f§7"3“‘-—a Kevin’ VJ‘ 35 such occasions, the nationally—known writers mixed with those who had gained success in a small way, or indeed, those who had never been published. Since its formation there had always been a number of loyal members who wrote purely for pleasure. An activity which was also of a social nature was inviting members of local amateur dramatic societies to take part in sketches which Guild members had written. This was first tried out at the Archbishops’ Palace with a group from Sittingbourne. Later, on a much more in-depth level, members of the Willington Players were sent scripts in advance so that characters could be chosen by the actors and rehearsed prior to the evening the sketches were performed. As well as writers and poets, the Guild has invited local councillors, librarians, clergy, curators and historians to join us. And those most important people, editors, were asked to come and tell us how to avoid receiving rejection slips. It would be difficult to name all the visitors who, as far as one can tell, have enjoyed spending an evening with MWG. It is impossible to pay tribute to all the members. There are still founder members. Poet Pam Wood, Margaret Bolton who writes children's stories, and Frank Willis who will turn his hand to any subject. Countless people joined at later times and it would not be right to mention some and not others. Many sewed as officers for lengthy periods. Some have sadly passed away. Today the future of MWG hangs in the balance. it is an old—fashioned group, and although there are members who take advantage of all the modern—day ways of communicating, obtaining information and producing material, its days may be numbered. A vast amount of work has been published and broadcast by MWG members, but the successes will probably be overshadowed by the recollection of times in the early years. While looking for a new venue for meetings, and inspecting a small hall, three members were startled by the sudden and unexpected arrival of a group of scantily- clad men who rushed into their midst and frantically began to do floor exercises. When holding meetings at St Philip's Church, proceedings would be interrupted by the clock booming the hours of the day. As the saying goes, memories are made of this. 142 t Mk I’-(_, l // " ._/~,,«t,.,,. PAUPERS IN THE VILLAGE The Early Years of the Bridge Poor Law Union By P.G. Elgar The establishment of new Poor Law Unions in the 18305 was the result of discontent with the management of paupers. A revised attitude was proposed and attempts made to curb mismanagement and corrupt overseers. A Royal Commission was set up by Lord Grey's Whig Government in February 1832 to enquire into the whole matter. Their report was published in February 1834 and the Poor Law Amendment Act received Royal Assent six months later. it laid down principles governing treatment of the poor for the rest of the nineteenth century. The 15,500 parishes of England and Wales were grouped into new Poor Law Unions, administered by Boards of Guardians elected annually. They were required to enlarge existing workhouses or build new ones. Bridge was one of the first twelve Unions in Kent to erect a new workhouse. It covered four acres, with three acres of gardens, eventually including a chapel, cook- house and other rooms, with exercise yards. ltwas enclosed in a quadrangle system devised by Sir Francis Bond Head (1793-1875). He was a prominent administrator, engineer and writer who later became Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada. His plans were criticized by many who thought they were too like prisons. The surveyor was George Lancefield. A series of dormitories, 15 feet by 10 feet, lit by a single window, accommodated eight persons each. Larger, L-shaped rooms were used as day—rooms. Previously each parish had dealt with their own paupers in various poorhouses, such as those at lckham, Littlebourne, Waltham and Elham. The Guardians’ first meeting took place at the White Horse Inn, Bridge, on 22nd April 1835, and included Sir Francis Head and exofficio Guardians George Gipps, Robert Ballard-Johnstone and the Rev. Mr Hughes-Hallett. There were nineteen Parish Guardians as follows: Richard Brice Bridge John Bushell lckham Henry Collard Patrixbourne John Sankey Lower Hardres John March Hood Kingston Stephen Fuller Harbledown Stephen Gambill Waltham John Howard Upper Hardres 143 DAV /zoom Layout of Bridge Workhouse, based on a plan of 1875. Boys; anus WSLE-BODJED 77. ,1’ l v l DAY Boom DAY Room ENS DAY Roe sll‘ll:Ps AGED MEN; U *3: 332 tr‘) 3 G3 A8l.E- ' , 7 5 Boys mm: GIRL‘; Y/-\RD 309'” mm D 4 _ 0 3g MEMS n o I Yam; AGED 2 mg; . ~ MEN 5 0 R ,2 ‘M R D 1’ 3 7' * 1 . wnu. .,, ABLE »/300150 CHAPEL "5 woMEm's Y/AR D , 3 I )3 . . 3 Sir Francis Bond Head, designer of Bridge 3 W khouse. [-1 "r or fl:/< AGED 7'y\/ALL ' _" QWL COOK MEN 5 ‘MRI; JICKIAGED , /-wuss WOMEN'S E3}; M); [U DOM ‘r/4/20 4:2 3%‘ 38 7:} U to gm WELL 3 rm . . S'ICI< 4 AGED muuarz Maw BOARD 575'“ AGED ””""‘ W°ME~’S R°°"” D/w Room View of Bridge Union Workhouse (also known as the Guardians Institution), about 1925. . John Harvey Bishopsbourne Nathaniel Maynard Fordwich Thomas Byng Wickham Thomas Sladden Adisham Edward Collard Stodmarsh Richard Peckham Bekesbourne Denne Denne Littlebourne Henry Mount Nackington Robert Lathe Thanington Benjamin Harrison Womenswold Robert Owann Westgate 145 I. ,:.: ”Czmo/,.1I1s7*1e‘1css u:Aiyg*1«:1),,»f T; TflE G, ardinns of this Union ‘will. at =l:li<:ir azleetlngltri f‘ 3 " ‘Bl{'Il)G.E_;U~M()N.. '« ’' ,''‘’i ’ be belt! on 'I'HURl.\'D'AY. the ’2tifli inst: nt, irocggcd Jig’ rum 1«:m~:. ‘ jrlow of n 'scHoo_t.M-rs'i'1t l£s:~,_ me the u..s:m W0iltlmn.c.. ' ‘l‘l1e So: my of the. late ;.‘lc-\lmnlir.istrcssi xii...’ 1-Tw ‘live i‘ odds ‘per annum. The continuance or lutjlcn.-iclrif this Sula y will tlepcull on‘ the coinpctencyinf the pi:re':nn électlrd, afiit will be ri-gtilntcxl aécording to the cu-rtificglng a‘wMded ‘u on her examination by t?e"Cornrnit,tc:é or Counlcil rinfilitlucn ion. in addition to the Salary, Rntlona, Coulis‘ Gnixlilles, ml 3 fixmislnc4l_apnrtmc: t will be nllowgd, "[1,; election w ‘ll be subject, to i.l|€_i1p[1fJ'OV:6l of the Poo:-,L;m BWd~.. l. ‘ i l'C§|utltd tea for the-nituntipn must be members oftlhc Oliurr.-la 0 England, -and attcnd.pgI}sonKlly on the ilaylof‘ l*f.l"'<::tiou t Flcven o'clock in txhdl nrcnnst per 18. - -- r ' =' - gy;u.«_rS-o£p,- at pg 11:. / _- ‘fig’. Bxflk. ..fl- , _.,,._..-~.'.,.. . . ,, . 4. ' , Wtfknd‘: Betcha-r.GioIcuu1du¢u.utp-nhlh. ‘ ' ‘gave 9‘ P“, "T ' . '. cunt”; At pcrdolcnih. ~ pf A ~-~~ .w__~,(,‘~oalI -at §¢:r;to11*"f‘ " ‘ ‘ ‘ " ' '?aut5mr, at par cut, ‘Per-°~rr****°'*:.~..*°;*.2***=.~ *:*°::.;*“* ’°':;:::.. ~ m",...}; ,u.gp1u ’ "u‘1ne' or V a pjrvv - a , gnu, '°,‘,ug,.¢.n¢¢,.g¢gp1;¢gfy¢¢_-... nmuivriilbunndc monthly. - . ' . . :_ 3150,10 than tube that ugiphat Tendon will ha rweiwiflart f A . LE1.-tEA.J§! .ua.cofi:w4.~wod-_1gnr¢~tr« balm fl7¢'H ‘55l‘“7W’-‘Pf 3 r“r‘,‘_,',,;.;f;,; gags‘ hy Lhq Bout offlutéhns, ax tliftr 3:- tcviaaflfficén. and to"b¢‘dcllvu‘¢d in web Q0355“: “*1 P‘ such mu Ind plwfl: M Fl_‘_fI__'Ef7 E‘ 3.93‘? °( Q“ ruin: im.—rltTcr. . mu?’ N-Twzfi _Brld ‘. .£ntiun..’ . - ' l T w u’::xo innrixcw. .Y°V1'T3 3“"'-‘°"- Ld1xbun,._. ._.__ - - . ““'l"3‘““ v Bctlmfiouna - F°"*_"‘l‘* . , ,ua,‘ba‘m,. , . . .. .:{vg(uuIaVl .~.1 Him. -. . » ‘aw : .°* W ‘ 1"” " ékkuu _ Chlfltlaam _ Btoztmuuh ' ’ {the Board 8’ °{at¢irE%1BERT co'LLum, Clo}-1:.’ -~ 39m-d..ro-om, Dec. 3}. i335- Af Advertisement for tenders for food supplies, December 1835. 148 Breakfast and supper Bread and cheese or butter, 6oz of bread for men, 5oz for women, with 1oz of cheese or ‘/2oz of butter. Dinner Two days Suet puddings and vegetables, 1lb pudding for men, 10oz for women. One day Meat pudding with vegetables, 1|b pudding for men, 10oz for women. Four days Bread and cheese, 7oz bread, 1oz cheese. For old people The same, plus 1oz of tea and milk for breakfast and supper. For children Bread and milk for breakfast and supper. Such proportion of the dinner diet for able—bodied as the Board of Guardians should decide. For the sick As ordered by the Medical Officer. Subsequent alterations included a daily pint of beer for hard-working males, while the breakfast diet changed to gruel. ln the first quarter of 1847 the cost of keeping nineteen paupers was £27.8s.9d. The average weekly cost for the quarter ending Michaelmas was 35.41/2d of which 3‘/2d was for clothing. Other expenses could include grants enabling families to emigrate. On 27th February 1840 the Board permitted the parish officers of Upper Hardres to pay £5 to Thomas Hobbs’ wife and children to emigrate to Australia. On 11th September £14.11s.3d was paid to Thomas Fairways and family of Chartham to emigrate to New Zealand. Bridge workhouse was most used in the 18405, when an average of nearly 200 paupers were held. Thereafter numbers declined — to 96 in the 18905 and 60 in the 19205. Summer numbers were lower, especially at hop-picking time when the able- bodied discharged themselves. The chaplain reported on 14th March 1842 that internal discipline was generally satisfactory and progress in educating children was good. It was said that Bridge had one of the best educational facilities in South-East England within workhouse confines. Extensions became necessary in 1849. A cookhouse and porter’s room were added. By 1866 a ‘lock-up’ room and lunacy house had been built and a vagrants’ room was completed in 1869. Further alterations proposed in 1870 received some opposition, especially from Robert Lake, but were supported by George Dering, letters from both appearing in the ’Kentish Gazette’. Dering prevailed and twelve tenders were received in early 1872. Mr Toad’s estimate of £1,925 was accepted for building casual wards, a stable and a coachhouse. Further work occurred in 1876 and 1900. Some individuals stand out as having given exceptional service, such as the Collard family. In May 1864 Charles Collard retired after being chairman for twenty- one years, during which time he had ‘discharged the onerous duty of the office with 149 Nbtipe THE . . §omprise_d in lb shove- rder of the PI-oi’ ‘Law Commissioner: 1- nglnnd and I ‘there I, £1) 0! pe sons with are. uherally rated tllo th |"|.‘ the Wale, , ' Elec on of thelfiung presc ibed In thelOr -=1-'- ‘ :4 !'l-l i ' l . '1 l 2 VJ. §B,R,IDG§. U1. ION. _ of the Annrgal ;EI_ec ion ,0 Gun 1 " _!Ii¢.I’oor. Chunhwerdedg and I veneer: of tile Ie pl Parishes - _med Wnlon. wit ll « Influence of roceed on',hd'18th dqyof March nip l stunt. to the dilnns b_f'the Four of such, p rlehea as are e’ constlthting the |ho¥,e;- a bd Union. 1, An rate-plycr otlo tier off ,roperty,'helng_f ll l§d."° V°‘_° ‘P any 3 ch parishgrmiy prdpns as'the Gunrdiin r Guardians elec te any p _rish orlplace in anon Maine‘ hnvin wtitln whiqh Amy urilber not exceedln the nub: e ."to_ be tgicn-E moor Ira e o the Unlcinfiln respect of p ‘ rty_of the ‘undue at "I r[1e'l'ified by x rilenof the rvrentfil (£25,, been dismiss; front a parcel: -gflitazeb _ _ Com issionegs. J T e proposal muaf'- mad 1: War notice In occur lug to the-unn,ex d I-‘or-mA,end§ 9.1: delivered. to on '0! the'Cbu|;cinl{srderi,e ‘Dd Overseer! ,0 _ , parish for it ‘:2 G11 rdlauiis proposed, on or bcfo, th ital!‘ day of ‘tunes ow instant. ‘.2 " In c 3: of a_ cdntetit for Rio ffice of Gun:-dl a ll ,6 ny of the, skid ptrishes, the votes wilI,,§be given in paper; 16 belch by the Chnrc wtrdens uu;LO eraeezs two days, at! ‘, .flx¢d , r the election, at the houses 0! the: ',-re i uppoin ed for Is to air: on the should elivergth in to, such noon 0 that day. m {ore the dqiy nt‘: in the titled to vote. ‘All rcsidcn 5. at oftthe the volin ape s, shoal j in person i’ the Ch rchuardeda n Ov racer! A ling fil ed up no ghnrchvr den,s'or,,' parish ho at titan fer , _ I _ pariphtand l Trspis who I) come eémtled in tel ,he last day vrng vp ting papers. sy ofiel ticiu and vd gen before l . 1 . . HERBERT con ‘ARE. l , 5 - Cl: 1: to 3 Bear: -_of l“ Ffl u L ' ul ‘Nor-1}zuvrr<_)r~r f’A‘ri:r_x for Nun Person duiiaiu 3 P=."°° l ; 1 1 o« eziiisz. rpropptmd ofihe . proposed . ' l\‘ to tl "- 1! A ,. y . c ‘Q 7‘-wt-—m-——— Notice of Annual Election ofGuardians, March 1839. 150 6 credit to himself and advantage to the ratepayers. He ordered a dinner of good old English fare, roast beef and plum pudding.’ Later T. Louis Collard was chairman for eleven years and clerk for a further fourteen. In July 1856 Mr and Mrs William Forth were presented with ’a very handsome silver teapot from Messrs Mason of this City (Canterbury) for their satisfactory work.’ William died aged seventy on 18th April 1865. At times he had been relieving officer, master and clerk. A tablet was erected in his memory by the Guardians in St Peter’s Church, Bridge. The ’Kentish Gazette’ occasionally reported cases involving inmates. At St Augu- stine's Petty Sessions in December 1860 John King and John Widderson were charged with breaking all the windows in the vagrants’ ward. The prisoners, who had travelled twenty-six miles in search of work, were admitted for the night. As no food was given to them they broke the windows so as to be sent to prison. Mr Forth, the master, said that by an order from the Board he was not allowed to give food, unless in cases of extreme destitution. The two were sentenced to a week's imprisonment. The magistrate stated that he highly disapproved of the Guardians’ order. On 15th May 1860 Henry Johnson, alias ’Deaf Burke’*, an able-bodied pauper, was charged by the master with refusing to work. The defendant, having been previously convicted of a similar offence, was sentenced to a month's hard labour. In October 1876 at the Petty Sessions James Kemp was summonsed with leaving his three infant children chargeable to Bridge Union since 13th July. Desertion was proved by the relieving officer. The defendant, ’a big strapping—looking fellow, who said he could not keep his children, was sent to gaol for six weeks with hard labour.’ inmates normally joined in village festivals, thanks largely to benevolent well—to- do families such as the Conynghams. On 21st January 1868 children received a special treat when Miss Parker provided a substantial tea, following which they were entertained by Mr Linam's magic lantern, before Miss Parker and other ladies presented prizes. On New Year's Day 1876 the inmates ’were liberally entertained a dinner of roast beef and plum pudding was kindly provided by the Marquis Conyngham and the wards were visited by various dignitaries who handed out tea, tobacco, snuff and cake.’ On 8th October 1878 the Earl of Mount Charles, son of the Marquis and Marchioness of Conyngham, came of age and celebrations were held. The first event took place at the workhouse where ‘the whole of the inmates were entertained in a most liberal manner. Rooms and wards were richly decorated at 1 o'clock the old men and women and children sat down in their different wards to Editor's Note: ‘Deaf’ Burke was a well—known pugilist, so was Henry Johnson handy with his fists? 151 a substantial repast of roast beef and plum pudding with beer. They were visited by the Marchioness and her accompanying ladies.’ Bridge workhouse eventually became a hospital and by the late 1960s was a care home for the elderly. The outside appearance is likely to remain unchanged as a preservation order was placed on it in 1980. Now known as ‘The Close’ it has been converted into attractive residences. Main Sources Consulted Crowther, M.A., ‘The Workhouse System, 1934-1929’. Methuen, 1981. lgglesden, C., ’Saunters through Kent with Pen and Pencil’, Vol.|X, Bridge. ‘Kentish Express’, 1901 . Morrison, Kathryn, ‘The Workhouse: a Study of Poor Law Buildings’. English Heritage, 1999. Pierce, D., ‘The History of Bridge to 1981’. Unpublished. ‘Bridge as Portrayed in Historical Sources prior to 1939’. Group Research Project. ‘Bridge Workhouse Orders and Regulations’. 1836. ‘Kentish Gazette’. Acknowledgements Special thanks to the following for their valued assistance: Canterbury Cathedral Archives. Canterbury Library, Local Studies Department. Kent University Library. Mr David Pierce of Bridge. Messrs John and lan Phipps of Bridge. A mid-Victorian print of the cliff—top church at Warden. 152 wt WARDEN CHURCH By David T. Hughes For several centuries a small church, standing high atop the clay cliffs at Warden Point in the Isle of Sheppey, presented a familiar landmark for passing sailors. None of the earliest records of the church at Warden have survived, and the date of its foundation remains a mystery. What is known is that the church was certainly of ancient origins, and in Norman times was in the possession of the Crown. On 24th October 1231, however, Henry lll granted it to the hospital of St Mary, generally known as the Maison Dieu, at Dover. The church, which was dedicated to St James, remained with the Maison Dieu until the end of 1544 when the hospital was dis- solved, Henry Vlll taking all its possessions into his own hands. The King shortly afterwards regranted the church to Sir Thomas Cheyne of Shurland at Eastchurch. In 1559 the church was inherited by Sir Thomas Cheyne’s spendthrift son Henry who, in the course of disposing of all the family possessions in Sheppey, surrendered it to Elizabeth I in return for lands elsewhere. The Queen shortly gave grant of the church to Sir Thomas Hoby of Bisham. In the centuries which then followed the church would be passed through several different hands. Warden was never a rich parish, throughout most of its history comprising a small hamlet containing two or three cottages, an inn and the church. Dotted around lay Warden Manor, providing the only substantial house, and a few small farmsteads. The congregation of the church would never rise above some twenty persons. The lack of funds for the proper upkeep of the church, or to encourage a priest to serve it, would form a continuing strand throughout its history. The name of a few of the early clerics who did accept the incumbency have survived: William de Wrotham (on 13th January 1206), Thomas de Gillingham (16th March 1226), John de Gilling— ham (4th May 1226), Philip de Wigenhal (20th November 1231) and Roger de Sancto Albano (18th March 1232). ln 1352 the priest was John de Maidstone. That there was no house or other accommodation provided for the priest was a disincentive to recruitment which would never be addressed. During a Visitation of Archbishop William Warham in 1511 the parishioners complained ‘that there is n00 preest to syng divine service among us nor to minister the sacraments‘. The situation was soon rectified in this instance but, during the subsequent history of the church there would continue to be some lengthy periods when there was no minister. In 1529 John Bellinger of Faversham left a bequest to the church for ‘a Vestment complete of green satin of Brugges, with a remembrance on the back of the giver, and Image of St James’. Apparently the roof was at this time becoming in need of some attention, in 1533 Thomas Sigar making provision in his Will for ‘the Church of Wardon, a 1000 shingles’. Another benefactor of Warden would be Stephen 153