Maidstone

Maidstone is a county town along the River Medway in eastern Kent, England. The center spreads across both riverbanks and shows a mix of limestone buildings, shopping districts and green spaces following the waterway.

The settlement appeared in the Domesday Book of 1086 under the control of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Over the following centuries it grew into an important market center and administrative seat in Kent.

The name comes from Old Saxon meaning stone of the maidens, though its exact interpretation remains debated among scholars. Locals call themselves Maidstonians and maintain strong ties to the archbishop heritage and the quarries that shaped the town economy for centuries.

The town lies about 30 miles (50 kilometers) southeast of London and serves as a hub for connections to Dover and surrounding villages. The river runs through the center and provides landmarks for walks through the old quarters and toward the park areas.

Quarries around the area supplied ragstone for centuries used in many London buildings. This gray limestone still appears in parts of Hampton Court and the Tower of London.