Pigots 1840 - Kent
Ashford with the villages of Willesborough, Mersham & neighbourhoods
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Ashford is a market town and parish, in
the hundred of Chart and Longridge, and lathe of Scray – 54 miles ESE from
London, 14 SSW from Canterbury, 20 SE by E from Maidstone, and 30 NNE from
Hastings in Sussex. It is situate
about twelve miles from the sea, on an eminence rising from the northern bank of
the small river Stour, on the high road between Hythe and Maidstone, and on the
line of the South Eastern Railway. The town which is a liberty of itself,
originated from the ruins of Great Chart, an ancient market town, which gave
name to the hundred, and was destroyed in the Danish wars; it was then called
Asseheford, and in some early documents, Estefort and Enetesford from the ford
over the river Stour, the ancient name of which was Esshe and Eschet. The
present town is one of considerable respectability, the houses are modern and
well built; and the principal street, which is well paved and lighted, contains
many good shops, and three principal inns. The only branch of manufacture is
that of damask linen, which though not extensive, is of superior fabric and
handsome pattern. A suite of assemble rooms has within these few years been
erected; there are also two good libraries and a reading room. The present Lord
of the Manor is Thomas DAWES esq. who holds a court leet annually in November,
when a constable or headborough and other manorial officers are chosen. A
charter exists for holding a court of requests, but it has long become obsolete.
Ashford is one of the polling stations at the election of members for East Kent.
The places of worship are the parish church and others for baptists and Wesleyan
methodists, Lady Huntingdon’s connexion and the society of friends. The church
(formerly collegiate) dedicated to St Mary, is a spacious cruciform edifice and
a rich specimen of the later style of English architecture; an elegant and lofty
tower rises from its centre, and contains a fine ring of bells and a set of
musical chimes; the latter perform no less than fourteen tunes, and of the
enlivening appendage the inhabitants are somewhat proud. The church contains
several monuments, well worth the notice of the admirers of those memorials of
bygone greatness. The living is a vicarage, in the gift of the dean and chapter
of Rochester; and the present incumbent is Rev. Thomas WOOD. The principal
charities are a free grammar school and a national school; the former was
founded and endowed by Sir Norton KNATCHBULL in 1636; and the latter is partly
supported by subscription, and partly by bequest of land by Dr TURNER in 1702.
Ashford confers the inferior title of baron on the family of KEPPEL, Earls of
Albemarle. The weekly market is on Tuesday and Saturday and one of the principal
stock markets in the county is held in this town, on the first and third Tuesday
in every month. There are also five fairs held annually viz. May 17th,
September 9th and October 12th and 24th, for
general merchandize; and the first week in August for wool; the two first are
chartered fairs, but the markets have almost superseded the use of them all. By
the government returns for 1831, the parish contained 2809 inhabitants.
Two miles SE by E from Ashford, in the
same hundred as that town, is the small village and parish of Willesborough,
containing a neat church, dedicated to St Mary; the living is a vicarage, in the
patronage of the dean and chapter of Canterbury. Population of the parish 472.
Nearly four miles SE from Ashford, in the
same hundred is the village of Mersham, situate close to the line of the South
Eastern Railway. The church dedicated to St John the Baptist, is a structure of
considerable antiquity, having a tower; the living is a rectory, in the gift of
the see of Canterbury. There is a place of worship for Wesleyan methodists, and
a charitable fund for the education of a limited number of poor children. A
fair, chiefly for toys and pedlary, is held on the Friday in Whitsun week.
According to the Parliamentary returns for 1831, the parish contained 677
inhabitants.
POST OFFICE –
High street,
Ashford,
John TUNBRIDGE, Postmaster, letters from London and all the Eastern parts of
Kent arrive (by mail cart from Canterbury), every morning at six, and are
despatched every night at eight. Letters from
Maidstone
and the
Weald of Kent, arrive
every morning at nine, and are dispatched every afternoon at a quarter past
five.
POST OFFICE,
Mersham,
Edward SIMMONS, Postmaster, letters from all parts arrive (by foot post from
Ashford) every morning at nine, and are despatched every afternoon at five.
NOBILITY, GENTRY & CLERGY
BACK Mrs, New Rents
BELLAMY Rev. J W, Sellinge
BILLINGTON Rev. John, Vicarage, Kennington
BROOK Mrs Anne, High st
BURNETT Rev. Robert, Bethersden
CARTER Henry WM (MD), Kennington
CULCHETH Rev. William, New Rents
CURTEIS Mrs Mary, North st
DAVIS Mrs Sarah, North st
DAVIS Rev, Thomas, High st
DAWES Daniel Butler esq. High st
DENNE Mr Thomas, Kennington
FIELD Mrs Ann, High st
FOSTER Mr John, New st
GREENHILL Mrs Elizabeth, High st
GREENHILL Mr Stephen, High st
GREGORY George esq. Willesborough
HADLOW Rev. Ashford
HAGGER Mrs Mary, New st
HARNETT Mr Wm Tomlin, Ashford
HILL Rev. Samuel, High st
HIND Mr George, New st
HUGHES Mr Edward, Smeeth
HUGHES Mr George, Smeeth
HUGHES the Misses, Mersham
JEMMETT Mrs Fanny, High st
JEMMETT William esq. High st
JONES George esq. Willesborough
KNATCHBULL Sir Edward bart. Mersham hatch
KNATCHBULL Rev Windham, Smeeth
KNOWLES Mr Curteis, Willesborough
LOCKWOOD Rev. Frederick, Vicarage, Mersham
MORGAN Mr George, Vybrook
MOSSOP Rev J, Hothfield
NICHOLS Mr Thomas, New st
NORWOOD Mrs Elizabeth, High st
NORWOOD Mrs Frances, North st
NORWOOD Rev. George, Sevington
OXENDEN Rev, Eastwell
PEMBROKE John esq, New rents
REEVE Mrs Ann, New rents
REEVE Miss Elizabeth, New rents
ROSS Rev John Alexander, Westwell
SMITH Rev. Richard, High st
STODDART the Misses, High st
STUNT Mr Walter, Sevington
THANET the Earl of, Hothfield place
TOKE Rev. Nicholas, Godington
TUCK Mr Robert, Kennington
WAITE Rev Thomas (DD), Rectory, Great
Chart
WALL Mr James, New st
WILLMOTT Rev Robt. D, Kennington
WOOD Rev Thomas, Vicarage
WYBOURN Miss, Ashford
ACADEMIES & SCHOOLS
Grammar School, Church yard, Ephraim
Hemmings SNOAD, master
HALL Thomas, (day) Ashford
Infants School, New rents, Ann TUNBRIDGE,
mistress
LESTER Charlotte (boarding & day),
Hempstead place
National School, Great Chart, Mary Ann
CUMMINS, mistress
National School, New rents, Edward
LURCOCK, master; Mary BODKIN, mistress
SNOAD Sarah & Martha (boarding & day),
Hempstead place
SUTTON Elizabeth (day), Ashford
TAPPENDEN Thomas, (gents boarding & day),
High st
THOMPSON William (day), Back lane
ATTORNEYS
CRUTTENDEN William, High st
FURLEY Robert, (& clerk to the
magistrates), North st
GREENHILL Norman, Ashford
LESTER James, Hempstead place
AUCTIONEERS & APPRAISRS
BAYLEY & REEVE, High st
BAKERS
ASHDOWN John, High st
BACK William, High st
CLARK Wm, (& confectioner), High st
HEAD William, Mersham
HILL Jane, New st
HOUGHTON Henden, (& confectioner), Market
place
HOWLAND Thomas, North st
ODDEN Stephen, Great Chart
TAPPENDEN John, Kennington
TUNBRIDGE Stephen, High st
WALTER Thomas, New rents
WRAIGHT Wm (& confectioner), New rents
BANKERS
JEMMETT & POMFRET, High st (draw on SMITH,
PAYNE & SMITHS, London)
Savings Bank, (& annuity office), High st
(open every Tuesday 12 till 2), Thomas THURSTON, clerk
BASKET MAKERS
CLOVER John, High st
HARPER John, High st
BLACKSMITHS
BRENCHLEY William, Great Chart
COOK John, Willesborough
GEORGE Henry, Smeeth
JENNER Isaac, North st
LACEY Edward, New st
OFFEN James, Great Chart
PETERS Jas. (& wheelwright), Kennington
BOOKSELLERS & STATIONRS
ELLIOTT & Son, (& printers), High st
JENNINGS James, High st
BOOT & SHOE MAKER
ANDREWS Thomas, High st
BACK George , High st
BACK Thomas, High st
BARNES John, High st
BULL Henry, Willesborough
CAPELING James, High st
CHARLTON Daniel, New st
FINN Jesse, Mersham
GOLD Henry, Great Chart
HEMSLEY Henry, North st
HOWLAND James, Castle st
KINGSLAND Daniel, High st
KINGSMILL Thomas, High st
LAKER Richard, Castle st
MILLER John, High st
MORRIS Joseph, Gravelpit st
NORLEY John, High st
SHILLING William, Great Chart
STOCKWELL William, Mersham
THORPE Richard, High st
WILLIAMS James , High st
BRAZIERS & TINMEN
DAWSON Thomas, High st
DUNGEY John & Co, (& locksmith), High st
BREWERS
ELLIOTT Thomas, Gravelpit st
PARNELL William, High st
BRICKLAYERS
ASHFORD Wm. (& glazier) Great Chart
CARRECK Richard, New st
FURBY Samuel, Ashford
JOY Cooper, New st
WELLER John, New rents
BUTCHERS
HAMILTON James, High st
HAYWARD William, Market place
PETTIT Ann, High st
REEVE George, High st
SMALL Charles, Great Chart
STEDDY Samuel jun. High st
CABINET MAKERS & UPHOLSTERERS
BARNS James, (& turner ),Back lane
BAYLEY John, High st
REEVE Lewis Ambrose, (& sub distributer of
stamps), High st
TUNBRIDGE John, High st
CARPENTERS & BUILDERS
APSLEY Alexander, High st
CASTLE Thomas, New st
EAVES Thomas, New rents
FOWLER Draper, New st
NORTON Daniel, Great Chart
PETERS James, Kennington
STEDDY William, Willesborough
CHINA & GLASS DEALERS
BARNS John, High st
TALBOT Thomas, High st
WORGER John, High st
CHYMIST & DRUGGISTS
BROTHERS Francis, (& tobacco dealer), High
st
CARTER William, New rents
FARMER Jno. (& spirit merchant), High st
THURSTON John, High st
CLOTHES DEALERS
STANLEY Sophia, New rents
STOCKWELL Charles, New st
COACH & VAN PROPRIETORS
STARTUP Thomas, High st
VILE Henry, New st
WALTER William, High st
COACH MAKERS & WHEELWRIGHTS
HUMPHREY William & Thomas, New st
WHITECHURCH Robert, High st
COOPERS
FAIRBRASS Daniel, Marsh lane
RIGDEN Thomas, Ashford
CORN FACTORS
COBB
JOHN, High st
CUTBUSH James, Kennington
FUKES John, High st
SCOTT Wm, (& hop merchant), High st
TUNBRIDGE Stephen, High st
CURRIERS & LEATHER SELLERS
CULLING William, High st
DORMAN & Son, High st
DYERS & SCOURERS
DAVISS & Co. High st & at Tenterden
FIRE & c. OFFICE AGENTS
County, Mark DORMAN, High st
Kent, Lewis Ambrose REEVE, High st
Norwich Union, Edward Watson SIMMONS, High
st
Phoenix, ELLIOTT & Son, High st; William
MORLEY, High st
FRUITERERS
HEALY James, Middle Row
KINGSNORTH Benjamin, High st
LAWRENCE Charlotte, Castle st
SILLS Thomas, Middle row
STANLEY Sophia, New rents
FURNITURE BROKERS
CHITTENDEN Daniel, High st
TUNBRIDGE John, High st
GARDENERS & SEEDSMEN
KINGSNORTH Benjamin, High st
TAPPENDEN Richard, North st
GROCERS, TEA DEALERS & CHEESEMONGERS
– see also Shopkeepers & also Tea Dealers
CUCKOW George, Kennington
ELGAR Henry, High st
FILMER Martha, High st
HILLS Thomas, Smeeth
JEFFREY Wm & Jno (& tallow chandlers),
High st
KENNETT John, High st
MORLEY Wm. (& tallow chandler and melter),
High st
ORR William, Castle st
SCOTT William, High st
SIMMONDS Edward, Mersham
SIMS William, High st
SMALL Charles, Great Chart
SUTTON Charlotte, High st
TAPPENDEN John, Kennington
THOMSON James, New st
WORGER John, High st
GUNSMITHS
CRUNDWELL John, High st
LACY Thomas Edward, (& musical instrument
maker), High st
LUMMIS Elkanah
William, New st
HAIR DRESSERS
CUTBUSH William, High st
JENNINGS Jane, High st
HAT MANUFACTURER
TAYLOR William, High st
INNS
George (& coach office), James ROGERS,
High st
Royal Oak, Charles GIBSON, High st
Saracens Head, (commercial & posting),
Eliz. & Wm. WALTER, High st
IRON FOUNDERS
BURMAN George (& brass), New rents
DUNGEY John & Co, High st
IRONMONGERS
CHITTENDEN Daniel, High st
DUNGEY John & Co, High st
TUNBRIDGE John, High st
LINEN DRAPERS & SILK MERCERS
BROWN Thomas, High st
BUSS John, High st
CUCKOW George, Kennington
FRANCIS George, High st
LEWIS George Alexander, New rents
RABSON Mary & Ann, High st
RABSON Peter, (& hardwareman), High st
SIMMONS Edward, Mersham
TAPPENDEN John, Kennington
THORPE Benj. (& woollen), High st
LINEN MANUFACTURER
HOUGHTON Robert, High st
MALTSTERS
CUTBUSH James, Kennington
ELLIOTT Mary, High st
LEWIS Richard, High st
MILLERS
FUKES John, High st
HUTTON John, High st
ODDEN James, Great Chart
PERKINS Thomas, Willesborough
SHARPE Stephen, Kennington
TUNBRIDGE Stephen, Hampstead mill
YOUNG Daniel, Kennington
MILLINERS & STRAW HAT MAKERS
BROWN & ALLEN, High st
DAVIS Ann, St Johns lane
DOWN Frances, New st
HILL Jane, New rents
HOBDAY Mary, High st
HOWLAND Catherine, Castle st
LUSTED Rebecca, North st
PILCHER Susanna, Drum lane
SOLE Eleanor, Middle row
PAINTERS, PLUMBERS & GLAZIERS
BIRD John, New rents
HARRISON & Son, High st
TAYLOR Ann & Son, Gravelpit st
ROPE MAKERS
DAVIS Joseph, St Johns lane
POWSEY Ann, High
SADDLERS & HARNESS MAKERS
MATE William, High st
PHILPOTT Daniel, Kennington
POWSEY Ann, High st
RUSSELL Alexander, High st
SHOPKEEPERS & DEALERS IN GROCERIES &
SUNDRIES
BROWN Thomas, Willesborough
CHAMBERS Maria, New rents
CHITTENDEN Sarah, New rents
COOK John, Willesborough
EAVES Thomas, New rents
FINN Jesse, Mersham
GAYLER Abraham, Willesborough
LOWE Ann, High st
PARISH Mary, New st
SHILLING William, Great Chart
VILE Henry, New st
WHITE James, Smeeth
STONE MASONS
ANDREWS Pierce, New st
CARRECK Richard, High st
JOY Cooper, New st
SURGEONS
BEET John, High st
CORDEAUX Charles (MD), High st
WHITFELD Henry & Fredk, High st
WILKS George Frederick, High st
SURVEYORS
STEVENS James, Willesborough
THURSTON Thomas, (& engineer to the South
Eastern Railway), High st
TAILORS – marked thus * are
also drapers
ALLEN Thomas, High st
* ALLEN William Alexander, High st
* BAYLEY Catherine, High st
* COBB Thomas, High st
* FIELD Edward, High st
JACOB Edwd (& undertaker), High st
* PAINE
Francis, New st
* PICKARD Sarah, High st
SCOTT Thomas (& hatter), High st
SKINNER Samuel, High st
* TUNBRIDGE John, New rents
TAVERNS & PUBLIC HOUSES
Blacksmiths Arms, James WORGER,
Willesborough
Castle, Philip MEIN, Castle st
Duke of Marlborough, Richard CONSTANCE,
High st
Farriers Arms, William PREBBLE, Mersham
Golden Ball, John GEERING, Kennington
New Inn, George PHILPOTT, New st
Red Lion, James LEWIS, North st
Swan, Henry SMITH, Great Chart
White Hart, Thomas REEVE, High st
Woolpack, Francis GODDIN, Smeeth
TEA DEALERS
BROTHERS Francis, High st
CARTER William, New rents
ORR William, Castle st
SUTTON Charlotte, High st
TOY DEALERS
BROWN & ALLEN, High st
JENNINGS James, High st
WATCH & CLOCK MAKERS
ELLIOTT & Son (& silversmiths), High st
FLINT Wm. (& silversmith), High st
HAYWARD Edward, (& silversmith), High st
SNELLNG John (& engraver), New rents
WHEELWRIGHTS
CHITTENDEN John, Willesborough
GEORGE Joiner, Smeeth
HOOK George, Great Chart
WHITE William, Marsh lane
WINE MERCHANTS
FOORD Richard, New st
STODDART Edward, High st
WOOLSTAPLER
LEPINE George, High st
MISCELLANEOUS
BRIGGS Alfred, superintendent registrar of
marriages, High st
County of Kent Friendly Society, William
WHITFELD, agent, High st
County of Kent General Registry Office,
Alex RUSSELL, agent, High st
ELGAR Henry, Parish Clerk, High st
Excise Office, Castle Inn, Thomas SEAR,
officer, New rents
Gas Works, Marsh lane, John Cullen KNOTT,
manager
GREENHILL Richard, tanner & fellmonger,
Whist house, Ashford
HAMMOND Edward, lime burner, Willesborough
HARPER John, coffee rooms, High st
HILL John, millwright, New st
LURCOCK Edward, glover, High st
MATSON John, professor of music, New rents
MEADOWCRAFT George, stocking manufacturer,
High st
PIETY William, fishmonger, High st
POPE John & Wm. veterinary surgeons, High
st
RUSSELL Thomas, sawyer, New st
STEDDY & BRIDGER, timber merchants and
lathe renders, Bridge end
TINDELL Charles, corn cleaning machine
maker, New st
COACHES
To London, the Times (from Folkestone),
calls at the Saracens Head, every morning at ten; goes through Charing, Lenham &
Maidstone.
To Folkestone, the Times (from London),
calls at the Saracens Head, every afternoon at quarter past three; goes through
Hythe and Sandgate.
VANS – for goods &
passengers from the George
To London, every morning (Sunday
excepted), at six.
To Canterbury, every morning, (Sunday
excepted), at nine
To Dover, every afternoon, (Sunday
excepted), at two; goes through Hythe, Sandgate & Folkestone.
To Faversham, every Tuesday, Thursday and
Saturday afternoon at two.
To Maidstone, every morning, (Sunday
excepted), at six, and afternoon at two
To Romney & Lydd, every afternoon, (Sunday
excepted), at two
To Tenterden & Rye, every afternoon,
(Sunday excepted), at two
To Wye, every morning, (Sunday excepted),
at nine
CARRIERS
To London & Maidstone, Charles BENTON,
every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and John SCOTT every Tuesday and Thursday.
To Aldington, Daniel HOOKER from the Duke
of Marlborough, daily
To Folkestone, Hythe and Sandgate, Charles
BENTON, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
To Smarden, William SEELEY, from the Red
Lion, every Tuesday and Saturday.
To Warehorn, AUSTIN, from the Duke of Marlborough, every Tuesday & Friday.
This page was last updated on 06-Mar-2021.
Copyright © 2008 Janet & Richard Mason.