Often referred to as simply 'Hasted's Kent' this is a mammoth set of twelve volumes which describes every aspect of the history and topography of the county in minute detail using almost three million words!

Despite being over two hundred years old this work has never been bettered and it remains a standard reference work for all historians and genealogists with an interest in the county.

Original copies are incredibly rare, when they do become available they always change hands for thousands of pounds. They are so rare and valuable that some of the few libraries which have a copy will only permit limited acess to them, so this is an excellent opportunity to own them on CD for use in your own home.

Written in 1570 and first published in 1576, with this edition being a 1826 literal reprint

A wonderful description of the topography, history and customs of the county. There are lists of the nobility,gentry and parish officers plus some excellent descriptions of towns and villages.

Incredibly detailed accounts of the Godinton estate, owned by the Toke family and situated just to the west of Ashford.

Successive generations of the Toke family recorded in minute detail the daily accounts of their farming business, showing the names of all of their labourers and farm-hands and how much each was paid and for what type of work. It also shows details of every expenditure and income, such as rents, taxes, sales of produce and purchase of equipment and provisions.

From a historical point of view it is also very interesting to see that the Civil War appears to have had little impact on the general running of the estate, other than an enormous increase in land taxes.

There are literally hundreds of names of ordinary working people mentioned, all of whom are very easy to find due to the excellent index. The book also contains some very good maps and plans of the estate plus a full pedigree chart of the Toke family.

The original Gentleman's Magazine contained articles on a vast array of subjects, including lots of wonderful topographical pieces.

In 1891 George Gomme republished all of these topograhical articles but edited and indexed them into county specific order. Each of Gomme's works contains between two and four separate counties, except for the London volumes.

An absolute goldmine of information about the county, its people and its places.

A compendium set comprising all 15 volumes. Each individual book includes between two and four counties, with the exception of London which is in its own three volume set but is included in the compendium.

This is one of the most important resources that we have seen, and one that should be of great interest to all family historians. Published in 1772 it was the handbook of the duties and responsibilities of the Parish Officer.

It includes the duties of the overseers of the poor, the power in relieving, employing and settling, etc. of poor persons; the laws relating to the poor, and settlements, and the statutes concerning masters and servants. The right of Settlement was something that was of great concern to all of our ancestors. Basically, to be able to have right of settlement in a parish, one had to be born there, married there or serving an apprenticeship there. Proof was all-important, especially if a person became destitute and needed support from the parish. Parish officers would have people literally evicted and transported to another parish under such circumstances. What happened about bastardy? What obligations does an apprentice have to his master and vice-versa? This book describes it all, together with the supporting laws.

Other sections of the book include the authority and duty of constables, tithingmen, etc.; churchwardens, how they should be chosen, their duties, church accounts, repairing of churches, etc. There are some very interesting punishments for not attending church and keeping to the rules! There is a section on surveying the highways, Scavengers, methods of taxation of the highways, and laws. And finally, the duties and powers of Watchmen.

The full set of this incredibly rare and expensive set of books. This is probably one of the most useful London history books ever written and has been an invaluable reference tool for generations of eminent London historians.

Superb historical account of towns, villages and hamlets within twelve miles of the capital with numerous references to family names, extract from registers and dozens of beautifull illustrations. Each volume carries its own excellent index.

Originally published in 1791, this set has been bound into six books with the contents as follows:

Volume one - part one: The county of Surrey.

Volume one - part two: The counties of Kent, Essex and Herts.

Volume two - part one: The county of Middlesex. Acton - Heston.

Volume two - part two: The county of Middlesex. Hornsey - Wilsdon.

Volume three: Those parishes in the county of Middlesex which are not described in The Environs of London.

Volume four: The counties of Herts, Essex and Kent.