Stile," whence it is considered to have extended to the north-west, and to have included the barracks; but how much further it went is perhaps uncertain. The fair held here does not appear to have been the same as that which is still continued in the Fair Meadow; as the last-named field, the proper appellation of which is handed down as the "King's Mead," is understood to have been in the possession, of the town in the reign of Edward IV., and consequently long before the dissolution of Boxley Abbey, or of the exchanges which took place between the Archbishop and the Crown. Caring's Stile, I may add, is often mentioned in the corporation books of some centuries back, where it is put as a species of antithesis to the College Lock, about half a mile higher up the river; between which limits strict rules were enacted for the preservation of the fish.
   It will be seen by the preceding details, that Roman villas stood pretty thick together on this side of Maidstone: one here at the Mount; another at Little Buckland (see before, p. 156); another towards Allington (ibid.); to these may be added one more near Barming church, and a further one at a place called West Town, in East Farleigh: these were all in a space of ground not more than two miles square. Now it cannot but strike us that Roman villas being so frequent in this locality, must needs be an indication of the proximity of a Roman station; while at the same time the other side of Maidstone by no means supplies the same results, where there are none. Doubtless the reason might be, that where the villas are, as well as having the advantage of the ford of Radford, the country was more open; and that where the present town now is, and in that direction, the forests, thickets, and underwoods were closer and more embarrassing.
   16. I have thus offered my views respecting the Roman station of Vagniacae; the reader, however, must