20 March 1774] again at Mrs Gilbert’s. A good ordinary on table at two o’clock, and every shewer of
ﬂowers to be at dinner, or have no right to shew his ﬂower.

[1769] Bridge. Made by John Thompson, Junior, a plough for lays, with two chips, one before the other
in the length of a common beam, with turned Reests, the fore share to cut only the turf, the other to
bury it. Also house joinery and carpentry work done, from the saloon to the plough. NB A journeyman
wanting for the last branch.

10 march 1772] Whereas on Friday night last, the 6'1‘ of this Instant March, the workshop of John
Thompson, Carpenter at Bridge; was broken open, and the several tools hereafter mentioned stolen
thereout, viz One ax, one handsaw. One cast steel panel ditto, two tenant ditto, and one turning ditto,
one plough-plane, two bench ditto, one smoothing ditto, one double—iron smoothing ditto, and several
moulding ditto; one wimble-stock and bitts; several ﬁrmer chisles, gouges, mortis chisles, and socket-
chisles; one claw-hammer, one bench ditto, with squares, gauges and several other articles . . .if any of
the said articles are oﬁered for sale, that the person offering them be detained. . .etc. Reward two
guineas.

8 August 1772] Thomas Kedman, for stealing one ax, ﬁve saws, a plough, several planes, and divers
other carpenters tools, out of the workshop of John Thompson of Bridge; and Margaret Lamb, for
stealing a pair of silverbuckles, a pair of silver buttons, two gold rings, two handkerchiefs, and three
caps, out of the dwelling house of Bridget Little, in Chatham, were burnt in the hand, and ordered to be
discharged.

[23 December 1769] We hear some public-spirited gentlemen intend to petition Parliament for a
turnpike act for the road from Dover lane in Canterbury to the half-way house leading to Dover over
Barham Downs, and that the gate will be erected opposite the mile-stone near St Lawrence.

[11 April 1772] Wanted. A mistress for a workhouse in the parish of Bridge, at Easter next. For further
particulars enquire of Mr Miller, or Mr Champion., Churchwarden, and Overseer. NB She must write a
tolerable hand.

Also at Bridge Hill House: 21 December 1773: Sale of property in Barham by auction.

24 january 1815] To Be Sold by Auction. At the White Horse Inn, Bridge-Street, on Friday the 27”’
instant, at three-o’clock in the afternoon. All the interest or right and occupation of Mr Richard
Sherrard, as tenant under E.Taylor, esq. Containing a large Farm House, barn, yard, stabling, lodges,
and all other necessary out-buildings; together with 20 acres of rich pastureland, three acresof hop
ground and ten acres of arable. . .

21“/22”“ March 1815] Auction of all the genteel and valuable household furniture of Miss Fitch, at
Bridge; consisting of four post and tent bedsteads, with handsome mahogany carved and plain pillars,
elegantly burnished gold and other comices, with fashionable white dimity and printed cotton hangings
to ditto; French drapery and festoon window curtains, with comices to correspond; excellent goose and
down beds in bordered and plain ticks, paillasses, bordered horse-hair and wool mattresses, ﬁne witney
and other blankets, large 14 4ths Marseilles quilts and counterpanes, Kiddenninster, Venetian, and
Brussels carpets, nearly new; hearth rugs; mahogany double and single chests of drawers, circular and
straight fronts, of excellent workmanship; circular and square bason-stands, ditto commode dressing
drawers and tables, pier and dressing glasses, an elegant mirror in burnished gold ﬁame, inlaid
sideboard with celleret drawer, set of mahogany dining tables with circular ends, two sets of mahogany
carved back chairs, neat painted and stained bedroom ditto, excellent elliptic, Pembroke, card and tea
tables, a square stuffed sofa, with bolsters and cotton cases; polished steel fenders and ﬁre irons, a
capital bracket clock, a barometer and thermometer, hall-lamp, ﬁgured and plain oil cloths, tea trays
and waiters, a set of blue and white printed dinner service, a quantity of queensware, a great variety of
of kitchen requisites in copper, pewter, and tin, in excellent preservation, washing tubs, brine tubs,
&c. an assortment of garden tools, hand glasses, ladders, and garden lights, about 11 rods of capital oak
garden fence, a quantity of coals, faggots, and other effects, as will be particularised.

2 may 1823] similar list for Mrs Stephens at Bridge.. Houses were sold with entire contents.


27 January 1773] Horse racing on 1“ February a match over the new round course on Barham Downs,
one four miles heat, for one hundred guineas, between two gentlemen’s horses — one is the grey horse,
that run twenty miles in an hour some time since on Barham Downs, the other a capital hunter. To start
exactly at twelve o’clock. Dinner will be ready at Bridge-Hill after the race is over. [further report later]

5 June 1799] Wanted, a roomy and airy situated house, or other sort of building, in the city or suburbs
of Canterbury, to be used a a regimental hospital. Any person, having such a building to let, may aply
to Dr Wardell, physician to the forces, Bridge, or to Dr Bmff, surgeon, 2”“ battalion of grenadiers, St
Dunstans.

1799] military camp on Barham Downs ca 6000 men. August 13] second encampment of 18-20,000
men. . . .The immense train of farmers and artillery wagons, employed in conveying the troops and
baggage, ammunition, military and other stores, and provisions, towards the camp, adding the
numerous carriages ﬁlled with officers and other passengers; these together have produced a scene of
populousness and traffic in this ancient city which has not been beheld by its inhabitants since the days
of St Thomas Becket. . .

15 April 1823] A robbery attended with aggravating circumstances, was committed between the hours
of ﬁve and six o’clock, on Monday aﬁemoon, in the house of -—-Brooks, a shepherd in the employ of
Mr Henry Croasdill, of Tyler Hill, near this city. In the early part of the aﬁemoon of the above day, a
man had been to the cottage, soliciting alms, and from his apparently earnest representations of distress
and hunger, he was relieved, and a quantity of victuals given to him by the wife of Brooks: he was
however subsequently observed lurking about the premises by a part of the family, who expressed an
apprehension of the man’s intention. About fouro’clock, Brooks went from home, leaving his wife,
who also went out a short time after. The man, it would seem, watched the opportunity of their
absence, and with the aid of a knife, took out a pane of glass, and throwing up the sash, entered the
house, and stole a quantity of tea, four silver spoons, a silver watch, a pair of silver studs, three silk
hankerchiefs, and two cotton ones, together with a waistcoat and other articles of a portable nature; but
it would seem he was disturbed by the return of Brooks, as upon entering the premises, Brooks found
the back door, leading to the wood open, and upon calling his wife from a neighbouring house, and
remonstrating with her upon the impropriety of leaving the door open, the robbery was immediately
discovered. A search was commenced, and it was ascertained that the object of their suspicion had been
to a public house in North-lane, and there divided the tea between two men, acquaintances of the
fellow, and ﬁ'om their statement, a constable traced the robber, and overtook him at Renville pond, near
Bridge, with part of the property in his possession. After an examination of the prisoner, by the Rev. C
Hughes, of Bridge-place, he was committed to St Augustine’s gaol.

7 November 1823] Daring outrages. On Monday night a carpenter’s shop, at bridge, was broken open;
the depredators stole from the tools there deposited several implements for breaking open doors, and on

.their departure left a right-hand glove. The villains then proceeded to the church, which they forcibly

entered, and stole the prayer books and baptismal basin. It is supposed that the same gang subsequently
proceeded to the house of baron Montesquieu, and broke into the servants’ room, from which they stole
a quantity of wearing apparel; one of the servants, hearing a noise, struck a light, upon which the
robbers decamped. The same night the same depredators went to the parsonage at Beakesboume, from
whence theyvstole two hives of bees and the garden line; and here they leﬁ the fellow glove to the one
left at Bridge. They made a secure retreat with their booty, and no clue to discovery has yet been
obtained.

17 November 1823] In the night of Tuesday last, a barn in bifrons Park near Bridge was feloniously
entered by some thieves, who stole between three and four bushels of white wheat, with which they got
off undiscovered.