Jubilee Church Maidstone

What’s in a name?

Maidstone may mean 'the maidens' stone' or 'the peoples' stone'. The latter seems more likely as there is a megalithic tomb in the vicinity which was used as a meeting place for the surrounding people.

A brief history...

There's evidence to show that people have been living in the Maidstone area for more than 5000 years, but it wasn't until the Late Bronze Age that any permanent settlements were established. At various times over the past 2,000 years, Maidstone has been a Romano-British settlement, a Saxon royal estate and eventually, by the Mediaeval period, a thriving commercial centre.

The River Medway was a major contributor to Maidstone's continuing commercial success. The river, which flows through the centre of the town, provided a trade route to other major settlements. It also supported agriculture, fishery and, from the 14th century, a booming cloth industry.

Click here to find out more about the history of Maidstone visit http://www.museum.maidstone.gov.uk or take a trip to the museum, which can be found in St Faiths Street.