Canterbury, Blean / Canterbury, Canterbury with Swale
Melvilles 1858 Directory of Kent.
Melvilles 1858 Directory of Kent.
CANTERBURY, A City and County of itself .. ;
Canterbury Cathedral & church history
More history of Canterbury.
Many ancient ecclesiastical and charitable establishments are found in the city,
and many of modern date. Cogan's Hospital in St. Peter's-street, was founded in
1199, and maintains six poor widows of clergymen. Within the hospital are the
remains of some walls of the Grey or Franciscan Friars. King's Bridge, or East
Bridge Hospital; in High-street, was founded by St. Thomas-a-Becket. It has a
hall and chapel, with a school for 20 boys, and almshouses for 5 men and 5
women. It is under the patronage of the Archbishop. An ancient gateway in St.
George's street is the last remains of the convent of the White Augustine
Friars. Maynard and Cotton's Hospital, in Castle-street, is for aged men and
women, under the patronage of the Mayor. The City Bridewell, or City Workhouse,
in Lamb-lane, was an hospital founded by Archbishop Simon Langton, in 1240. The
Mint, in Palace-street, once belonged to the Knights Templars; it is a
privileged extra-parochial place, under the jurisdiction of the Board of Green
Cloth. The Hospital of St. John, and the remains of St. Gregory's Priory, are in
Northgate-street; both were founded by Archbishop Lanfranc in 1084. In the
Chapel of St. John's is some fine painted glass. Here are maintained a prior and
18 brothers and sisters, nominated by the Archbishop; they form a precinct.
Boys' Hospital, founded by Sir John Boys, in 1595, is also in Northgate-street;
it is for maintaining 8 men, 4 women, and 1 warden, and for educating 20 poor
boys. The
Kent and Canterbury Hospital is in Longport, and was finished in 1793. St.
Augustine's Abbey stood in Longport. It was founded by King Ethelbert, in 597,
and many Kings and Archbishops were buried in it. It was richly endowed, holding
12,000 acres of land, and, at the Dissolution, its revenues were £1,431 4s.
ll½d. Two handsome gateways are still remaining. This Abbey has been rebuilt as
a Missionary College, at a very large expense, chiefly contributed by Alexander
Beresford Hope, Esq., M.P. In this palace Queen Elizabeth kept her court for
some days, and Charles I. was married to Queen Henrietta Maria. In the
churchyard are the remains of the chapel of St. Pancras, said to have been built
before the time of King Ethelbert I. Of the Archbishop's sumptuous palace in
Palace-street, only the wall and an archway remain, and the Archbishops have
been long non-resident. This too forms a precinct. Many of the ancient
ecclesiastical establishments still form distinct precincts - as, the Cathedral,
Castle, Palace, Grey Friars, Knights Templars or Mint, Black Friars or
Dominicans, White Friars or Augustine Friars; the Monastic Hospitals, St.
Augustine's or Benedictines, the Black Prince's Chantry, and St. Gregory's
Priory. Here are a Jews' synagogue, Roman Catholic church, Unitarian,
Independent, Baptist, Wesleyan, Lady Huntingdon's and Friends' meeting-houses.
The Guildhall or Courthall, in High-street, contain some portraits and some old
arms. The Public Assembly Rooms are attached to the Globe Tavern and Guildhall
Tavern. The Gas and Water Companies occupy the site of the Castle, of which few
relics remain. Canterbury is a considerable military station. .The Royal Cavalry
Barracks, on the Margate-road, is a fine brick building, forming three sides of
a
square; they were built in 1794. The Old Infantry Barracks, for 2,000 men, are
also on the Margate Road, and were built in 1798. They form a station for the
horse and foot artillery. The New Barracks were built in 1811, and provide
accommodation for 99 Officers, 1,841 non-commissioned officers and privates, and
481 horses. Here are the head-quarters of the East Kent Militia. Anew Militia
Barracks. is now in course of erection. The Military Infirmary on the Margate
road, behind the barracks, is a handsome edifice, and an ornament to the
neighbourhood.
The Philosophical Institute Museum was founded in 1826. The Literary and
Scientific Institution has a library of 3,000 volumes. There is a library in the
cathedral and another in the College. There are four newspapers and a library
and reading room.
Besides the Missionary College, which has a professor of Oriental languages,
there is a King's Grammar School in the Cathedral, a Church of England
Commercial School; and many Primary Schools. The Theatre is in Orange-street.
The buildings around this court were at one time inhabited by the famous Lord
Chancellor, Sir Thomas More. There is a Catch and Glee Club held in Canterbury,
which justly ranks as one of the best musical entertainments of this description
in the kingdom. The Cattle Market is spacious, it is without George's-gate. The
market is held on Saturday weekly. The Corn and Hop Market.room is in St.
George's-street; it is a handsome building, with a stone front, and beneath is
the Public Meat Office. The Poultry Market is in Burgate street. There is also a
Fish Market. The chief trading establishments are breweries, mailings,
tanneries, soap and candle works, brick-fields, whiting-works, lime-kilns,
coach-lofts, tobacco pipe making, iron-foundries, organ-building, linen-weaving,
worsted manufactory, and ropework. The Dane John is an artificial mound, the
favourite walk of the citizens, overlooking the city, and with a fine view; it
has been much improved of late years; near it is the the Martyrs' Field, where
several persons were burnt in the time of Queen Mary I. St. Radigund's Bath,
without Northgate, is an ancient establishment, supposed to have been Roman, and
supplied by a natural spring. Westgate is the only one of the city gates now
remaining; it is built of squared stone, and the upper part is used as a gaol
for criminals and debtors. Over the Stour are several bridges, and on the river
are some ancient mills, by which the navigation is impeded.
In the High-street, at the corner of Mercery-lane, is the site of the Chequers
Inn,
mentioned by Chaucer in his " Canterbury Tales," as being frequented by the
pilgrims of his time. A great portion of the building is in the occupation of
Mr. G. Wood, draper. The Kent and Canterbury Hospital is situated in Longport,
on part of the grounds formerly belonging to the Monastery of St. Augustine.
The County Gaol and Sessions House is an extensive building, situated in the
direction of St. Martin's Church. The Sessions House is a neat erection of the
Doric order, ornamented with the figures of Justice and Mercy over the entrance.
The Clergy Orphan College is situated on St. Thomas's Hill, about a mile
distant.
It is a handsome edifice, and commands a fine view of Canterbury.
Gentry in 1858
Public Houses in Canterbury
Traders in 1858 Melvilles Directory by surname