Pigots 1840 - Kent
Headcorn, Sutton Valence & Smarden
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Headcorn is a small village and decayed market town in the lathe of Aylesford and hundred of Eyhorne, situated on a branch of the river Medway, and on the road leading from Maidstone to Tenterden, nine miles SE by S from the former town. As regards trade this is a place of no consequence, nor does its neighbourhood present anything to attract observation except the South Eastern Railway, which on its route from the metropolis to Dover, passes in the immediate vicinity of the village. The church dedicated to St Paul and St Paul, is an ancient commodious edifice; the living is a discharged vicarage, in the patronage of the Archbishop of Canterbury. In the churchyard is a most extraordinary large oak, the circumference of the trunk measuring forty feet; its appearance denotes great age. A fair is held here on the 12th June. The population, in 1831 amounted to 1193, being an increase of two inhabitants in the preceding ten years.
Sutton Valence or Town Valence is a village and parish in the same lathe and hundred as Headcorn distant about three miles and a half from that village. It consists chiefly of being one long street, the houses of which are unconnected and stand mostly upon the side of a hill. From the high grounds at the rear of the village a most extensive view is commanded over that part of the county called the Weald of Kent, extending to the range of hills that separate this county from Surrey. From the remains of its castle supposed to be of Saxon origin, which are to be seen at the east of the village, it is inferred that this place formerly was of considerable consequence. The church dedicated to St Mary; is a spacious structure, with a tower; the benefice is a vicarage, in the gift of the Dean and Chapter of Rochester. A free grammar school was founded here in 18th of Elizabeth; it is supported by means of several bequests, educates about thirty boys, and has two exhibitions to St Johns College of Cambridge. An annual fair is held here on the 1st of November for cattle. The parish by the last returns contained 1144 inhabitants.
About four miles ESE from Headcorn situated on the river Beult, in the lathe of Scray and hundred of Colehill is the village of Smarden. The houses, very few of which are of prepossessing appearance are scattered over a wide surface principally on low lands that are frequently laid under water upon the occurrence of sudden floods. The church, dedicated to St Michael, is a neat edifice with a square tower; the benefice is a rectory, in the presentation of the see of Canterbury. There are places of worship for baptists and Wesleyan methodists – to the chapel of the former a school is attached; and there is a free school founded in 1716 by Stephen DADSON, in which about fifty children are instructed. A market formerly held here has fallen into disuse, but the market house is still standing. A fair is held on the 10th October for toys and pedlery. Population of the parish in 1831, 1177.
POST OFFICE – Headcorn, Joseph WILSON, Postmaster. Letters arrive (by foot post from Maidstone), every day at twelve and are despatched every afternoon at three.
POST OFFICE – Sutton Valence, Thomas WELLS, Postmaster. Letters arrive (by foot post from Maidstone), every morning at ten, and are despatched every afternoon at four.
POST OFFICE – Smarden, Samuel LAW, Postmaster. Letters arrive (by foot post), from and are despatched to Cranbrook daily.
GENTRY & CLERGY
BEAUFOY Mrs Mary, Sutton Valence
BOUCHER Mr Charles, Bass lane
BOUCHER Mr Thomas, East Sutton
BOUCHER Mr William, East Sutton
BRIDGE Mr Edwin, Sutton Valence
BUSS Samuel, Chart Sutton
COULTER Daniel, Chart Sutton
CRISPE Mrs Elizabeth, Sutton Valence
FIELDING Rev Charles, Headcorn
FILMER Sir Edmund bart, East Sutton
GOODCHILD Rev, Sutton Valence
HAMER Rev James, Sutton Valence
HARMAN Mr Samuel, Sutton Valence
HINDS Mr William, Smarden
HOEW Mr George, Chart Sutton
ISMAY Mrs Elizabeth, Sutton Valence
LONG Mr William, East Sutton
LUCKHURST Mr John, Sutton Valence
MANSELL Mrs, Chart Sutton
MORRISSON Sir Alexander, knight, Sutton Valence
MOSSOP Rev Isaac, Smarden
OSBORNE Mr Stephen, Sutton Valence
PAINE Mr John, East Sutton
PORTER Miss Maria, Sutton Valence
READER Mr Samuel Godden (attorney), Sutton Valence
SAINT Rev Christian, Headcorn
SHIRLEY Mrs Mary, Sutton Valence
SHIRLEY Mr William, Sutton Valence
STEVENSON Miss, Sutton Valence
VAUGHAN Rev Walter, Chart Sutton
WILCOCK Rev William, West Sutton
WILKINS Mrs Sophia, Sutton Valence
WILLES Mr John, Sutton Valence
ACADEMIES & SCHOOLS
Free Grammar, Sutton Valence, Rev GOODCHILD, master
Free School, Smarden, Thomas WORSFOLD, master
GIBBONS Marianne, (ladies boarding), Sutton Valence
KOFE Thomas, (day), Headcorn
SYCKELMOOR William, (day), Smarden
BAKERS
HOLLANDS George, Sutton Valence
HOLLANDS James, Headcorn
MAYTUM Charles, Sutton Valence
OSMAR William, Headcorn
SMITH James, Sutton Valence
SUDBURY Thomas, Sutton Valence
BLACKSMITHS
AUSTIN James, Chart Sutton
BURDEN William, Sutton Valence
CHEESMAN George, Smarden
FRY William, Smarden
MARTIN George, Sutton Valence
MILNER Dive (& farrier), Headcorn
PHILPOTT William, Headcorn
SEDGWICK Mary, Chart Sutton
THORNDICRAFT Richard, Sutton Valence
TOWN Robert, Sutton Valence
TURK Jeremiah, Smarden
WENHAM William, Sutton Valence
BOOT & SHOE MAKERS
ACRES George, Smarden
COPPING John, Smarden
CORKE Mark, Headcorn
HOOKER John, Sutton Valence
HUGHES John, Chart Sutton
JARRETT William, Sutton Valence
MARTIN John, Sutton Valence
NICHOLS James, Smarden
OTTAWAY Thomas, Headcorn
WAGHORN Charles, Headcorn
WELLS Thomas, Sutton Valence
WHITE James, Headcorn
BRICKLAYERS
BRIDGE Jos (& stone mason), Smarden
TESTER William, Sutton Valence
BUTCHERS
BIGG George, Sutton Valence
BIGG Thomas, Sutton Valence
BOORMAN Alfred, Headcorn
EVENDEN Joseph, Smarden
GOODWIN Charles, Sutton Valence
WAGHORN John, Headcorn
WILMOTT William, Smarden
CARPENTERS
BROOKS Edward, Chart Sutton
FULLAGAR Kelsham, Headcorn
GURR William, Smarden
HART Thomas, Headcorn
HIGGENS George, Sutton Valence
NORRIS Peter, Headcorn
PEARSON John, Smarden
PEARSON Thomas, Smarden
SMITH John, Sutton Valence
TOWN Thomas, Sutton Valence
CHYMISTS & DRUGGISTS
CRISPE Henry, Sutton Valence
MARTIN Frederick, Sutton Valence
COOPERS
RIDOUT George, Sutton Valence
SOUTHON Stephen, Headcorn
GLOVERS
BIRCH Catherine, Smarden
HODGE William, Headcorn
GROCERS & TEA DEALERS – see also Shopkeepers – marked thus * are also Linen Drapers
CHAPMAN James, Sutton Valence
CHURCHILL Robert, Sutton Valence
* DEYKIN Lewis &William, Sutton Valence
* FARMER John, Sutton Valence
* HAYES John, Sutton Valence
LARGE Mary, Smarden
* MANNERING Robert Willsher, (& tallow chandler and agent to the Kent fire office), Headcorn
SANDERS Job, Smarden
* SWADLING Frances, Smarden
* WYARD Joseph, Headcorn
HAIR DRESSERS
ROUSE John, Sutton Valence
WATSON Frederick, Sutton Valence
MILLERS
BOORMAN John, Chart Sutton
BOORMAN William, Headcorn
HOMEWOOD James, Smarden
MERCER George, Headcorn
SAUDERS Job, Smarden
MILLINERS & STRAW HAT MAKERS
HIGGENS Margaret, Sutton Valence
SUDBURY Ann, Sutton Valence
WELLS Elizabeth, Sutton Valence
PAINTERS, PLMBERS & GLAZIERS
ANDERSON Thomas, Smarden
DAY William, Headcorn
TYLER Samuel, Sutton Valence
SADDLERS & HARNESS MAKERS
CHEESMAN John, Smarden
EVENDEN Jno (& ironmonger), Headcorn
SIMMONS William, Sutton Valence
SHOPKEEPERS & DEALERS IN GROCERIES & SUNDRIES
CORNES William, Smarden
DAVIS Thomas, Sutton Valence
FEATHERSTONE George, Smarden
FLEET Richard, Smarden
GILES William, East Sutton
PHILPOTT Daniel, Headcorn
SAUNDERS Job, Smarden
WITHERDEN William, Headcorn
SURGEONS
CHAPMAN William Smarden
GRIFFITHS Jas, Headcorn & Smarden
SKINNER David, Headcorn
VINALL Charles, Sutton Valence
TAILORS
DOBELL Joseph, Headcorn
HYLAND James, Headcorn
LAW William, Smarden
MOFFATT James, Sutton Valence
TORSELL George, Sutton Valence
WELLS Alfred, Smarden
TAVERNS & PUBLIC HOUSES
Chequers, Samuel LAW, Smarden
George & Dragon, John DAY, Headcorn
Kings Arms, Lewis BARHAM, Headcorn
Kings Head, William MOFFAT, Sutton Valence
Plough, John Beaumont ROUSE, Sutton Valence
Queens Head, Thomas WOOLLET, Sutton Valence
Swan, William MASCALL, Sutton Valence
White Horse, Robert TURK, Smarden
WHEELWRIGHTS
BOORMAN Robert, Sutton Valence
COBB William, Sutton Valence
EVENDEN Charles, Smarden
NORRIS Witcombe, Headcorn
PARK Stephen, Headcorn
MISCELLANEOUS
CHANDLER William, tin plate worker, Sutton Valence
CRISPE George (executors of), brewers, Sutton Valence
CROUCH James, corn dealer, Headcorn
FARRANCE Jno, basket maker, Sutton Valence
FLEET Richard, turner & chair maker, Smarden
HUNT Charles, watchmaker, Headcorn
REEDMAN William, excise officer, Sutton Valence
ROUSE John Beaumont, auctioneer, Sutton Valence
COACHES
To London, a Coach, (from Tenterden), calls at the George Inn, Headcorn every morning (Sunday excepted), at a quarter past eight, and at the Kings Head Inn, Sutton Valence at a quarter before nine.
To Tenterden, a Coach, (from London), calls at the Kings Head Inn, Sutton Valence, every evening (Sunday excepted), at a quarter before eight, and at the George Inn, Headcorn at a quarter past eight.
CARRIERS
To Ashford, William SEELEY, from Smarden every Tuesday and Saturday.
To Maidstone, William COLLINS, from Sutton Valence every morning; John CHAINEY from Headcorn and Benjamin WESTOVER from Smarden every Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday and William SEELEY, from Smarden every Thursday.
This page was last updated on 06-Mar-2021.
Copyright © 2008 Janet & Richard Mason.