Kelly's Directory 1866, Rainham          Kent Online Parish Clerks

Transcribed by David Auger, November 2004

Rainham is in the Eastern division of the county, hundred and union of Milton, lathe of Scray, county court district and rural deanery of Sittingbourne, archdeaconry of Maidstone, and diocese of Canterbury, 4 miles east from Rochester, and 6 west from Sittingbourne: it reaches to the creeks on the Medway, and includes several marsh islands.

The higher ground is chalk, in downs perpendicular to the coast; to the south are woods. The church of St. Margaret, close to the high road, is a handsome building, with a conspicuous tower; in the church is the burial-place of the Earls of Thanet; eight earls and six countesses of this family are buried here, including Henry, the last of the line of the Earls; and the TUFTONs, who held land here in the reign of Henry III.: the church, which is eight centuries old, has a double nave, two chancels, carved rood-screen, three stone sedilia, stalls and brasses, some of them of the date of 1409, and contains many monuments to the TUFTONs, Earls of Thanet.

The register dates from 1592. The living is a vicarage, valued at £404, with residence, in the gift of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and held by the Rev. Augustus John PEARMAN, M.A., of Pembroke College, Oxford. The National schools were erected in 1846, on a piece of ground given by the Earl of Thanet. There are chapels for Wesleyans and Independents. Sir R. TUFTON, Bart., is lord of the manor. Bricks are made here. The area of the parish is 3,608 acres of land and 260 of water. The population in 1861 was 1,422, being an increase of 272 over the year 1851.

LOWER RAINHAM and RAINHAM QUAY are one mile north.

MOOR STREET is half a mile east; COZENTON, half a mile north; MOTLEY HILL, 2 miles north-east. Berengrove is the residence of William WALTER, Esq. Here is a station on the London, Chatham and Dover Railway.

Parish Clerk, James TAYLOR.

POST OFFICE. – William FRIDAY, receiver. Letters by foot post through Sittingbourne at 8.30 a.m. Box closes at 5.25 p.m. & at 9 p.m. The nearest money order offices are at Chatham and Sittingbourne.

PILLAR LETTER BOX at Lower Rainham, cleared at 5 p.m. week days, & 10.30 a.m. Sundays

INSURANCE AGENT. – Liverpool & London & Globe, John LONGLEYNATIONAL SCHOOL, John LONGLEY, master; Mrs. Emma LONGLEY, mistressLondon, Chatham & Dover Railway Station, William KENNEDY, station master CARRIERS. – GARDNER & Co.’s van passes through, daily, to & from London, Sittingbourne & Faversham[GENTRY & CLERGY]COLEGATE Mr. Thomas RichardDODD Misses, Church houseDODD Thomas, esqEVEREST, William Bentham, esqPEARMAN Rev. Augustus John, M.A. (vicar)PENFOLD Henry, esqSIMMS Mr. JamesSMART Misses, Lower RainhamSMART Mrs. Church houseWAKELEY Mr. Richard MansfieldWAKELEY Mr. Thomas StanleyWAKELEY Mr. William HenryWAKELEY Mrs. Mary, Moor streetWALTER William, esq. Berengrove houseWATKINS Mrs. Moor street COMMERCIALAKHURST Thomas, Angel, Station roadATKINS James, malster, corn, hay & straw dealerBAKER George, bakerBAKER George, boot & shoe makerBEAUMONT Edward, boot & shoe makerBLEEZE Caroline (Mrs.), bakerBLEEZE William J. Red LionBLOORMAN Edwin, wheelwrightBRICE Solomon, barge ownerBRICE Solomon John, butcher, Lower RainhamBROOKER Jas. Man of Kent, & fruitererBRYAN John, beer retailerBURLEY William Henry, tailorBUSHELL Geo. Frederick, builder, grocer & outfitter, Ivy place, Station roadBUTCHER Joseph Edwd. Brick manufctrerCHAMBERS Robert, beer retailerDANES Thomas, beer retailerDENNIS Thomas, market gardener, Lower RainhamDODD Thomas, sen. farmer & landownerDUNSTALL James, watch makerEDMONDS Wm. & Son, market gardenersEVEREST William Bentham, surgeonFEATHERBY George, brick manufacturerFOSTER Jas. shopkeeper, Lower RainhamFRIDAY William, shopkeeperGARRETT William, harness makerGILBERT Thos. farmer, Mare’s boroughGOLDSTON John, Kent Volunteer, Railway stationGREEN Daniel, farmer, Pump farmGREEN George, carpenterHARRIS George, CricketersKITCHINGHAM William, beer retailerLONGLEY George, nursery & seedsmanMANSFIELD James, farmer, Moor streetMILES James Luke, farmer & hop grower, Silam farmMOSS Henry, draperMOSS William, grocer & ironmongerPACKER Stephen, basket makerPARSONS John, butcherPENFOLD Henry, physician & surgeonPHILPOTT Thomas, gardener & seeds manPOPE Frederick, blacksmithPRENTIS Walter, farmer, Cozenton farmRAINS Thomas, shopkeeper, Station rdRANDALL Robert, farmerREEVES George, butcher, Station roadROPER William, greengrocerSAYERS Charles, White Horse inn, & fly proprietorSAVAGE William, brick makerSEARS John, beer retailer & shopkeeper, Lower RainhamSIMMONS Jsph. wheelwright & blacksmithSMART Chas. farmer, Lower RainhamSMITH Charles, shopkeeperSTEERLA James, Three Mariners, Lower RainhamSWAN & MILTON, brick makers, Station rdSWAN Henry John, fruiterer, Lower RainhamTASSELL John, brick manfr. Station roadTAYLOR James, carpenter & builderTAYLOR James, jun. plumber & painterTURNER George, grocer & draperWAKELEY Brothers, merchants, corn factors & commission agents, Otterham quay,& at 13 Bouverie street, Fleet street, London e.cWAKELEY Thomas (exors. of the late), farmers & hop growers, Moor streetWATERS Robert, shopkeeper, Station roadWALTER William, farmer & landowner, Berengrove houseWATSON Robert Durrant, farmer & brick manufacturerWELLER Charles, grocerWILKINS James, farmer & hop grower, Moor streetWIILS & PACKMAN, brick manufacturersWILLIS Job, cowkeeper, Mare’s Court laneWYLES Thomas, beer retailer & shopkeeper, East Rainham