THE LATH OF AYLESFORD CONTINUED.
The east view of Sheerness
THE HUNDRED OF HOO.
EASTWARD from the hundred of Shamel lies
the hundred of Hoo, bounded on the opposite side by
the water, called the North Yenlade, which separates
this hundred from the isle of Grean. Hollinshed, the
chronicler, says, that in his time Hoo was nearly an
island, and that there was then a common proverb of
this hundred, viz.
"He that rides into the hundred of Hoo,
Besides pilfering seamen, will find dirt enow."
A very true saying of it at this time. Formerly it
used to be noted for the wealth of the yeomen who
inhabited it, but there are now few but bailiffs and
lookers who live in it, the farmers and occupiers of
the lands dwelling at Rochester and Stroud, and
elsewhere; nor is there a gentleman's house, or a clergyman residing, in it, owing to the depth of the soil,
the dirtiness of the roads, and the unwholsome air
from the neighbouring marshes. It takes its name
from its high situation, Hou, in Saxon, signifying an
hill. The hundred of Hoo contains the parishes of
1. Hoo, ST. WARBURGH.
2. HIGH HALSTOW.
3. ST. MARY'S, Hoo.
4. ALHALLOWS,
AND
5. STOKE, in part.
And the churches of those parishes:
It also contains part of the parishes of COBHAM and WEST
PECKHAM, the churches of which are in another hundred.