Pigots 1840 - Kent
Hythe & neighbourhood
Hythe is a market town, one of the cinque ports, and a borough both corporate and parliamentary, with separate jurisdiction, locally in the parish and hundred of its name – 67 miles SE by E from London, 17 S from Canterbury, and 4 W by S from Folkestone; situated at a distance of a mile from the sea, in the midst of a valley enclosed on each side by high hills, from the summits of which, in clear weather, the coast of France is discernible. The town consists principally of one long street, running parallel with the sea, and intersected by several smaller ones. The vicinage is replete with romantic scenery, and affords numerous pleasant walks and rides; and during the bathing season it has many visiters, for whose accommodation there are several machines on the beach; three excellent inns, the “Swan”, the “White Hart” and the “Red Lion”; and a public library and reading room. The town hall. The barracks, a small but neat theatre and the borough gaol comprise the public buildings, with the exception of those for divine worship. This part of the coast is defended by a range of strong forts, and a line of Martello towers – the latter erected during the late contest with France, when this country was menaced with invasion from the opposite shore. A great facility for the conveyance of goods is afforded by the Royal Military Canal from hence to Appledore; but the commerce of Hythe is insignificant, being limited to domestic traffic; and its only manufacture is that of paper. The borough received a charter of incorporation from Queen Elizabeth, which continued in force until the Municipal Act of 1835 superseded it, and vested the government in a mayor, four aldermen, twelve councillors with the usual assistant officers, under the title of “the mayor, jurats, commonality of the town and port of Hythe, in the county of Kent.” A commission of the peace, and a court of quarter sessions, have also bee granted to the borough – the commission consisting of the mayor for the time being and four other justices; there is likewise a court of record, at which the recorder presides; and the county magistrates hold a meeting at the “Swan” inn on the third Monday in every month, for the Eltham division of which Messrs BROCKMAN & WATTS are the clerks. The borough returned two members to parliament from the 42nd of Edward III until the passing of the Reform Act in 1832, when the town of Folkestone and its parish with the adjoining parishes of Cheriton, Newington, Saltwood and West Hythe were included in the representative franchise for the return of one member; the mayor is the returning officer and the present sitting member is Lord Viscount Melgund.
The church dedicated to St Leonard is spacious and handsome structure, partly in the Norman and partly in the early English style of architecture, with a tower at the west end in the former style, and one in the centre in the latter character; the benefice is a rectory, united with the contiguous parish of Saltwood, in the presentation of the Archbishop of Canterbury; the Venerable Archdeacon CROFT is the present incumbent, and his curate is the Rev Edward BIRON. In the crypt under the chancel is a large pile of human bones – the remains, according to the tradition of the Britons slain in battle with the Saxons, when the latter were retreating along the coast; this sanguinary conflict took place in the year 456, between Hythe and Folkestone; and the bones are supposed to have obtained their bleached whiteness from long exposure on the sea shore. The independents and Wesleyan Methodists have places of worship here. The principal charities are a national school, supported by subscription; St Bartholomew’s Hospital for five poor men and eight poor women; and St John’s Hospital, for nine indigent persons. A corn market is held at the town hall every Thursday afternoon; and a market for livestock has recently been established and is held every Monday fortnight. Fairs are holden, on the 10th July for cattle and pedlery, and on the 1st December for cattle and fat sheep. The parish of Hythe contained, by the returns for 1831, a population of 2287 inhabitants.
POST OFFICE – High Street, Charles SMITH, Postmaster. Letters from London arrive (by mail cart from Dover), every morning at eight and are despatched every evening at half past seven. Letters from Brighton, Bromley, Cranbrooke, Hastings, Lewes, Romney, Rye, Seven Oaks, Tenterden and Tonbridge Wells arrive every evening at half past seven and are despatched every morning at eight.
NOBILITY, GENTRY & CLERGY
ANDREWS Mr Edward, Chapel st
BELL Rev James, Hillside st
BIRON Rev Edwin, High st
BROCKMAN Edward Drake esq., Paddock Dock, Hythe
BROCKMAN Rev William, Beachborough
COLEMAN Edward esq., Old Paul’s
CROFT Venerable Archdeacon, Saltwood
DEEDES William esq, Sandling
DOUGLAS Alexander esq, High st
DOUGLAS Lady Rachel, High st
FINNIS Mrs Elizabeth, Prospect place
FINNIS George esq, High st
HAMMON Inghram esq, Bartholomew lane
HARDCASTLE the Misses, Portland place
HART Capt Richard, Elm cottage, Hythe
HARVEY Mrs Anne, Bridge place
INNES Mrs Mary, Market st
JOHNSTON Capt George, Marine villa
KING Major William, Market st
MACKESON Capt Thomas (RN), Church st
MITCHELL Miss Susannah, East st
MONYPENNY Mrs Catherine, Church st
MONYPENNY Phillips esq, High st
PRICE Rev Ralph, Lyminge
PUCKLE Mrs Sarah, High st
QUYHAMTON Mrs Anne, Market st
RAYNER Mrs Mary, High st
SHIPDEM George esq, Theatre st
SWAN Alexander esq, Ivy Hill
THOMSON Major Francis Ringler, Hythe
THORNTON Mrs Catherine, Victoria cottage, Hythe
TILBE Henry esq, Church st
TOURNAY Thomas esq, Brockhill
TURNER Mrs Martha, Church st
WATTS Jas esq, Marrowbone hall, Hythe
WHITE Major Edward Philip, Hillside house, Hythe
ACADEMIES & SCHOOLS
Free School, Saltwood, Elizabeth GODDARD, mistress
HARLEY Henry, (day), Kings Head lane
M’LEAN Eliz, (boarding), High st
National School, High st, William, VILE, master; Eliz VILE, mistress
National School, Newington, Edward DALE, master
PAWLEY Jane, (boarding & day), High st
WATSON Alex, (boarding & day), Military road
ATTORNEYS
BROCKMAN & WATTS, (& clerks to the magistrates, and to the commissioners of pavement and taxes), Great Conduit st
SEDGWICK Edward, (& clerk of the peace, and town clerk), High st
AUCTIONEERS, APPRAISERS & HOUSE AGENTS
COCKS & HORNE, High st
FINNIS & RONALDS, (& estate), High st
BAKERS – marked thus * are also Confectioners
BREET John, Stade st
* BRITTENDEN James, High st
BRUNGER William, High st
ELVEY Norris, High st
GARRETT Thomas, High st
HORTON Joseph, High st
* KEELER Richard, High st
* LADE Nathaniel, High st
* PANKHURST James, High st
REYNOLDS William, High st
BLACKSMITHS
ASHDOWN William Chapel st
EAST Richard, East st
ELGAR Thomas, Chapel st
EVENDEN William, Stade st
HOILE Joseph, Theatre st
PAYN James, Saltwood
WATCHES Leonard, Chapel st
BOOKSELLER & STATIONER
TIFFEN William, (& printer & music seller & library), High st
BOOT & SHOE MAKERS
ASHDOWN Rebecca, High st
BASSETT William, (& leather seller), High st
BEGENT James, High st
DAVIS John, High st
DRISCALL James, High st
DURDEN William, High st
FRIEND John, High st
GILBERT William, High st
HARRIS Thomas, (& currier), High st
HILKE George, Chapel st
KETTLE John, Marine Walk st
TURNER Mark, Market st
UDEN Thomas, High st
BRAZIERS & TIN PLATE WORKERS
BAILEY Robert, High st
EASTES Silvester, High st
BRICKLAYERS
CASTLE Thomas, Chapel st
CHAMBERLAIN Richard, High st
HADDEN William, (& stone mason), Market st
HORTON John, Chapel st
BUTCHERS
DANE Daniel. High st
MARSHALL Thomas, High st
MARSHALL Thomas jun, High st
SMITH John, High st
STOAKES Thomas, (pork butcher & poulterer), Market st
CABINET MAKERS & UPHOLSTERERS
FINNIS & RONALDS, High st
HORNE James, High st
PILCHER Thomas, High st
CARPENTERS & BUILDERS
BARBER John, High st
DOWN Robert, High st
GIBBONS Stephen, High st
MAYCOCK Charles, Newington
PAGE James, High st
WOOD Thomas, High st
CHINA, GLASS & EARTHENWARE DEALERS
ALLEN Elizabeth, High st
CLARKE John, High st
FISHER Thomas, High st
FRYER John Rogers, High st
HYDER Thomas, High st
LOVE John, High st
CHYMISTS & DRUGGISTS
MARSH William, High st
THOMAS James, High st
COAL MERCHANTS
GARRETT Thomas, High st
HORTON Joseph, High st
MARSHALL William, High st
SHIPDEM George, Theatre st
WATTS James, Stade st
CORN FACTORS
GARRETT Thomas, High st
HORTON Joseph, High st
HUDSON Henry, High st
MARSHALL William, (& ale & porter merchant), High st
WATTS James, (& general merchant), Stade st
FELLMONGERS & TAWERS
PEEL Robert, (& glover), High st
RAYNER William, High st
FIRE &c. OFFICE AGENTS
Guardian, John LEEDS, High st
Kent, FINNIS & RONALDS; and Charles SMITH, High st
Norwich Union, THORPE & LAWRENCE, High st
Phoenix, George JENKINS, High st
Protestant and Dissenters, William MARSH, High st
Sun, COCKS & HORNE, High st
West of England, William TIFFEN, High st
FRUITERERS & GREENGROCERS
CONLEY William, High st
HEWETT George, High st
MYERS John, High st
GARDENERS & SEEDSMEN
CONLEY William, High st
HEWETT George, High st
LAWRENCE Job, High st
GROCERS & TEA DEALERS – see also Shopkeepers &c.
ALLEN Elizabeth, High st
CAISTER Thomas & Sons, High st, and at Folkestone
CLARKE John, High st
EVENDEN William, Stade st
FISHER Thomas, High st
FRYER John Rogers, High st
HYDER Thomas, High st
LEEDS John (& tallow chandler), High st
LOVE John, High st
MARSH Sophia, Newington
PAGE Jno, (& tallow chandler), High st
PLEDGE William & John, High st
STOAKES Ann, Stade st
HAIR DRESSERS
ELGAR Henry, (& town crier), High st
PAINE Mary, (& toy dealer), High st
POPE James, High st
HORSE & GIG OWNERS – for hire
NELSON James, Chapel st
WEBB Mary, Chapel st
INNS
Kings Head, Henry STOKES, High st
Red Lion, Thomas, KING, Market st
Royal Oak, William KNOTT, Newington Green
Swan, (commercial & posting, and excise office), George PILCHER, High st
White Hart, (commercial & posting and hip and shower baths), John HILLS, High st
IRONMONGERS
DOWN Robert, High st
FINNIS & RONALDS, (& bell hangers), High st
GIBBONS Stephen, (& proprietor of bathing machines), High st
PAGE James, High st
LINEN DRAPERS
ROBERTSON James, High st
SKILLMAN Edward, High st
TRITTON & Son, High st
MALTSTERS
MACKESON Henry & William, (& brewers), Malthouse hill
RIGDEN Thomas, Newington
MILLERS
HORTON Joseph, Stade
MARSHALL William, High st
PAY William, Hythe mill
MILLINERS
BACK Eliza, High st
CHAMBERLAIN Mary Ann, Church hill
COOK & REELY, High st
DURDEN Mary Ann, High st
HORE Christiana, (& stay maker), Military road
JOLLIFF Elizabeth, High st
SKILLMAN Edward, High st
TAYLOR Charlotte, Marine Walk lane
TRITTON & Son, High st
PLUMBERS, PAINTERS & GLAZIERS
BAILEY Robert, High st
EASTES Silvester, High st
LORDEN William C, Market st
SADDLERS & ROPE MAKERS
BOORN Thomas, High st
HUSSEY Edward, High st
SHOPKEEPERS & DEALERS IN GROCERIES & SUNDRIES
CLARK Martha, (& stationer), High st
CLOAKE Thomas, Market st
DAY William, Stade st
GARDENER William, High st
OLDFIELD William, Saltwood
PAYN James, Saltwood
PRICE Mary, High st
RAVELL John, High st
SAMPSON George, Stade st
SPIRIT MERCHANTS
DUCKWORTH Jno, (& wine), Dentals st
JENKINS George, (& hatter), High st
STRAW HAT MAKERS
BOURN Jane, Ivy hill
HORE Christiana, Military road
THORPE Ann, High st
SURGEONS
FAGG Chas & Chas jun. High st
HUTCHINSON Scrope, High st
LE GROS James, High st
TAILORS – marked thus * are also Drapers
ASHDOWN Edward, High st
* HODGSON John, High st
* HOLMES Henry, High st
KENNETT James, High st
* MARTIN George, High st
* SHIPWASH William, High st
THORPE William, High st
* TRITTON & Son, High st
TAVERNS & PUBLIC HOUSES
Bell, Thomas HOWLAND, East st
Dukes Head, William CLARKE, Market st
Hope, Henry STOKES, Stade st
Rose & Crown, John TUCKER, High st
WATCH & CLOCK MAKERS
GILBERT Thomas, (& silversmith), High st
SHERWOOD John, (& silversmith), High st
WHEELWRIGHTS
BARBER John, High st
EAST Richard, & coach maker), East st
EVENDEN William, Stade st
HARRIS William, Saltwood
SHERWOOD Francis, Chapel st
MISCELLANEOUS
BACK William, clothes dealer, Mount st
BAKER Richard, basket maker, Dentals st
CHAMBERLAIN Richard, parish clerk, Church hill
COCKS John, clerk of the market, High st
EVENDEN William, lime burner, Military ground
Excise Office, Swan Inn, High st, James HILLS, officer
Gaol, Stade st, Thomas HYAM, keeper
KELLY Richard Seymour, barrack master, Military road
KING Robert William, bookbinder, High st
Savings Bank, High st, William, TIFFEN, clerk
SCOTT Stephen, cooper & dealer in toys & sub distributer of stamps, High st
SHREWSBURY Thomas, letter press printer, High st
SMITH Charles, newsvender & undertaker), High st
WILSON Joseph, woolstapler, Dentals st
COACHES
To London, the Times, (from Folkestone), calls at the White Hart and Swann Inns every morning at nine; goes through Ashford, Charing, Lenham, Maidstone &c. and the Red Rover from the Swan every morning at half past five; goes through Dover and Canterbury to Herne Bay, thence by steam to London.
To Dover and Hastings, the Union, from the Swan and White Hart Inns, every day at one, during summer.
To Folkestone, the Times, (from London), calls at the White Hart and Swan Inns every afternoon at five.
To Herne Bay, see London, the Red Rover.
VANS – for passengers & goods
To Ashford, a Van (from Dover), calls at the Swan and White Hart Inns, every morning, (Sunday excepted), at half past ten.
To Canterbury, ASHTELL’s Van, from his house every Monday, Wednesday & Saturday morning at eight.
To Dover, a Van (from Ashford), calls at the Swan and White Hart Inns, every afternoon, (Sunday excepted), at four and ASHTELL’s Van, from his house every morning at eight.
CARRIERS
To London, Charles BENTON’s Van, from the Swan and White Hart Inns, every Monday, Wednesday & Friday afternoon at two; goes through Ashford, Charing and Maidstone.
To Dover, Thomas HEDGCOCK and Thomas WOOD every Monday & Thursday and Daniel CATT (from Romney), every Tuesday & Friday.
To Romney & Lydd, Thomas HEDGCOCK and Thomas WOOD, every Tuesday & Friday, and Daniel CATT every Wednesday & Saturday.
CONVEYANCE BY WATER
To London, Richard & Jacob SPICER’s Hoy, once a week.
To Appledore, a Passage Boat, upon the Royal Military Canal, every morning (Sunday excepted), at half past ten, forwarding passengers, &c. (by Van), to Rye & Hastings and a Coach leaves Dover every morning (Sunday excepted), calling at the Swan Inn in time to forward passengers &c. by the above boat.
This page was last updated on 09-May-2010.
Copyright © 2008 Janet & Richard Mason.