The Dover Historian

Dynasty of Dover Part III – The Gunmans

Posted on November 27, 2013 by Lorraine

St Mary’s Church circa 1849 where the Wivell’s and the Gunman’s worshipped

The Dynasty of Dover started with William Stokes, Margery, his daughter of married Edward Wivell and together they had bought Maison Dieu farmland that stretched from Maison Dieu House to Stembrook. There they had built the finest mansion in Dover. Of all their children, only two survived to adulthood, Elizabeth and Margaret. Elizabeth was christened at St Mary’s Church on 24 Oct 1685 and at the same church, on 12 February 1707, she married James Gunman. He was possibly the brother of Catherine Gunman who had married Francis Wivell, a relative of Elizabeth’s, in 1692.

James, possibly of Swedish stock, was a Royal Naval Captain and early in his career surveyed the Varne Bank. As the first to do so, it was named ‘Gunman’s shoal’. The Varne is a sandbank more than 6 miles long in the Dover Strait, at mid-point, some 7 miles due south of Dover Harbour. It was later surveyed on the order John MacBride (1735-1800), Rear Admiral of the Blue and Commander in Chief in the Downs etc., when it was renamed the Varne Bank. Due to its shallow depth, it was a favourite place for Dover’s fishermen, especially for cod and scallops. These days, as the Varne is in the Channel international traffic shipping lanes and a cause of concern to shipping and the Coastguard. There is a Trinity House automatic light vessel on the Varne and there have been calls to destroy it by dredging.

Yorke family home, on the west side of York Street. Re-drawn by Lynn Candace Sencicle

Elizabeth and James, along with their large family, lived in Wivell mansion fronting Biggin Street. Following Edward’s death in 1716, they gave the house a makeover in the Queen Anne style and the garden laid out in the ‘Capability Brown’ fashion of the time. When they finished, the estate was renamed Gunman’s Mansion and the house was said to be the grandest in East Kent. There does not appear to be any drawings or paintings of the house but there is a drawing of the nearby Yorke family home – after which York Street was named – a terrace of three houses that were dwarfed by Gunman’s mansion.

Of the land-holdings that Elizabeth brought to the marriage, they had Buckland Manor, at the bottom of Crabble Hill, rebuilt as their summer residence. The house was demolished at the end of the 19th century to make way for the tram shed, now a garage showroom.

Dover Harbour 1738 glass slide artist Nathaniel & Samuel Buck. Dover Museum

On his marriage, James, like his father-in-law Edward Wivell, became a Freeman of Dover through the right of his wife. In 1737, he was elected Mayor and was particularly interested in harbour developments. The Eastward Drift that deposited shingle along the margins of Dover’s Bay continued to block the harbour mouth particularly at neap tides. This, it was envisaged, would be dealt with by the creation of the Bason in 1718 – later developed into the Granville Dock. The theory was that water collected in the Bason would be released, through dock gates at low tide, and the force would clear the shingle away.

It was not very successful so ships continued to anchored in the bay and boatmen conveyed passengers and luggage to and from the shore. The boatmen, although licenced by Dover Corporation, were not very honest and would row passengers part way between the ship and the shore. They would then threaten to throw the luggage overboard if the passenger did not give them more money. The boatmen were not averse to carrying out their threats and the authorities in Dover refused to do anything about the problem. This gave rise to the term Dover shark.

At the time, Admiral Aymer was one of Dover’s two Members of Parliament. As Captain Aymer, he was first elected in 1698 and since that time had remained one of Dover’s MPs having attained the rank of Admiral. In 1714, Aymer was appointed Commander-in-Chief Ranger of Greenwich Park and Governor of Greenwich Hospital. The latter had been established by Royal Charter in 1694 as a home for retired seamen of the Royal Navy. Aymer was a close colleague and friend of James and following his retirement from the Royal Navy, James was appointed the Treasurer of Greenwich Hospital. Further, Greenwich Park was part of East Greenwich and when James I (1603-1625) gave the Charter to the Commissioners of Dover Harbour in 1606, he granted the Commission, the Manor of East Greenwich!

On hearing James concerns over the harbour, Admiral Lord Aylmer invited Captain John Perry to look at the problems. Perry was an expert in sea and river defences and in his report, stated that although the harbour entrance was subject to being blocked, this had not occurred as often as it was generally believed. What was really happening was that ships captains were being deterred from using the harbour for fear that the entrance might become blocked, once they were inside. He suggested that the entrance be deepened and the South Pier be extended 150 -200 feet (approximately 46-61 metres) further out to sea. he went on to make other suggestions but when he filed his report, Lord Aylmer on was on his death bed – he died in 1720.

In 1723, Dover lost 66% of the Passing Tolls, revenue earned from ships traversing the Dover Strait. It was out of this money that harbour maintenance was paid and had been transferred to the Port of Rye. That port, in their petition, said that the Dover Harbour Commissioners had failed in constructing a shelter for shipping. The unofficial harbour master in Dover was James Hammond and his son, also called James organised the mud deposits in the harbour to be shovelled by hand onto carts and dumped out at sea. They also had gateway fitted into the Pent, now Wellington Dock, so that water, from the River Dover, collected there could be used together with the tidal water collected in the Bason, to clear the harbour entrance. Again, it was not very successful and the problem was exacerbated when the Castle Jetty was built in 1753.

Although these were major concerns of her husband, Elizabeth spent her time socialising in London and Bath. While enjoying the waters in Bath she died on 2 October 1739 age 55 years old. Her body was brought back to Dover and buried in the family tomb within St Mary’s church. At the time, James was a Commissioner of the Peace for the County of Kent and a Jurat – senior councillor – on Dover’s Corporation. Nonetheless, rumours began to spread that James was about to marry a woman much younger than himself. This reached the ear of Lord Hardwicke, Lord Chancellor of England. He was Philip Yorke, grandson of Simon Yorke, close friend of Elizabeth’s grandfather, William Stokes. Philip Yorke – Lord Hardwicke, was also the Recorder of Dover, whose role it was to assist the mayor on judicial matters and took a great deal of interest in the town.

James Gunman gravestone – St Mary’s Church north aisle

Lord Hardwicke felt that it was his moral duty to write to James suggesting that if he was thinking of marriage, he should think again. James strenuously denied the rumour not only to Lord Harwicke but to others and led a virtuous life in Dover. However, when he died in London on 27 June 1756 aged 79, his young mistress, so it was said, was at his bedside. James was buried with his wife in St Mary’s churchyard and the tomb is engraved with the family arms: a spread eagle, argent, gorged with a ducal collar, or. Although worn it can be seen in the northern aisle of St Mary’s Church

Of James and Elizabeth’s many children, their eldest surviving son inherited Gunman’s mansion and many of their estates. Christopher, or Kit as he was popularly known, was christened on 27 September 1714 at St Mary’s church. His inherited wealth and social standing enabled him to make an advantageous marriage and shortly after, he purchased the lucrative position as Collector of Dover Customs.

Old Customs House built 1666 demolished March 1821 replaced by John Minet Fector Bank in 1821. Dover Museum

In those days, the Collector of Customs ran the customs shed collecting a percentage of all duties paid on exports and imports out of which he paid the staff. Only in small customs houses did the Collector actually work, Kit like many of his contemporaries just lived off the profits. The customs house, at that time, was on Custom House Quay that backed onto Strond Street and next door was Isaac Minet‘s residence. Kit’s maternal grandfather, Edward Wivell had made Isaac a Freeman of Dover in 1699. Since that time, the once Huguenot refugee, had developed his shipping business to one of the largest in the town. Isaac’s son William and his nephew, Peter Fector, helped him.

Token c1700 from the Cock Inn and brewery, Strond Street. Thanks to Paul Skelton

The Minet’s wealth, however, was not in the same league as Gunman’s – indeed, it was said that Essex Gunman, Kit’s wife, ‘might curl her hair in bank notes!’ The most powerful family in the town at that time, although not the wealthiest, was the Wellard’s. They were an ancient Dover family with a mansion at the top of Biggin Street, where the Prince Albert pub is today. It was the first domestic building to occupy the site following the Reformation (1529-1536) and the premises incorporated St Edmund’s Chapel. William and Alice Wellard owned the Cocke Inn and Brewery, on Strond Street, close to the Minet’s and the Custom House. The Wellard’s issued copper payment tokens instead of change that ensured customers returned.

In 1705 John Wellard, the grandson of Alice and William, was elected Town Clerk – the administrative authority of Dover Corporation. He held the post until 1718 when his son Robert succeeded him. he was a formidable administrator and was the Town Clerk until 1744 during which time he was also the Register of the Dover Harbour Commission – today the Chief Executive. In 1741, Robert was elected the Mayor of Dover by which time he had a country mansion in the Alkham Valley where he died in November 1744. His son, Alexander succeeded him to both administrative posts and also as Mayor in 1757. It would appear that Alexander sold the Biggin Street premises, having a mansion built on the corner of Bench Street and Chapel Land (then called Grubbins Lane). This he sold just prior to being elected Mayor, to the Churchwardens of St Mary’s whom, according to a plaque they erected in the church, ‘As a mark of their regard for their worthy Minister, Mr Birch, 1754.’

Peter Fector c 1813 – Dover Museum detail

In 1751 Kit Gunman was elected Mayor and concern was being expressed by Peter Fector, one of the town’ Jurats, about the state of the harbour. Nouveau-riche, Peter was despised by the ruling elite and with the help of the town clerk, Robert Wellard, the town clerk both saw a way of getting rid of him. Peter was a naturalised Englishman born in Rotterdam. He was the nephew of Isaac Minet and by virtue of his family connections, Peter had purchased his Freedom in 1745. Kit was not the Mayor when Peter was asked to resign from the office of Jurat but as Robert Wellard made clear, Peter ‘… was not qualified to act as a justice on accounting to the laws of England being by birth a foreigner although he was naturalised.’

Alexander Wellard remained the Register of Dover Harbour Commissioners until 1765 when Jegan Wellard, who held the post until 1785, succeeded him. On 16 February 1762 Peter Fector’s daughter, Alice-Hughes, married Charles Wellard at St Mary’s Church. A stiff upper-lip was the order of the day. The situation at the harbour remained useless. Sam Latham, of the Latham banking family, was also the Harbour Commission treasurer and in 1769 brought in the highly esteemed civil engineer, John Smeaton (1724-1792). He suggested that the South Pier head should be extended by 60-feet and end in a point. Jegan Wellard responded by saying that the Commissioners coffers were insufficient to meet the cost. Joseph Nickalls (1725-1793), an engineer of some note was brought in and presented his report in 1783.

Nickalls stated that the harbour was not capable of accommodating warships as the water at the apron in the lower cross wall was only 10feet 6inches deep at neap tides. Moreover, the sill of the harbour gates was 18inches too high and the slope of the sides of the Great Pent (now the Wellington Dock) meant that only 47,160 tons could be held at neap tides. The result, he wrote, was that when the gates were opened the depth of water in the outer harbour was only 30 inches deep, and that such a force would not clear the shingle bar. Nickalls recommendations were estimated at £60,000 and to keep Sam Latham happy, the recommendations were put on hold. However, Nickalls did stay and undertook work to cleared the entrance, the worked – briefly.

Dover’s Court and Town Hall from 1606 to 1834 situated in the Market Square. New windows were inserted in 1789. Dover Museum

Albeit, Kit Gunman ensured that the Wellard’s remained in the family circle of friends that possibly helped his election as Mayor in 1751 and again in 1760. By the time that Kit was elected Mayor in 1773 he had supplanted the Wellard’s influence but in July 1781, he died. Essex, his wife, died seven years later. The Gunman’s eldest son, James, was baptised 14 April 1747, and like his father was Dover’s Collector of Customs he also acquired property in Warwickshire. When James was old enough he actively participated in the complacency of council affairs. As expected of a member of Dover’s governing elite James was elected Mayor – in 1776, 1784 and again in 1789, that year the Town Hall was given a makeover and new windows were inserted.

James’ first year as mayor saw the beginning of the American War of Independence (1776-1783) and Captain Thomas Hyde Page (1746-1821) was deployed in the town. A military engineer, Thomas was responsible for a number of important defence works at the Castle and in 1781, the Board of Ordnance bought two parcels of land on Western Heights. It was here that Page’s greatest work took place, for it was he who organised the building of fortified batteries that eventually became the major permanent fortress there. For this Page was knighted and straight away accepted into James Gunman’s narrow circle of friends. When peace returned Sir Thomas was responsible for the founding of the Dover Volunteer Association, the origin of the present Territorial Army. He married and built a mansion along the London Road, Buckland (now 110 London Road).

Sir Thomas was a close friend of John Latham, a local merchant and shipping owner who was concerned over the state of the harbour. Building on his influence within the town’s elite in 1784, Sir Thomas wrote an open letter saying, ‘The great advantage that might arise from Dover harbour to his majesty’s ships employed in these seas, in times of war, and the necessity, as the forces of our enemies increase, of using every possible means on our part to augment the navy of the country, cannot fail to interest every good subject in the success of all proper endeavours to improve a place capable of affording the greatest benefit to our marine; the practicability of which, and the means of drawing infinite advantage, both well known to every understanding.’ This did not exactly fall on deaf ears, but it was international events that were to make the difference.

Front cover of the 1777 Dover Paving Commission Act. Dover Library

Meanwhile, in 1777 another member of Dover’s close knit governing elite, Matthew Kennett instigated a chain of events that led to the Dover Local Government Act of that year. At the time, Dover was overcrowded; the streets unpaved, unlit, crooked and narrow while the sewage system consisted of a channel running down the centre of the streets to the river or harbour. As Mayor, Matthew Kennett headed the newly created the Dover Paving Commission that came out of the Act, the following year.

To be appointed one of the 40 Commissioners, the Freeman had to possess or be entitled to a personal estate to the value of £500. Alternatively, to receive annual rents to the value of £20. The Commissioners job was to watch, light, and pave the town with wooden blocks. To reintroduce scavengers to clear away the town’s rubbish and sewerage. They had the right to licence hackney coaches, chaises, fly’s etc, to appoint their stands and regulate their fares and also regulate the fares of boatmen, watermen and porters, and the general convenience of the town committed to their care. The Act also empowered the Commissioners to borrow £8,000, but to pay this back they levied 6d (2.5p) tax on every house and Coal Dues were introduced. The latter, at that time, was 1s (5p) duty on every chaldron (25½cwt or 1,295kg) of coal imported through Dover whether by sea or by road. The duty was paid at the towns toll gates that had been imposed by the Turnpike Acts that created cross-country roads.

All of this was too much for James to digest, so he took himself off to enjoy the delights of London and Bath and other similar social haunts. It was at one of these places that he met the wealthy 33 year-old Sarah Hussey Delaval of Northumberland, whom he married on 13 April 1805. Sarah’s father, Edward, had been a Member of Parliament but in those hallowed corridors he had collapsed and died in 1814, and was subsequently buried in Westminster Abbey. Both Sarah and her mother, also Sarah, on the death of Edward Delaval inherited part shares in a palatial estate at Doddington, Lincolnshire.

View from a bedroom window in Gunman Mansion by George Jarvis

Following their marriage, James brought his young wife and her mother to Dover, where they settled in the family mansion. This was the era of the Napoleonic Wars (1793-1815) and Dover was a hive of activity and social gatherings as the town was both a military base and naval base. Sarah Gunman became well known throughout Dover for her philanthropic work and particularly showed an interested in education the children of the town’s poor. In 1820, when Queen Street Charity School, the forerunner of St Mary’s school, opened its doors to educate to 200 boys and 200 girls, she made a substantial contribution to its funds. Sarah was also interested in the town’s history and persuaded James to help to pay for the publication of Rev John Lyon’s two volumes, ‘History of Dover’ (published in 1813). The books are dedicated to James Gunman.

Sarah Hussey Gunman died 04 May 1825 widow of James Gunman St Mary’s Church.

Sarah was also well known for her social gatherings where she raised interest for her philanthropic work. The Gunman’s could count among their close circle of friends, all of the town’s established elite and the up and coming wealthy, such as members of the Fector, Latham and Rice banking families. At their soirees, were senior officers from the barracks and ships moored in the bay also attended, one particular officer, the handsome Lieutenant – Colonel George Ralph Payne Jarvis became a close friend of the family. However, on 29 June 1824 James Gunman died and less than a year later, on 4 May 1825, Sarah died of consumption (tubercolosis). A monument to Sarah can be seen in St Mary’s Church.

Published:
Dover Mercury 23 October 2008

Posted in Dynasty of Dover, Part III - The Gunmans | Comments Off

Peter Fector – the story behind the Town’s treasure and the Country’s banking system

Posted on November 23, 2013 by Lorraine

Notice above the Nat West Bank Chamber door, Market Square, stating Dover Old Bank 1700

Above the door at the side of the Nat-West Bank in Market Square is a sign that states, incorrectly, ‘Dover Old Bank 1700’. The site of the Dover’s Old Bank was actually in Strond Street/ Custom House Quay, on the landward side of Granville Dock, and it was founded about 1740. Nonetheless, it was not only a forerunner of the Nat-West Bank but of high street banking, as we know it today.

The story goes back to 1686, when Isaac Minet (1660-1745) landed on Shakespeare Beach. He was a Huguenot, a religious refugee from France who, along with his family, escaped persecution by rowing across the Channel. With the help of his son William and his nephew, Peter Fector (1723-1814), Isaac set up the Minet Bank in Strond Street.

During the Wars of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748) Peter, who worked for his Uncle Isaac, would go to Castle where French prisoners of war were kept. There he would exchange the money the prisoners had received from home for English currency. This enabled them to buy food etc. from the prison guards. The prisoners particularly liked Peter, for not only could he speak their language, his rates much lower than others offering the same service.

Dover Castle where prisoners were kept during theWars of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748)

Among the prisoners were French officers from affluent families and they received greater sums from home. Due to being vulnerable to theft they asked Peter to look after their money, he agreed, again only making a small charge. Besides a receipt he would issue Bills of Exchange for them to use to buy goods. The prison guards were happy with this and soon the Bills of Exchange became a form of currency.

Uncle Isaac and William along with Peter quickly realised that the amount of hard cash that was being withdrawn from their depository, was only a small percentage of the full amount of their Bills of Exchange. Therefore, they could issue Bills of Exchange backed by either of the currencies when folk asked for loans and because there was not much call for the hard currency so the chances of having a run was low.

Isaac died in 1745 and William took over the bank, and Isaac’s other businesses. On 9 September Peter gained the Freedom of the town by purchase, paying £10 and bought a share in the bank in 1746. By the time peace returned in 1748 the two men were inviting locals and military personnel in the town to deposit their money with them, for safekeeping. Again only making a small charge and correctly assuming that these depositors would not return at the same time to ask for their money back. They would lend out these deposits to others, charging a lower interest than the town’s moneylenders would.

Minet Fector Bank draft for £20.3s payable to W & E Allen 24.10.1801. Reproduced by kind permission of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group © 2013

In 1751, Peter married his half cousin Mary Minet (1728-1794), a granddaughter of Isaac and from 1752, the firm traded as William Minet & Co. By that time, the two men were issuing Bills of Exchange with their own names printed on the top and with the promise to redeem the notes for cash on demand. Soon people ceased to ask for the notes to be redeemed, instead they used the Minet notes as currency – modern high street banking was born!

William died on 18 January 1767 in London and his body was brought back for burial at St Mary’s Church. His name was added to the Minet memorial besides the south door. Peter increasingly took control of the business from other family members changing the name first from Minet & Fector then, in 1783, to Fector & Minet. Following gaining his Freedom, Peter was elected a Jurat – a senior councillor – but in 1753 he was asked to resign from the office of Jurat. James Boyton, the Revenue Officer for Dover at the time, commented: ‘Mr Fector resigned his gown, but not being qualified to act as a justice on accounting to the laws of England being by birth a foreigner although he was naturalised.’

Eythorne House. Dover Museum

After this humiliation Peter became ruthless and arrogant putting all his energies into acquiring a fortune. In 1762 he bought land including Green Farm at Eythorne. There he built the mansion, Eythorne House, described by Edward Hasted as being: ‘beautifully situated, having a view over Waldershare Park, and a fine one beyond it over the adjoining Channel, and the Boulogne Hill on the Coast of France.’ Peter also adopted a coat of arms and the motto, ‘Fide Felices facti’ (made fortunate by faith). However in February 1775 one of Peter’s three daughters, Alicia-Hughes married Charles Wellard in St Mary’s Church, Dover. Wellard belonged to the hated Dover elite.

Of Peter’s three sons, John Minet (1754-1821) and James Peter (1759-1804) joined the firm. John specialised in the shipping side of the business and James, the local side of the banking business, particularly in relation to the town’s mills. Peter dealt with the aristocracy, country squires and farmers who owned large estates. Typically, they put deposits on account for estate maintenance and as such, transactions with the London office, on his client’s behalf, were considerable. However, gambling was the scourge of the wealthy and the pretentious and when his clients asked for loans, Peter obliged taking their property as collateral.

When they failed to pay back the loans, Peter took their property into his and invited the former owners to stay – as long as they paid a modest rent and looked after the estates. Otherwise, he took the properties over, put in his own estate managers and rented them out. By this means acquired the Manor of Wingham Barton in 1761 – the land and property having been given by Elizabeth I to Sir Roger Manwood in the sixteenth century. Helles-Court and the Manor of Levereux, near Ash, in 1760; Hopton’s Manor, Alkham in 1767; Goshall Manor, also near Ash, in 1779 and Grove Manor, Woodnesborough in 1793. He also owned parts of Shepherdswell and a farm at Whitfield. Peter bought Gurson Fleet in 1781, which included Richborough Castle and in 1790 he added the ancient Kearsney Manor to his portfolio. Paying £72,000 the estate included 11,000 acres of land and corn mills.

Pier House, Strond Street. Minet and the Fector family home and from where the business and bank was run. Lynn Candace Sencicle 1993

Peter’s eldest son John was given Kearsney Manor as his summer residence. Unlike his father, John was both a charmer and compassionate and was highly thought of by the ordinary folk of Dover. Not only did the Fector shipping – which John headed – provide continual work, he cared for the families of those who lost their lives at sea. Further, John ensured that those whom he employed that were caught smuggling were looked after. It was easy for him to keep an eye on the activities of the customs officers as the Custom House was next door to the Fector’s Pier House on Custom House Quay!

The American Colonies declared their independence (1776-1783), from England on 4 July 1776 and two years later, on 17 July 1778, France declared war on Britain in support of the Colonists. Initially, the War took its toll on the Fector business and Peter was obliged to sell some of his ships to Flanagan Vercoustre of Ostend. However, as previously in wartime, the government issued Letters of Marque and the Fectors successfully participated using hired ships. Letters of Marque were licences issued by the government that allowed private citizens to seize goods of enemy ships as a prize for making war on them – privateering, as it was called was effectively a legal form of piracy! Although in 1781 the American colonists defeated the British because the French withdrew their threat of invasion Peter was able to build up his shipping interests. His first barque was the Harriet, whose master was Captain Sharp. It is recorded that Peter used the vessel to import the finest claret from France, having quickly reconvened his business relationships there.

During the War Thomas Hyde Page (1746-1821), was in charge of building up defences on Western Heights. The Napoleonic Wars, 1793-1815, brought in battalions of soldiers and major building work was undertaken on the Heights, much of it from 1803. To pay wages and goods of the soldiers, sailors and victuallers, the government used the prevailing currency – gold. This was sent from London and deposited in Dover’s two banks, one owned by the Fector family and the other owned by the Latham family. The latter had evolved out of shipping.

In October 1794, Peter Fector’s wife Mary died but before her death she had the delight of seeing her eldest son, John Minet, marrying Ann Wortley Montague Laurie, the only daughter of Sir John Laurie, of Maxwell’s town, Scotland and Member of Parliament for Dumfries. It was Ann’s grandmother, Anna, daughter of Sir Robert Laurie, the first Baronet, who was the famous ‘Annie Laurie’ of the Scottish song. James had married Frances, daughter of Thomas Bateman Lane of Dover.

Between 1793 and 1796 the government’s deficit abroad amounted to £36,439,269 with excise and customs duties its main source of revenue. The debt was of a similar magnitude to that which had started the chain of events culminating in the French Revolution of 1789. Matters came to a head in February 1797 when the coins and bullion held by the Bank of England against liabilities such as its banknotes, had fallen so low that the Bank Restriction Act was passed which meant that Bank notes could no longer be converted into gold.

The front page of the 800 page evidence against John Minet Fector April 1799

From the beginning of the Napoleonic Wars, the government had every reason to believe that gold was being smuggled out of the country to France and her allies. Indeed, they were so convinced that gold was being sold in return for wine and brandy that Revenue Cutters were ordered to stay at sea except when they made a seizure. When Napoleon came to power the English gold reserves fell even more dramatically,and finding the source of the alleged smuggling was given high priority. During the year of his Mayoralty in 1795, Thomas Mantell led a crusade against smuggling with his sights set on John. On 5 March 1798 a man was about to be arrested at a fisherman’s house, in Folkestone, escaped but later apprehended at Rochester. In Folkestone he left behid him three mahongany boxes in one of which were some letters. In April 1799, a warrant was issued for John’s arrest, he was charged with ‘aiding the enemy’. However, before the warrant was invoked, John had disappeared – the people of Dover had closed ranks around him.

Peter Fector (detail) by Zoffany – Dover Museum

The allegations were laid out in an 800 page report to the Directors of the East India Company and amounted to treason, punishable by death and confiscation of all property. On 8 May 1799 the Hearing was held and the case against John was strong. Amongst the copious evidence, some of which is detailed in the author’s book ‘Banking on Dover,’ it was shown that Updown House, John’s country mansion, had specially built caves in which smuggled goods were hidden while awaiting transportation. At the house was also a specially designed look out on the roof that faced the Downs and from which signals were sent. Further, John was a member of the Court of Lodemanage, which ruled Dover’s pilots and Pilotage and this put his ships in an excellent position to evade Revenue Cutters – customs ships and one only had to look at the proximity of his business with Dover’s custom house.

Peter and James Fector did their best to provide a defence but the evidence against John was so overwhelming that they expected the worst. As for the folk of Dover, they rallied round Peter, something he was never to forget. Albeit, to everyone’s surprise it was announced that John had been cleared! Shortly afterwards John returned to Dover and after celebrations was back running his shipping business as before. By this time Thomas Mantell was again Mayor in and although he continued his campaign against smuggling he and the Fectors became friends.

Fector ship King George c1790 one of the ships that brought refugees following the French Revolution. Lynn Candace Sencicle

Napoleon abdicated on 6 April 1814 and shortly after, Louis XVIII (1814-15 & 1815-24) called in on John before returning to France. It was also recorded that a considerable number of previously exiled French aristocrats stayed with the family at either St. James Street or Pier House over the next few months. One can only speculate how many of these people or their parents had crossed the Channel in John’s ships 21 years before.

Peter died in February 1814, at his mansion in Eythorne. In August that year, John gave the Corporation of Dover, in accordance to his late father’s Will, three chests of silver plate. In honour of Peter, his portrait by Zoffany was hung in the then town hall. The portrait now hangs in the Stone Hall, Maison Dieu.

In early 1815 Napoleon escaped from Elba, the island on which he had been imprisoned and quickly reassembled his Grand Army. On 18 June 1815, Napoleon and the Duke of Wellington (1769-1852) faced each other on the battlefield at Waterloo the outcome of which permanently ended Napoleon’s reign. In the days that followed both the Fectors and the Lathams made a great deal of money, but that is another story. Suffice to say that concerning the charges of gold smuggling brought against John Minet Fector, years before, Napoleon, said ‘Even for equipping my last expedition a greater part of the money was raised in London!’

Kearsney Abbey 1840 by Lynn Candace Sencicle

Following the end of hostilities, John and his family toured Europe, but when they returned to Dover, the town, like country, was in a deep economic depression. He immediately held ‘court‘, inviting all the town’s menfolk to attend. There he learnt that the poverty and even starvation was rife and that the old ‘fall-back‘ profession of smuggling was no longer feasible. John responded by building a magnificent country house on land he owned at Kearsney that resulted in Kearsney Abbey and provided the jobs the town’s folk so desperately needed. However, John died on 12 June 1821 before the ‘Abbey’ was completed. On the day of his funeral, not only did the famous and the wealthy come from far and wide; the whole town turned out as a mark of respect.

Fector Silver Candelabra, left Cllr. Bill Newman Mayor 1992-1993 and right the author

George Jarvis, following John’s death, ran the bank and then from 1827, John’s son-in-law, Henry Bruyeres. John Minet Fector junior (1812-1868) took control of the bank and the business in 1833 and had inherited all his father’s business acumen. In 1842, he amalgamated the family Bank with the National Provincial, established in 1833, and taking his mother’s maiden name of Laurie, became the first chairman. Under his guidance, the new bank became a major concern and today it is known as the Nat West Bank.

As for silver that Peter Fector bequeathed to the town, successive Mayors used this as collateral, most notably in the purchase and restoration of the Maison Dieu and the building of Connaught Hall. However, these days only three candelabras remain as the rest were stolen, along with other priceless treasurers, in July 1969. The three remaining Fector pieces were valued at £80,000 in 1986.

Published:
Banking on Dover by Lorraine Sencicle
Dover Mercury: 11 May 2006 Augmented from Banking on Dover

The story of the Fectors, along with the Minets, the Latham and the Rice family is told in the book, Banking on Dover by Lorraine Sencicle.

Posted in Businesses, Fector Peter - the story behind the Town's treasure and the Country’s banking system, Fector Peter - the story behind the Town's treasure and the Country’s banking system, Local Government | Comments Off

Edward Randolph – the hated Colonialist

Posted on November 21, 2013 by Lorraine

Map c 1790 – West Cliffe east of Dover nar St Margaret’s at Cliffe

Edward Randolph (1632-1703), it is said, was one of the most hated men in pre-Revolutionary America! He was baptised in Canterbury on 9 July 1632, the son of a doctor and one of fifteen children. On 12 November 1650, Edward entered Gray’s Inn as a law student and a year later was a pensioner student at Queen’s College, Cambridge, but does not appear to have graduated. Sometime before 1660, Edward married Jane the daughter of Thomas Gibbon of West Cliffe, near St Margaret’s at Cliffe and they lived in the village.

His family owned a significant amount of land in East Kent, some of which came into the possession of Edward. By the 1660s, he was selling his timber to the Royal Navy victualling office at the Maison Dieu, Dover. For what reasons the couple found themselves in dire financial straits is unclear, but in 1666 he sold some of his land and they decided to flee the country in order to escape their creditors. Before they left, Jane’s father came to the rescue and Edward found employment working as a muster master for the Federation of the Cinque Ports as well as still being involved in the timber trade.

Church of St Peter West Cliffe

Then in 1672, fire swept through their home at West Cliffe and the family were again reduced to dire poverty. Through family connections, Randolph first went to Scotland and then secured a government post in colonial Massachusetts to respond to a lawsuit brought by Robert Mason. Captain John Mason (1586-1635) was the original proprietor of New Hampshire but in 1641, the settlements there formed a coalition with Massachusetts. Robert Mason, the founder’s grandson, had put his case before the Privy Council for Trade and Plantations, to try and regain control of what he perceived as his lands and if not, compensation. Edward’s job was to investigate these claims and also to report back on a number of other issues that were of concern to the Privy Council.

Arriving in Boston on 10 June 1676, Edward quickly became aware that the political elite was hostile to any representative of the English government – the governing body was moving towards self-government. For instance, due to a shortage of hard currency in 1652, they had established their own mint but what had been an interim measure had become permanent. Further, the governing body were refusing let people make Appeals to the courts back in England. Finally, and most disturbing of all, as far as Edward was concerned, the elected representatives were swearing an oath of allegiance of their own dictates.

Edward left Boston for London on 30 July and on 20 September presented a lengthy and detailed report in which he described what he perceived was happening. He scathingly attacked the legality of the Massachusetts government giving examples of abuses, murders, fraud and ‘legalised’ counterfeiting. He also recommended that persons of other religious persuasions than Puritans, along with Native Americans, to be incorporated into running the Colony. In the following May (06.05.1677) he presented his treatise ‘Representation of Ye Affaires of New England’, in which he questioned the legal interpretation of the 1629 Massachusettes Charter.

Charles I (1625 –1649). Worcester Cathedral Cloisters

This had been given by Charles I (1625-1649) and in all probably was drawn up on the assumption that it was to resolve conflicting land claims. However, the Charter had encouraged mass Puritan emigration to the colony, which had evolved into a government comprising of a small group of Puritan religious leaders. They, Edward argued, were intolerant of other religious beliefs and English laws.

It was evident that the Privy Council for Trade had taken notice of Edward’s report and in June 1678, he was commissioned collector of customs in New England under the Plantation Duty Act. This was part of the Navigation Acts that were first introduced in 1651. In essence, they demanded that all goods from English colonies had to go via England before being transported to other colonies. Further, the Acts gave England the monopoly right of producing manufactured goods while the colonies were only allowed to produce complimentary goods, i.e. cotton could be produced in the American colonies but it had to be spun and woven into cloth in England.

As the collector of Plantation Duty, Edward had to ensure that taxes paid in colonial ports were equal to English customs duties. Making Boston his base, Edward quickly ran headlong into the ruling fraternity who were openly insisting on the right to self-government and purposely making it difficult for him to prosecute those who broke the Navigation Acts.

Sir Edmund Andros – Wikapaedia

In 1684, Edward’s frequent reports to London along with his treatise, culminated in the annulment of the Massachusetts Charter and the creation of the Dominion of New England (1685-1689). This was an administrative union of the English colonies in the New England region and initially headed by Joseph Dudley (1647-1720). Sir Edmund Andros (1637-1714) followed him and, as far as Edward was concerned, trade rather than religion became dominating interest with the Navigation Acts rigidly enforced.

Nonetheless, Andros had very little tolerance for Puritan beliefs and his regime echoed that of James II (1685-1688) in England. Further, he was alerted to the fact that Dover’s Regicide Member of Parliament, John Dixwell, was living in New Haven under an alias. It was almost certain that Edward would have been able to identify Dixwell, as he would have known the Regicide during the time of the Civil Wars and Interregnum (1642-1660). However, Dixwell was not arrested and he died in his bed five weeks after Andros was overthrown in 1689.

Andros was supported by a nominated council consisting mainly of colonists while assemblies, which had previously existed, were suspended. Religious tolerance was emphasised by the English army redcoats, with great pomp, attending High Anglican services conducted by a surpliced clergyman in Boston. Edward’s role, within the regime, was strengthened and enlarged when in 1688, New York and the Jerseys were added to the Dominion.

Arms of William and Mary 1688, St Mary’s Church, Dover

Early in 1689 intelligence was being received that James II had been overthrown in England and replaced by William of Orange. As William III (1689-1702). The new king sent orders for the reinstatement of all dispossessed magistrates but instead Andros imprisoned its bearer for sedition.

In April 1689, the people of Boston rose up and Andros was forced to surrender, the Dominion of New England had come to an end. On 18 April, Edward and other members of the dominion government were seized and imprisoned. Edward was sent back to England in chains in February 1690. A brief hearing was held in London where he was exonerated.

Edward was, in October 1691, given the post as surveyor-general of customs of the American colonies. This included the Bahamas and other islands in the Caribbean. He reached Virginia in 1692 to begin a full inspection of almost every port in his jurisdiction. He found that abuses of the Navigation Acts were rampant and record keeping appalling. On his return to England in September 1695, Edward summarised his findings in a report to the Customs Commissioners. The result of which, was the 1696 Navigation Act for Regulating Frauds and Abuses in Plantation Trade and was largely drafted by Edward.

That year William III appointed eight paid Lords Commissioners of Trade and Foreign Plantations to promote trade in the American Plantations and elsewhere. They became known as the Lords of Trade and were not members of the Privy Council. Over time the Lords of Trade evolved into the Board of Trade. The Lords of Trade, although not holding Edward in the high esteem their predecessors had, did send him back to the American colonies in December 1697.

On an official visit to Bermuda, arriving on 16 May 1699, Edward was promptly imprisoned and again sent back to London in chains after nine months in prison. On return to the capital, he put over his case and successfully had the governor of Bermuda sacked. Edward also proposed a consolidation of the American colonies under direct royal authority. This was taken up by the Lords of Trade in a parliamentary Bill, but was never enacted. At about the same time Edward returned to America where he died in April 1703 and was buried in Accomack County, Virginia.

Randolph Family Coat of Arms

Following the death of his first wife Jane, in 1679, Edward married Grace Grenville in 1681. She died in December 1682 and was followed by Sarah Platt, whom he married in 1684 but she again predeceased him. He had four daughters by his first wife and one by his third. Edward’s wealth at the time of his death was not a great so it was evident to all that he had not personally profited by the posts he held.

The positive effects of the Navigation Acts on Dover can be seen in a write up ‘A Gentleman’ on a ‘Tour thro’ the Whole Island of Great Britain’, in 1794, he wrote, ‘… The Packets for France go off from here, in time of Peace, as also those for Ostend, with Mails for Flanders; and all those Ships which carry Freights from New York to Holland and from Virginia to Holland, come generally hither, and unlade their Goods, enter them with the Custom-house Officers, pay the Duties, then enter them again by certificate, reload them and draw back the Duty by Debenture, and so they go away for Holland …’

Under the Lords of Trade, some of the Navigation Acts were repealed and the call for independence from Britain, by the American colonies, continued to grow. One of the Acts that was retained appertained to tea. On 16 December 1773, a group of Boston citizens protesting about the tea tax refused to allow the unloading of three tea-carrying ships that had arrived in the port. That evening, disguised as Native Americans, they boarded the vessels and emptied the tea into Boston Harbour. This was the famous Boston Tea Party and three years later saw the start of the American War of Independence (1776-1783), the repercussions of which were felt strongly in Dover in England.

Published:
Dover Mercury 20 September 2007

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Ragged School

Posted on November 19, 2013 by Lorraine

Ladywell and Park Street 1890

Once upon a time on the site now occupied by a car park on Ladywell there was a building that provided a basic education for the poorest boys of the town. It was known as the Ragged School. These schools had sprung up in a number of large towns in the late 18th century when philanthropists offered free education for poor children. This was in the hope of getting them off the streets and moulding them into good Christian citizens.

Over the following decades, other philanthropists set up similar schools but it was Anthony Ashley Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury, who in 1844, formed the Ragged School Union and by 1867, approximately 226 Sunday Ragged Schools, 204-day schools and 207 evening schools had been established.

Education in Dover, at that time, was provided by numerous small private institutions. For the children of the Anglican Church parishioners, the National School had been established in Queen Street in 1789. This provided a basic and religious education. Although much of the funding was raised by voluntary contributions, the children’s parents were expected to make financial contributions. The Non-Conformists built and opened a British School off Limekiln Street in 1835, with accommodation for 50 scholars. For infants, they opened another school in Adrian Street and at both schools, parents were expected to make a financial contribution towards their children’s education.

William Rutley Mowll – photo by Amos c1880

Like other towns, there were a lot of children whose parents could not afford to provide formal education and these became the concern of two of the members of the Dover Scripture Readers’ Society. Under the aegis of the Society, Christopher Kilvington Worsfold and William Rutley Mowll took the initiative to set up a Ragged School in Dover. The Mayor, Steriker Finnis, agreed for the Society to use an empty building on Ladywell next to the then Wheatsheaf Inn.

The Boys’ Ragged School opened on 1 January 1850 and the stated aim of the school was, ‘the ignorant, vicious and degraded vagrant is reclaimed and changed into the industrious, useful and peaceable subject.‘ The objective was to provide basic elementary instruction based on the, ‘Word of God, for the sadly neglected children whose parents, through extreme poverty and, in many instances, through extreme depravity, are unable and unwilling to send them to the day schools already in existence.’ The school was not part of the Ragged School Union.

Union Hall, Ladywell. Dover Library

Edward Leach was appointed as Superintendent at an annual salary of £8 16shillings. His job was to be in charge of the school and classes, to visit the parents of the boys and to seek out those who had not placed themselves within the schools influence. Initially the school only opened for an hour on Sunday afternoons, later it opened every weekday evening for 1½hours. It was supported by voluntary subscriptions and the teachers were all male volunteers belonging to Dover‘s affluent commercial society. These included builder – Parker Ayres, solicitor – Michael Elwin, brewer – Alfred Kingsford, solicitor – Edward Knocker and tannery owner – William Mummery.

The boys’, for the most part, were between 10 and 15 years old and seduced into attending by the possibility of a free food, such as bread and cheese. The classes were to be opened with a prayer and parables from the Bible, which were read out and explained before the boys were taught basic reading skills and arithmetic. However, the well-meaning philanthropists found that the boys extremely difficult to manage and so rules and punishment, consistent with 19th century schools, were introduced.

The children were taught basic reading skills. A Victorian alphabet poster – York Museum

Another problem that quickly became apparent was that basic hygiene was lacking. Most pupils were vermin ridden and many were of a poor physical constitution due to under-nourishment. This was of particular concern, as the aim of the school was to turn out industrious young men. It was for this reason, so it would appear, that personal hygiene (a good scrub) became part of the curriculum.

In reality, most of the pupils worked very long hours in poorly paid, dirty, jobs that provided much needed income for their families. Albeit, most of the boys worked hard and it became necessary to introduce higher standard classes at the same time as taking their day jobs into account. It was noticeable that attendance to the evening weekday classes was greater than the Sunday classes, so they were increased. In the summer months, many of the poor families worked in the brickfields working from dawn to dusk. During this time the attendance was poor.

Besides learning basic educational skills and scriptures, the teachers gave talks on their special interests. For instance, Edward Knocker would give talks on local history, William Mummery on natural history and William Mowll on astronomy. The highlight of the year was Christmas Day, when roast beef, potatoes and plum pudding was served along with a present of an orange. In 1853 some 184 hungry boys turned up for Christmas lunch, the following years attendance was rationed by ticket.

Coulthard & Wilson Boot Makers of Last Lane, Pencester Road and Biggin Street. Archibald Wilson offered apprenticeship training without fees

Archibald Wilson, of Coultard and Wilson the shoemakers, lived at 7 Market Street. Recognising that many of the graduates of the Ragged school would not be eligible, due to lack of finance and connections, for apprenticeships, he opened his home as a training centre in 1852. Although most of the young men had physically demanding day jobs, the number who came for training in a skill, soon overwhelmed the Wilson household. The Wilson’s purchased adjacent houses but the Dover Institute, as it was called, outgrew these premises.

In 1873, to mark the 21st anniversary the Institute moved to 6 Biggin Street. The prime instigators were Canon Puckle of St Mary’s Church and Arthur Walmisley, Dover Harbour Board’s engineer, who was the president. Edward Worsfold, DHB accountant, succeeded him in 1904. On 19 November that year, following a major refurbishment including a new larger library, reading rooms and teaching rooms, Dover’s Member of Parliament, George Wyndham opened the altered premises. The Institute finally closed its doors in 1934 and was converted into Dover’s first public library. What had originally been Archibald’s home, with its myriad of annexes, became the Lawson Hall and used for religious and philanthropic purposes.

1844 map showing location of Queen Street, Durham Hill and Adrian Street

For girls, the fee-paying School of Industry was established in 1818 to provide training for sixty in Queen Street. Many of the pupils came from Non-Conformist families and were required to attend some place of worship every Sunday. In 1827 purpose built premises opened on Durham Hill and the new School of Industry was considered one of the finest of its type in Kent. After 1870, the school was used for religious meetings.

Those who were too poor to attend the School of Industry or the National School, education or/and training of any kind was not on the agenda. For those girls who survived to adulthood the future was bleak, working long hours in dirty, low skilled jobs for a pittance or prostitution was where their future lay. The women of Dover’s affluent commercial classes, found premises in Adrian Street at the Non-Conformist infants’ school and the girls’ Ragged school opened on Sunday afternoons. The would-be pupils, who ventured in, like their male counterparts came for the prospect of something to eat. Like their male counterparts they were also filthy and foul mouthed with many having poor physical constitutions. The lack of any form of the refinement meant that they would never find work as domestic servants, as had been envisaged by those who had set up the school.

Adrian Street c 1890 from Five Post Lane by Mary Horsley, Dover Museum

This put off many would be helpers and within months pleas were being made for more help. As for the girls, as time passed, they proved a great surprise. They were keen to be ‘cleaned up’ in all respects. Further, as more girls attended, older females of their families and acquaintances showed interest and meetings were set up with them in mind. By the end of 1852, the Adrian Street school had 150 regular pupils although it was still desperately short of volunteers. The report that year states that the girls ‘were well behaved and diligent.’

Later, an ‘Industrial Branch’ was set up and based on the curriculum of the nearby School of Industry. At the Ragged School, the girls’ were taught to ‘make apparel’ for themselves from materials supplied and afterwards they could purchase their handiwork at half the cost of the material and by weekly instalments. Some of these girls went on to work as dressmakers, milliners as well as domestic servants. A number of the girls came back to teach even though they were working approximately 60-hours a week.

Clothing and shoe clubs were established at both Ragged Schools, and a lending library was attached to the Adrian Street school. Pupils and their mothers used this, with young girls teaching their mothers how to read. A report of 1856 states that the girls’ school was open from 14.00hrs to 16.00hrs every day except Saturday, and that attendance each day was on average 120. During the summer months, there were additional classes for older girls between 18.00hrs and 20.00hrs three times a week and on Monday evenings, there was special class for the mothers of pupils.

One of the major problems that both schools faced was parents. Some were very hostile as the schools were giving their offspring ‘ideas beyond their perceived station.’ It was not unknown for father’s to physically attack the school premises yelling that their children should be out earning/begging for money. However, co-operation was sort by regular visits to their parents homes and eventually some of the father’s attended religious services held every Sunday and Tuesday evenings at the Boys’ school. Afterwards, on special occasions, the children were given bread, cheese and lemonade.

Those who ran schools felt that some children would have a better chance in life if they were removed from the ‘degraded homes and placed in excellent institutions in the metropolis.’ It appears that consent was sort of the parents but the way service was administered shows a lack of sympathy for the emotional impact this caused.

Ladywell, demolition of buildings on the site where the Boys’ Ragged School stood, prior to the building of the Police Station we see today. Dover Museum

Following the Education Act of 1870, the government provided grants for elementary education but in Dover, the School Managers – political appointees – could not see the necessity of applying. The major concern was that the implementation of the Act would increase rates too much. Elsewhere in the country, the Ragged schools were being superseded by elementary schools but Dover’s Ragged school was one of the last to go in about 1892. Before the century was out an independent report stated that there was insufficient accommodation in Dover schools to meet government requirements. It went on to say that, ‘the town’s voluntary schools were poorly equipped, lacked playgrounds and were deficient in sanitary arrangements.’ It was not until the Education Act of 1902, designed to unify the country’s elementary school system, that Dover started to make an effort to educated the less well off children – it was the last town in the country to do so.

Published: Dover Mercury
05 & 12 December 2013

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Martin and the legend of Thomas Marsh

Posted on November 17, 2013 by Lorraine

Langdon Parish, South East Kent where Martin is a hamlet

Martin is a hamlet in the parish of Langdon, about 4½miles northeast of Dover. There has been a settlement there since at least Anglo-Saxon times. In AD 861, it is listed as Meretun, which means ‘farmstead by the pools’. In old guidebooks, the hamlet is referred to as Marten, Marton, Merton, Mershton or Marshtown. The latter because of the Marsh family who live there for centuries and the hamlet’s main landowners. During the reign of Henry V (1413-1422), their name was written as Atte-Mersh and their arms were, quarterly, gules, and argent, in the first quarter, a horses head, couped at the neck, gules.

At that time, Langdon Abbey owned the hamlet but following the Reformation (1529-1536), it came into the possession of the Master family of East Langdon. It then passed to the Furnese family of which, Selina, one of three daughters of Sir Robert Furnese, passed it to Sir Edward Dering as part of her dowry. About 1780, the estate was sold to John Jeken of Court Lodge, Oxney, by which time the large and noble manor house was in a ruinous state. His son, James had it demolished and built Marston Hall that can be seen today.

A legend attached to Marston Hall was used by Richard Harris Barham in one his Ingoldsby Legends. The story is about Thomas Marsh who was once the squire of Martin, however, Barham gives the legend the title, ‘Mrs Botherby’s Story – The Leech of Folkestone,’ which can be confusing.

The story tells us that Thomas was the youngest of three sons of a wealthy Martin yeoman. He left home to seek his fortune on the Continent, returning to Martin following the deaths of his father and two elder brothers. He brings with him his young Spanish wife, Isabel, and daughter Marian. With his own wealth and that which he has inherited, Thomas prospers such that he hires his wife a handsome, young, footman called José.

Marston Hall, Martin

In those days, apothecaries travelled from manor to manor selling their lotions and potions, and Erasmus Buckthorne of Folkestone, the Leech of Barham’s title, was no exception. However, on this particular visit to Martin he had with him a special doll with spells and pins secretly ordered by Isabel.

Buckthorne arrives at the manor just as Thomas is about to leave on a journey to Romney Marsh with his manservant. After Thomas’s departure the apothecary explains to Isabel how the talisman works and she immediately plunges two of the pins into the doll. At that same moment, Thomas suffers pangs of excruciating pain. Isabel is about to stick more pins into the doll when she is called away leaving the doll on her dresser. Young Marian finds the doll and takes it to her room, where she pulls the pins out. Thomas’s agony stops. Isabel returns and is in great consternation over the missing doll.

That evening Thomas and his manservant arrive at a village, probably Acrise, where a fair was being held. There, much to Thomas’s surprise, one of the entertainers, Aldrovando, singles him out and tells him to be at a certain house, in Acrise Wood, that evening if he wants to live. Thomas, at first scoffs as he knows the house to be desolate. However, as the evening passes he thinks about the pain he had suffered earlier that day and decides to keep the assignment.

The house is more desolate than Thomas remembers and he is about to change his mind when he sees that the door is open. Inside Aldrovando is waiting and bids Thomas to undertake a number of strange rituals. Thomas reluctantly obeys. What Thomas does not know is that at that very moment, Isabel and José, having found the doll, were casting spells and sticking pins into it. Because of Aldrovando’s magic, none of this affects Thomas.

St Augustine’s Church, East Langdon, where Thomas Marsh is buried.

Next morning Thomas is found wandering in a daze by his manservant. He takes his master back to Martin where calamity rules. Both Isabel and José have vanished, without packing taking money or anything! They had disappeared and were never seen again! Thomas, of course, recovers and he and Marian live happily ever after. The story is based on fact. Thomas Marsh was born in 1583 and following his death in 1634, was buried in St Augustine’s Church in East Langdon.

Prior to the building of Martin waterworks in the 1800s along what is now Waterworks Lane, locals either collected rainwater or drew it from one of two very deep wells. One of these wells was at Marston Hall and a large donkey wheel was used to draw the water for, amongst other things, to make beer. The house was put on the market in 1921 along with 43 acres, 5 cottages a granary and a brew house. The tiny brewery still had its original coppers when modern equipment was installed in the 1980s and brewing was re-introduced. This ceased due to the ill health of the owner and the house was on the market in 1999. At that time the old brew house, an ivy-covered granary along with the donkey wheel was listed as main features.

Lantern Inn, Martin

Nearby is the Lantern Inn that was built in 1636 as two farm cottages. It was described as fine example of an English village freehouse with historic, period features at the time it was bought by Julian and Nancy Paton-Smith in1997, the present owners. A reputation it still holds. The cottages were licensed to sell ale in 1803 but some ten years later they had been converted and become the Wheatsheaf alehouse. It was not until 1936 that the establishment was granted a full licence when it became the Wheatsheaf Tavern. The name was changed to the Old Lantern Inn in 1976.

A workhouse was built in the hamlet in 1790 that housed the poor from East and West Langdon, St Margaret’s, Guston, Mongeham, Sutton and Ripple. The inmates, some 40 to 50, earned their keep by spinning and weaving linen, sack-making and sheeting. It closed in 1837 and the premises were renamed Prospect Place.

Dover Martin Mill Pearson Line – Schematic Drawing – LS 2004

The hamlet of Martin is in an arable farming locality with only fifteen houses and a windmill in 1790. The ancient windmill was situated on an elevated spot near where the South East and Chatham Railway built the line between Dover and Deal. It was here that the Railway Company erected a station in 1881 calling it Martin Mill. The station became the main transit point for passengers from London to St Margaret’s Bay. In 1898, Pearson’s laid the three and a half mile Dover-Martin Mill Standard Gauge Railway from Martin Mill Station to what is now Eastern Docks, to convey materials for the Dover Admiralty Harbour works. At the height of the construction, some 90 trucks a day passed through the station onto the branch line until that harbour was completed in 1909. By that time a new community had grow around the station and today Martin and Martin Mill are separate villages of equal size.

During World War II, members of the Martin Women’s Institute converted a row of ancient cottages opposite the site of the workhouse into a small factory to make strawberry and blackberry jam as part of the war effort. These cottages were later combined into one house, called Tiled Cottage that still stands today.

Published:
Dover Mercury: 24 June 2004

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The Dover Historian

Dynasty of Dover Part III – The Gunmans

Peter Fector – the story behind the Town’s treasure and the Country’s banking system

Edward Randolph – the hated Colonialist

Ragged School

Martin and the legend of Thomas Marsh

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