Let's discover the best of Historic Maidstone in Kent

[@OurWorldForYou]

So what do you think? Is this what you expected from Maidstone? And do you like the Pop-up titling for the places of interest? Be honest, it shapes the next video.

[@scotland638]

I really like the Pop-up titles 👍

[@OurWorldForYou]

@@scotland638 Thanks for the feedback, it looks like the poll has spoken, the titles are here to stay (I just need to be measured, I think) BTW my friend, I don't have a name for you, what do you like to be called? Cheers, Gary

[@scotland638]

@@OurWorldForYouGlad the titles are here to stay. My name is Robert, mate.

[@OurWorldForYou]

@@scotland638 Cheers Robert; I hope the sun's shining where you are - we have today, but storms are a coming tomorrow.

[@neilgayleard3842]

I am Maidstone born and bred. Much like Kent itself the town is overlooked and underrated.

[@SwanLake-2024]

Many thank you for your interesting detailed tour 😊 I fail to comprehend why some other vloggers record everything without a single word! But, yours is very good - a proper tour! 👍 and a subscription!

[@OurWorldForYou]

Thanks so much. That's very kind of you, and I'm so glad you liked it. We try to add as much history and detail as we can. Hopefully, it can shine a different light on the places we visit. Thanks as well for stopping by and taking the time to comment. All the best, Gary & Janis

[@SwanLake-2024]

@@OurWorldForYou The pleasure was mine, Gary and Janis! Looking forward for more 😊👍💖

[@paddy.7784]

From New Zealand .. Great to see where the 23rd Battalion / 2nd NZ Div spent time in 1940 and had such good memories of the hospitality given them.

[@OurWorldForYou]

Paddy, how fantastic. Looks a bit different without the barricades restricting Fortress Maidstone (I have seen the archive images of how it looked in the war years.) Thanks for taking the time to comment; apprecaited. Gary & Janis

[@michaelwhite8031]

We are lucky to live in such a beautiful country.

[@OurWorldForYou]

Hi Michael, I think so, there are a lot of beautiful places out there, and some are hidden in plain sight; you just need to go looking. Thanks again for the comment. Gary & Janis

[@mcdougal0]

NICE PRODUCTION BROUGHT BACK MRMORIES OF THE 22 YEARS I LIVED THERE.

[@OurWorldForYou]

Hi, A thanks so much, glad you like it and it brought back memories. All the best, Gary & Janis

[@wendywolfman]

I grew up in Maidstone but moved to tunbridge wells 6 years ago now. Best decision I’ve ever made. When I go back to stone, its always worse.

[@OurWorldForYou]

I had mixed feelings about Maidstone, but when we went, on this sunny day in August, it seemed just fine. Sure, plenty of rough edges, but some nice surprises too. It's been a while since we've had a look around Royal Tunbridge Well, perhaps we'll have a look and pop up a video in '23. Thanks for taking the time to comment Gary & Janis

[@tassie2348]

Agree 💯. What a dump it is now. I grew up there in the 60s and 70s. Went back 15 years ago, I was horrified. Filthy, overcrowded and very depressing. So sad. It used to be lovely.

[@mikdavies5027]

My first job was in Maidstone, I worked in County Hall for the then Kent Quarter Sessions which became the Crown Court. My wife and I had very many happy memories after I retired from self employment, and visited and picnicked in the river park there over the Millennium Bridge. A lovely video that brought back many moments to me.

[@OurWorldForYou]

🙏 Thank's Mik - That means a lot to me 😍 Glad I can bring some fond memories. I think the video showed there are some great sides to it. Cheers for the comment Gary

[@joanware6473]

That is my home town and you covered it well.

[@OurWorldForYou]

Joan, thanks so much, I’m glad you liked it - there has to be a part two because I know there was plenty we missed. And thanks so much for taking the time to stop by and leave us a comment. All the best, Gary & Janis

[@lesley-annedavies1747]

it's nice to see my home town through a tourist's eyes. I moved away over 20 years ago, but still look forward to my visit home every year

[@OurWorldForYou]

Hi Lesley-Anne, Become a tourist - the secret to enjoying the virtues of a town or city. We live between Maidstone & Rochester, and in both cases we have looked at each as a place to visit, rather than what we know, the stories that make the local press etc. Once you scratch the surface, there's a wealth of history, some wonderful places to visit, and so many nice places to eat. Sure it could be better in places, and let's hope it improves over time. All the best, Gary & Janis

[@kevztunes]

WOW, that was a great surprise...from 4:48 onwards seeing the plaque on Drakes pub...as my paternal 11th great-grandparents (Edmund-William and Katherine Allin) of Malplehurst Mill, Fittenden (both millers) were two of the 7 Maidstone Martyrs who were burned at the stake on June 18, 1557. Many thanks for the video, as a longtime genealogist, this is a nice (visual) reference.

[@OurWorldForYou]

That is amazing, a dark time in our history, but at least 600+ years later they are still remembered. Just looked up Frittenden, might have to add it into a little road trip later this year. Anyway, thanks for taking the time to comment, Gary & Janis

[@kevztunes]

@@OurWorldForYou This is Maplehurst Mill today in modern times. media.onthemarket.com/properties/685854/doc_0_1.pdf

[@OurWorldForYou]

Kev, I did a street view of it to check out the place. The amazing thing is the Church of St Mary in town. That's the same church that your Ancestors would have worshipped at. On checking, it was largely rebuilt in the 19th century, but there are elements that date from the 15th century, namely the lower part of the tower. If you check out Mill Lane there are also houses that date from the 15th-century, such as Limberlost, which you folks would have wandered past. There's some fascinating detail at the Historic England website on the mill - historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1367061?section=official-list-entry Cheers, Gary & Janis

[@kevztunes]

@@OurWorldForYou Edmund and Katherine Allin were both from Wychling (next parish to Otterden) where my mother's Filmer family are originally from dating back to c1228. They had two daughters Agnes and Mary Allin. Agnes married my 10th Great Grandfather Reginald Raynold Filmer...and Mary her sister married Reginald Raynold's older brother George Filmer. In c1565 the Filmer family relocated to nearby East Sutton and Boughton Malherbe. I was born & grew up in the Sutton Valance area myself, but left the UK in 1976. When I do visit Kent again, I plan to take some more photographs, etc., related to my various Filmer family history, including this lineage, etc. Cheers, Kev

[@OurWorldForYou]

Kev, We've passed through Sutton Valance many times; actually nearly bought a home there 20 or so years ago. Looks like your roots are firmly entrenched in Kent. Just out of interest have you ever taken a DNA test as well? They can through up some interesting results. Also intrigued, left the UK in '76, where did you go, and where are you now? Cheers, Gary (& Janis)

[@lusty444]

I lived in Maidstone for 40 years and have been living well abroad for the last ten but I often at times miss the place!❤️

[@OurWorldForYou]

Hi Rusty, That's nostalgia for you - you must have had some great memories over 40 years and seen plenty of changes too. It's easy at times to be negative about a place, and for sure there's stuff that could/should be improved, but there's also plenty to be appreciated. Thanks for taking the time to stop by and leave a comment. All the best Gary & Janis

[@lusty444]

@@OurWorldForYou When I do visit the UK I always have a day wandering around the shops and pick my Mrs up something from the Golden Boot and an evening out with old friends drinking around some of the various pubs (The ones that are still there at least)we used to frequent.

[@johnlavery6116]

Spent the best few years there,..great memories, lovely town.....Ireland.

[@OurWorldForYou]

John, So lovely we reminded you of the good times in Maidstone. 😎 Thanks for taking the time to stop by and leave us a comment, Gary & Janis

[@johnlavery6116]

Thank you both for replying....lt is the best town in England.!

[@OurWorldForYou]

John, We believe if you make an effort to drop us a comment, it's the least we can do to reply. Looks like a lovely sunny day in Kent today, perfect day to stoll along the banks of the river Medway 😎 Take care, Gary & Janis

[@clearlynotwoke4929]

Maidstone looks beautiful, I must go for a visit. Thanks for your wonderful tour!

[@OurWorldForYou]

🙏 Thank's so much 😍 Maidstone has its good & bad points, and I chose to focus on the best. There's plenty more to explore - who knows, there may even be a part 2?

[@marksimons8861]

What a beaudiful day to visit, with the clear blue skies.

[@rabbitsrule9437]

It’s crazy how old and beautiful Maidstone is. I was so impressed with the high street then I found the archbishop palace. Beautiful. They need to make more of the river. It needs a path besides it and more children parks lots of drunks at mo

[@OurWorldForYou]

I think Maidstone has plenty of opportunity.but it does need investment, and stronger stewardship by the local authorities, working in conjunction with the police to create a more appealing visitor destination. However, Maidstone is not alone in this regard; I think of Canterbury, Rochester (Although that has been improving), Ashford & Tonbridge, they all suffer the same. I think there will be a part II on Maidstone because I know there was plenty I missed out. Thanks for taking the time to comment, All the best, Gary & Janis

[@nikitacoetzee4731]

So good,i like it. Wish and hope a door will open for me to this wonderful place where my dear friends Ilse, Daniel and Andrew stays.

[@OurWorldForYou]

Thanks Nikita, glad you liked our video. Hope your wishes come true. All the best, Gary & Janis

[@juliejames3338]

my lovely home town, thanks for the memoriesx

[@OurWorldForYou]

Hi Julie, We need to head back for part two to cover the bits we missed. Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for taking the time to comment, Gary & Janis

[@juliejames3338]

@@OurWorldForYou haven't been back to maidstone for a few years now; we live in france but still feel its my hometown: look forward to the next vidx

[@OurWorldForYou]

Wow, Julie, what part of France are you in? We love a little 'Je ne sais quoi'; it's been a while since we spent time in France. Think we'll change that this year, or next. Cheers, Gary & Janis

[@juliejames3338]

@@OurWorldForYou we have been here for 16 years, and recently moved to the charante: it is beautiful but miss the family based in hawkhurst: i feel priviledged to live here;.....more difficult for people now after brexit

[@OurWorldForYou]

Hi, Julie, So sorry I missed your reply - KZbin's commenting system could do with some improvements. Confession, I had to look up the Charante region, and we have passed through, I remember driving through Cognac many years back on a road trip from the south, Saint-Jean-de-Luz via the west of France, back to Calais. Over the years, we visited so many regions, north-south -east and west, and I think we're due a return, it's been a while. We had a bit of a virtual French weekend, watching a chunk of the Le Mans 24 hours, with our little French stubbies, fond memories of visiting for 6 years in the 90's, and a detour south from our Normany Road trip of 2017. Finally, don't mention Brexit🤬; it still annoys me to this day, but at least we're seeing all those benefits: oh no, it was/is a load of horsesh*t - I did say don't mention Brexit 😀) Anyway, thanks again Julie, Take care and here's to the 'La belle vie en France' Merci, Gary & Janis

[@QuietManUK]

Beautiful town, great architecture, magnificent walks and lovely 'olde world' pubs, I particularly recommend the Malta Inn, slightly up river.

[@OurWorldForYou]

I think Maidstone get's a rough ride at times, but there is beauty there. We now the Malta Inn, down by Allington Lock, we're just a little bit further northeast at Eccles. I've a thing about proper pubs and am thinking about setting up another channel all about enjoying a nice drink. Anyway, thanks for the comment; glad you liked the video Take care, stay safe & well Gary & Janis

[@QuietManUK]

@@OurWorldForYou I live in New Zealand now, where the oldest pub dates to 1827. I've been to pubs in the UK that predate the arrival of any colonists here. The George and Dragon in Speldhurst was built in 1212.

[@OurWorldForYou]

Now that is old, just looked it up, and it's going to make a list of pubs to visit (even if I don't get the new channel off the ground). I hope the winter in New Zealand is not treating you too badly; you may know we've in a drought here, not dissimilar to '76. Do you have any other recommendations for towns & villages we should explore? We've created a few little road trips further afield, but now we going to create some based around Maidstone. Anyway, thanks again Cheers 🍻, Gary & Janis

[@QuietManUK]

@@OurWorldForYou Definitely no drought this year lol. I'll keep an eye out for further tubes. I'd recommend the George and Dragon in Downe, Kent. You can link to Darwin and Nigel Farage.

[@OurWorldForYou]

Once again, a great looking pub. I think I'll stick with the Darwin link, though. Cheers 🍻, Gary & Janis

[@diaphanousearth6272]

This is wonderful ❤️

[@OurWorldForYou]

🙏 Thanks so much, that's very kind of you 😍 Glad you enjoyed it.

[@Graphicxtras1]

Very good video, thanks for sharing. I still love the town, I think there are some dire parts but overall it is still a good place to live and visit.

[@OurWorldForYou]

Hi, Glad you liked the video. Maidstone surprised me once we started a little research, and it was clear the positives outweighed the negatives. Living local, it's easy to believe the bad press, but there were some genuine little gems, and I think it's on the up. I just think those in charge need to do more to improve the environment for everybody. Anyway, we'll be back to enjoy the town. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. All the best, Gary & Janis

[@treborekcohcs40]

lived in sutton valence right near there. loved it

[@OurWorldForYou]

Hi Trebor, We know Sutton Valance, we often drive through there. Perhaps I need to put it on a stopover on a little road trip from Maidstone? It's a lovely little place, and the King's Head always look so appealing just before we drop down the hill. Anyway, all the best, Gary & Janis

[@muckymedway]

Mote Park is great, very large park/open space to walk and play in Maidstone.

[@OurWorldForYou]

Hey Ollie's Dad, I think we felt there was a part two to the Maidstone story, and that would include Mote Park. We have a terrible confession, we have never been to Mote Park, and it's only 6 miles from home. Perhaps we will create part two later this year, who knows. Thanks for taking the time to comment, Gary & Janis

[@benbeasant3443]

Nice overview.

[@OurWorldForYou]

Thanks Ben, glad you liked it - are you a local?

[@benbeasant3443]

@@OurWorldForYou no I have a friend who has moved there. Always like to combine visiting friends with heritage walking.

[@OurWorldForYou]

Ben, Love that - history is all around us, sometimes you have to scratch the surface, but it can throw up some surprises. You never know, we may be in a town near you soon. Cheers, Gary & Janis

[@benbeasant3443]

@@OurWorldForYou yes. I recommend visiting Canterbury and Faversham nearby

[@OurWorldForYou]

Ben, You need to check out Faversham video (I know, blatant plug!) kzbin.info/www/bejne/eprHo3qZaautZ7s I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with Canterbury. It's a lovely place (in places), but there are problems, and ones I lay the blame at the district council. There are crime hotspots, I think specifically of the Dane John park which ruins the feel of the place. Parking in the city is outrageously expensive, (I have heard the reasoning, and it doesn't work for me). There is a charge to visit the Cathedral, the seat of the Church of England; this annoys me, there should not be a charge for British citizens, foreign tourists a small nominal charge, but... The are some awful looking shops, which show scant regard for the heritage of the city, and again a council that does nothing to protect the image of the city. So, in balance, there are better places for me to promote. If only some of these issues are addressed, and it becomes somewhere of value for the visitor, then I'll make an effort and cover the city. (Phew, got that off my chest 😶) There are some wonderful places throughout that we'll be popping into in the coming weeks/months & probably years... Cheers, Gary & Janis

[@josephojemuyiwa8914]

4:46 haha, yeah I remember when I was a kid they said it would be turned into luxury apartments, who knows maybe it'll be finished when kingdom comes😂 Ah, Maidstone. It's home

[@OurWorldForYou]

Joseph, I think the Rootes development is underway, let's hope so. Such a beautiful building, let's hope that remains the centrepiece. Love your artwork btw, amazing talent. Thanks for taking the time to comment, All the best, Gary & Janis

[@josephojemuyiwa8914]

8:10 Corpus Christi hall was once a Monastery, and later a School

[@OurWorldForYou]

Thanks Joseph, There's a lot of history in those streets, Thanks for taking the time to pop by Gary & Janis

[@wendyburrows4178]

My Nan always used to drag me to the market in the late 60's/early 70's (by bus), I hated the smell of hops in Maidstone, which pervaded the entire town.

[@OurWorldForYou]

Wendy, Wow, some parts of Maidstone must have changed so much - that smell has long gone with the disappearance of the Brewery. I remember being dragged around Woolwich markets by nan in the 70's, so that must have been a thing - different times eh. Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving a comment, All the best, Gary & Janis

[@wendyburrows4178]

@OurWorldForYou nice to hear from you, been living in South Africa since 1974, I wouldn't come back to UK with the way things are there now. SA is NO bed of roses either, but to be honest, I'm more South African than British now, and SA for all its problems is still a better way of life. I do miss the history and castles and British countryside and Battenberg cake, which we can't get here though 😄🤗

[@OurWorldForYou]

Wendy, Oooh, I do like a bit of Battenberg, another throwback to my Nan, but I can't have it because Janis doesn't like marzipan. We've never visited SA, although we've spent some hours in J'burg airport on our trips to Zim and Namibia. (Janis's cousin still lives in Zim; he has done so since the early 80s). We've loved our times in the south of Africa, but that's as tourists, not living the life. Anyway, lovely to hear from you, All the best, Gary & Janis

[@samantha1054]

I read your response. I am visiting Maidstone Sept 2023 for vacation as a place I picked arbitrarily from a map. I have rented a car. If not Maidstone can you recommend another town. I will be on vacation from the USA. I am Just looking for a clean comfortable base where I can go North or South on day trips. Thanks. I will be there for 2 weeks.

[@OurWorldForYou]

Sam, We're more than happy to help with your trip, need to know what you and those with you want to get out of the trip, and what interests you about England. So here's my questions; Where do you plan to visit? What would you like to see? Where are you flying in to? Have you driven in the UK/Europe before? Off the top of my head, Maidstone could still work for you, but there's also Rochester closeby (kzbin.info/www/bejne/gXTRkJKoiKmKn5Y), or of you like a slightly quieter town how about Tenterden? (kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zpm3amh3n72qma8), or super quiet Rye (kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZjUdqGNf5qri7M) very quaint, but not too central! There's also West Malling (kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYabe6yDba-IhdE) - you're just over a mile from the M20 motorway. Anyway, let us know what interests you, and we'll see what works best for you. By the way, which part of the USA are you heading from? Gary & Janis

[@samantha1054]

@@OurWorldForYou Destin , Florida. Thank you for this. I appreciate it.

[@OurWorldForYou]

Sam, No problem, there's a few more playlists you may want to check out for your visit; The County of Kent; kzbin.info/aero/PLwaSkfP77ubY5jIBTxjRqUx5iJRUQcegM Kent Road Trips; kzbin.info/aero/PLwaSkfP77ubb4qfwOnceZcIEUTSCRJhij The Kent Coast; kzbin.info/aero/PLwaSkfP77ubY6PuAa_qzd8PilTr1ov_ab (and then next to Kent we have) The County of East Sussex kzbin.info/aero/PLwaSkfP77ubbXv0ThQMg3ZEInF7g9NZiQ You may be also interested in some of our historic homes & gardens so check out; The National Trust - kzbin.info/aero/PLwaSkfP77ubbegNP7uk09YYffhXBRAHRh Whatever, have a great vacation. We've been to Florida three times, back in 1997, Orlando to the Keys, 2000 Orlando, and a day trip to the Kennedy Space Centre and finally, in 2004 when we spent 2 weeks in Orlando around Thanksgiving. Take care & safe travels, Gary & Janis

[@mcdougal0]

MAIDSTONE WOULD BE A GOOD CHOICE.

[@samuttsada2101]

Called Maidstone home in 1994-1998. Quaint, quiet and pleasant. Not sure now.

[@OurWorldForYou]

rough around the edges, maybe more a sign of general society, but there's plenty to enjoy. Just re-watching the 'Touch of Frost' TV series that run from 1992, interesting to see how times have changed. Anyway, thanks for stopping by and making the time to comment. All the best, Gary & Janis

[@sarahdavis5070]

I recently found I am a descendent of those burned in 1557.

[@OurWorldForYou]

Wow Sarah, that is so interesting. Where are you these days, have the family travelled far, and what is that story? After those dreadful events what happened next? We love history, especially when there's links to it. Thanks for taking the time to comment, Gary & Janis

[@plentyofnothing]

Maidstone was bombed in WW2 otherwise it would likely look better. It has a thriving live music scene in the town centre pubs, buskers, rehearsal spaces - but Covid and drinks price rises have not helped

[@OurWorldForYou]

I think that's true of so many places, but the southeast worst, and then we didn't have the money, nor the will to restore it to, so some pretty poor decisions were made - but that's the past, and we still have some decent buildings with history. Our pub scene is under threat, and I think the Pubco's share the responsibility for this - Like supermarkets knocking out greengrocers, butchers & fishmongers, still some that will tell you that's progress. I think pubs should have to display that they are part of a pubco, but when you see the same generic beers on tap you soon get the idea! Anyway, we should champion the independent pubs like The Rifle Volunteers by Goachers, find them an love them. Anyway, thanks for watching the video, hope you enjoyed it. All the best, Gary & Janis

[@rintothomasp]

Only thing i hate about this place is traffic blocks 🥴

[@OurWorldForYou]

Hi Rinto, The traffic around Maidstone can be a nightmare, and no matter what they try to do to improve it, it can be challenging at peak times. However, once you're in and parked, well then you should be able to nnjoy Maidstone. Thanks for stopping by to leave a comment, Happy & safe travels, Gary & Janis

[@ConanCnutKicker]

Maidstone could've been a lovely historic town, equal to any in England, but town planners went crazy in the 60s onwards and allowed dozens of remarkably ugly building to be built all over the place. Nowadays, they just keep building more houses and flats so that the traffic can be bad that it takes 30 minutes to travel from one side of the river to the other.

[@OurWorldForYou]

Hi, I think the problem is post-war Britian. After the war holes needed to be filled quickly and cheaply, there was a shortage of skilled labour to put up brick-built structures, plus we were broke from the war, still paying off loans to America until 2006 - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-American_loan Anyway, I agree town planning was/is crazy - they are still throwing up developments with no thought to the infrastructure. We are pretty poor at investing in infrastructure, relying heavily on private firms to 'invest'. That aside, I still think Maidstone is overlooked, and does have some wonderful qualities and could be made a lot better by sympathetic planning and investment. Thanks for taking the time to comment Gary & Janis

[@TheMeepUsesTheDefiniteArticle]

You missed all the chavs that hang out in the middle of town, as well as a few of the local heroin addicts

[@OurWorldForYou]

Simoslav, Of course, and I guess the same in so many towns & cities throughout the Western world. We were recently in Spain and saw the poor and destitute, those focusing on taking the pain out of their life through the bottle, needle or whatever, in a few cities. I could have presented the negative aspects of Maidstone, but decided to focus on the positives. Anyway, thanks for taking the time to comment, take care, Gary & Janis

[@mcdougal0]

Got them every where.

[@anneofcleavage3375]

You have a really nice narration style! Thanks for posting this

[@OurWorldForYou]

Hi Phoebe, Thanks so much, it was a pleasure. We Still think we need to do a part 2 to include Mote Park & more. Appreciate you taking the time to comment Cheers, Gary & Janis