History - Earl Street, Maidstone

Earl Street forms part of the apparently planned layout of the 12^th Century town.  It was known as Earl’s Lane in 1599, and later as Bullock Lane – the stock market was held here until transferred to Fairmeadow in 1826.

The street takes its name from Earl’s Place, a major medieval town house whose ground once covered most of the street block bounded by Earl Street, Week Street, St. Faith’s Street and Havock Lane.  A massive gateway in Earl Street gave access to a courtyard surrounded by buildings.  The main hall range has gone, but the street range has gone, but the street range containing ta fine 15^th Century crown-post roof survives at 46-50 Earl Street, albeit heavily altered in the 1870’s and the 20^th Century.

Other interesting buildings include numbers 31/33, a major early 17^th Century town house once owned by Andrew Broughton, who, as Clerk to the Court, witnessed the signing of Charles I’s death warrant.  It was divided into Two houses in the 18^th Century and given Georgian style windows and doors.  The East Wing became the Maidstone Club – and upper class social club – in 1873. Another club, this time purpose built, can be seen at No.32 – this was erected in 1882 as the Conservative Club and features over its entrance a carved head of Benjamin Disraeli, once MP for Maidstone.