Pigots 1840 - Kent
The Crays & Chiselhurst
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The Crays are four neat and highly respectable villages, respectively denominated, Foots Cray, North Cray, St Pauls Cray and St Marys Cray. They are each distinct parishes, and are all locally situate in the lathe of Sutton at Hone and hundred of Ruxley; they are seated on the banks of the River Cray, amidst beautiful scenery, interspersed with numerous elegant seats, tasteful villas and splendid mansions. North Cray was the residence of the late Marquess of Londonberry and it was at his seat here that he terminated his existence. The most important, in appearance and trade, of the four villages ( though not the most populous of parishes) is Foots Cray, anciently written Fote’s Cray, from a Sir William FOTE to whom a grant of land was made by William I; it lies on the direct road from London to Maidstone, distant from the former 12 miles south east and from the latter town 23 north west- is a place of considerable thoroughfare and supports some good inns. The inhabitants of the Crays are chiefly engaged in agricultural pursuits; and in the neighbourhood are many extensive fruit gardens, from which large quantities of their produce are sent to the London markets. On the Cray stream are several paper mills, which tend materially to the advantage of the villages, and employ a number of persons of both sexes. Each of the Crays has its parish church but none of these edifices present anything to claim particular remark. Foots Cray and St Marys Cray have a dissenting chapel and a national school at each place, and at the latter are some almshouses and workhouse. The waters of a mineral spring, near Foots Cray, have been brought into notice through an analysis of their properties by Mr SMITH, surgeon. About a mile and a half beyond Foots Cray, the first hop ground in Kent, on this line of road, greets the eye of the stranger. By the returns of 1831 the population of the several parishes was – Foots Cray 308; St Marys Cray 905; North Cray 342; and St Pauls Cray 411.
Chiselhurst is a most respectable village, in the same lathe and hundred at the Crays, 10½ miles SE from London and 6 from Lewisham, situated on the road leading from Bromley to Eltham, The antiquary and historian Camden selected this place for his retirement and here he prepared the greater part of his annals of Queen Elizabeth. Camden house a very handsome seat, is now the residence of Mrs BONAR; in the park may be seen, serving as a covering to a spring that celebrated piece of ancient architecture, the “Lantern of Demosthenes” in all its proportions. Several other elegant seats are in this vicinity, including those of Frognall, Lord Viscount Sidney; and Pheasant Grove, Lord Wynford; indeed this neighbourhood may be considered as most of the genteel in the county. The places of worship in Chiselhurst are the parish church dedicated to St Nicholas, and a chapel for Wesleyan methodists; the living is a rectory, in the gift of the see of Canterbury; the Rev Francis DAWSON is the present incumbent. An annual fair is held here, on Wednesday after Whit Sunday for pleasure. The population of the parish in 1831 amounted to 1820.
POST OFFICE – Foots Cray, James COX, Postmaster. Letters from London arrive (by foot post from Bromley) every morning (Monday excepted), at eight and from Bexley at half past twelve, and are despatched to Bexley every afternoon at a quarter past three and to Bromley at half past four.
POST – St Marys Cray, Receiving House at the Black Boy. Letters from London arrive (by foot post from Bromley) every morning (Monday excepted), at
half past nine and from Bexley every afternoon at one, and are despatched to Bromley every afternoon at a half past three and to Bexley at half past two.
POST – North Cray – this place is within the Dartford delivery, letters therefore should be addressed “North Cray, near Dartford”.
POST OFFICE – Chiselhurst, John KING, Postmaster. Letters from London arrive (by cross post from Bromley), every morning (Monday excepted), at one and night at eleven, and are despatched every afternoon at a quarter before three and night at eight.
NOBILITY, GENTRY & CLERGY
BARNARD Geo William esq, Chiselhurst
BERENS Harry esq, Place Green House, Sidcup
BERENS Joseph esq, Kevington hall, St Marys Cray
BERENS Richard esq, Place Green House, Sidcup
BERTRAND Mr Alexander, Chiselhurst
BEXLEY the Hon. Lord, Foots Cray pl
BOURN Rev Robt. Burr, St Pauls Cray
BROWN Capt. George, Sidcup
CATOR Capt. Bertle Cornelius (RN), Mount mascall, North Cray
CHAPMAN Jas. esq, St Pauls Cray hill
CHAPMAN Miss, St Pauls Cray cottage
DAWSON Rev Francis, Chiselhurst
DE VITRE esq, Homewood lodge
DICKENSON Mr John, St Pauls Cray
EDGELL Rev Edgell Wyatt, North Cray
GLANVILL Mrs, North Cray
HORROCKS Mrs Jane, Sidcup
JEFFCOTT Mr Daniel, Scadbury Park
JENNER Sir Herbert bart, Chiselhurst
JEREMY Henry esq, Chiselhurst
JONES the Misses, Foots Cray
LAWSON esq, Mascall
LEWIS Mrs, Chiselhurst
LOWE Mr Jas (attorney), North Cray
MADOX James Fuller esq, Foots Cray
MARTIN John esq, Chiselhurst
NASSEY esq, Chiselhurst
NETTLESHIP Samuel esq, North Cray place
NORMAN Hon. Henry, Chiselhurst
NURSEY Mr John, Chiselhurst
OLLIFF Mr James, Chiselhurst
PELASKE esq, Sidcup
PLASKETT Henry esq, Sidcup
RICE William esq, Kemnall place, Chiselhurst
SCHACKLETON Mrs, Chiselhurst
SIDNEY Lord Viscount, Frognall, Chiselhurst
STAINES Mrs Hannah, Foots Cray
STAIR Mrs, Honeyden, North Cray
STEPHENS esq, Chiselhurst
STONE George esq, Coopers lodge, Chiselhurst
TAGGART Mrs, Chiselhurst
TOWNSEND the Hon Misses, Chiselhurst
TWYSDEN Mrs, Foots Cray
WALTON Col. William, St Mary Cray
WARING Dr Richard, Marlins, St Pauls Cray
WARRINER Rev Enoch, Foots Cray
WINDER William esq, Foots Cray
WYNFORD the Right Hon Lord, Pheasant Grove, St Pauls Cray
ACADEMIES & SCHOOLS
COX James (day), Foots Cray
Free School, St Pauls Cray, Ann SHELDING, mistress
JOHNSON George (boarding), North Cray
National School, Chiselhurst, James WHOMES, master; Lucy DUNMALL, mistress
National School, Foots Cray, James BURNHAM, master; Elizabeth BURNHAM, mistress
National School, St Marys Cray, WHOMES, master
PARSONS Julia, (boarding & day), Chiselhurst
WESTBROOK Elizabeth, (boarding & day), Foots Cray
WYBURN & BATTERSBEE (gentlemen’s boarding), Chiselhurst
BAKERS
BROOMFIELD Charles, St Marys Cray
GIMSON Mary, Chiselhurst
JAMES Richard, St Marys Cray
ROBERTSON John, Foots Cray
WEBB William Reynolds, St Marys Cray
WENBORN Henry, Chiselhurst
WOOD James, Foots Cray
YATES William, Foots Cray
BLACKSMITHS & FARRIERS
BARNES William, Perry st
BLACKNEY Thomas, Chiselhurst
STILES Matthias, St Marys Cray
STONE Henry (& ironmonger), Foots Cray
STONE Thomas, Foots Cray
WELCH George, Sidcup
BOOT & SHOE MAKERS
AYLUD Henry, St Marys Cray
BANKS William, Chiselhurst
BURTON William (& leather seller), St Marys Cray
CLARK William, North Cray
EVE Samuel, Foots Cray
IVES James, Foots Cray
JAMES George, Chiselhurst
JAMES Henry, Chiselhurst
MANDY James, Foots Cray
MANDY William, Foots Cray
POOLE John, Foots Cray
QUINT John, Chiselhurst
SPOONER Thomas, St Mary Cray
TEASDALE James, Chiselhurst
WAILE Richard, Chiselhurst
WAIN Richard, Chiselhurst
WALLS William, Chiselhurst
BRICK & TILE MAKERS
DAWSON Edmund (& lime burner), Chiselhurst
PASCALL Thomas, Red Hill
BRICKLAYERS
DUKE Rosa, St Marys Cray
FRANCIS Britain, Foots Cray
BUTCHERS
CROST Thomas, St Marys Cray
FRENCH Charles, Chiselhurst
FULCHER William George, St Marys Cray
ISARD Henry, Chiselhurst
MILLS William, Foots Cray
TAYLOR John, Foots Cray
CARPENTERS
DONMALL Mary, Chiselhurst
MANDY Hannah, Foots Cray
TIBBS Peter, ST Marys Cray
TOWNSEND Charles, St Marys Cray
WHIGHT Edward & Son, Chiselhurst
FRUIT GROWERS
BATH John (& market gardener), Birchwood
KILLICK William, Birchwood
PETTY William, St Marys Cray
SIMS Robert, Foots Cray
SUTHERLAND James, Birchwood
GROCERS & DEALES IN SUNDRIES – those marked thus * are also Drapers
BRIGHT William, Chiselhurst
BURTON John, St Mary Cray
* CLARK Thomas, St Mary Cray
CRIPPS Charles, St Pauls Cray
CRIPPS William (& druggists), St Marys Cray
* HORSLEY Henry, Chiselhurst
HUMPHREY James, Chiselhurst
JAMES Richard, St Pauls Cray
* LESTER William Elliott, Foots Cray
MAY Philip, North Cray
NEAL Sarah, Foots Cray
PANNETT Allen, Chiselhurst
* ROGERS John, Foots Cray
SILVESTER John, Perry st
SMITH William, Foots Cray
WEBB William Reynolds, St Pauls Cray
WILLIAMS Ann, Chiselhurst
WYATT Joseph, Chiselhurst
HAIR DRESSERS
OOST William, Chiselhurst
TYRRELL John, St Marys Cray
INNS & PUBLIC HOUSES
Anchor, Amy PENNINGTON, St Pauls Cray
Black Boy, James HILLIER, St Marys Cray
Black Horse, JOHNSON, Sidcup
Bull, Charles JEWELL, Birchwood
Bull, James MORGAN, St Pauls Cray
Bulls Head, John DURLING, Chiselhurst
Crown, Silas NEWMAN, Chiselhurst
Five Bells, William SPARKS, St Marys Cray
Queens Head, Richard GODSEL, Chiselhurst
Red Cross, William FARMER, North Cray
Red Lion, Frederick WALKER, Foots Cray
Seven Stars (& posting house), Thos.EDMONDS, Foots Cray
Tigers Head, Jos. CHANDLER, Chiselhurst
Tigers Head (& posting), Samuel MARTIN, Foots Cray
White Horse, CHESHYRE, Red Hill
White Swan, Matthw. TESTER, Perry st
MILLERS
SNELLING Joseph & Rowland, Chiselhurst
PAINTERS, PLUMBERS &GLAZIERS
MOCKETT William Baker, Foots Cray
NICKOLS John, Chiselhurst
SMITH Benjamin, St Marys Cray
PAPER MAKERS
JOYNSON William, St Marys Cray
NASH Thomas, St Pauls Cray
WOODFULL Henry, Foots Cray
SADDLERS
DAWSON William, Foots Cray
LAURENCE George, St Marys Cray
SURGEONS
CALLAWAY, Chiselhurst
JOHNSTONE Colin, Chiselhurst
PRITCHER Thomas, Sidcup
SMITH Thomas Hextall, St Marys Cray
TAILORS
CLARK Robert, Foots Cray
CLARK Thomas, Foots Cray
GREENSLADE Thomas, St Marys Cray
WHOMES James, Chiselhurst
WILLIS Henry, Chiselhurst
WHEELWRIGHTS
BLACKNEY Thomas, Chiselhurst
HARDIGE William (& coach builder), Foots Cray
HARDSTONE William, St Marys Cray
RINGER Henry, Chiselhurst
MISCELLANEOUS
ALLEN Robert, farmer, Redhill
CBAMBERLAIN (as printed!!)Richard, cooper & maltster, Chiselhurst
COX Jas, bookseller & toy dealer, Foots Cray
COX Jas jun. teacher of music, Foots Cray
DONMALL Henry, farmer, St Marys Cray
EDMONDS Ths. Tallow chandler, Foots Cray
EVEREST Edward, farmer, St Pauls Cray
GODSELL Richard, brewer, Chiselhurst
MAY Richard, framer, Foots Cray
NIGHTINGALE Samuel, farmer, Perry st
PACKMAN Jas, cow keeper, St Marys Cray
PARKER Thos. basket maker, Foots Cray
REEVES Geo. furniture brkr, St Marys Cray
TESTER Matthew, fishmonger, Perry st
WHOMES James, parish clerk, Chiselhurst
WOOD James, farmer, Perry st
Workhouse, Chiselhurst, Thos, CHURCHER, governor; Eliz CHURCHER, matron
COACHES
To London, a Coach (from Orpington), passes thro’ Chiselhurst and St Marys Cray, every morning (Sunday excepted), at 8. The following coaches from Maidstone, call at the Tigers Head, Foots Cray, every day (Sunday excepted), viz. – the British Queen, morning at half past eight – the Reliance, forenoon at eleven – the Balloon every day at twelve – the Tally Ho afternoon at one and the Favourite evening at six.
To London, the Age (from Farningham), every morning at nine – the Times (from Folkestone), every afternoon at four and an Omnibus (from Maidstone) calls at the Seven Stars, Foots Cray every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning at 11.
To Farningham, the Age (from London), calls at the Tigers Head, Foots Cray every evening at half past five.
To Folkestone, the Times (from London), calls at the Tigers Head, Foots Cray every morning (Sunday excepted), at a quarter before ten; goes through Maidstone, Charing, Ashford, Hythe and Sandgate.
To Maidstone, calling at the Tigers Head, Foots Cray, every day, (Sunday excepted), the Favourite, forenoon at a quarter before eleven – the Reliance every afternoon at three – the Tally Ho at half past three – the Balloon at half past four - & the British Queen at a quarter past five – an Omnibus (from London), calls at the Seven Stars, Foots Cray, every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday afternoon at three and the Reliance every Sunday afternoon at a quarter past four.
To Orpington, a Coach, (from London), passes thro’ St Marys Cray and Chiselhurst every afternoon (Sunday excepted).
CARRIERS
To London, Ann WILLIAMS from the Bulls Head, Chiselhurst & William YATES and George KING from their houses every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday morning – John SPEARING, from his house, St Marys Cray, every Monday & Thursday – James MONK from the same place every Monday & Friday and James MORGAN passes through North Cray every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
This page was last updated on 06-Mar-2021.
Copyright © 2008 Janet & Richard Mason.