THE HUNDRED OF BIRCHOLT FRANCHISE
LIES the next eastward from that of Chart and
Longbridge, and is so called from its being within
the franchise or liberty of the archbishop of Canterbury,
as well as to distinguish it from the adjoining hundred
of Bircholt Barony. It is called in Domesday by the
several names of Bilissold, Berisolt, Berisout, and Briseode; and in a roll of the several parishes within the
kingdom, and the fees in them, taken by inquisition
in the 7th year of king Edward I. this hundred and
that of Bircholt Barony are called the two half hundreds of Bircholt, the archbishop of Canterbury being then lord of it, as being within his court of Aldington.
IT CONTAINS WITHIN ITS BOUNDS THE PARISH OF
SMEETH,
And part of the parishes of ALDINGTON and MERSHAM, the
churches of which are in other hundreds. One constable has jurisdiction over it.
A court leet is held for this hundred, as appendant
to the manor of Smeeth, alternately at Smeeth and
Stonehill, in the name of Sir John Honywood, bart.
the owner of it.