On Wednesday 24th September 1862, a good deal of consternation was caused in the neighbourhood of Maidstone railway station, by a large number of Irish hop pickers, who had assembled there to be conveyed back to London, by a special train, which was due to leave at 1 o’clock. The number estimated at between 900  to 1000, most of whom were, more or less inebriated. It seemed that a good many of the party had been located together throughout the season, and had indulged in frequent quarrels. On the day, the grievances were renewed and a general row arose. The combatants divided into parties, one side taking possession of the station yard and the road below, whilst the others were higher up the Tonbridge Road. Showers of stones were hurled in all directions by the women on either side, the men using their shillelaghs and bagging hooks in a most determined manner. The fight having continued for some minutes, those is possession of the upper portion of the road, succeeded in driving back their assailants, who turned and retreated as far as the bridge, many of them, in their flight receiving severe wounds. One young child of about twelve months, whilst in it’s mother’s arms, was struck on the head with  a large stone, which cut through the scalp and so severely injured the bone as to imperil the child’s life. The infant was conveyed to the West Kent Infirmary, where the wound was dressed, and later in the day, the child was taken to London, by it’s friends. One woman got her knuckles smashed, whilst the hands of another were cut with a bagging hook. Some were cut in the face and bruised about the body, several being knocked down and jumped on. Six of the injured were taken to the infirmary, but were able to leave after the injuries were attended to. The shopkeepers and other inhabitants were compelled to put up their shutters, or considerable damage would have been caused. The police’s efforts to repress the riot were powerless and it was not until the rage of the infuriated mob had spent itself that anything form of order could be restored, After the row was over, the Irish men were found in all manner of places, were concealment could be afforded. They were turned out of from a saw pit of Mr Baker’s premises, others had crawled between sacks of shoddy on one of the wharfs and one was buried beneath a heap of sawdust. Two men were removed from the train, one on the suspicion of having caused the injuries to the child, and the other for attempting to rescue him from the custody of the police, but as it was evident that they were the wrong persons, they were allowed to go on their way and all the Irish left the place, in the course of the afternoon.