22 Jul 2006
Transcribed by Lynne Shumway
Seaford is a retired watering place, and one of the Cinque-ports, having separate local jurisdiction, and is 3½ miles from Newhaven station, 60 from London, 13 east of Brighton, 11 south of Lewes, and 9 west of Eastbourne, in Flexborough hundred, Pevensey rape, union of Eastbourne, East Sussex, diocese of Chichester, archdeaconry of Lewes, and deanery of Pevensey. The parish comprises 2,270 acres, and a population, in 1851, of 997. The benefice is a vicarage annexed to that of Sutton, and the vicarial tithes are commuted at £240 per annum. The living is in the gift of the Bishop of Oxford; the Rev. James Carnegie, M.A., is the incumbent. The river Ouse formerly ran into the sea at the Cliff-end, but was diverted some centuries since, and the mouth is now at Newhaven. The ancient town and port of Seaford is governed by a municipal corporation, consisting of a bailiff, jurats and freemen; the bailiff (who is also coroner for the liberty ex officio) is chosen annually by the freemen. On the 29th September, and the jurats, who are the local magistrates, of whom there may be 12 in number, are elected also by the freemen, who have extensive and peculiar privileges under their charters, being exempt from all county juries, free to trade in the city of London and all other towns in England, and formerly were styled Barons, and held the canopy over the sovereign’s head at the coronation. Courts of general quarter sessions and gaol delivery are holden, and petty sessions when required. There is a town hall, and gaol underneath. Seaford is a borough by prescription, and from a very early period returned two members to Parliament, and was represented by the celebrated statesmen Pitt and Canning, but it was placed in Schedule A. in the Reform Bill. Some fishing is carried on, and fine prawns, &c. are caught in the rocks here; mackerel are sometimes taken in the bay in large quantities. The cliffs are of great height, and shelter is afforded in the roadstead for fleets of shipping during the prevalence of easterly gales; the bay is very deep, but of late years the sea has been receding from its shores. On Seaford heights are the remains of a large Roman camp, and it is supposed to be the site of the Civitas Anderida of the Romans. The fairs are held on the 14th of March and 25th July, yearly. The parish church, dedicated to St. Leonard, is an ancient structure in the Early English style, with a large square embattled tower, containing a peal of 8 bells. Seaford was formerly a large town, and contained 7 churches and chapels, which were burnt by the French in one of their descents on this coast. Cuckmere Haven is 2 miles and Beachy Head 5 miles east of the town. The custom of “Borough English” prevails here, whereby freehold property descends to the youngest son. There is a fort and Martello tower on the beach. Lord Howard de Walden and Seaford, and John Fitzgerald, Esq., are proprietors of considerable house property in the town; the Earl of Chichester, Major W.T. Harison, and Wm. Kenward, Esq. are the principle landowners of this parish. Chinton and Sutton are large farms within the liberty of the town and port. A commodious National school has been lately erected. Seaford gives its title of Baron to the family of Ellis. There are warm and cold sea-baths on the beach.
Private Residents
Bartlett, Mr. Simon, Chapel Row
Carnegie, Rev. James, M.A. [vicar]
Cook, Miss Mary, Place House
Fitzgerald, Maurice Purcell Noel Ryder, esq. 3 Marine terrace
Godden, Mr. Edward, 1 Marine terrace
Gorring, Mr. James
Gorring, Mrs. Mary, Sycamore cottage
Harison, Mrs. Elizabeth, Victoria villa
Harison, Rev. John, B.A. [vicar of Bishopstone], Sutton place
Hubard, Mr. John
Hubard, Mr. Joseph
Lowdell, Mr. Stephen, Church street
Mellor, Stephn Wilkinson, esq. Steyne hall
Outteridge, Mrs. Broad street
Pearce, Mrs. Chinton house
Simmons, Henry, esq. J.P. Crouch cot
Simmons, Thomas Joseph, esq. Steyne
Smith Hon. Miss Georgina, West house
Smith, Wm Tyler, M.D., J.P. East house
Tothill Francis Richard, esq. Broad st
Turner, James Singer, J.P. Chinton ho
Westwood, Rev. John (independent), High street
Commercial
Ade, Thomas, miller, Sutton
Allwork, Henry, carpenter, Church st
Allwork, Ann (Miss) seminary, Church st
Allwork, Elizabeth (Mrs.), lodging house, Church Lane
Banks, Charles, baker, High street
Banks, David, beer retailer, High street
Banks, James, parish clerk
Banks, John, gardener
Banks Wm, baker & coal dealer, High st
Beal, Alfred, boot & shoe maker, South st
Bull, Wm. Gentlemen’s academy, West ho
Burgess, William, harness & shoe maker, Church street
Caplin, Charles, carpenter, Church street
Chambers, Eliza (Mrs.), lodging house, Broad street
Chambers, James, farmer, Pigeon ho frm
Chambers, Sarah Maria (Mrs), butcher, High street
Chapman, John, agent to J. Fitzgerald, esq. Millburgh
Clark Geo. Baker & coal dealer, Church st
Clark, William, Old Tree, & Grocer, High street & Broad street
Colwell, Geo. Carpenter & builder, High st
Cosstick, James, dairyman
Drury, Chas. Boot & shoe maker, High st
Earl, Matilda (Miss), milliner
Earl, William, carrier to Lewes
Evans, John Harry, surgeon
Fears, Hy, New Inn, & plumbing & painter
Gearing, Wm, watch & clock maker, High st
Graves, Jeremiah, lodging house, Cinque port place
Haine, William, carpenter, builder & house agent, High street
Harberd, Elizabeth (Miss), dressmaker
Haylor, William, grocer, draper & provision-dealer, High street
Henrderson, Geo. Basket maker, Crouch st
Hilder, Edgar, butcher & fly proprietor, High street
Hilder, Eliza (Miss), dressmaker, High st
Jasper, Thomas, farmer, Sutton
Jasper, Thomas, jun. farm bailiff to Major Harison, Sutton
Lemon, Thomas, lodging ho. 2 Marine ter
Lower, George, carrier to Lewes, High st
Lower, Mary (Mrs.), beer retlr, Church st
Maltby, Edward, master of national schl
Marshall, Matilda (Mrs.), ladies boarding school, High street
Mason, Benjamin, land agent, West ldg
Morling, Charles, builder, Church street
Newington, Geo. Hairdresser, Church st
Nye, George, farmer, Sutton
Ockenden, Frances (Mrs.), beer retailer, Pelham Arms yard
Ockenden, John, tailor, Church street
Ockenden, Nathaniel Crouch, shopkeeper, Church street
Ockenden, Richard, wheelwright, 3 Marine terrace
Osbon, Charles, coal merchant & famer, Church lane
Pitcher, Sarah (Mrs.), day schl. Chapel row
Reeds, Thomas, gardener, Crouch
Reeves, John, farm bailiff, Chinton
Rusbridge, Ellen (Miss.), postmistress, High street
Rusbridge, James. Mail contractor, High street
Simmons, Elizabeth S. (Mrs.), lodging house, Steyne
Simmons, Thomas, grocer, Church street
Stokesbury, Thomas, gardener, Steyne
Towner, Alfred, lodging house keeper, South street
Towner, Richard, grocer & general draper, High st, & at Newhaven, & Lewes
Towner, Walter, agent to the Sun, Fire & Life office, High street
Trivett, Esther (Mrs.), lodging house, 4 Marine terrace
Westwood, Martha (Miss), ladies seminary, High street
Turner, James Singer, yeoman, Chinton farm
Wood, William Washer, butcher, fly proprietor & carrier to Brighton
Woodhams, Thomas, brewer, coal merchant & seedsman, high street
Woolgar, George & Richard, blacksmiths, Crouch street
Woolgar, William & Son, blacksmiths, Church street
Wynter Mark, chemist & druggist, High street
POST OFFICE – Miss Ellen Rusbridge, High street. Letters are received through Lewes; delivered at 8 a.m.; box closes 6 p.m. Money orders are granted & paid at this office
CORPORATION:-
Bailiff, James S. Turner, esq.
Jurats Resident, John Fitzgerald, esq. Henry Simmons, esq. James Singer Turner, esq. Frances Richd Tothill, esq.
Jurats Non-Resident Earl of Chichester, Lord Howard de Walden & Seaford, Wm St George Davies, esq. Joh Fitzgerald, esq. W. Attree, esq.
Town Clerk, F.H. Gell, esq.
PLACES OF WORSHIP:-
St Leonard’s Church Rev. James Carnegie, M.A. Vicar
Congregational Chapel, High street, ministers various
INSURANCE AGENTS:-
County Fire & Life, Edward Godden
Provincial (Welsh), J.H. Evans
Royal Fire & Life, Stephen Lowdell, Church street
Sun, Fire & Life, Walter Towner, High street
PUBLIC OFFICERS:-
Inspectors of Weights & Measures, William Haine & Charles Banks
Commissioners of Assessed & Property Taxes, J.S. Turner, Rev. J. Carnegie, T.W. Chambers; clerk, Henry Miller Emary
Sergeant-at-Mace, William Woolgar
Constable, William Haine
Headborough, Charles Banks
Governor of Gaol, William Woolgar
Registrar of Births, Deaths & Marriages, H.M. Emary
National School, Edward Maltby, master
East Sussex Constabulary Police Station, High street; James Selmes, constable
SOCIETIES:-
British & Foreign Bible, Henry Simmons, secretary
True Blue Benefit Club, G. Lower, secretary
Shipwrecked Fisherman’s & Mariners’ Institution, Rev. J. Carnegie, secretary
CARRIERS TO:-
BRIGHTON, through Newhaven & Rottingdean, William W. Wood’s van, on Monday, Thursday & Saturday; & returns on same days
LEWES, George Lower, Wednesday & Saturday; William Earl, Tuesday & Friday
22 Jul 2006 | Transcribed by Lynne Shumway |
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