Photo Gallery – Maidstone

Maidstone is the county town of Kent and was recorded in Saxon charters of 975 as maegden stane = "stone of the maidens" or "stone of the people" possibly referring to a nearby megalith site. Mote Park is 450 acres of parkland with a 30-acre lake. www.tour-maidstone.com

Artistic map of Maidstone town centre in a perspex case on Mill Street just outside the Archbishop's Palace, opposite the carriage museum. Click thumbnail for bigger picture, repays close study, with lots of interesting historical detail.

Maidstone
The bridge over the River Medway was built in 1879, designed by Joseph Bazalgette, the engineer who created London's sewage network. The road in the centre leads up to the high street shops. Movie of river 82 sec WMV 5.5 MB

Maidstone
View upstream from the bridge, Bishops Palace on left.

Maidstone
From Lockmeadow Millennium Bridge, looking back to Maidstone Bridge, with rear of Bishops Palace on right

Maidstone
14th Century Bishops Palace, built to accommodate the Archbishop of Canterbury on the journey between Canterbury and London, now housing the Register Office.

Maidstone
Bishops Palace

Maidstone
All Saints Church, adjacent to the Palace

Maidstone
Archbishops Stables ("Old Tithe Barn") houses the Tyrwitt Drake Carriage Museum. (Stitched picture, hence curve)

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Timber framed house in Knightrider Street

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High Street decorative plasterwork on timber frame (far right hand side of photo is joined)

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Tiled artwork in the underpass under St Peter's Street

Mote Park, Maidstone
Road from Mote Park entrance to car park on the right

Mote Park, Maidstone
Spacious children's playground next to the car park. The building on the right is the toilets, and café/refreshments behind. Even when this part of the park is crowded, the park is big enough to absorb people spreading out and the top end is always more serene.

Mote Park, Maidstone
Down the slope behind the café to get to the lake. Some considerateness is needed when feeding, as the birds desert the children who are enjoying them, causing some disappointment. A lot of bread accumulates to rot in the far corner, no doubt caused when people try to attract birds that are all full up. The pigeons would probably finish it off if they could swim. One hopes the gulls clear up some of the floating bread when the people have gone, but on a visit in April 09 I did see a large brown rat (albeit further up the lake).

Mote Park, Maidstone
Birds making short work of whole slices. The gulls tend to hang back or make a quick dive into the melée. The blue enclosure top left is for parking/launching model boats.

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Mote Park, Maidstone
If you arrive on a Cygnets Model Boat Club day www.cygnetsmbc.com and the little speedboats are zooming, the other end of the lake is perfectly peaceful. Note the duck bottom right preening calmly despite the activity. The birds are well used to the model boats which have their own restricted area set out by buoys.

 
Mote Park, Maidstone
Jemima Puddleduck, in my family known as "Do-You-Mind-The-Puddle Duck?" The ducklings come right to the edge of the lake for close inspection by the children. The ducks come out and walk around you, if the humans are not too boisterous. I think they use the pigeons as an early warning system for danger.

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Mote Park, Maidstone
The seagulls keep their distance and do not disturb the hand feeding.

Mote Park, Maidstone
Mote House at the top end of the park. The lake is fed by the River Len which flows in from the east and eventually joins the River Medway.

Mote Park, Maidstone
Plenty of space for everyone

Mote Park, Maidstone
Waterfall at the top end of the lake, north side
Movie of waterfall and another stream near bridge at head of lake 44 sec WMV 3 MB

Mote Park, Maidstone
The daffodils are located in front of Mote House, which (as at April 09) is undergoing renovation.

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  Mote Park, Maidstone
Bridge at top end of lake, a little way past Mote House (if going clockwise round the lake).  This is halfway round the lake circuit. There are plenty of secluded spots to watch wildlife.

Mote Park, Maidstone

Mote Park, Maidstone

 
Mote Park, Maidstone
Don't forget to look up!

Mote Park, Maidstone
Lots of open space

Mote Park, Maidstone
Mature and majestic trees everywhere

 
Mote Park, Maidstone
The road to the park exit – winter and summer. Hard car parking is behind us, and on the grass area to the right.

Mote Park, Maidstone
Grass car parking area in frosty winter colours

Mote Park, Maidstone
Entrance road once through the gates – brilliant sun on glorious autumnal beech trees.

Mote Park, Maidstone
 

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