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ASHFORD
with the villages of WIILESBOROUGH, MERSHAM
& neighbourhoods Ashford
is a market town and parish, in the hundred of Chart and Longridge, and lathe of
Scray – 54 miles ESE from London, 14 SSW from Canterbury, 20 SE by E from
Maidstone, and 30 NNE from Hastings in Sussex.
It is situate about twelve miles from the sea, on an eminence rising from
the northern bank of the small river Stour, on the high road between Hythe and
Maidstone, and on the line of the South Eastern Railway. The town which is a
liberty of itself, originated from the ruins of Great Chart, an ancient market
town, which gave name to the hundred, and was destroyed in the Danish wars; it
was then called Asseheford, and in some early documents, Estefort and Enetesford
from the ford over the river Stour, the ancient name of which was Esshe and
Eschet. The present town is one of considerable respectability, the houses are
modern and well built; and the principal street, which is well paved and
lighted, contains many good shops, and three principal inns. The only branch of
manufacture is that of damask linen, which though not extensive, is of superior
fabric and handsome pattern. A suite of assemble rooms has within these few
years been erected; there are also two good libraries and a reading room. The
present Lord of the Manor is Thomas DAWES esq. who holds a court leet annually
in November, when a constable or headborough and other manorial officers are
chosen. A charter exists for holding a court of requests, but it has long become
obsolete. Ashford is one of the polling stations at the election of members for
East Kent. The places of worship are the parish church and others for baptists
and Wesleyan methodists, Lady Huntingdon’s connexion and the society of
friends. The church (formerly collegiate) dedicated to St Mary, is a spacious
cruciform edifice and a rich specimen of the later style of English
architecture; an elegant and lofty tower rises from its centre, and contains a
fine ring of bells and a set of musical chimes; the latter perform no less than
fourteen tunes, and of the enlivening appendage the inhabitants are somewhat
proud. The church contains several monuments, well worth the notice of the
admirers of those memorials of bygone greatness. The living is a vicarage, in
the gift of the dean and chapter of Rochester; and the present incumbent is Rev.
Thomas WOOD. The principal charities are a free grammar school and a national
school; the former was founded and endowed by Sir Norton KNATCHBULL in 1636; and
the latter is partly supported by subscription, and partly by bequest of land by
Dr TURNER in 1702. Ashford confers the inferior title of baron on the family of
KEPPEL, Earls of Albemarle. The weekly market is on Tuesday and Saturday and one
of the principal stock markets in the county is held in this town, on the first
and third Tuesday in every month. There are also five fairs held annually viz.
May 17th, September 9th and October 12th and 24th,
for general merchandize; and the first week in August for wool; the two first
are chartered fairs, but the markets have almost superseded the use of them all.
By the government returns for 1831, the parish contained 2809 inhabitants. Two
miles SE by E from Ashford, in the same hundred as that town, is the small
village and parish of Willesborough, containing a neat church, dedicated to St
Mary; the living is a vicarage, in the patronage of the dean and chapter of
Canterbury. Population of the parish 472. Nearly
four miles SE from Ashford, in the same hundred is the village of Mersham,
situate close to the line of the South Eastern Railway. The church dedicated to
St John the Baptist, is a structure of considerable antiquity, having a tower;
the living is a rectory, in the gift of the see of Canterbury. There is a place
of worship for Wesleyan methodists, and a charitable fund for the education of a
limited number of poor children. A fair, chiefly for toys and pedlary, is held
on the Friday in Whitsun week. According to the Parliamentary returns for 1831,
the parish contained 677 inhabitants. POST
OFFICE – High
street, Ashford,
John
TUNBRIDGE, Postmaster, letters from London and all the Eastern parts of Kent
arrive (by mail cart from Canterbury), every morning at six, and are despatched
every night at eight. Letters from Maidstone
and
the Weald
of Kent, arrive every
morning at nine, and are dispatched every afternoon at a quarter past five. POST
OFFICE, Mersham,
Edward
SIMMONS, Postmaster, letters from all parts arrive (by foot post from Ashford)
every morning at nine, and are despatched every afternoon at five. NOBILITY,
GENTRY & CLERGY BACK
Mrs, New Rents BELLAMY
Rev. J W, Sellinge BILLINGTON
Rev. John, Vicarage, Kennington BROOK
Mrs Anne, High st BURNETT
Rev. Robert, Bethersden CARTER
Henry WM (MD), Kennington CULCHETH
Rev. William, New Rents CURTEIS
Mrs Mary, North st DAVIS
Mrs Sarah, North st DAVIS
Rev, Thomas, High st DAWES
Daniel Butler esq. High st DENNE
Mr Thomas, Kennington FIELD
Mrs Ann, High st FOSTER
Mr John, New st GREENHILL
Mrs Elizabeth, High st GREENHILL
Mr Stephen, High st GREGORY
George esq. Willesborough HADLOW
Rev. Ashford HAGGER
Mrs Mary, New st HARNETT
Mr Wm Tomlin, Ashford HILL
Rev. Samuel, High st HIND
Mr George, New st HUGHES
Mr Edward, Smeeth HUGHES
Mr George, Smeeth HUGHES
the Misses, Mersham JEMMETT
Mrs Fanny, High st JEMMETT
William esq. High st JONES
George esq. Willesborough KNATCHBULL
Sir Edward bart. Mersham hatch KNATCHBULL
Rev Windham, Smeeth KNOWLES
Mr Curteis, Willesborough LOCKWOOD
Rev. Frederick, Vicarage, Mersham MORGAN
Mr George, Vybrook MOSSOP
Rev J, Hothfield NICHOLS
Mr Thomas, New st NORWOOD
Mrs Elizabeth, High st NORWOOD
Mrs Frances, North st NORWOOD
Rev. George, Sevington OXENDEN
Rev, Eastwell PEMBROKE
John esq, New rents REEVE
Mrs Ann, New rents REEVE
Miss Elizabeth, New rents ROSS
Rev John Alexander, Westwell SMITH
Rev. Richard, High st STODDART
the Misses, High st STUNT
Mr Walter, Sevington THANET
the Earl of, Hothfield place TOKE
Rev. Nicholas, Godington TUCK
Mr Robert, Kennington WAITE
Rev Thomas (DD), Rectory, Great Chart WALL
Mr James, New st WILLMOTT
Rev Robt. D, Kennington WOOD
Rev Thomas, Vicarage WYBOURN
Miss, Ashford ACADEMIES
& SCHOOLS Grammar
School, Church yard, Ephraim Hemmings SNOAD, master HALL
Thomas, (day) Ashford Infants
School, New rents, Ann TUNBRIDGE, mistress LESTER
Charlotte (boarding & day), Hempstead place National
School, Great Chart, Mary Ann CUMMINS, mistress National
School, New rents, Edward LURCOCK, master; Mary BODKIN, mistress SNOAD
Sarah & Martha (boarding & day), Hempstead place SUTTON
Elizabeth (day), Ashford TAPPENDEN
Thomas, (gents boarding & day), High st THOMPSON
William (day), Back lane ATTORNEYS CRUTTENDEN
William, High st FURLEY
Robert, (& clerk to the magistrates), North st GREENHILL
Norman, Ashford LESTER
James, Hempstead place AUCTIONEERS
& APPRAISRS BAYLEY
& REEVE, High st BAKERS ASHDOWN
John, High st BACK
William, High st CLARK
Wm, (& confectioner), High st HEAD
William, Mersham HILL
Jane, New st HOUGHTON
Henden, (& confectioner), Market place HOWLAND
Thomas, North st ODDEN
Stephen, Great Chart TAPPENDEN
John, Kennington TUNBRIDGE
Stephen, High st WALTER
Thomas, New rents WRAIGHT
Wm (& confectioner), New rents BANKERS JEMMETT
& POMFRET, High st (draw on SMITH, PAYNE & SMITHS, London) Savings
Bank, (& annuity office), High st (open every Tuesday 12 till 2), Thomas
THURSTON, clerk BASKET
MAKERS CLOVER
John, High st HARPER
John, High st BLACKSMITHS BRENCHLEY
William, Great Chart COOK
John, Willesborough GEORGE
Henry, Smeeth JENNER
Isaac, North st LACEY
Edward, New st OFFEN
James, Great Chart PETERS
Jas. (& wheelwright), Kennington BOOKSELLERS
& STATIONRS ELLIOTT
& Son, (& printers), High st JENNINGS
James, High st BOOT
& SHOE MAKER ANDREWS
Thomas, High st BACK
George , High st BACK
Thomas, High st BARNES
John, High st BULL
Henry, Willesborough CAPELING
James, High st CHARLTON
Daniel, New st FINN
Jesse, Mersham GOLD
Henry, Great Chart HEMSLEY
Henry, North st HOWLAND
James, Castle st KINGSLAND
Daniel, High st KINGSMILL
Thomas, High st LAKER
Richard, Castle st MILLER
John, High st MORRIS
Joseph, Gravelpit st NORLEY
John, High st SHILLING
William, Great Chart STOCKWELL
William, Mersham THORPE
Richard, High st WILLIAMS
James , High st BRAZIERS
& TINMEN DAWSON
Thomas, High st DUNGEY
John & Co, (& locksmith), High st BREWERS ELLIOTT
Thomas, Gravelpit st PARNELL
William, High st BRICKLAYERS ASHFORD
Wm. (& glazier) Great Chart CARRECK
Richard, New st FURBY
Samuel, Ashford JOY
Cooper, New st WELLER
John, New rents BUTCHERS HAMILTON
James, High st HAYWARD
William, Market place PETTIT
Ann, High st REEVE
George, High st SMALL
Charles, Great Chart STEDDY
Samuel jun. High st CABINET
MAKERS & UPHOLSTERERS BARNS
James, (& turner ),Back lane BAYLEY
John, High st REEVE
Lewis Ambrose, (& sub distributer of stamps), High st TUNBRIDGE
John, High st CARPENTERS
& BUILDERS APSLEY
Alexander, High st CASTLE
Thomas, New st EAVES
Thomas, New rents FOWLER
Draper, New st NORTON
Daniel, Great Chart PETERS
James, Kennington STEDDY
William, Willesborough CHINA
& GLASS DEALERS BARNS
John, High st TALBOT
Thomas, High st WORGER
John, High st CHYMIST
& DRUGGISTS BROTHERS
Francis, (& tobacco dealer), High st CARTER
William, New rents FARMER
Jno. (& spirit merchant), High st THURSTON
John, High st CLOTHES
DEALERS STANLEY
Sophia, New rents STOCKWELL
Charles, New st COACH
& VAN PROPRIETORS STARTUP
Thomas, High st VILE
Henry, New st WALTER
William, High st COACH
MAKERS & WHEELWRIGHTS HUMPHREY
William & Thomas, New st WHITECHURCH
Robert, High st COOPERS FAIRBRASS
Daniel, Marsh lane RIGDEN
Thomas, Ashford CORN
FACTORS COBB
JOHN, High st CUTBUSH
James, Kennington FUKES
John, High st SCOTT
Wm, (& hop merchant), High st TUNBRIDGE
Stephen, High st CURRIERS
& LEATHER SELLERS CULLING
William, High st DORMAN
& Son, High st DYERS
& SCOURERS DAVISS
& Co. High st & at Tenterden FIRE
& c. OFFICE AGENTS County,
Mark DORMAN, High st Kent,
Lewis Ambrose REEVE, High st Norwich
Union, Edward Watson SIMMONS, High st Phoenix,
ELLIOTT & Son, High st; William MORLEY, High st FRUITERERS HEALY
James, Middle Row KINGSNORTH
Benjamin, High st LAWRENCE
Charlotte, Castle st SILLS
Thomas, Middle row STANLEY
Sophia, New rents FURNITURE
BROKERS CHITTENDEN
Daniel, High st TUNBRIDGE
John, High st GARDENERS
& SEEDSMEN KINGSNORTH
Benjamin, High st TAPPENDEN
Richard, North st GROCERS,
TEA DEALERS & CHEESEMONGERS – see also Shopkeepers & also Tea
Dealers CUCKOW
George, Kennington ELGAR
Henry, High st FILMER
Martha, High st HILLS
Thomas, Smeeth JEFFREY
Wm & Jno (& tallow chandlers), High st KENNETT
John, High st MORLEY
Wm. (& tallow chandler and melter), High st ORR
William, Castle st SCOTT
William, High st SIMMONDS
Edward, Mersham SIMS
William, High st SMALL
Charles, Great Chart SUTTON
Charlotte, High st TAPPENDEN
John, Kennington THOMSON
James, New st WORGER
John, High st GUNSMITHS CRUNDWELL
John, High st LACY
Thomas Edward, (& musical instrument maker), High st LUMMIS
Elkanah William, New st HAIR
DRESSERS CUTBUSH
William, High st JENNINGS
Jane, High st HAT
MANUFACTURER TAYLOR
William, High st INNS George
(& coach office), James ROGERS, High st Royal
Oak, Charles GIBSON, High st Saracens
Head, (commercial & posting), Eliz. & Wm. WALTER, High st IRON
FOUNDERS BURMAN
George (& brass), New rents DUNGEY
John & Co, High st IRONMONGERS CHITTENDEN
Daniel, High st DUNGEY
John & Co, High st TUNBRIDGE
John, High st LINEN
DRAPERS & SILK MERCERS BROWN
Thomas, High st BUSS
John, High st CUCKOW
George, Kennington FRANCIS
George, High st LEWIS
George Alexander, New rents RABSON
Mary & Ann, High st RABSON
Peter, (& hardwareman), High st SIMMONS
Edward, Mersham TAPPENDEN
John, Kennington THORPE
Benj. (& woollen), High st LINEN
MANUFACTURER HOUGHTON
Robert, High st MALTSTERS CUTBUSH
James, Kennington ELLIOTT
Mary, High st LEWIS
Richard, High st MILLERS FUKES
John, High st HUTTON
John, High st ODDEN
James, Great Chart PERKINS
Thomas, Willesborough SHARPE
Stephen, Kennington TUNBRIDGE
Stephen, Hampstead mill YOUNG
Daniel, Kennington MILLINERS
& STRAW HAT MAKERS BROWN
& ALLEN, High st DAVIS
Ann, St Johns lane DOWN
Frances, New st HILL
Jane, New rents HOBDAY
Mary, High st HOWLAND
Catherine, Castle st LUSTED
Rebecca, North st PILCHER
Susanna, Drum lane SOLE
Eleanor, Middle row PAINTERS,
PLUMBERS & GLAZIERS BIRD
John, New rents HARRISON
& Son, High st TAYLOR
Ann & Son, Gravelpit st ROPE
MAKERS DAVIS
Joseph, St Johns lane POWSEY
Ann, High SADDLERS
& HARNESS MAKERS MATE
William, High st PHILPOTT
Daniel, Kennington POWSEY
Ann, High st RUSSELL
Alexander, High st SHOPKEEPERS
& DEALERS IN GROCERIES & SUNDRIES BROWN
Thomas, Willesborough CHAMBERS
Maria, New rents CHITTENDEN
Sarah, New rents COOK
John, Willesborough EAVES
Thomas, New rents FINN
Jesse, Mersham GAYLER
Abraham, Willesborough LOWE
Ann, High st PARISH
Mary, New st SHILLING
William, Great Chart VILE
Henry, New st WHITE
James, Smeeth STONE
MASONS ANDREWS
Pierce, New st CARRECK
Richard, High st JOY
Cooper, New st SURGEONS BEET
John, High st CORDEAUX
Charles (MD), High st WHITFELD
Henry & Fredk, High st WILKS
George Frederick, High st SURVEYORS STEVENS
James, Willesborough THURSTON
Thomas, (& engineer to the South Eastern Railway), High st TAILORS
– marked thus * are also drapers ALLEN
Thomas, High st *
ALLEN William Alexander, High st *
BAYLEY Catherine, High st *
COBB Thomas, High st *
FIELD Edward, High st JACOB
Edwd (& undertaker), High st * PAINE Francis, New st *
PICKARD Sarah, High st SCOTT
Thomas (& hatter), High st SKINNER
Samuel, High st *
TUNBRIDGE John, New rents TAVERNS
& PUBLIC HOUSES Blacksmiths
Arms, James WORGER, Willesborough Castle,
Philip MEIN, Castle st Duke
of Marlborough, Richard CONSTANCE, High st Farriers
Arms, William PREBBLE, Mersham Golden
Ball, John GEERING, Kennington New
Inn, George PHILPOTT, New st Red
Lion, James LEWIS, North st Swan,
Henry SMITH, Great Chart White
Hart, Thomas REEVE, High st Woolpack,
Francis GODDIN, Smeeth TEA
DEALERS BROTHERS
Francis, High st CARTER
William, New rents ORR
William, Castle st SUTTON
Charlotte, High st TOY
DEALERS BROWN
& ALLEN, High st JENNINGS
James, High st WATCH
& CLOCK MAKERS ELLIOTT
& Son (& silversmiths), High st FLINT
Wm. (& silversmith), High st HAYWARD
Edward, (& silversmith), High st SNELLNG
John (& engraver), New rents WHEELWRIGHTS
CHITTENDEN
John, Willesborough GEORGE
Joiner, Smeeth HOOK
George, Great Chart WHITE
William, Marsh lane WINE
MERCHANTS FOORD
Richard, New st STODDART
Edward, High st WOOLSTAPLER LEPINE
George, High st MISCELLANEOUS BRIGGS
Alfred, superintendent registrar of marriages, High st County
of Kent Friendly Society, William WHITFELD, agent, High st County
of Kent General Registry Office, Alex RUSSELL, agent, High st ELGAR
Henry, Parish Clerk, High st Excise
Office, Castle Inn, Thomas SEAR, officer, New rents Gas
Works, Marsh lane, John Cullen KNOTT, manager GREENHILL
Richard, tanner & fellmonger, Whist house, Ashford HAMMOND
Edward, lime burner, Willesborough HARPER
John, coffee rooms, High st HILL
John, millwright, New st LURCOCK
Edward, glover, High st MATSON
John, professor of music, New rents MEADOWCRAFT
George, stocking manufacturer, High st PIETY
William, fishmonger, High st POPE
John & Wm. veterinary surgeons, High st RUSSELL
Thomas, sawyer, New st STEDDY
& BRIDGER, timber merchants and lathe renders, Bridge end TINDELL
Charles, corn cleaning machine maker, New st COACHES To
London, the Times (from Folkestone), calls at the Saracens Head, every morning
at ten; goes through Charing, Lenham & Maidstone. To
Folkestone, the Times (from London), calls at the Saracens Head, every afternoon
at quarter past three; goes through Hythe and Sandgate. VANS
– for goods & passengers from the George To
London, every morning (Sunday excepted), at six. To
Canterbury, every morning, (Sunday excepted), at nine To
Dover, every afternoon, (Sunday excepted), at two; goes through Hythe, Sandgate
& Folkestone. To
Faversham, every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday afternoon at two. To
Maidstone, every morning, (Sunday excepted), at six, and afternoon at two To
Romney & Lydd, every afternoon, (Sunday excepted), at two To
Tenterden & Rye, every afternoon, (Sunday excepted), at two To
Wye, every morning, (Sunday excepted), at nine CARRIERS To
London & Maidstone, Charles BENTON, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and
John SCOTT every Tuesday and Thursday. To
Aldington, Daniel HOOKER from the Duke of Marlborough, daily To
Folkestone, Hythe and Sandgate, Charles BENTON, every Monday, Wednesday and
Friday. To
Smarden, William SEELEY, from the Red Lion, every Tuesday and Saturday. To Warehorn, AUSTIN, from the Duke of Marlborough, every Tuesday & Friday.
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