Pigots 1840 - Kent
Loose, Barming, East & West Farleigh, Hunton, Linton, Teston, Wateringbury, Yalding & Nettlestead
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Loose is a village romantically situated between two hills, on the road between Maidstone & Cranbrooke, about two miles and a half south from the former and eleven and a half north from the latter town. A stream of water rushes through this place, and such is its fall that, in a progress of less than two miles, it propels the machinery of no fewer than twelve mills, employed in paper making, grinding corn and oil pressing. Upon an eminence on the south side of this stream stands the church, a venerable structure, dedicated to All Saints, with a square tower surmounted by a spire; the living is a perpetual curacy; in the gift of the Archbishop of Canterbury. (For population see after Nettlestead).
The village of Barming, is two miles and a half W by S from Maidstone, seated upon the river Medway, over which is a stone bridge leading to East Farleigh. The soil in this neighbourhood is peculiarly adapted to the cultivation of hops, and much fruit is annually sent to the London markets. The church, dedicated to St Margaret, has a beautiful spire; the benefice is a rectory, in the presentation of the crown.
East Farleigh and West Farleigh are villages in the parishes adjoining to each other; the former about two miles and a half SW by W from Maidstone; the latter situated on the southern bank of the Medway; the habitations composing it are prettily detached. Its small neat church is dedicated to All Saints; the living is a vicarage, I the presentation of the Dean and Chapter of Rochester – that of East Farleigh is likewise a vicarage, in the patronage of the crown.
About two miles from West Farleigh is the village of Hunton, situated on the river Beult. In the time of Henry II this place was of more importance than it is at the present day – for there was granted to it, through the medium of the then proprietor, Nicholas De Lenham, a charter for holding a weekly market and an annual fair of five days duration; both of these have for ages discontinued. The church a neat modern erection dedicated to St Mary, contains some handsome monuments to the Fane family. Beilby Porteus, successively bishop of Chester and London was rector of the parish of Hunton for twenty-two years.
About three miles from Maidstone, on the road to Cranbrooke is Linton village, in the parish of Linton and Crockhurst and near the great range of hills which bound the Weald on the north. About half a mile from the village, is the well known plain of Coxheath, on which, in time of warfare, large encampments have been formed. The church dedicated to St Nicholas, contains a few monuments of considerable antiquity, and in a good state of preservation; the living is a vicarage, in the presentation of Lord Cornwallis.
Teston is four miles W by S from Maidstone; it is a very inconsiderable village; and possesses nothing worthy of remark but its fine stone bridge over the Medway and the seat of Lord Barham adjacent to the village. The church is a remarkable small building, is dedicated to St Peter and Saint Paul.
Adjoining Teston is the parish of Wateringbury, the village being situated about five miles W by S From Maidstone. The church a stone structure has an appearance of great antiquity ; it is dedicated to St John the Baptist; the living is a discharged vicarage in the gift of the Dean and Chapter of Rochester. On a monument in the cemetery, to the memory of Oliver Style Bart. it is recorded in the height of an entertainment given to a party of his friends at Smyrna, every individual except himself, perished by an earthquake. The river Medway forms a part of the southern boundary of this parish, where it works some corn mills.
The village of Yalding, six miles from Maidstone, of all the places under our immediate notice, is perhaps the only one that has any pretensions to trade beyond those of a domestic and agricultural character. It is intersected by several branches of the Medway some of which are navigable by barges, by which a communication is maintained with Chatham and through it with the metropolis &c. by this medium coal and other commodities are supplied to the surrounding villages, and timber and hops in return transmitted. The church is a large old pile, is dedicated to St Peter and St Paul; the benefice is a vicarage, in the patronage of the Rev Richard Ward. In the parish are two free schools. The market once held here has not been attended for many years; but fairs for cattle and hops on Whit Monday and the 15thn October are still frequented.
On the side of the Medway opposite to that which skirts Yalding is the parish of Nettlestead; it does not present anything to attract notice except some remains of the splendid mansion of the Wentworths who were barons of Nettlestead. The parish church dedicated to St Mary, is a structure of small dimensions.
The foregoing villages although inconsiderable in point of trade, are of consequence as having in their neighbourhoods seats and mansions beautifully situated and in a district where the hop plantations are numerous and furnish employment to number of the inhabitants. The several parishes are locally situate in the lathe of Aylesford; and their respective population by the last census, (that of 1831), was as follows: - Loose, 1061; Barming, 565; East Farleigh, 1461; West Farleigh, 892; Hunton, 765; Linton, 723; Teston, 255; Wateringbury, 1109; Yalding, 2460 and Nettlestead 344 inhabitants.
POST OFFICES – Loose, William WELLS, Postmaster; Linton, John CORKE, Postmaster; and Yalding, Richard BAKER, Postmaster. Letters from all parts arrive (by way of Maidstone), every morning and are despatched every afternoon. East & West Farleigh, Hunton and Nettlestead – Letters arrive and are despatched to Maidstone daily.
POST OFFICE - Wateringbury, Robert JUDE, Postmaster. Letters from London arrive, (by mail cart from Tonbridge), every morning at half past four and are despatched every night at nine. Letters from Maidstone arrive every night at ten and are despatched every morning at four.
NOBILITY, GENTRY & CLERGY
ADAMS Mr Richard, Nettlestead
ALCHIN Mr Charles, Linton
ALCHIN Mr William, Linton
ALLSOPP John esq, Linton
ASH Mr William Windham, Loose
ASHBURNER Rev John, Linton
BARHAM Right Hon Lord, Teston
BARHAM Rev Charles H, Barming
BARKER Mrs Anne, Loose
BRIDGELAND Mr Thomas, Barming
BUSBY Mr James, Loose
CHARLTON Mrs Mary, West Farleigh
CHEESEMAN Mr James, Hunton
COBB Rev William Francis, Nettlestead
COPPIN Mr John, Linton
CORNWALLIS Right Hon Earl, Linton place
DAY Mr Francis, Barming
DAY Mr John, Hunton
DAY Mr Richard, Clock house, Hunton
DUDDY Mr George, Hunton
DUDDY Mr Joseph, Hunton
EARLE Rev Thomas, Wateringbury
ELKIN Thomas Turner esq, Hunton
ELLIS Mr James, Barming
ELVEY Mr Francis, Hunton
FITZHERBERT Sir Hy Bart. West Farleigh
GIBBONS Mr Ambrose, Linton
GILBERT Mr William, Hunton
GODMAN Rev, Linton
GOLDING James esq, Barming
GOLDING Mr Robert, Hunton
GREGORY Rev Francis Thomas, Loose
HARTRIDGE Mr Francis, West Farleigh
JACKSON Joseph esq, West Farleigh
JEDD Rev John, Loose
JEFFERY Mr James, Yalding
JONES Lieutenant Colonel Walter, Hayle place, Loose
LANGRIDGE George esq, Wateringbury
LEWIS Israel esq, West Farleigh
LUCAS Alderman Mathias Prime, Wateringbury place
MARSHAM Capt, Loose
MARSHAM Rev Jacob (DD), Wateringbury
MARTIN Mr John, Hunton
MATTHEWS Mr Thomas, Barming
MERCER Mr Richard, West Farleigh
MERCER Mr Samuel, East Farleigh
MILLER John esq, Bow hill, Yalding
MILLER Mr John, Hunton
MILLER Mr Richard, Linton
MILLS Thomas esq, Burston house, Hunton
MOORE Rev Robert, Hunton
NAISH Mr William, Loose
NOEL Hon & Rev Francis, Teston
PEENE The Misses, Loose
PENFOLD Mr Edward, Loose
RANGER Mr John, Hunton
RILEY Mr Richard, Loose
ROCHESTER The Very Rev. The Dean of, West Farleigh
RUSSELL MR Edward, Linton
SCOONS Mr Henry, Barming
SCOONS Mr Richard, Hunton
SHAW Mrs Capt, Linton
SHEDWICH Mr Thomas, Clock house, Linton
SHEPHARD Mr Henry, Nettlestead
SPRINGETT Charles esq, Linton
SPRINGETT Mr John, Linton
SPRINGETT Mr John, East Farleigh
STACEY Mr Courtney, Loose
STARNES Mr Lawrence C, Yalding
STARNES Mr Richard, Yalding
STONE Mr Benjamin, Nettlestead
TAPSFIELD Mr Thomas, East Farleigh
TURNER Richard esq, East Farleigh
TURNER Thomas esq, East Farleigh
WARD Rev Richard, Yalding
WARD Rev Richard jun, Yalding
WARD Mr William, Yalding
WHITEHEAD Richard esq, West Farleigh
WLBERFORCE Rev Robert Isaac, Barming
WOOD Mr William, Loose
WOODBRIDGE Jas esq, Wateringbury
ACADEMIES & SCHOOLS
EARLE Rev Thomas, (boarding), Wateringbury
ENGLISH Mary, (day), Yalding
Free School, Loose, John SMITH, master; Charlotte SMITH, mistress
Free School, Yalding, William WILLIAMS, master
KING Misses, (boarding & day), Wateringbury
MAY Wigram, (day), Loose
National School for East & West Farleigh, William POPE, master
WILLIAMS William, (boarding & day), Yalding
BAKERS
FREMLIN Jonathan Jos, Wateringbury
FREMLIN Joseph, Wateringbury
FRENCH John, Yalding
MOORE John, Loose
BLACKSMITHS
BEADLE John, Wateringbury
BEECHER Richard, Yalding
BRISCOE Benjamin, Barming
CHITTENDEN James, Loose
CHIITENDEN William, Yalding
CRISP John, Loose
FRY William, Yalding
GASKIN John, Barming
GROOMBRIDGE Richard, East Farleigh
GROOMBRIDGE Thomas, West Farleigh
SHEPHARD John, Wateringbury
TAPSFIELD Joseph, Barming
THORNDICRAFT Samuel, Linton
THORNDICRAFT Thomas, Hunton
TURNER George, East Farleigh
BOOT & SHOE MAKERS
CRIPPS George, Wateringbury
CRUMP William, Yalding
ELGAR James, Loose
FEATHERSTONE William, Wateringbury
FOSTER John, East Farleigh
GILES George, Yalding
KENNARD John, Yalding
LAMBERT John, Yalding
LARKIN John, Loose
LURCOCK William, Barming
LURCOCK William, West Farleigh
MAJOR John, Loose
MORECRAFT Thomas, Linton
PARKER William, Hunton
RICHARDSON Henry, Wateringbury
UNDERDOWN John, Loose
WATERS Henry, Hunton
WELLER Henry, Wateringbury
WOLLARD George, Linton
BREWERS
GRAVELEY & NEWINGTON, Loose
JUDE John Beal, Wateringbury
KEMP Thomas, Loose
LENEY Charles, Wateringbury
PIERSON William, Loose
BUTCHERS
BAKER Robert, Yalding
BALDWIN William, Wateringbury
COLEBROOK William, Loose
DANN George, Linton
DUDDY Thomas, Hunton
HARRIS Richard, Wateringbury
MEAD William, Loose
PHILPOT Thomas, Wrest Farleigh
SKINNER Edward, Loose
WEDD George, Yalding
CARPENTERS
DANN Daniel, Hunton
FLEET William, West Farleigh
GAMMON William, Linton
GIBBON John, Wateringbury
HODGE & WEBB, Yalding
HODGE John, Wateringbury
MILLER John, East Farleigh
PERRIN Charles, Wateringbury
RANGER James, Yalding
SHEDGETT William, Loose
THOMPSON Thomas, Loose
WOOD James, Loose
GROCERS & DRAPERS – see also Shopkeepers &c.
ALLINGHAM Richard, Wateringbury
ASHBY John, Linton
GREEN Thomas, East Farleigh
HYDE Robert, Loose
JUDE Robert, Wateringbury
LUCK Henry, Teston
LUCK Thomas, (& tallow chandler), Yalding
RANDALL John, (& fruiterer), Loose
SCOONS Richard, Hunton
SPRINGETT Cornelius, Linton
TOMKIN William, Yalding
WELLS William, Loose
MALSTERS
CHARLTON Thomas Parfect, Loose
KEMP Thomas, Loose
LENEY Charles, Wateringbury
MILLERS
CHARLTON Thomas Parfect, Loose
FREMLIN James, Wateringbury
MERCER William, Hunton
MILLS William, Loose
WILSON John & William, Loose
PAINTERS, PLUMBERS & c.
HUBBLE Robert, Yalding
WALTER & Son, Wateringbury
WELLS Thomas, Linton
PAPER MAKERS
GREEN Samuel, Hayle mill, Loose
HOLLINGWORTH John Thomas & John, Loose
SMITH & ALLNUTT, Lower Tovil & Ivy Mills
SADDLERS
FREEMAN James, Wateringbury
RANDALL Thomas, Yalding
SEED CRUSHERS
STARTUP & PHILPOTT, Farleigh
SHOPKEEPERS & DEALERS IN GROCERIES & SUNDRIES
ALCHIN Henry, Coxheath
BEECHER Robert, Yalding
FARMER Thomas, Coxheath
GASCOIN Elizabeth, Loose
JOY John, Loose
LATTER Thomas, Yalding
LURCOCK William, Barming
MARSHALL Henry, Barming
WOOD James, Loose
SURGEONS]
AYERST John, Loose
GOULD Henry Merton, Wateringbury
POUT Henry, Yalding
TAILORS
BEECHER Robert, Yalding
COOK Thomas, Wateringbury
CORKE John, Linton
FRENCH Richard, Loose
HUMPHREYS William, Wateringbury
JUPP Thomas, Loose
MILLER Henry, Yalding
ONGLEY Charles, Wateringbury
WARRINGTON William, Yalding
WATERS James, Loose
TAVERNS & PUBLIC HOUSES
Anchor, John BALDWIN, Yalding
Bird in Hand, George SANDS, Coxheath
Bull, George CRITTENDEN, East Farleigh
Bull, Elizabeth FOSTER, Linton
Bull, James HARDS, Barming
Bull, George POPE, Hunton
Bull, William WARRINGTON, Yalding
Chequers, Susannah PAIN, Loose
Chequers, John PHILPOT, West Farleigh
Chequers, Richard SHOEBRIDGE, Yalding
Dukes Head, Dav, BOWMAN, Wateringbury
Fountain, Henry THOMAS, Barming
George, George MEERS, Yalding
Horse Shoe, Samuel SPRINGETT, Coxheath
Kentish Hoy, David WRAIGHT, Nettlestead
Kings Arms, John BANK, Loose
Kings Head, Edward FREEMAN, Wateringbury
North Pole, William, HUGGETT, Wateringbury
Star, William TANCETT, Coxheath
Swan, Joseph GREEN, Loose
Two Brewers, Joseph SAMWAY, Yalding
WHEELWRIGHTS
COPPING John, East Farleigh
EVE Thomas, Loose
HARRISON William, Barming
HYDE William, Loose
PEARSON & GOODWIN, Wateringbury
POPE George, Hunton
SKINNER Robert, East Farleigh
THOMPSON Thomas, Linton
WHITE Samuel, Yalding
MISCELLANEOUS
BAKER Richard, hairdresser, Yalding
BEADLE William, currier &c, Yalding
CHARLTON William, wharfinger to the Medway Navigation Co. Yalding
FRENCH John, ironmonger and watch maker, Yalding
GREEN Joseph, coal & corn dealer, Loose
KING John, Fire Office Agent, Wateringbury
ROGERS Reuben, cooper, Yalding
SKINNER William, fruiterer, Loose
STONE Isaac, bricklayer, East Farleigh
COACHES – calling at the Kings Head, Wateringbury
To London, the Reliance, (from Maidstone), every morning at a quarter before nine, and the Tally Ho at half past nine.
To Brighton & Tonbridge, the Royal Blue, (from Rochester), every Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday morning at eleven.
To Maidstone, the Reliance, (from London), every afternoon at half past five and the Tally Ho at half past six.
To Rochester, the Royal Blue, (from Brighton), every Monday, Wednesday & Friday afternoon at four.
VANS – for passengers and goods
To Maidstone, a Van, from the Bull, Yalding every Thursday morning and Vans to and from Maidstone and Tonbridge pass through Wateringbury daily.
CARRIERS
To London, George BAKER, from Wateringbury – George LARKIN from Teston and Thomas ROOF from Yalding every Monday and Thursday.
To Maidstone, William ASHDOWN & John KING, from Yalding every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday.
This page was last updated on 06-Mar-2021.
Copyright © 2008 Janet & Richard Mason.