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COWDEN, ASHURST, PEMBURY, SPELDHURST and GROOMBRIDGE Cowden is a small village and parish 30 miles SSE from London and 9 SW from Tonbridge, situate on rising ground on the banks of the Kent water. The church dedicated to St Mary Magdalene, is a small ancient building, with rather a handsome spire, which latter is a conspicuous object for many mile around; the living is a vicarage in the gift of Rev T HARVEY. A fair is held on 2nd August, for oxen and pedlery. Ashurst or “the wood of ashes” is a parish destitute of anything like a village, distant about four miles from Tonbridge Wells. The river Medway which here is but a small stream, bounds the parish on the northwest. The church is a small edifice; the living is a discharged vicarage, in the patronage of Earl De La WARR. Pembury or as it was formerly designated Pippingbury is a small village in the parish of its name, situate five miles SE from Tonbridge, on the road from that town to Hastings. With the exception of it being a considerable thoroughfare, it is a place of no importance. The church dedicated to St Peter, stands about a mile and a half from the village, and appears to of great antiquity. Several small streams, tributary to the Medway run through the parish. Speldhurst is an extensive parish, on the southern confines of the Weald, adjoining the county of Sussex, and about three miles NW from Tonbridge. In this parish the springs rise which have been obtained for Tonbridge Wells so much celebrity. A branch of the river Medway, on which are several mills, courses through the parish. The hamlet of Groombridge in former times a place of much importance than it is at present is included in Speldhurst parish. It was in the possession of the WALLER’s from 1360 to 1604; and it was here that the celebrated poet of that name first saw and became enamoured of the Lady Dorothy SIDNEY. The church which is situated at the extremity of the parish, is dedicated to St Mary, and is a neat modern erection. In the dreadful storm of 1791 the old church was set on fire by lightning and the entire structure reduced to a heap of ruins – all the monuments in the interior being totally destroyed, and even the bells in the tower melted by the intense heat. The population of these several parishes by the returns made in 1831, was as follows: Cowden 689; Ashurst 206; Pembury 1070; Speldhurst (with Groombridge and part of Tonbridge Wells), 2640. GENTRY & CLERGY AUSTEN Mr Edward, Lancton green BELCHER Brymer Alex esq, Pembury BRANDAM F H esq, Cowden BURDEIN Miss, Pembury BURROWS Miss Sarah, Lower green, Speldhurst CHOLMONDELEY Rev Horace, Speldhurst COMMERFORD Charles esq, Pembury HARDING Miss Jane Bowen, Rusthall HARVEY Rev Thomas, Cowden HOARE William Henry esq, Ashurst MAUDSLEY Mrs, Broom hill ONSLOW Rev Arthur, Speldhurst PARKIN Hugh esq, Ashurst lodge POWELL Baden esq, Lancton PRICE Richard esq, Highfield lodge RAMSDEN Rev William, Ashurst RELPH Lieut Thomas, Speldhurst RICHARDS Bingham esq, Speldhurst SAINT John esq, Groombridge SAINT Rev John James, Speldhurst SOLOMON David esq, Groombridge SAXBY William esq, Ashurst WELCH Henry esq, Pembury WHITTAKER George esq, Pembury WILLIS Mrs Ann, Pembury WILSON Ford esq, Blackhurst WOODGATE Mr Francis, Cowden WOODGATE Rev Stephen, Pembury WOODHOUSE General William, Edells ACADEMIES & SCHOOLS National School, Pembury, Jas. SIMMONS, master; Sarah SIMMONS, mistress National School, Speldhurst, John CUTHBURT, master PIPER George (day), Cowden SYDNEY John (day), Speldhurst
BLACKSMITHS DAVIES George, (& ironmonger), Speldhurst FERMINGER John, Cowden FRY Richard, Groombridge FRY Thomas, Pembury PIGOTT Richard, Cowden RHODES Thomas, Pembury BOOT & SHOE MAKERS BARNES James, Pembury HUMPHREY James, Cowden HUNTLY Isaac, Cowden NEALE William, Pembury PIDDLESDEN James, Groombridge POLLINGTON William, Groombridge TURLEY Edward, Speldhurst
BUTCHERS EVEREST Henry, Cowden GOWER Elizabeth, Pembury HALL William, Groombridge HARRIS Thomas, Cowden TYHURST Thomas, Speldhurst CARPENTERS EMERY John, Pembury GOWER Edward, Pembury WELLS Thomas, Speldhurst WESTON Thomas, Speldhurst WICKHAM John, Cowden FELLMONGERS & GLOVERS PIPER William, Cowden WHITEMAN Nicholas, Groombridge GROCERS, DRAPERS & DEALERS IN SUNDRIES AUSTEN Benjamin, Pembury BATCHELOR Simon, Cowden BOTTING Ann, Speldhurst BROWN Henry, Speldhurst BURR Humphrey, Groombridge GAINSFORD Joseph, Cowden KILLICK Thomas, Groombridge MANWARING Wm & Jas. , Pembury SMITH Robert, Speldhurst TURNER John, Speldhurst WEST Jesse, Speldhurst MILLERS ASHBY Richard, Pembury COMBER William, Cowden DURRANT John, Groombridge EVEREST John & James, Ashurst HOLLANDS Henry, Cowden HOMEWOOD John, Pembury LANGRIDGE Joseph, Speldhurst MELLISH James, Cowden STANDEN William, Speldhurst PAINTERS & GLAZIERS EVES William, Groombridge HILL George, Groombridge STRANGE Edward Jeffrey, Pembury TAYLOR Thomas, Speldhurst SADDLERS BALDWIN James, Pembury DICKENSON Stephen, Pembury TRICE Harriett, Groombridge TAILORS BUDGEN George, Pembury WELFORD John, Cowden WINNIFRITH Thomas, Groombridge TAVERNS & PUBLIC HOUSES Bald Faced Stag, Robert PAWLEY, Ashurst Black Lion, George LINFIELD, Ashurst Camden Arms, Richard Jeffery CLOUTE, Pembury Crown, Susan HUGHES, Groombridge Crown, James WALLIS, Cowden George & Dragon, Ts. BROOKS, Speldhurst Greyhound, William HOLMES, Speldhurst Red Lion, William TURNER, Speldhurst Royal Oak, Edward PAWLEY, Woodsgate, Pembury WHEELWRIGHTS CHAPMAM William, Speldhurst VENESS Benjamin, Pembury WAGHORNE William, Groombridge WALLIS James, Cowden WALTER David, Speldhurst MISCELLANEOUS ADAMS Edward, baker, Pembury HOMEWOOD Jane, milliner, Pembury MAYNARD John, poulterer, Speldhurst MILLER Edward, cooper, Groombridge TOLHURST Stephen, corn dealer, Pembury TURNER Richard, paper maker, Ashurst CARRIERS To London, George WICKING, from Cowden every Thursday and Stephen HEWITT from Groombridge every Wednesday.
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