CASS LIBRARY OF COUNTY HISTOIUES General Editors: Dr. W. H. ChaloneI', University of Manchester Professor T. Barker, University of Kent ESSAYS IN KENrrISH HISrrOl{Y ESSAYS IN KENTISH HISTORY Edited and with an Introduction by MARGARET HOARE M.A., University of Kent AND JOHN 'VHY~[AN Lecturer in Economic and Social History, University of Kent With a Preface by FELIX HULL KENT COUNTY ARCHIVIST 1 FRANK CASS LONDON First published 1973 in Great Britain by FRANK CASS AND COMPANY LIMITED 67 Great Russell Street, London WCIB 3BT, England and in United States of America by FRANK CASS AND COMPANY LIMITED c/o International Scholarly Book Services, Inc. P.O. Box 4347, Portland, Oregon 97208 Introduction Copyright © Margaret Roake and John Whyman These essays are reprinted from volumes of Archceologia Cantiana by kind permission of The Kent Arch~eological Society ISBN 0 7146 2956 1 Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 72-90156 Printed /n Great Britain by UNWiN BROTHERS LIMITl:D, OLD WOKING, SURREY ADDENDA ET CORRIGENDA for Late-Continued Demesne Farming at Otford, by F. R. H. Du Boulay, pp 51-59 Since this article was written two new sources of information about the fields of Otford have come to light. One is a list of the demesne fields as they were leased to Sir George Warham on 12 June 1524 (Dean and Chapter of Canterbury MSS. Register T, fo. 254b; cf. fos. 15 7, 313 b. for similar leases of 1518 and of 1526). This list corresponds very nearly with that of 1515 printed on p. 53. The other is work in progress by Mr. G. P. Hewlett of Otford who is preparing a thesis in the Geography Department, University of Southampton, for which he is using the new technique of hedgerow species analysis. While agreeing more or less with the literary evidence presented in this paper, Mr. Hewlett hopes to be able to map more accurately the medieval landscape of the area: the acreages of cultivated lands, the deer park, and even the original areas of the individual tenant yokes. p. 51 footnote I. For problems read problem. p. 52 line 30. For 'Alvetum' read 'Alnetum', i.e., 'alder-tree ground'. p. 53 line 14. For 'Coridlebushe' read 'Cradlebush'. line 34. For 'Blosse medes' read 'Closse medes'. p. 55 To the Table add year 1397 160 acres arable (Calendar of Inquisitions, Miscellaneous, vol. vi, no. 328). p. 58 footnote 6. For no. 258 (1464) read no. 259 (1454). p. 59 last para. It is questionable whether the Multon water meadows took their name from the Multon family. The converse is more likely. The local name Milton, 'mill farm', south of the former Shoreham Place, can probably be traced back to 'Mylentun' and 'Meleton' of 822 and 1305 respectively. These suggestions were made by the late Dr. Gordon Ward. CONTENTS The italic Roman numerals and dates in parentheses after each title refer to the volumes of Archaeologia Cantiana from which the articles have been reprinted. The page numbers refer to the numbers in bold print at the bottom foredge of each page throughout the text. Preface v Introduction Vll Felix Hull KENTISH HISTORIOGRAPHY (LXX, 1956) 1 A. R. H. Baker SOME FIELDS AND FARMS IN MEDIEVAL KENT (LXXX, 1965) 11 Ann Smith REGIONAL DIFFERENCES IN CROP PRODUCTION IN MEDIEVAL KENT (LXXVIII, 1963) 37 F. R. H. Du Boulay LATE-CONTINUED DEMESNE FARMING AT OTFORD (LXXl11, 1959) 51 A. J. F. DuBey FOUR KENT TOVVNS AT THE END OF THE MIDDLE AGES (LXXXI, 1966) 61 R. E. Glasscock THE DISTRIBUTION OF LAY VVEALTH IN KENT, SURREY AND SUSSEX, IN THE EARLY FOURTEENTH CENTURY (LXXX, 1965) 75 W. K. Jordan SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN KENT, 1480-1660: A STUDY OF THE CHANGING PATTERN OF SOCIAL ASPIRATIONS (LXXV, 1961) 85 c. W. Chalklin A SEVENTEENTH CENTURY MARKET TOVVN: TONBRIDGE (LXXVI, 1961) 89 A. J. E. DuBey PEOPLE AND HOMES IN THE MEDVVAY TOVVNS: 1687-1785 (LXXVll, 1962) lOl John H. Andrews THE THANET SEAPORTS, 1650-1750 (LXVl,1953) 119 III iv CONTENTS John H. Andrews THE TRADE OF THE PORT OF FAVERSHAM, 1650-1750 (LXIX, 1955) 127 William Minet EXTRACTS FROM THE LETTER BOOK OF A DOVER MERCHANT, 1737-1741 (XXXll, 1917) 135 V. J. B. Torr A TOUR THROUGH KENT IN 1735 (XLlll, 1931) 171 Ed: Felix Hull A TOUR INTO KENT, 1759 (LXIX, 1955) 185 W. E. Tate A HAND-LIST OF ENGLISH ENCLOSURE ACTS AND AWARDS, PART 17: OPEN FIELDS, COMMONS AND ENCLOSURES IN KENT (LVI, 1943) 193 J. W. Bridge KENT HOP TOKENS (LXVI, 1953) 207 David Harvey FRUIT GROWING IN KENT IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY (LXXIX, 1964) 213 J. W. Bridge MAIDSTONE GENEVA: AN OLD MAIDSTONE INDUSTRY (LXV, 1952) 227 Rosemary A. Keen MESSRS. BEST BREWERS OF CHATHAM (LXX//, 1958) 237 Elizabeth Melling KENTISH TRADESMEN IN THE EARLY NINETEENTH CENTURY (LXVI, 1953) 249 R. H. Hiscock THE ROAD BETWEEN DARTFORD, GRAVESEND AND STROOD (LXXXIll, 1968) 255 Miss A. G. Hardy THE OLD TELEGRAPH FROM LONDON TO THE COAST OF KENT (XLIV, 1932 ) 275 Ed. Felix Hull A KENTISH HOLIDAY (LXXXI, 1966) 283 PREFACE To be invited to write a preface to this volume is indeed both a pleasure and an honour. The editors are to be commended for bringing together in this form so varied and valuable a selection of papers regarding the social and economic history of Kent. One of the great advantages of modern re-print methods lies in the manner in which scattered material can be related and made accessible in an attractive form, as also in the much greater circle of readers who can be reached by this means compared with the membership of a learned society. The Kent Archaeological Society has been far-sighted in agreeing to the re-issue of essays from Archaeologia Cantiana, for Kent is still a relatively unknown part of England. In many respects it has been neglected in the field of historical research and the establishment of a University at Canterbury is a vital link in the process of enlightenment. The vigour and enthusiasm of the Department of Economic History at that University is well illustrated by this venture by Miss Roake and Mr. Whyman and it is to be hoped that, as suggested in the Introduction, further volumes of essays will appear from time to time. The papers chosen cover many aspects of local history and are of special value in so far as they indicate the nature and use of source material for such studies. Though perhaps none could be regarded as definitive, as a series they represent the development of scholarship in this field over the past half century and it is hoped their re-issue will stimulate fresh research and the opening up of new patterns of study from which still more adequate conclusions may be reached. I wish this venture every possible success. Roundwell Cottage. FELIX HULL. Bearsted. 1971. v INTRODUCTION Archaeologia Cantiana is the annual Journal of the Kent Archaeological Society, containing articles which contribute to the history and archaeology of Kent. During the eighteenth century there was a notable growth of interest in archaeology and antiquarian studies which led to the nineteenth-century foundation of regional societies catering for these interests." The Sussex Society was established in 1845, and others followed in Surrey, Middlesex and Essex within ten years.2 The promoters were often the county gentry,. and this was the case in Kent. Although there had been some unsuccessful attempts to form a Kentish Archaeological Society in the early 1850's, it was eventually launched on 19 September 1857 when a party of eleven noblemen and gentlemen of the county met for the inaugural meeting in the old state bedroom at Mereworth Castle at the invitation of the Viscount and Viscountess Falmouth.;! Almost two years passed before the publication of the first volume of the journal Archaeologia Cantiana in July 1859.4 Between then and 1970, eighty-five volumes have appeared. These developments occurred at a time when a long tradition of writing general histories of the county had come to an end. The great but early writers, William Lambarde (1536-1601), William Camden (1551-1623), Richard Kilburne (1605-1678) and Thomas Philipot (d. 1682), belonged to a remote past. The eighteenth century was a fruitful age for Kentish historiography when a number of writers recorded the Kentish scene for the pleasure of the country gentry. 5 Without doubt the crowning achievement was that of Edward Hasted (1732-1812) whose work amounted to 7,000 pages.G His was a labour of love and, on the publication of the first volume of The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent in 1778, he observed: "The materials from which I have compiled the greatest part of the following work, are the result of twenty years constant labour and assiduity, and were collected for more than half that time without any further view, than that of affording me pleasure and employment."7 vii Vlll INTRODUCTION Modern historians refer frequently to these writers; a helpful evaluation of their work. and that of W. H. Ireland and John Furley. the latter writing in the Victorian age. is given by Dr. Hull in the first article reprinted here. Current interest in local and regional history was expanded to the point of positive involvement by departments of history and economic history in many universities and schools of education. so that today a half of all post-graduate theses in English history in this country are devoted to some kind of localized study.8 It is now widely recognized that the national economy has always been composed of a number of regional economies. and it follows that our knowledge of England as a whole is enhanced by an under standing of regional developments in the past. In this respect the history of Kent is a valuable study to set against the emergence of industrial Britain which tends to loom large in the national picture. Kent is one of the largest and most populous of the southern counties and there are distinctive features in the development of the county which are worthy of attention. The influence of London has helped to mould its agriculture; proximity to the Continent and its long shoreline have encouraged trade. Compared with other counties there was remarkable develop ment before 1700. It has not been easy to select the 23 articles for this volume from the many valuable contributions over a long period to Archaeologia Cantiana. The editors in making their choice have sought to offer a reasonably balanced picture of the social and economic scene from the Middle Ages to the nineteenth century. Nine of the articles are specifically pre-1700 and thirteen concentrate on the later period. The fact that no article written before 1917 has been selected is explained by the changing nature of historical research and the current interests of economic and social historians. Since the essays which follow are reproduced in exactly their original form. readers will notice an inevitable variety in style and presentation. The editors in making their selection were influenced also by the emphasis which some writers have given to the evaluation and use of sources. Many of the contributions deal with a particular source and thereby provide valuable models for students hoping to work on similar material. Miss Melling. for instance. demonstrates the value and use of account books and papers of insolvent debtors in relation to Kentish tradesmen in the early nineteenth century. Despite the difficulty of using and interpreting medieval documents.