~ *~'»»st~ai$;¢/vimIaéflvMt;‘\!@Itz=L¢\~» ‘/N-

 lCa...€ \/52$. L3 iv‘?

T havingvbeen publifhhl in the Canterbury News of Saturday
the :8th:t-at .May lafl, that on Wcclnefday the 27th of July
the Tankard. would be run for, which uled to btrnm for on Ealler

_ Tueltlny; nfid"tl1e Conftiturion, Articles and Contlitions of that

Race being It this Time very little ltnbjivn, it is thought: proper
to uhlifh the t'ollowing_Account of them. _

.The Sum of One hundred and thirteen Pounds havin" been
raifed by the Contribution: of feveml ofthe Nobility ml’ Gen-
try ol this County. it was in A ril 1679 put into the Hands of
one of thofe Gentlemen, (one o the Contributors) who by Deed
bearing Date the. toth of April 1678, mid: rt Mortgage, by at
Term of so.) Years, of Part of his {cal Ellare to the then Earl of
Winehelfu, Sir Henry Palmer, Sir Anthony Auchcr, Sir Arnold-
Breams, Sir Henry" Oxemlen, Sir llobrrt. Faunce, Sirjamcs
Oxenden. and Edward Hales of Sr. Stephens, Efq; the yearly
lnterefl of v.'hiéh the Deed of Mortgage mention: to be Six
Pound} fifteen Shillings, (which is 6 per Cent) and way to be

' gird to the Nlnrtgagees Fnr the Maintenance ofa llorfe Race on

arh;m Dnwn yearly in Fuller Week, and for railing a Piece of

Plate yearly, to be given to the Perlnn who lllhljilll win 313,: (‘,._2_:_I_

Race, necording toah Agreement made by the {aid .Cont_ributo1’tj

and they agteed“ot_t Artieles in Writing, which forrnerly  in

I Fnnu, to hapgup in the.‘ Balcony Room at Bridge Hill; l.‘l:E

[they Ire now To much defaced, that ‘tis-w_ith Dilficulty they can
be read. ' . _ ’ _ .

. The Arti_cles'are,

. Firfl, That an t-1m} Eaflri-' Tuzflay tlvtrt jlull £1 providnl by :5: Hart-
guyar, during :15: Tina the Mme] /Itfrritid [ball rtrnuin in Bi: }‘ial7l(’.', out
Pint of Plan :1 tb¢‘Va1u of the rum}! tfXb(.rDI'd‘M‘Nll]. after the Rat: of
Six Pnnd: ‘par Cant. to ‘I rln-for bfjuth lbrfu (manning Harfg Man, nr
G:Im‘n_;) ll /hafl be Jvuglrl cu the - aid Du} to Bridge HM, and :12: Omin-
or Brirtgrr thereof 'dt:/an to {be Su flrihrl than ynfiur, before In If the
Clock in the Afimraou, that he will not for ;b: {aid Plan. ,

:dly, Tim tln Plaitji roufaird jlxafl 5: runfar lr'9flt_/T115/l Cm/3. at
TIM: tftbr Clock in rht mama, the net Round Cmrf: on Barium Dawn,
nld to far: at the new W’u'g/win;-Po]! nut the Bowling Grid-

gdly, That rub Horf: /hall arr} Tm Stan: Wu 1: :4 Pound to 1/1:
Stars, 5:fx'd'u I/J: Sat/4'1: end Bridle; lffllji lm'rt_g 4 ' J on: Pound for
1441111, Amt alfo bcforg aloud to Jrfql hfan 11:5: 154:‘ ig/zed.

.;thly, ‘Du; an to law: hfl tbl Wbiu Ptfll going out an rbt Right Hand,
and 1/1: Red-baled Paflr an the Lt]? Hnd ; and m the murar} in rt/miyg
bui. _

gthly, When-tr /Bafl run In :4‘: Irmgfa/t a/' rm} Pc/I, or rile find or
under Wright, jbik law no Share in the Plan ; h! the amt: Horfi that run:
on the right Sin’: of thtflaid P3/ll, and rnrriu bf: [ill Weight, flrlfl have :11:

jaiA’PIa}t.

6thly, 77:4: end: Omttr or Rider flufl dept/it Timur} Sl~i1l‘ngr tn [L1
lllorrgugur, or in bi: Afar: to an} out aftb: S.-aéfiriézrr rbm prfrnr, at we
7‘r'n'r: rlu: be duh:-orb bl will not at a onfiaia’

7thly, Tint the Mum; fl dtpajirt/I } every nu ml» rnu flu}! is giuu to
2}): Omar If rb: Harf: that ninmrla rlu fix/d Plan.

sthly, 71m: tun} rm: rim va'nmrr'r rlu fpid Plan, and Er rm 4 Srifiribu-,—

jlull ‘me three Pumdr at In for rlu Irirrnft of the Srrrk I/uruf, and than
din}: u be nmurmd A $15 rribn-_.
‘9thly, I anf Difev-mu /ball trifi nnreming the Brut}: of the]? Arrir/u,
if it to 5: raided 5} 7/2: major Parr of the Subfmirr: rim: and r/mt pre.
NIL
I The former Reprefentative of the Mortgageor, lnng fincc de-
Iiretl, and the prefent does now delire to clear the Ellate olthis
lncumbrance, by pa ing of? the Mortgage Money.
Whoever for the mute {hall run 2 Hoxfe for this Plate, mull
comply with the Terms of theft: original Articles.

The original Articles and Conditions for racing on Barham Downs, 1678.

488

CANTERBURY RACES
The Life and Times of
the Barham Downs Racecourse

By P.G. Elgar

There is little doubt that the Canterbury Racecourse at Barham Downs endured
longer than racecourses in other parts of Kent. Even though its fortunes fluctuated,
the meetings enjoyed considerable fame in the racing world. For much of its
existence it was considered to be the major social event of the county season.

An extract from a ’Kentish Post’ ofjune 1743 gives most valuable information as
to when racing had been established sixty-five years earlier. In April 1678 several
prominent gentry in the area arranged a Deed of Mortgage ’for raising a Piece of
Plate yearly’. They drew up a list of Articles and Conditions concerning the organ-
isation of races ‘on the new Round Course at Barham Down’. These quaint
Articles, which formerly hung in a frame at Bridge Hill House, are reproduced here
and make fascinating reading.

The earliest meetings were held on the Tuesday after Easter but late summer
meetings soon became regular. Their duration was normally three or four days but
they sometimes lasted up to six days. In latter times there was often only a one or
two—day meeting.

Farmers, landowners and cavalry officers from the large army camps on the
Downs were the usual participants. Later additional personnel from the barracks in
Canterbury, Shorncliffe, Dover and Woolwich gave much support.

The course was situated at the top of Bridge Hill alongside the main Canterbury
to Dover road, just over ha|f—a~mile from Bridge village. Bridge Hill House was 100
yards away and provided an excellent view of the racing. The course was leng-
thened and the 1873 Ordnance Survey Map shows it extending as far as some 200
yards beyond the Rose Lane turning to Bishopsbourne, with a total length of two
miles.

A large grandstand, with offices underneath, was completed in 1774 for the
reception of gentry and their ladies. This appears as the ’New Stand’ on a map of
1776. It lay just over 200 yards from the Canterbury—Dover road and 400 yards
from Higham House, at that time the residence oflames Hallett. A second grand-
stand nearby was also in use for a period.

The importance of the races was recognised in the early eighteenth century by
the granting of a King’s Plate. This was usually of the value of 100 guineas accord-
ing to ’Kentish Post’ advertisements of the time. From 1739 to ‘T852 the royal
grants were decided in two or more heats.

489


RUB for on Barham Downs-i c  . ‘ r w
the 18th °fAu§ufi ‘A7’-;9‘."‘l3CC0FCllf1° t[t1).Et:!nn"t1,‘.'ci)i:r]erIt‘i1fe1r:i::fil1)tl-
1.irely‘infert,ed.in-the Gizecre. : Aiad, oxn Friday tlie'z9:li -4
cfcha fame Month,‘ at Purfi: with 2ovGuineas nifed /b,L_

"fttr:""Vi‘i‘nfxil'€t§"”1’n i the '.lC,""i'ry‘,Qf’:C“antclrbury will -5;‘
Run'f°ri  HCJES, 4  U007! Cl'I‘3 'Cotxi'{e (;;1{hg,£u-nc
Dn.wns...byG1lloway,s not exceeding‘ 1'4. Hahd: high xmj I
carry 9. Stone Weight,‘ and" all uncler ' zintsizc‘ ’we;£h:‘
for Inches, nor ‘I,-ts than-.tlir.ee Hnrfes toR.un’ andarhc ‘
Hofle}? Nfbe lhewn1.i‘neafur‘d and cnt’ei"d ‘at the T Hnufe "
of if/l_f.If_1‘_‘1r‘E‘CL1p cgiled the King~’,.Hr5td, in Cant,erbury,- on.
-Mond1y tl:c'_z._5t‘h ot.t:he. lame Monfli,‘ every Subfcriber _ to
one -Guinea) ilfld lFn0_["3' SLll)l.Cf-lbi:'X', two Guinggg’
Entrance, V—'Aq~-;j.~gxae‘Mondiy the firll: Da,y'of September
nexr,'thefe' will be Run for on’ the {aid 4'_Mi1:;- Comte
gulrlcats, anoth3:r_Purfe wirh,;o-Guineas, by a .Subfcr'ipti.,.
on,ofGcntler_ne'n1n thcyfaid City, by any \Ho,.re’ - Mm, 0",.
Gelding,’ _t_l1ai_: nave; won-fiche. Value of<§o I -been one
Tml’°:l.C3"Yl’,’-‘-2 ‘°v‘3t.one Weigh: including. '13;-idler a-.d
Sadélle : '1‘lie{‘eHorfe_£‘to he fhcwn and entcr’d at Mnlrelands
t.hcRédLyo‘nInn in Can‘terbury,on Fridaytihe aid of Au ‘uh
_3..f5l‘1°:{3—t‘-.>—3—‘!Cl~‘l1§—fl —-lhi03r.VJ1¢t—0f—eire rysfuc lri-Iorfc-M§re——
_.'or Gelding.,ais.to pay twlo Guineas Entlfancg bu, ‘J’,-,~,~ Q5‘:
afrcrw:1rd5,c”are'rc'd, thcri fucli‘ to day fdur) Cuirm,  .
trance. ~ -
_‘  B. We '-hear there -x-£11 be other Subfcriptiongfcr
morg~1~/lonicsco be Run for‘ « but the fame is not yCL fu uy .

fcir]ed.—

‘Kentish Post’ notice, August 1729. By this time the races had been given a valuable
boost by the granting of King's Plates.

THE-Kiins’s‘: Plats. of woo .‘Gniné’as ‘ivill_b_e'

Bridge was closely involved with the racing, especially the stabling of horses and
providing jockeys and trainers. Local inns and other businesses profited consider-
ably. The Clerk of the Course usually set up his office at the White Horse where
horses for all the races had to be named between certain specified hours. The Red
Lion and King's Head in Canterbury were other venues for this.

The cream of society attended Canterbury Races. Newspaper reports listing them
seem like extracts from ‘Who's Who’. For example, the report on the meeting of
26th to 28th August 1800:

490

:~.-—;..

‘Excellent racing each day, particularly for the Maiden Plate on Wednesday
when seven horses started. Two hard beats between Gloucester and Snuff-Box.
Notwithstanding the unfavourable weather the races were hardly ever graced by
the company of so many distinguished personages as the present year, besides
our much esteemed Lord Lieutenant and his admirable daughter, Earl Camden,
Viscount Sidney, Earl Darnley, Lord and Lady Sondes, Baron and Baroness de
Montesquieu, Sir Edward Knatchbull, Lord and Lady Dering.

‘The theatre has also been filled with genteel audience ~ Dowton present.
(William Dowton, a famous London actor.) The company at the ball last night at
the Assembly Rooms was uncommonly numerous and splendid — about 500
persons of the first respectability  were present.’

One attempt to attract a distinguished visitor was unsuccessful. William Cobbett
in his ‘Rural Rides’ mentioned Canterbury Races, 4th September 1823 in this
comical little note:

‘They have lately had races at Canterbury and the Mayor and Aldermn, in order
to get the Prince Leopold to attend, presented him with the Freedom of the City,
but it rained all the time and he did not come.‘

In 1806 the Kings Plate was actually won by a royal entrant when the Prince of
Wales, afterwards George IV, won by a walk-over on Barbarossa. Rockingham, a
St Leger winner, won in 1834 and walked over for a second prize the following
year. Red Deer, the Chester Cup winner of 1844, was successful in the Duke of
Richmond‘s colours in 1845. In 1851 a popular local winner was Firebolt, owned
by Mr Richardson and ridden by a son of C. Hornsby of Bridge.

George IV retained his interest in the sport and visited the races when a guest of
Lord and Lady Conyngham at Bifrons.

in addition to the royal plates there were numerous other regular races at various
times. These included the Associated Annual Prize, the Canterbury Handicap, the
City Plate, the Maiden Plate, the County Subscription Plate, the Bridge Plate and
the Ballroom Stakes, together with numerous Sweepstakes and the Kentish Hunter
Stakes.

A whip was added to the Ballroom Stakes, subscribed for by the ladies on
condition that competition for it should be confined to ‘gentlemen qualified as for
the Anglesey Stakes at Goodwood, with the addition of Arthur's, the Travellers and
those who have been members of either of the universities of Oxford or
Cambridge‘. The race was about two miles in length.

With regard to the Kentish Hunter Stakes an advertisement for the 1850 meeting
stated that ‘horses must have been regularly hunted with an established pack of
hounds in the county’ and that it was only for ‘all horses belonging to subscribers
to the East Kent Earth-Stopping Fund’. Sometimes they were expected to have been
in at the death of a certain number of brace of foxes.

Steeplechasing events were also held, providing extra excitement for the
younger element. It was rough and dangerous riding with very few rules. One

491


CANTERBURY RACES, I770.

ATRUE and GENUINE

LIST of the HORSES, &c.
That are Entered to RUN on BARHAM DOVVNS,

On Tuefday the 31ft of July, and on Wednefday the Iili, Thurfday the
2d, and Friday the 3d of Aucusr.
:.oc<:-:. :<~:Joe:3o<wooooo<:—oe<x><><-:-<;xo<7;:<'.x::c~c»:x><:<::--<t.~..—-<:><=<:--oce.-<:~c:<:<><

072 Tuefday, will 52 Run for a Sweepftakes,  Twem‘}—_fl'ue Guirleflf 2116/3)
Pay or Play, 5} t/5efollo-wing Colt: anal Fzlllei, I F0” M1/55 H94‘-

Rider: Names Colours H E A T S.

 

ORD Sondes’s Colt, by Somfon, 8 ft. Iolb.

 

Mr. Watfon’s Filley, by W'bij!lt—jaz1m, Sit. 7lb.  Rider, Purple I l
Capt. O‘Kelly’s Colt, by Bell's /Irabian, 8ft. rolb. , , , _ I
Mr. Wildman’s Filley, by Pafibumour, fill. 7lb. lVlnImg, V‘ I111’: I I
Mr. VVhitfield’s Colt, by Merlin, Sit. rolb.

 

O/z V/edncfday, will fie Rzm for The Kings Plate of I00 Guineas, ly flu‘
following Horfer, tlae 52/} of T/Jree Four Mile Heatr, mrryzrzg I zit.
Riders I

unknown.
0” Thurfday, will 52 Run for, The County Subfcription Plate, Value
Fifty Pounds, 5] the following.

APTAIN Stroud’s chcfnut Horfe, Paragon, by rllarr/J’em,1
C 5 years old, Sit. 51b. 1
Mr. Sparrow’s bay Horfe, Minor, by Atlar, 5 yrs. old. 8ft. 51b.
02: Friday will fie Run for, The City Subfcription Plate, Value Fifty

Pounds, by Four Years Old Colts or Fillies, the belt of three Two-

mile and Quarter Heats.

APT. Srroud’s grey Filley, by Be./1's /Iralrian, lift. 7lb. I I I I I I
Mr. B<:vcr’s chefnut Colt, Driver, by Driver, Slt. 71b. 7. Rizlzr, PUI”}>lC

N. B. There are four others now at Bridge Hill, which intend to enter at the Polt.
The above LIST 2': /1UTHEN'TlCA7'ED by lb: CLERK of the COURSE.

ORD March's brown Horfe, Slay, ,
Lord OITory’s chefnut Horfe, Falzxuf,
Capt. Srroud’s bay Horfc. P="fl‘7"”a

         

   

_"f.Rid:r, Purplel I I l

Cooking at Mr. Moorels at Half after Ten, during the Races.
Aflemblies, and Public Breakfalling, at Mrs. Wl1itfield’s, as ufual.

List of Runners, 31st July to 3rd August 1770.

492

Captain Ross is said to have asked Lord Kennedy before a race: ‘I understand we
may ride over each other and kill each other if we can?‘

‘Just so,’ was his Lordship’s reply.

Apart from the grand dress balls which invariably accompanied race days,
special theatricals and other events took place. In 1840 galas were held in
St Peter‘s Gardens, Canterbury. These included fireworks presented by Mr Dorby,
a celebrated pyrotechnist, gladiatorial shows, Hampton’s Balloons and other
amusements.

Among local trainers were such famous names as Richard Hornsby; the Tom
Browns, father and son, who later became well known at Newmarket; Fred Webb,
who is said to have had a dream of winning the Derby and later actually did so. A
Mr Howard kept racing stables opposite the workhouse (Union Road, Bridge);
Richard Sherrard and family prepared racers and steeplechasers for Lord Conyng—
ham, including the famous Derby Day, winner of numerous races.

Lord Albert Conyngham (afterwards Lord Londesborough), of Bifrons (1805-
1860), was a prominent local landowner of an eminent Irish family. He had a great
interest in the Turf and was a prominent runner and breeder of horses, frequently
seen at such racing centres as Doncaster, Beverley and York.

The racecourse was sometimes used for other gatherings. One famous occasion
was on 17th December 1832. Several thousand people attended to hear election
candidates speak. These included Sir Edward Knatchbull, Sir William Cosway and
the self-proclaimed saviour of the working classes, the bogus Sir William
Courtenay, who claimed to be a Knight of Malta and heir to the Hales Estates. The
grandstand was adapted to accommodate the High Sheriff, officers and candidates.

‘S00 farm labourers, armed with cudgels, were among the crowd. Courtenay (real

name John Nichols Thom), made an impassioned speech but secured few votes.
This eccentric, dressed in crimson velvet and gold cloak, with mantle and cap, silk
stockings and Turkish slippers, plus gold chain and scimitar, was frequently seen at
the races before his violent death in an affray with the militia in Bossenden Woods
in l838.

The meetings had begun to decline by the early 1840s. In 1842, according to the
‘Kentish Gazette’:

‘The Canterbury Spring Meeting  did not afford the usual sport. Mr Sherrard‘s
horse walked over the course for the Easter Plate. A match or two of no great
interest followed and the sports of the day were wound up by donkey racing and
other minor amusements.’

The 1843 meeting was described by the ‘Kentish Gazette’ as ‘scarcely worthy of
mention, either as regards the nature of the sport or the attendance of the gentry of
the county  on neither day was the grandstand graced with more than half a
dozen members of Kentish families’.

At the 1847 Spring meeting it was decided to prohibit booths, which was wel-
comed by the ‘Kentish Gazette’:

493


 
  

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\  1.’ IK1,’I:v/zrj!'.rz/.’  '~  ‘- ‘L,._
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Kentish Traveller's Companion map showing the site of Canterbury Racecourse on
Barham Downs, 1776.

’There can be no doubt that considerable damage is sustained by the neighbour-
hood residents, their plantations and hedge-rows, by the turbulent persons who
have been accustomed to stay in the booths drinking till midnight. The keepers
of these places have only themselves to thank for the deprivation. As a result the
visitors were largely confined to gentlemen connected with the East Kent Hunt
and few pedestrians were present.’

In somewhat extravagant terms the newspaper lamented the passing of those
days when the grandstand had been ’the nucleus of fashion, of life, of the high-
born, the rich, the elegant  beauty in all its phases, the blonde, the brunette, the
lily, the rose all shone resplendent there, a sight the boast of Kent that Kent alone
should boast. This once celebrated arena of wealth and rank was partially tenanted
by a few citizens of lowly degree.’

Things had improved a little by 1850 when on the opening day the weather was
fine and a large crowd attended. ‘Refreshment booths, various games of chance,
fortune-telling, ’e|astic brothers’, archery, cockshies, itinerary musicians, etc.
proved scarcely less attractive  than the racing itself.’

The second day produced an even larger and more fashionable crowd but some
troubles occurred. ’Some of the light-fingered profession obtained some booty and
succeeded in getting clear off.’ Thieves, pickpockets and dishonest bookmakers
were becoming an ever-increasing problem. ‘

In a letter published in the ’Kentish Gazette’ on 29th August 1854 the writer,
who signed himself as ‘one who well recollects the olden times,’ suggested ending

494

 

- ........»

 .. .. .,..,...;

A silver admission ticket to the New
Grandstand, probably early nineteenth
century (enlarged).

  

1. . ‘* <1 by _ ._
Lord Albert Conyngham (1805-1860),

local landowner and great supporter of the
Turf.

 

‘the minor affairs at Lenham, Maidstone, Folkestone and Dover and handing over
the money now subscribed at those places, so as to form one good meeting at
Canterbury.’

The suggestion was not taken up and the following year the meeting was
reduced to a one-day event.

There is little doubt that the decline was also due to the county being off the
beaten track for race—goers, and to poor means of communication to and from the
principal racing centres, which by this time were well established in central
England. Racing had also been affected by traditions of corrupt practices in which
even famous sportsmen were involved. Large profits were at stake and immense
amounts of money wagered. Doping of horses was unknown but crude methods
such as the poisoning of drinking water were effective. Owners and jockeys often
conspired to hold back horses or substitute them. Age limits were faked, races
started unpunctually and weighing in and out were carelessly managed.

There were attempts to restore the Turf to respectability and increased pro-
fessionalism and the influence of the Jockey Club did much to improve standards.
But a new rule raising prize money to £300 per day was a blow to meetings such
as Canterbury, at a time when subscriptions to the events were already dwindling.

495

 

 


In spite of these setbacks things improved again and the 1858 and 1863
meetings proved successful, the former being described as the best for twenty
years. The spread of railways did much to boost attendances, and special excursion
trains with reduced fares were run by the South—Eastern and the London, Chatham
and Dover Railways. By 1864 these operated to Canterbury and Bekesbourne. The
latter station had a specially extended platform to accommodate the extra numbers
of people. Later racehorses and jockeys were also conveyed at a single fare for the
double journey. The gentry were met with carriages and transported to the course
while the ordinary public covered the couple of miles on foot.

There were several famous winners in the remaining years, including the mare
Lillian, which won for her owner Mr Savile forty—six races, out of which twenty-
nine were Queen's Plates. But Caller Ou, a great winner of forty-eight races,
including thirty-four Queen's Plates, was sensationally beaten in 1863, coming in
third behind Gibraltar and Zetland, the race described as the most exciting event in
Kentish racing history.

A telegraph facility was provided and a handstamp despatched for use at the
course in June 1876. But the days were numbered, Cricket Week having become
the main social event of the season, and the final meeting took place in 1879. The
course became part of the Barham Downs Golf Club in 1890, which closed during
the First World War. Today it lies under fields and the Canterbury and Bridge
by-pass.

List of Main Sources Consulted

Clair, C., ’A Kentish Garner’.

Delgado, A., ‘Victorian entertainment’, 1961.

Fisher, T., ’Kentish Traveller's Companion’, 1776.
‘Leisure Pursuits in Kent’, 1850-1914. (Group Research Project)
Ordnance Survey Map, 25 ins. to one mile, 1873.
Pimlott, J.A.R., ‘Recreations’, 1968.

’Victoria County History of Kent’, 1909.

‘Bridge as portrayed in historical sources prior to 1939’.
’Kentish Post’.

’Kentish Gazette’.

‘Illustrated London News’.

‘Country Life’.

Special thanks for assistance from:

The National Horseracing Museum, Newmarket.
Canterbury Library, Local Studies Department.

Mr David Vinten.

496

-we.v~q-x-_-.v-su-«,3»; -s,»-:2, V K , 

- _.,»A.,,A..4_ ¢..,,i‘..._,., .,......._..__..——.«-

THE GREAT FIRE OF CHATHAM

By Philip MacDouga||

.he year 1800 brought to Chatham a period of extraordii-Jry fine weather. The
Summer months of May and June saw endless days of sunshine and hardly a drop
of rain. . 2t such weather could hardly have been welcomed. The effect on the
central residential area would have been quite unimaginable. In the many small,
poorly-built and ill-ventilated houses that made up the township of Chatham, the
occupants greatly suffered. Once they closed the outside door behind them, they
were immersed in a fetid and malodorous environment that such housing created.
In the Summer of 1800, it was made ten times worse by the unusually high
temperatures.

Nor did the streets provide any form of respite. Lacking a heavy downpour, they
were but infrequently cleaned. In particular, the gutters and side walks were
tainted with the foul smelling odours of human effluence and other indescribable
deposits. Not surprisingly, the danger of disease was rife. In that year, the burial
registers recorded 442 deaths. This represented a death rate of approximately 40 in
every thousand, so making Chatham one ofthe unhealthiest towns in Kent.

This long bout of hot weather also brought other concerns. Many of those houses
built in central Chatham were of timber construction. As each day passed, the lack
of rain enhanced the combustible nature of the building material. The slightest
accident, be it from an unattended candle or a mis-used tinder-box, might lead to
an uncontrollable fire. Already, once in that year, the threat had become near-
reality when, towards the end of May, a new iron foundry had caught fire. That the
conflagration had not spread was due to the foundry being next to the victualling
yard. Those employed within this particular naval establishment had reacted to the
danger, rapidly bringing their fire engines to the scene. Although the foundry was
entirely destroyed, the fire was prevented from spreading.

On the last day of June, however, the town was not so fortunate. Shortly before
mid—day, a serious fire broke out in a small warehouse that stood behind the High
Street and immediately adjacent to the river. The contents of the warehouse, a
highly combustible combination of oakum, cordage and hemp, had burst into
flames, with the entire building soon engulfed. Indeed, everything seemed to
favour the fire. The warehouse, apart from its inflammable contents, was of timber
construction and newly coated with tar while surrounding houses were of timber
and bone dry as a result of the recent hot weather. The state of the river also made
matters worse. With the fire having broken out just about an hour before low water
it became virtually impossible for the arriving fire engines to draw water. Further

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