Donated to the Dorset OPC Project by Joy Waters
GILLINGHAM is a small market town, in an extensive parish and liberty of its name, in the West division of Shaston; 105 miles from London and about 4½ miles N.W. from Shaftesbury, seated on the River Stour. This parish occupies the northern extremity of the county and includes an area of more than sixty thousand acres, chiefly pasture land. It comprises the ancient forest of Selwood, which was disforested by Charles I, on condition that the lessee should maintain four hundred deer for the king's use. Near the village was anciently a palace, built by the Saxon or Norman kings; and Henry I appears to have, at one period, resided here - for his charter to the cathedral of Lincoln, giving to it the manor of Biggleswade, is dated from Gillingham in 1132. The manufacture of ticks and dowlasses, with bleaching works and some silk-spinning, are the chief trades of this place. The parish church of the Virgin Mary is an ancient structure; the benefice is in the patronage of the bishop of Salisbury. The market is on Friday; and the fairs (for horses, cattle and sheep) on Trinity Monday and September 12th. John Grice and others, in 1526, founded and endowed a free school which, during the parliamentary war, was in great repute; and it was in this establishment that the celebrated Hyde, afterwards Earl of Clarendon, received part of his education. The parish contained in 1831, 2,520 inhabitants, and at the late census (that of 1841), 2,760. POST OFFICE James Read, postmaster Letters from all parts arrive every morning at eight and are dispatched every evening at 5.30 pm GENTRY & CLERGY Bell Mr William Read (attorney), Knap house Dean Rev. Henry, Gillingham Downes Logan esq., Milton Erle Rev. Walter, Gillingham Mathews Harry esq., Wyke Miles Mr. Hy. (surgeon), Gillingham Mortimer James esq., Wyke House Singer George esq., Milton lodge Whieldon George esq., Milton lodge Wordsworth Rev. Cullen, Gillingham ACADEMIES & SCHOOLS Cave Daniel, Gillingham Free School, Gillingham - James Read, master National School, Gillingham - Mary Brown, mistress
BAKERS & FLOUR DEALERS Hannam Josiah, Gillingham Stone Penelope, Gillingham
BANK James Bell, manager Wilts & Dorset Banking Company, Gillingham (draw on Williams, Deacon & Co. London) BLACKSMITHS Clarke William, Gillingham Edwards Thomas jun., Gillingham Green John, Gillingham Read George, Gillingham Read Nathaniel, Gillingham Read William, Gillingham BOOT & SHOE MAKERS Calpin William, Gillingham Cox & Gray, Gillingham George Harry, Milton Goff Aaran, Milton Green Thomas, Gillingham Light Joseph, Gillingham Williams Charles, Gillingham BREWERS Goldsborough Robert, Gillingham Matthews Joseph, Wyke BRICKMAKERS Silverthorne Eliza, Gillingham BUTCHERS Bowles Stephen, Gillingham Day John, Gillingham Godwin George, Gillingham Hann William, Gillingham Honeyfield James, Gillingham Smith Robert, Gillingham CARPENTERS & BUILDERS Collins James, Gillingham Light James, Gillingham Light Richard, Gillingham COOPERS Edwards Thomas, Gillingham Hayter Thomas, Gillingham GROCERS & DEALERS IN SUNDRIES Bullen Charles, Milton Green Thomas, Gillingham Harris Samuel, Gillingham Hayward John, Gillingham Lawrence Ann, Gillingham Light Joseph, Gillingham Martin Thomas, Gillingham Neave Edward (and draper, druggist & bookseller), Gillingham Phripp William, (and china etc., dealer & fire office agent, Gillingham Read George Peter, (and draper) Gillingham Silverthorn Eliza, Gillingham Wiles John, Gillingham INNS & PUBLIC HOUSES Phoenix, Robert Goldsborough, Gillingham Red Lion, Richard Light, Gillingham RETAILERS OF BEER Card Thomas, Gillingham Churchill John, Gillingham Edwards Ann, Gillingham Smith Thomas, Gillingham Watts William, Gillingham Young Thomas, Gillingham MALTSTERS Barter Robert, Gillingham Card Thomas, Gillingham Goldsborough Robert, Gillingham Matthews Joseph, Wyke MILLERS Hannam Josiah (and silk throwster), Gillingham Sheppard William, Ecleff Mills MILLINERS & DRESSMAKERS Bond Louisa, Gillingham Downs Ann, Gillingham Hayward Elizabeth, Gillingham Rabbits Mary Ann, Gillingham Read Bethia, Gillingham PAINTERS, PLUMBERS & GLAZIERS Cross Ann, Gillingham Light Thomas, Gillingham ROPE & TWINE MAKERS Peters Stephen, Gillingham Williams John, Gillingham SADDLERS & COLLAR MAKERS Candy Robert, Gillingham Edwards John, Gillingham STONE MASONS Flower Ambrose, Gillingham Flower James, Gillingham Parson John, Gillingham Phripp William, Gillingham Rose John, Gillingham William_, Gillingham Wills John, Gillingham TAILORS George William, Gillingham Gray Richard, Gillingham Hayward John, Gillingham Read Jonathan, Gillingham TICK & DOWLAS MANUFACTURERS Mitchell Isaiah, Gillingham Mitchell William, Milton TIMBER MERCHANTS Light Richard, Gillingham Light William, Gillingham TIN-PLATE WORKERS Cross Ann, Gillingham Miles Joseph, Gillingham WHEELWRIGHTS Edwards William, Gillingham Light William, Gillingham Lydford Thomas, Gillingham Perrett Charles, Gillingham Miscellaneous Bell William Read, attorney, Knap house Coles Francis Ewins, cabinet maker, Gillingham Coombes Joseph, tallow chandler, Gillingham Dunn Shadrach, corn dealer, Gillingham Harris Samuel, watch and clock maker, Gillingham Meaden John, registrar of births and deaths, Gillingham Miles Henry, surgeon, Gillingham Ryall Samuel D., auctioneer, Gillingham COACHES To LONDON, the Magnet, from the Phoenix, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at eleven forenoon; goes through Shaftesbury and Salisbury, to Southampton, in time for the six o'clock train to London. To BRISTOL & BATH, the Wellington (from Poole), calls at the Red Lion, every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at twelve noon; goes through Frome etc. To POOLE, the Wellington (from Bristol), calls at the Red Lion, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoon at a quarter before two; goes through Shaftesbury, Blandford and Wimborne. CARRIERS To LONDON, John Dunn, from his house, every Thursday To BRISTOL, John Coward, from the Red Lion, every Thursday To POOLE, John Dunn, every Monday To WINCANTON, William Butler, every Wednesday |
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