Linton, Kent

Description
Linton, a village and a parish in Kent. The village stands on the S declivity of a hill, 4 miles S of Maidstone, and 3 from East Farleigh station on the S E.R., and commands delightful views over a picturesque and richly-wooded country. It has a post, money order, and telegraph office under Maidstone. Acreage of the civil parish, 1961; population, 990 ; of the ecclesiastical, 938. The parish contains also Maidstone Workhouse. Linton Park, with much of the land, belonged to the Manns, and passed by marriage to Earl Comwallis. The mansion was described by Horace Walpole as " standing like the citadel of Kent;" commands magnificent and very extensive views over the Weald, is a splendid white stuccoed edifice, with tetrastyle Corinthian portico; has a well-wooded park of about 500 acres, and is now the seat of the Cornwallis family. The parish is noted for prime fruit and hops. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Canterbury; net value, ££170 with residence. The church was originally Korman, had a S aisle and a private chapel added to it in the time of Edward III., underwent restoration and considerable enlargement in 1859-60, exhibits in the new portions chiefly the Later English style; comprises nave, aisles, chancel, and N and S chapels, with a tower of Kentish rag, surmounted by a spire of Bath stone; contains a carved oak pulpit and reading-desk, and a rich carved oak screen, and was the burial-place of Sir Horace Mann, whose body was brought to it for interment from Florence. The N chapel has been so entirely restored as to harmonize with the rest of the church, and it contains monuments to the Mayne, the Mann, and the Comwallis families, including a very fine one in white marble, by Bayley, to Viscount Brome. There are almshouses for eight aged persons.