to modern home seekers, not just the Romans.
It can be a tricky market to navigate, but there are plenty of conveyancing solicitors Maidstone, such as https://www.samconveyancing.co.uk/Conveyancing-Solicitors/conveyancing-solicitors-maidstone, that can provide guidance on moving and ensuring fair mortgage arrangements.
Unfortunately, the county capital status has waned slightly with the closure of asylums and the general lack of awareness regarding the term among people, but It’s unlikely to change its unique status as long as the council remains.