MRP: Select town profiles
Select town profiles
This page provides background information on Berkshire, Essex, Kent, Middlesex, Norfolk and Suffolk towns of relevance to the Oxenden and Dallison family in the first half of the seventeenth century as well as towns of relevance to some of the subscribers to George Oxenden's commercial ventures in the 1650s in the same counties
BERKSHIRE
Sonning, Berkshire
ESSEX
Shoeburyness, Essex
KENT
Blackwall, Kent
Chatham, Kent
Dartford, Kent
“This is a handsome large town, sixteen miles from London. But it is more properly called Darentford, from its being situated on the river Darent which runs through it, and at a small distance falls into the Thames. On this river the first paper mill in England was erected by Sir John Spilman, who obtained a patent, and 200l. a year from K. Charles I. to enable him to carry out that manufacture: and on this river was also the first mill for fluting iron bars for making wire. The town is full of inns and other public houses on account of it being a great thoroughfare to Canterbury and to Dover. Here is a harbour for barges...There is a market here on Saturdays, which is generally well stored with corn, and other provisions; and much frequented by corn-chandlers and meal-men.”
(XXXX, A new display of the beauties of England, vol. 1, 3rd ed. (London, 1776), pp. 70-71)
Depftford, Kent
Erith, Kent
“Between Woolwich and Dartford is a village named Erith situated on the banks of the Thames.”
(XXXX, A new display of the beauties of England, vol. 1, 3rd ed. (London, 1776), p. 70)
Gravesend, Kent
“This town, which is twenty-two miles from London, is a flourishing and populous place; but the streets are narrow and the pavement bad. Gravesend has changed its situation since the great increase of trade in this nation, and has approached nearer the river, as the chief support of its inhabitants....Gravesend is situated on the river Thames, opposite to Tilbury Fort, and is a vast thoroughfare between London and Dover. Here is seated one of the blockhouses for securing the passage of the Thames up to London; and this being the usual landing place for all strangers and seamen, occasions a great resort of all degrees of people; for whose accomodation there are held two large weekly markets, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, well stored with all sorts of provisions. Here all outward bound ships must stop and come to an anchor, when a searcher of the customs comes on board, and looks after the several cockets, which contain the entries of the several parts of the cargo, if of divers sorts; and this is called Clearing.”
(XXXX, A new display of the beauties of England, vol. 1, 3rd ed. (London, 1776), pp. 73-74)
Greenhithe, Kent
“Greenhithe is a romantic situation on the bank of the river Thames; on the left, are a number of large pits, from which are shipped innumerable tons of chalk and lime.”
(XXXX, A new display of the beauties of England, vol. 1, 3rd ed. (London, 1776), p. 73)
Lee, Kent
“On the south side of Blackheath, and west of Sir Gregory Page’s park, lies the pleasant village of Lee; at the east end of which, next Lee Green, is a pleasant house and gardens of Henry Pelham, Esq., and in the street of Lee are the houses of the honourable David Papillon, Esq., and of several persons of fashion; and on the north side of the street, is an old seat of the Boone family, with the remains of a grove, and a pleasant piece of water in the ground adjoining. The strait road from London to Maidstone is through Lee village.”
(XXXX, A new display of the beauties of England, vol. 1, 3rd ed. (London, 1776), p. 66)
Northfleet, Kent
Rochester, Kent
Woolwich, Kent
“This is a market town in Kent, about nine miles from London, and three from Greenwich, situated on the banks of the river Thames, and wholly taken up by, and in a manner raised from, the yards and docks erected there for naval service....The Thames is here near a mile over at high water, and the water salt upon the flood; and as the tide runs very strong, and the river is entirely free from shoals and sands, and has seven or eight fathom of water; so that the largest ships may ride here with safety, even at low water....A weekly market is kep in this town on Fridays.”
(XXXX, A new display of the beauties of England, vol. 1, 3rd ed. (London, 1776), pp. 69-70)
MIDDLESEX
NORFOLK
XXXX
SURREY
Carshalton, Surrey
Lambeth, Surrey
Mitcham, Surrey
Putney, Surrey
Richmond, Surrey
