Churchyard Caretaker

Is now Trevor Hutchinson. Hitherto he has been helping Duncan Rowland, who has had to resign on starting a job in Maidstone and to whom we are very grateful for his efforts this year. With routine work has gone a lot of tidying up of the large toolshed and the far corner of the churchyard.

Congratulations

To Mr. Wakeley and all who work for him on the award of two Firsts in the White Cherry classes at the County Show.

Welcome

To Mr. and Mrs. Gransden and their sons, Kevin and Philip, who have come from Otterham Quay to live in Mill Road.

Newspaper Collection

Produced £8 10s. 0d. in the period January to June of this year. Please don't forget this means of revenue for church funds. Just a call to me, or Miss Danby.

Sunday School

Is closed and will recommence on 11th September.

J.H.G-W.G.

A LOCAL HISTORIAN LOOKS AT HARTLIP —No. 6.

If Hasted's description of Hartlip consisted of estates, homes, farms and their owners, in a few words, the landed gentry, then Kelly's directory of 1891 shews the complications of law which governed village life at the end of the 19th century. Hartlip is still described as Hasted did, south of Watling Street but it now adjoins Newington where there is a station on the London, Chatham and Dover Railway. For voting on local government affairs, civil or criminal law, poor relief or ecclesiastical matters you could sort yourself out from this - "it is in the North Eastern Division of the County, lathe of Scray, Milton hundred and union, Faversham Petty Sessional division, county court district of Sittingbourne, the rural deanery of Sittingbourne, arch-deaconry of Maidstone, diocese of Canterbury".

Kelly's directory has a full description of the parish church and also states there is a chapel for Bible Christians! Hartlip Place was the seat of Henry Godfrey-Fausset-Osborne, while Mrs. Lock resided at Dane House. The principal land-owners were Lord Hothfield, Henry G-F-Osborne, the trustees of the late Frederick Lock, D.L., J.P., John Stunt and George Webb. The chief crops besides its famous cherries were stated to be good wheat and hops. The population in 1881 was 380 persons. here, is a list of residents and tradesmen and, apart from those mentioned, two farmers, John Boorman, and Arthur Wakeley, of Popes Hall Farm, are, included in the residents. The Commercial list shows how Hartlip, was still a self-contained community. Harry Barton, bootmaker, Charles Black dairyman and a relative, Henry, was a fruiterer. Thomas Kitchingham kept the Rose and Crown while Sarah and William Maddocks were butchers. Edmund Stevens kept the post office and was also schoolmaster and parish clerk.

R.A.B.