Pigots 1840 - Kent
Cowden, Ashurst, Pembury, Speldhurst & Groombridge
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Cowden is a small village and parish 30 miles SSE from London and 9 SW from Tonbridge, situate on rising ground on the banks of the Kent water. The church dedicated to St Mary Magdalene, is a small ancient building, with rather a handsome spire, which latter is a conspicuous object for many mile around; the living is a vicarage in the gift of Rev T HARVEY. A fair is held on 2nd August, for oxen and pedlery.
Ashurst or “the wood of ashes” is a parish destitute of anything like a village, distant about four miles from Tonbridge Wells. The river Medway which here is but a small stream, bounds the parish on the northwest. The church is a small edifice; the living is a discharged vicarage, in the patronage of Earl De La WARR.
Pembury or as it was formerly designated Pippingbury is a small village in the parish of its name, situate five miles SE from Tonbridge, on the road from that town to Hastings. With the exception of it being a considerable thoroughfare, it is a place of no importance. The church dedicated to St Peter, stands about a mile and a half from the village, and appears to of great antiquity. Several small streams, tributary to the Medway run through the parish.
Speldhurst is an extensive parish, on the southern confines of the Weald, adjoining the county of Sussex, and about three miles NW from Tonbridge. In this parish the springs rise which have been obtained for Tonbridge Wells so much celebrity. A branch of the river Medway, on which are several mills, courses through the parish. The hamlet of Groombridge in former times a place of much importance than it is at present is included in Speldhurst parish. It was in the possession of the WALLER’s from 1360 to 1604; and it was here that the celebrated poet of that name first saw and became enamoured of the Lady Dorothy SIDNEY. The church which is situated at the extremity of the parish, is dedicated to St Mary, and is a neat modern erection. In the dreadful storm of 1791 the old church was set on fire by lightning and the entire structure reduced to a heap of ruins – all the monuments in the interior being totally destroyed, and even the bells in the tower melted by the intense heat.
The population of these several parishes by the returns made in 1831, was as follows: Cowden 689; Ashurst 206; Pembury 1070; Speldhurst (with Groombridge and part of Tonbridge Wells), 2640.
GENTRY & CLERGY
AUSTEN Mr Edward, Lancton green
BELCHER Brymer Alex esq, Pembury
BRANDAM F H esq, Cowden
BURDEIN Miss, Pembury
BURROWS Miss Sarah, Lower green, Speldhurst
CHOLMONDELEY Rev Horace, Speldhurst
COMMERFORD Charles esq, Pembury
HARDING Miss Jane Bowen, Rusthall
HARVEY Rev Thomas, Cowden
HOARE William Henry esq, Ashurst
MAUDSLEY Mrs, Broom hill
ONSLOW Rev Arthur, Speldhurst
PARKIN Hugh esq, Ashurst lodge
POWELL Baden esq, Lancton
PRICE Richard esq, Highfield lodge
RAMSDEN Rev William, Ashurst
RELPH Lieut Thomas, Speldhurst
RICHARDS Bingham esq, Speldhurst
SAINT John esq, Groombridge
SAINT Rev John James, Speldhurst
SOLOMON David esq, Groombridge
SAXBY William esq, Ashurst
WELCH Henry esq, Pembury
WHITTAKER George esq, Pembury
WILLIS Mrs Ann, Pembury
WILSON Ford esq, Blackhurst
WOODGATE Mr Francis, Cowden
WOODGATE Rev Stephen, Pembury
WOODHOUSE General William, Edells
ACADEMIES & SCHOOLS
National School, Pembury, Jas. SIMMONS, master; Sarah SIMMONS, mistress
National School, Speldhurst, John CUTHBURT, master
PIPER George (day), Cowden
SYDNEY John (day), Speldhurst
BLACKSMITHS
DAVIES George, (& ironmonger), Speldhurst
FERMINGER John, Cowden
FRY Richard, Groombridge
FRY Thomas, Pembury
PIGOTT Richard, Cowden
RHODES Thomas, Pembury
BOOT & SHOE MAKERS
BARNES James, Pembury
HUMPHREY James, Cowden
HUNTLY Isaac, Cowden
NEALE William, Pembury
PIDDLESDEN James, Groombridge
POLLINGTON William, Groombridge
TURLEY Edward, Speldhurst
BUTCHERS
EVEREST Henry, Cowden
GOWER Elizabeth, Pembury
HALL William, Groombridge
HARRIS Thomas, Cowden
TYHURST Thomas, Speldhurst
CARPENTERS
EMERY John, Pembury
GOWER Edward, Pembury
WELLS Thomas, Speldhurst
WESTON Thomas, Speldhurst
WICKHAM John, Cowden
FELLMONGERS & GLOVERS
PIPER William, Cowden
WHITEMAN Nicholas, Groombridge
GROCERS, DRAPERS & DEALERS IN SUNDRIES
AUSTEN Benjamin, Pembury
BATCHELOR Simon, Cowden
BOTTING Ann, Speldhurst
BROWN Henry, Speldhurst
BURR Humphrey, Groombridge
GAINSFORD Joseph, Cowden
KILLICK Thomas, Groombridge
MANWARING Wm & Jas. , Pembury
SMITH Robert, Speldhurst
TURNER John, Speldhurst
WEST Jesse, Speldhurst
MILLERS
ASHBY Richard, Pembury
COMBER William, Cowden
DURRANT John, Groombridge
EVEREST John & James, Ashurst
HOLLANDS Henry, Cowden
HOMEWOOD John, Pembury
LANGRIDGE Joseph, Speldhurst
MELLISH James, Cowden
STANDEN William, Speldhurst
PAINTERS & GLAZIERS
EVES William, Groombridge
HILL George, Groombridge
STRANGE Edward Jeffrey, Pembury
TAYLOR Thomas, Speldhurst
SADDLERS
BALDWIN James, Pembury
DICKENSON Stephen, Pembury
TRICE Harriett, Groombridge
TAILORS
BUDGEN George, Pembury
WELFORD John, Cowden
WINNIFRITH Thomas, Groombridge
TAVERNS & PUBLIC HOUSES
Bald Faced Stag, Robert PAWLEY, Ashurst
Black Lion, George LINFIELD, Ashurst
Camden Arms, Richard Jeffery CLOUTE, Pembury
Crown, Susan HUGHES, Groombridge
Crown, James WALLIS, Cowden
George & Dragon, Ts. BROOKS, Speldhurst
Greyhound, William HOLMES, Speldhurst
Red Lion, William TURNER, Speldhurst
Royal Oak, Edward PAWLEY, Woodsgate, Pembury
WHEELWRIGHTS
CHAPMAM William, Speldhurst
VENESS Benjamin, Pembury
WAGHORNE William, Groombridge
WALLIS James, Cowden
WALTER David, Speldhurst
MISCELLANEOUS
ADAMS Edward, baker, Pembury
HOMEWOOD Jane, milliner, Pembury
MAYNARD John, poulterer, Speldhurst
MILLER Edward, cooper, Groombridge
TOLHURST Stephen, corn dealer, Pembury
TURNER Richard, paper maker, Ashurst
CARRIERS
To London, George WICKING, from Cowden every Thursday and Stephen HEWITT from Groombridge every Wednesday.
This page was last updated on 06-Mar-2021.
Copyright © 2008 Janet & Richard Mason.