Maidstone

 town, county town - UK/Ireland

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Situated at Junction 6 on M20/A229 surrounded by a gentle landscape of orchards and hop gardens, Maidstone - Kent's thriving county town lies on the River Medway and the old Folkestone Road. Dating from pre-Roman days, in the 15th Century Maidstone was governed by a Portreeve, consisting of 12 Brethren and 24 Commoners who together formed the governing body under the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Archbishop's Palace used to be the home of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The first Mayor of Maidstone not directly responsible to the Archbishop was appointed in 1549 when Maidstone renewed its Charter of Incorporation. This charter was forfeited in 1554 because of the town's support of Wyatt's Rebellion, but in 1559 Queen Elizabeth I granted the town a new charter and Maidstone was created a Borough.
Attractions include the Stables, which now house a Museum of carriages and nearby is the Museum of Rural Kent Life. Other nearby attractions are Leeds Castle, which is romantically set on an island and the Museum and Art Gallery, which was once an Elizabethan Manor House.