Pigots 1840 - Kent
Lenham, Charing & neighbourhoods
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Lenham is a village and parish in the hundred of Eyhorne. The village which is nine miles E by S from Maidstone, is laid out with a considerable degree of uniformity; it consists of two principal streets that cross each other, and at their intersection is a square with a row of trees. The church dedicated to St Mary stands at the south end of the village; it is a large handsome structure, containing at the west end of the chancel, sixteen stalls, supposed to have been placed for the accommodation of the monks of St Augustine when they visited an estate possessed by them in this parish; the benefice is a vicarage, in the patronage of James Stoddart DOUGLAS Esq. the lord of the manor. A place of worship for independents, an almshouse for six widows, with a house for the governor, and a national school are in the parish. In former times a market was held here, but it has been many years discontinued; and although its revival was subsequently attempted by the lord of the manor and the most liberal inducements held out to effect the object, yet every endeavour failed to attract attendance. Fairs are held on the 6th June and 23rd October for cattle. The parish contained in 1831, 2197 inhabitants.
Four miles SSE from Lenham, in the hundred of Colehill and lathe of Aylesford, is the village of Charing, situated on the high road between Maidstone and Ashford. It is a place of very little trade and destitute of manufactures. The Archbishop of Canterbury formerly had a palace here, and portions of its ruins have survived the havoc of the centuries; the ancient gate entrance and much of the sides of the court within it, are still standing; at the east end of the latter there seems to have been the dining room, the walls of which remain – this apartment has been converted into a barn, whilst other detached parts are occupies as a farm house, stables &c. The church dedicated to St Peter and St Paul, is a handsome edifice, consisting of an aisle, a transept, a high chancel and a small one; at the western end is the tower, with a small beacon turret at one corner; the pews are of oak, and profusely ornamented. The church was completed in 1545 and in 1590 was nearly consumed by fire. Whereby the windows and memorials were defaced. The benefice is a vicarage, in the gift of the dean and chapter of St Paul’s; the Rev F. B. TATE is the present incumbent. There is an endowed free school, with two exhibitions at Oriel College, Oxford, founded in 1761 by Mrs Elizabeth LUDWELL. Two annual fairs are held here – one on the 29th April, the other on 29th October, principally for cattle and horses. Population of the parish 1237.
POST OFFICE – Lenham, Edward BROWN, Postmaster. Letters from London arrive (by mail cart from Maidstone), every morning at seven and are despatched every evening at half past six.
POST OFFICE – Charing, John HUMPHREY, Postmaster. Letters from London arrive (by mail cart from Maidstone), every morning at eight and are despatched every evening at six.
GENTRY & CLERGY
BARWICK Mrs, Charing
CLAYTON Rev S, Boughton Malherbe
CROFT Faithful esq, Charing
DARRELL Edward esq, Cale hill
DERING Rev Chomley Edwd, Pluckley
DERING Sir Edward bart. Surrenden
DOUGLAS James Stoddart esq, Chilston park
HARRISON George esq, Lenham
HAWKES the Misses, Charing
HONEYWOOD Edward esq, Charing
MUNN Miss, Charing
NORWOOD Mr Weller (attorney), Charing
PARKIN Rev Chas, Vicarage, Lenham
PARRETT Rev William, Lenham
POWELL Mr George, Lenham
POWELL Mr James, Lenham
POWELL Mr William, Lenham
SAYER Geo Edward esq, Pett house
STROUTS Mr Edward (Yonsea), Hothfield
TATE Rev Francis Blackburne, Vicarage, Charing
WHELER Mrs, Otterden
ACADEMIES & SCHOOLS – not otherwise described are Day Schools
BOTTLE Mrs, Lenham
BROWN Wm, Lenham
COUCHMAN Kate (boarding & day), Charing
DOWNES Harriet, Charing
FINCH Mrs Elizabeth, Lenham
HATTON Edward, Charing
MERCY Mary Sophia & Maria Sarah (boarding), Lenham
National School, Charing, Celia MILLEN, mistress
National School, Lenham, Thos. Newport BROWN, master
BAKERS
BIGG John, Lenham
BROADBRIDGE John (& confectioner), Charing
CRUTTENDEN Thomas, Lenham
DUTNALL William, Lenham
PIPER James, Charing
BLACKSMITHS
BOORMAN Thomas, Charing
BURBRIDGE Isaac, Lenham
HUNT Philip, Lenham
SMITH John, Charing
STANFORD James, Charing
BOOT & SHOE MAKERS
BOORMAN George, Charing
DUNGATE Henry, Charing
GOODING John (& leather seller), Lenham
HUGHES William, Lenham
PAYNE John, Lenham
POTTER John, Lenham
ROSE Samuel, Charing
SWAFFER Edward, Charing
BRICKLAYERS
CHAPMAN Henry, Charing
CLARK William, Lenham
JUDGES William, Charing
PARKS John, Lenham
BUTCHERS
DENNETT John Henry, Lenham
FULLAGAR John, Lenham
HARRISON Charles, Lenham
JENNINGS John, Charing
LOVE Edward, Charing
WESTOVER Thomas, Lenham
CARPENTERS
FILMER John, Lenham
GREENSTREET John, Lenham
HYDER Thomas, Charing
KNOWLES John, Charing
SEDGWICK Charles, Lenham
CHINA, GLASS & EARTHENWARE DEALERS
CLARK John, Lenham
DAY Edward Munk, Lenham
HOLDSTOCK James, Charing
KIDDER John, Charing
KINGSNORTH William, Charing
STREETER George, Charing
COOPERS
DAVIS William, Lenham
RIGDEN John, Lenham
FIRE & c. OFFICE AGENTS
Kent (fire & life), Edward Munk DAY, Lenham
Kent & Norwich, Thomas RACHELL, Charing
Norwich Union (fire & life), Edward BROWN, Lenham
GLOVERS
BROWN Thomas, Lenham
LURCOCK William, Lenham
MILLGATE Jethro, Charing
GROCERS & DEALERS IN SUNDRIES
BROWN Edward (& tallow chandler), Lenham
CLARK John, Lenham
CRUTTENDEN Thos. Lenham
DAY Edwd MUNK (& brewer), Lenham
HOLDSTOCK James, Charing
KIDDER John, Charing
KINGSNORTH William, Charing
LURCOCK William, Lenham
RUSSELL John (& druggists), Lenham
STREETER George (& tallow chandler), Charing
HAIR DRESSERS
GOODING Sampson, Lenham
HUMPHREY Jno (& toy dealer), Charing
INNS & PUBLIC HOUSES
Chequers, Mary HUGHES, Lenham
Dog and Bear (commercial & posting), John SAYER, Lenham
Kings Head (& posting), Thomas WILTSHIRE, Charing
Red Lion, John Henry DENNETT, Lenham
Red Lion, John JENNINGS, Charing
Swan Inn (commercial & posting), John MYERS, Charing
LINEN DRAPERS
AKHURST John, Charing
PEARSON Charles, Charing
RUSSELL John, Lenham
SKILLMAN William (& hatter & clothier), Charing
SOUTHGATE Robert, Lenham
MALTSTERS
AKHURST John, Charing
CHAPMAN William, Lenham
HARRISON Edmund, Lenham
MILLERS
JENNINGS Richard Chapman, Charing
KELSEY & FOORD (seed), East Lenham
SPICER Job, Lenham
TANTON Edward, Lenham
TAPPENDEN Henry, Potters Corner Mill, Ashford
WHITE Daniel, Lenham
PAINTERS, PLUMBERS &c.
NORRINGTON Jesse, Lenham
PAYNE Samuel, Charing
SADDLERS
BOTTLE William (& rope maker), Lenham
CHEESMAN John (& rope maker), Charing
RIGDEN John, Lenham
SURGEONS
M’RAE & STICKINGS, Lenham
MUNDAY George, Charing
WILKS Charles, Charing
WILKS Thomas Prescott, Charing
TAILORS & DRAPERS
BURGOYNE Thomas, Charing
CHEESMAN & HARRIS (& sub distributer of stamps), Charing
GOODING John, Lenham
NORRIS William, Lenham
WATCH & CLOCK MAKERS
ELLIOTT Edward, Lenham
ROBERTS Alexander, Charing
TIPPING James, Lenham
WHEELWRIGHTS
ALEXANDER William C, Lenham
COPPINS Alfred, Lenham
HORTON John, Charing
RACHELL Elizabeth, Charing
MISCELLANEOUS
BAILEY Geo, registrar of births & deaths, Lenham
CHEESMAN John, dealer in British wines, Charing
CHEESMAN William, registrar of births & deaths, Charing
COPPINS Arthur, parish clerk, Lenham
Excise Office, Charing, Wm. Thomas BAYLEY, officer
Excise Office, Dog and Bear, Lenham, John MARRAGE, officer
GOODING George, auctioneer, appraiser and furniture broker, Lenham
HARRISON George, cattle dealer, Lenham
HUMPHREY John, patten maker, Charing
LURCOCK Lucy, dressmaker, Lenham
MILLEN Stephen, parish clerk, Charing
Usmar DRAPER, brazier & tinman, Lenham
COACHES
To London, the Times (from Folkestone) calls at the Swan, Charing, every forenoon at eleven and at the Dog & Bear, Lenham at half past eleven.
To Ashford, Folkestone & Hythe the Times (from London) calls at the Dog & Bear, Lenham every afternoon at two, and at the Swan, Charing at three – the Accommodation Van (from Maidstone), calls at the Dog & Bear, Lenham every forenoon at (Sunday excepted) at eleven and night at nine, and at the Swan, Charing, at twelve at noon and ten at night.
To Maidstone, the Accommodation Van (from Ashford) calls at the Swan, Charing, every morning (Sunday excepted) at half past six and afternoon at three, and at the Dog & Bear, Lenham at seven in the morning and four in the afternoon.
CARRIERS
To London, William SCOTT every Monday and Friday
To Ashford, Charles BENTON, every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
To Canterbury, George DOWN from Charing, every Tuesday and Saturday
To Faversham, John WILSON from Lenham every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
To Maidstone, Thomas HUGHES from Lenham, every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
This page was last updated on 06-Mar-2021.
Copyright © 2008 Janet & Richard Mason.