Mote Park

Mote Park is a 440acre multi-use public park in Maidstone, Kent. Previously a country estate it was converted to landscaped park land at the end of the 18th century before becoming a municipal park. It includes the former stately home Mote House together with a miniature railway, pitch and putt golf course and a boating lake. The park has also been used as a cricket ground for the Kent County Cricket Club. The house is set in 450acre of garden landscape and consists of 85 houses and apartments. The park is maintained by Maidstone Borough Council with support from the Mote Park Fellowship, a group of volunteers.HistoryThe park's name is derived from 'moot' or 'mote' in Old English meaning "a place of assembly". Its proximity to nearby Penenden Heath (the site of shire moots during the Middle Ages) indicates that it may once have formed part of an administrative region in central Kent.In the 13th century, the "mote" lands were incorporated into the manor of local landowners and a manor house in the area of the present-day park is described as being castellated (or fortified) with emparked grounds. This is believed to indicate the area was used as one of the earliest deer parks in Kent.