Some notes on the geography, history, economy and organisation of the villages of my ancestors, together with the names and occupations of those Binghams listed in each directory.
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Some notes on the geography, history, economy and organisation of the villages of my ancestors, together with the names and occupations of those Binghams listed in each directory. |
Bethersden
BINGHAM William, farmer
BETHERSDEN is a parish and village, situated on the Tenterden and Halden road, 6 miles W.S.W. from Ashford, and extends into the hundreds of Blackbourne and Calehill. The parish contains 6,345 acres of land, of which about 800 acres are in Coppice Wood, chiefly oak, with much good timber interspersed throughout the parish. The head of the river Medway, which rises near Goldwell in Great Chart, runs along the northern extremity of it towards Smarden. In 1841 there were 205 houses and 1,011 inhabitants; population in 1801, 748; in 1834, 973; rateable value, �3,789.
THE CHURCH, dedicated to St. Margaret, is a spacious edifice, with nave, chancel, side aisles, and an embattled tower with clock, and six bells. The living is a vicarage, valued in the King's books at �12, now �166, in the patronage of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and incumbency of the Rev. Richard Burnet. In the middle aisle of this church lie the Wilmotts of this parish, and in the chancel the Witherdens; a gravestone for William Lovelace has the date of 1459. The small tithes are commuted for �164, and th rectorial for �436 10s. 6d.
THE BAPTISTS have a chapel, built in 1804, and WESLEYAN METHODISTS one, built in 1834. A FAIR is held the third Monday in April. The South Eastern Railway passes for about a mile on the northern side of the parish, having a station at Pluckley, 3 miles N. from Bethersden. The principal landowners are the Earl of Thanet, Earl Cornwallis, Rev. N. Toke, Sir E. Dering, W. T. T. Baldwin, Esq., Edward Hayward, Esq., and Mr. Curties
BETHERSDEN MARBLE was formerly in great esteem for decorating churches and other religious houses, and for making chimney pieces. The Cathedrals of Canterbury and Rochester abound with it; and most of the ancient tombs and monuments of the bishops and gentry, found in the old churches, are chiefly made of it; it bears a good polish, and is very hard and durable, if dug up in its perpendicular state; but if horizontally, it usually peels off in flakes. This kind of marble, from its being dug up both here and at Petworth, Sussex, is known by the names both of the Bethersden and Petworth marble.
CHARITIES - Edward Tuesnod left a rent charge of 10s. per annum out of land called Tuesnoad farm. The poor have also an annual sum of 2s. 6d., left by an unknown donor. Thomas Margaret and Stephen Glover left certain lands, in trust, which now produce �22 10s. per annum, and the amount is carried to the churchwardens' account as applicable to the repairs of the church.
KINGSNORTH is an extensive parish, and scattered district of houses, with the church nearly in the centre of the parish, which, standing on an elevation, is seen at a considerable distance. The village is pleasantly situated 2� miles S. by W. from Ashford; the east branch of the river Stour passes the northern part of the parish, which is also intersected by a new line of Railway from Ashford to St. Leonards.
The parish contains 3,244 acres of land, a part of which extends into the Weald, about 130 acres are in hop plantations, the soil is mostly a miry clay, considered good feeding land. In 1841, there were 74 houses and 416 inhabitants; population in 1901, 295; in 1831, 386. Rateable value �3,156. The landowners are Alliston Brothers, Esqrs., Company of Haberdashers, Rev. W. Toke, Edward Godfrey, Esq., Mr. Daniel Swaffer, Mr. Stephen Hart, Mr. James G. Meers, Miss Fanny Barton, and others.
THE CHURCH (St. Michael) is a venerable fabric, with nave, chancel, and square tower; in the chancel is a handsome tomb inlaid with beautiful brasses, to the memory of Humphrey Clarke. The living is a rectory, valued in the King's books at �11 9s. 9�d., in the gift of J.L. Alliston, Esq., and incumbency of the Rev. Richard Baldock. The tithes were commuted, in 1839, for �635, extraordinary charge on hop grounds 15s. per acre. There are 21 acres of glebe in the parish. Three acres of land left by Humphrey Clarke, is now let for �4 per annum, and the amount carried to the churchwarden's account.
BALDOCK Rev. Richard, Rectory |
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AUPS John |
HILDER Edw., Ct. lodge |
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OTHER |
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KESBY John & Walter, blacksmiths, Tenterden |
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Smiths, Blacksmiths & Farriers
BINGHAM G., Shadoxhurst, Ashford
BINGHAM J., Great Chart, Ashford
BINGHAM J., Kingsnorth, Ashford
GREAT CHART is a village and parish, two miles west from Ashford Station; sixty-nine miles from London; thirty-three miles from Maidstone; and sixteen miles from Canterbury; in the Hundred of Chart and Longridge and Union of West Ashford, East Kent. The church is a handsome structure; the living is a rectory, in the gift of the Archbishop of Canterbury; the Very Rev. George Pellew, the Dean of Norwich, is the incumbent. The Wesleyans have a meeting-house. The population in 1851 was 754. Bucksford is half a mile east on the Slour; Singleton half a mile east; Nin House half a mile north; Goldwell, at the source of the Medway, three quarters of a mile N.W.; Moat House a quarter of a mile S.W.; New Street and Four Elms half a mile S.W.; and Singleton Green one mile and a half south.
POST OFFICE: Charles Small, Receiver. The nearest Money Order Office is at Ashford.
Gentry |
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Traders |
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ANDREWS Henry, miller, Wortin Mill |
HUTTON J. Arthur, miller, Ruckford Mill |
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OTHER TOWNS |
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Kingsdown |
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Great Chart
BINGHAM James, blacksmith
Rochester
BINGHAM Gen. George William Powlett C.B., J.P., The Vines,County Magistrate, Petty Sessional Division
Ruckinge
BINGHAM Thomas, farmer
Shadoxhurst
BINGHAM George, wheelwright
BINGHAM William Henry, blacksmith
Woolwich
BINGHAM Mrs., 62 Woolwich common
Dover
BINGHAM James Richard, "Victory" ph, Kingsdown
BINGHAM Joseph, farmer, East Ongley, Biddenden
BINGHAM John, builder & contractor, Headcorn
SHADOXHURST is a village and parish, 4� miles south-west from Ashford and 71� from London, in the Southern division of the county, hundreds of Blackbourn, Chart and Longbridge and Ham, lathes of Scray and Shepway, Ashford petty sessional division and county court district, West Ashford union and in the rural deanery of North Lympne and archdeaconry and diocese of Canterbury. This district is covered with coppice woods and is watered by a feeder of the Beult.
The church of SS. Peter and Paul is a small building of stone in the Early English and Decorated styles, consisting of chancel, nave, north porch and a small western tower with wooden spire containing one bell; south of the chancel is a sedile sunk in the sill of the south-east window and a piscina with a shelf; the chancel also contains a quantity of ancient armour, and there is a large marble monument to Admiral Molloy; the font is an octagonal bowl on a single stem; the church was thoroughly restored in 1870 by subscription, and stands in a very spacious churchyard. The register dates from the year 1538. The living is a rectory, tithes commuted at �129, with 41 acres of glebe and residence, in the gift of the Lord Chancellor, and held since 1885 by the Rev. John Forbes, of the University of Edinburgh. Here is a Wesleyan chapel.
The charities amount to �5 15s. yearly and include 10s. derived from land left in 1604 by Michael Poonetts; the whole is distributed to the poor in money, as well as �5 from a benefaction left by Dr. Curtis. Col. John Leslie Toke J.P. of Clarewood, Camberley, Surrey, is lord of the manor; Daniel Norton and Jason Norton esqs. are the principal landowners.
The soil is heavy; subsoil, clay. The chief crops are wheat, beans and hops. The area is 2,127 acres; rateable value, �1,347; the population in 1881 was 192.
PARISH CLERK: George Woodgate |
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Commercial |
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BINGHAM George, wheelwright |
HEATHFIELD Edward, farmer |
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OTHER TOWNS |
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Private Residents |
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GREAT CHART is a village and parish on the road from Ashford to Tenterden, 2 miles west from Ashford station on the South Eastern and Chatham railway, and 54 from London, in the Southern division of the county, lathe of Scray, hundred of Chart and Longridge, Ashford county court district and petty sessional division, West Ashford union, and in the rural deanery of East Charing, archdeaconry of Maidstone and diocese of Canterbury. The river Stour passes through the northern part of the parish
The church of St. Mary is of stone in the Decorated and Perpendicular styles, and has a tower containing a striking clock and 6 bells; there are several tombs, a number of ancient brasses with effigies, to some of the Toke family (1513), and five stained windows; the church was restored in 1894, at an estimated cost of �1,000, and affords 500 sittings. The register of baptisms and burials dates from the year 1558, marriages from 1559. The living is a rectory, net yearly value �300, including 13 acres of glebe, with residence, in the gift of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and held since 1898 by the Rev. Alban Henry Harrison M.A. of Trinity College, Cambridge. There is a Wesleyan chapel here. Almshouses for two aged persons were erected in 1583; these were rebuilt in 1833, and endowed by Francis Toke esq. of Godinton Park; and in 1899 an additional arlmshouse was built by the trustees of the Toke and Streeter almshouse charity; each pensioner receives 7s. a week. James Goldwell, Bishop of Norwich (1472-99), a native of this parish, was a great benefactor to the church and died in 1499. Thomas Kipps, of this parish, left a rent charge on land of �1 yearly for the poor.
The well-known Kentish Rag is extensively quarried in this parish for road making and building purposes.
Godinton, the property and residence of George Ashley Dodd esq. J.P. is a large red brick mansion, standing in a well-wooded park of 400 acres; a new wing has been added and the grounds enlarged and improved by the present owner. Bucksford is the property and residence of Col. John Leslie Toke V.D., J.P. The Ecclesiastical Commissioners are lords of the manor, and Colonel Toke and G. A. Dodd esq. J.P. are the principal landowners.
The soil is mostly stiff clay; subsoil, rock. The chief crops are wheat, hops, beans an peas. The area is 3,271 acres of land and 5 of water; rateable value, �8,902; the population in 1901 was 694.
NEW STREET, 1 mile south-west, CHILMINGTON GREEN, a mile and a half south-west, and DANIEL'S WATER, 2 miles west, are hamlets of this parish.
PARISH CLERK: Henry Day. ADAMS Mrs., Grove house |
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Commercial |
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ADAMS John Turk, quarry owner; |
MILLEN Edward, grazier |
SHADOXHURST is a village and parish, 3� miles from Ham Street station and 5 south-west from Ashford station on the South Eastern and Chatham railway and 71� from London, in the Southern division ... [as above] ... archdeaconry of Canterbury.
The church ... and affords 101 sittings. ... living is a rectory, net yearly value �118, with 41 acres ... [as above].
The charities amount to �5 15s. yearly and include 10s. derived from land left in 1590 by Robert Farley, and �5 5s. derived from land left in 1604 by Michael Poonetts; the whole is distributed to the poor in money, as well as �3 from a benefaction left by Dr. Curtis. Lieut.-Col. John Leslie Toke V.D. of Bucksfod, Great Chart, is lord of the manor and Jason Norton esq. is the principal landowner.
The soil is heavy; subsoil, clay. The chief crops are wheat, beans and hops. The area is 1,982 acres; rateable value, �1,326; the population in 1901 was 189.
PARISH CLERK: George Woodgate |
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Commercial |
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BANKS Geo. Horace, farmer, Moat farm |
HEAD Richard, farmer, Snailswood |
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OTHER TOWNS |
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Private Residents |
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GREAT CHART
BINGHAM William, blacksmith
SHADOXHURST is a village and parish, 3� miles from Ham Street station ... [as above] ... and 59� from London, ... [as above].
The church ... and a mural monument to Admiral Sir Charles Molloy kt. lord of the manor of Shadoxhurst, born 1684, died 24 Aug. 1760; the monument bears a long inscription, and above is the figure of a weeping cherub, supporting a medallion portrait bust of the admiral, on either side of which are naval emblems and tropies; below is a cartouche of arms; ... living is a rectory, net yearly value �123, with 41 acres ... [as above].
The charities ...[as above]. Col. John Leslie Toke V.D. of Conewood, Camberley, Surey, is lord of the manor and the trustees of the late Jason Norton esq. are the principal landowners.
The soil ... [as above]; rateable value, �1,361; the population in 1911 was 171.
PARISH CLERK: Jesse Bingham |
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Commercial |
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BANKS Geo. Horace, farm bailiff to |
HART Thomas, farmer, Blindgrooms |
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OTHER TOWNS |
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Farmers |
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BINGHAM Thomas Henry, Hilden cottage, London road, Tonbridge
BINGHAM Mrs., The Lodge, Lord's Well lane, South view, Crowborough
BINGHAM Frederick H., plumber, New Groombridge
Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Association (Caterbury Division)
President: the Hon. Mrs. BINGHAM; Office: 8 High street
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