I undertook transcription of the rare survival 1801 census in 2013 at Bromley Archive. My transcript has been been online at Kent Online Parish Clerks see 1801 Bromley census. Bromley's population in 1801 is 2700 people.
Prior to the census taken on the 10 day of March the parish was asked to make another return from its registers.
The census reflects those who provided the census information Henry Smith, D.D., Minister; Edward Latter, Vestry Clerk; John Pepper and L. Ashworth, Churchwardens; Samuel Floyd and [given name illegible] Chalkley, Overseers.
The Home Office stated "A correct return of the Baptisms,Burials and Marriages of the year 1800 is peculiarly requisite,as being the connecting Link of the series of Parish Registers with the Enumerated Population of 1801 and subsequent Enumerations.
The draft form has been left inside the flap cover of the bound Bromley Composite Register number one which covers the years 1558-1715 for some events. The form requires the number of Baptisms Burials and Marriages for three year clusters for:
1569
1570
1571 for which only baptisms survive.
1599
1600
1601
1629
1630
1631
1669
1670
1671
1699
1700
1701
1749
1750
1751
1800
This crude sampling of population shows the town was growing slowly, however against this growth trend there are a number of distortions. Present within the ancient Parish were a significant number of travellers particularly on Bromley Common. The burial register reflects also a number of deaths from those staying at the Bell and White Hart Inns which were large stage coaching Inns on the 10 mile road to London Bridge to the north and Tunbridge ,Tunbridge Wells and Hastings to the south east. in addition nurse children (including children identified from the Foundling Hospital in London) are introduced to the parish and baptismal registers include adult baptisms and reflect baptism of Londoners often so described. There is therefore a shifting non resident population as well as residents of the town.
The three year clusters do not reflect the years of highest death rates during epidemics. Bromley records plague deaths more than 20 years before the Great Fire of London.
Bromley appears to have been a relatively slow growing population in a rural market town on a major coach staging a short distance from the city of London. It was not until the coming of the railway that large growth appeared much later.
The civil War touched Bromley but there is no record of any conflict in the town; the upheaval centred on evicting the Bishop of Rochester from his Palace and the installation of Puritan clergy as Ministers. Eventually the Bishop returned to the Palace and the registers return to normality with little disruption.
Showing posts with label White Hart Inn Bromley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label White Hart Inn Bromley. Show all posts
Monday, 7 April 2014
Saturday, 4 January 2014
Bromley Postmasters 1685-1897
As I was walking past the Old Post Office in East Street Bromley I began to wonder how old the postal service was. I did some research and came up with some information.
From an act in 1710 (under Queen Anne) the prior system of postal delivery by private individuals was superseded and the transportation of letters was placed under the direction of a Postmaster General.
In 1783,mail coaches were instituted as the means of delivery and remained until the coming of the railways. The Penny post was introduced in 1840 and the postal service became more complex.
In Bromley prior to the introduction of mail coaches, the town was well served by horse carriers,cart services and coach services to London,Tunbridge Wells and Hastings and therefore the first Post Master dated from 1685.
1685-1687 Wm.Crumpe who lived neat the Bell Inn.
1687 Thos.Bennett,landlord of the White Hart Inn.
1688-1692 Thos.Godden,described as such in rate books.
1693-1695 Edmund Millington,Parish Clerk.
1696-1720 William Waldron
1728-1735 Mr. J. Lawson,referred to in rate books.
1736-1752 Wm.Wood
1752-1753 Martha Wood
1754-1774 Wm.Stich,who was a local landowner in the town.
1775-1783 John Phillips,landlord of the White Hart Inn.
1784-1786 Thomas Palmer,successor as landlord of the White Hart Inn.
1787-1788 James Wilson,Landlord of the Bell Inn.
1789-1796 William Francis Peachey.
1796-1802 Hugh Hair,Draper's in Market Place;Vintner in High Street.
1802-1811 Ann Hair;Hugh's widow.
1812-1839 John Acton,who took over Hair's wine merchant business.
1839-1857 Samuel Poole Acton,son of John.
1857-1876 Joseph Bradley Shillcock,Chemist in the High Street.
The coming of rail services at two railway stations to the north and South of Market Square replaced the need for John Palmers Royal Mail Coaches.
After 1876 the appointment as Bromley Postmaster became a sole occupation and premises were needed. The original Post Office was on the East side of the Market place and the Post master from 1876-1897 was William Hewick. In 1877 he established the Post Office on the west side of Market Square and it remained there until 1897.By 1879 the Office employed 3 telegraph boys,3 indoor postal staff and 16 outdoor delivery men.
William Beale was Postmaster from 1891-1897 when the Post Office relocated to East Street to the building now referred to as the Old Post Office. It was this building that aroused my curiousity. The Royal Mail closed the premises in the last decade;counter service is now provided within a branch of W.H.Smith in the High Street. Mail for a large part of the borough is now sorted at Dartford with local deliveries from a distribution centre in Orpington at the rear of the High Street Post Office.
From an act in 1710 (under Queen Anne) the prior system of postal delivery by private individuals was superseded and the transportation of letters was placed under the direction of a Postmaster General.
In 1783,mail coaches were instituted as the means of delivery and remained until the coming of the railways. The Penny post was introduced in 1840 and the postal service became more complex.
In Bromley prior to the introduction of mail coaches, the town was well served by horse carriers,cart services and coach services to London,Tunbridge Wells and Hastings and therefore the first Post Master dated from 1685.
1685-1687 Wm.Crumpe who lived neat the Bell Inn.
1687 Thos.Bennett,landlord of the White Hart Inn.
1688-1692 Thos.Godden,described as such in rate books.
1693-1695 Edmund Millington,Parish Clerk.
1696-1720 William Waldron
1728-1735 Mr. J. Lawson,referred to in rate books.
1736-1752 Wm.Wood
1752-1753 Martha Wood
1754-1774 Wm.Stich,who was a local landowner in the town.
1775-1783 John Phillips,landlord of the White Hart Inn.
1784-1786 Thomas Palmer,successor as landlord of the White Hart Inn.
1787-1788 James Wilson,Landlord of the Bell Inn.
1789-1796 William Francis Peachey.
1796-1802 Hugh Hair,Draper's in Market Place;Vintner in High Street.
1802-1811 Ann Hair;Hugh's widow.
1812-1839 John Acton,who took over Hair's wine merchant business.
1839-1857 Samuel Poole Acton,son of John.
1857-1876 Joseph Bradley Shillcock,Chemist in the High Street.
The coming of rail services at two railway stations to the north and South of Market Square replaced the need for John Palmers Royal Mail Coaches.
After 1876 the appointment as Bromley Postmaster became a sole occupation and premises were needed. The original Post Office was on the East side of the Market place and the Post master from 1876-1897 was William Hewick. In 1877 he established the Post Office on the west side of Market Square and it remained there until 1897.By 1879 the Office employed 3 telegraph boys,3 indoor postal staff and 16 outdoor delivery men.
William Beale was Postmaster from 1891-1897 when the Post Office relocated to East Street to the building now referred to as the Old Post Office. It was this building that aroused my curiousity. The Royal Mail closed the premises in the last decade;counter service is now provided within a branch of W.H.Smith in the High Street. Mail for a large part of the borough is now sorted at Dartford with local deliveries from a distribution centre in Orpington at the rear of the High Street Post Office.
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