Swanscombe and Greenhithe, Dartford, Gravesend

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Melvilles 1858 Directory of Kent.

Pubs in Swanscombe & Greenhithe

SWANSCOMBE, and the hamlet of GEEENHITHE, three miles west from Gravesend, and four east from Dartford, is in Dartford union, Axton hundred, and lathe of Sutton-at-Hone, West Kent. The manor house, occupied by John Coveney, Esq., is an ancient building, the seat of the Weldon family; it is said to be the oldest manor in the country. Swanscombe Wood is well known to the lover of rural retirement, and for gipsying parties. Here is a cavern, called Clappernapper's Hole, to which is attached
much interesting legend. The church of St. Hildefaith, with its spire, is a very old edifice, and an attractive object to the surrounding neighbourhood. It contains a nave, aisles, and a chancel, with some very antique monuments. In the south aisle, in memory of the Weldon family, is an alabaster monument, supporting the figures of a recumbent knight in armour, leaning over his lady resting on a pillow. The living is a rectory, in the gift of Sydney Sussex College, Cambridge, value £650 per annum; the incumbent is the Rev. G. C. Renouard, B.D. In 1856 a new church, dedicated to St. Mary, was built at Greenhithe. It is a neat edifice, provided with 500 sittings, 200 of which are free; Rev. P. Eussell, B.C.L., curate. The area of the parish is 2,188 acres of land, and 405 of water, and the population in 1851 was 1,705.

Greenhithe is a station of the North Kent Railway, 18 miles from London, four from Gravesend, and 11 from Rochester; and within view of the river is the celebrated Ingress Abbey, built by the late Alderman Harmer, out of stone from old London Bridge. It is an elegant structure, in the Tudor-Gothic style of architecture, and, with, its tastefully wooded park, is an object of great attraction. The present proprietor is Samuel Charles Umfreville, Esq. Near it are the ruins of the nunnery. Here are also a number of very excellent family residences: the very handsome row of semi-detached
Italian villas at Cobham terrace, excite much attention, from their picturesque style and situation, being erected on an eminence, which affords a view of the highly cultivated country for miles around. There is an excellent pier for the landing of passengers from the various steamers plying up and down the river. Here are Roman cement works, chalk and lime works, and some market gardens. Knockholt is half a mile S.W. of Greenhithe; Western Cross, three quarters of a mile south; Milton Street and Hockenden, one mile S.E.; Gaily Hill, a quarter of a mile west.

POST-OFFICE. - Thomas Heritage, Postmaster. Letters arrive through Dartford.
Money Orders are granted and paid at this Office.

SWANSCOMBE.

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