Pigot & Co Directory 1840 for Sussex ~ Battle

BATTLE Or, Battel, is a market town and parish, in the hundred of its name and rape of Hastings, 56 miles S.E. from London, 24 S.S.E. from Tonbridge, and 7 N.W. from Hastings; situated in a beautiful valley, bounded on the west, south and south-east by wood-crowned eminences. This place, anciently called Epiton, derives its present appellation from the memorable battle fought there, October 14th, 1066, between Harold, King of England, and William, Duke of Normandy, afterwards surnamed the conqueror. He founded a magnificent abbey for monks of the Benedictine order, and raised the high altar on the very spot where Harold and his valiant brothers fell, covered with wounds, beside of the English standard. There are still considerable remains of this edifice; the gatehouse, a beautiful specimen of the decorated style of English architecture, is in entire preservation, and many parts of the conventual buildings have been retained in the modern mansion of Battle Abbey. The town consist principally of one street, wide and airy, and well lighted with gas; the dwellings are for the most part ancient and indifferently built, but of late the taste for improvement has exhibited itself in the erection of several handsome houses and shops. The only manufacture of consequence, and for which Battle has long been celebrated, is gunpowder, which is manufactured to a considerable extent; the tanning of leather, carried on extensively by Mr. Noakes, is the next most prominent branch. There are three principle inns; of these the ‘Chequers’ and the ‘George’ are well known to the commercial traveller – the latter is also a posting house. The town is within the jurisdiction of the county magistrates, who hold their petty sessions her for the district twice a month; but this being a franchise, the inhabitants are exempt from serving on juries at the assizes and sessions for the county. A coroner and other officers, appointed at the court leet of the lord of the manor, are the municipal officers. Battle is one of the polling stations at the election of members for East Sussex.

The church, dedicated to St Mary, is a spacious structure, partly Norman, and partly in the early a later styles of English architecture. The living is a rural deanery, and the proprietor of the abbey, in whom is the presentation of the benefice, is still styled the abbot, and the incumbent is the dean; the former is Sir Godfrey Webster, Bart. the lord of the manor; the latter the Very Rev. Dr Thomas Birch. There are places of worship for baptists, Wesleyan methodists and unitarians. The principal charity is a free school, founded by Mrs. Elizabeth Langton, in 1793, for the instruction of fifteen boys and the like number of girls. A respectable book society was established here in 1792, which continues to be well supported, and a mechanics’ institution, of more recent date, has obtained merited encouragement; there is also a savings’ bank. The market, held on the second Tuesday in the month, is chiefly for cattle; the fairs are on Whit-Monday and 22nd November, for cattle, and 6th September, for sheep. The parish contained, in 1831, 2,999 inhabitants.

POST OFFICE, Francis William Ticehurst, Post Master. – Letters from London arrive every morning at twenty minutes before four, and are despatched every night at ten minutes before eleven. – Letters from WORTHING, BRIGHTON, LEWES, EASTBOURNE, &C. arrive and are despatched (by mail cart) every night at half-past twelve. – Letters from MARGATE, DEAL, DOVER, FOLKESTONE, HYTHE, RYE and HASTINGS arrive every night at ten minutes before eleven, and are despatched every morning at twenty minutes before four. – Letters from HAILSHAM arrive (by mail cart) every night at nine, and are despatched every morning at half past six. – Letters by Penny Post are despatched to BEXHILL, SEDDLESCOMBE & WESTFIELD every morning at 7.

NOBILITY, GENTRY & CLERGY.

Ashburnham the Right Hon. The Earl of, Ashburnham Park
Ashburnham Rev. Denny, Catsfield
Bellingham Mrs Lucy, Battle
Bishop John, esq. Great Saunders, Seddlescombe
Curties Mrs. Harriet, Windmill Hill
Delves Mrs. Mary, Battle
Devenport Mrs. -, Salehurst
Emary Charles, esq. Battle
Fuller, Augustus Elliott, esq. Rosehill
Grace Rev. Henry, Battle
Harman Henry, esq. Crowhurst Park
Hayley Rev. J. B. Brightling
Lamb Sir Charles, Beauport
Laurence Mrs. Mary, Battle
Littler the Very Rev. John, Deanery, Battle
Margesson Rev, William, Mountfield
Mickelthwaite Sir Peckham, bart. Iridge
Pilkington Sir Andrew, K. B. Catsfield park
Pratt Rev. John, Seddlescomb
Rush Rev. H. J. Crowhurst
Smith Richard, esq. Whatlington
Smith Tilden, esq. Vinehall
Thorpe Hercules, esq. Vinehall
Turle Mrs. Mary Ann, Battle
Vernon Rev. Herny, Westfield
Warnford Rev. Edward, Ashburnham
Watts Mrs. John, Battle
Webster Lady -, Battle abbey
Webster Sir Godfrey, bart. Battle abbey
Worge John, esq. Battle

ACADEMIES & SCHOOLS.

FREE SCHOOL, John Viddler, master; Elizabeth Viddler, mistress
Freeland Susan (boarding and day)
Metcalf William (day)
NATIONAL SCHOOLS, Henry Ramsay, master; Sarah Ramsay, mistress
Noakes Sarah Ann (day)
Vidler John (day)

ATTORNEYS.
Ellman & Whitmarsh
Kell Nathaniel Polhill (and coroner)
Marin, Sons & Young

BAKERS.
Foord Elizabeth (and pastry cook)
Holman Jno. & Hy. (&confectioners)
Manser James
Shaw John
Taylor Sarah

BANKERS.
Smith, Hilder, Scrivens & Co. – (Branch of Hastings – draw on Masterman, Peters & Co. London) – Thomas Ticehurst, agent.
SAVINGS BANK, (open on Monday evening) – Wm. Ticehurst, actuary

BLACKSMITHS.
Birch William (and cutler)
Coleman Joseph & William
Smith Edward
Walker & Soan

BOOKSELLERS & STATIONRS.
Metcalf William
Ticehurst Francis William (& printer, binder, & sub-distributor of stamps)

BOOT AND SHOE MAKERS.
Bishop John
Carrick George
Collins John
Durnford George
Jones George
Mathis Richard
Metcalf George
Roberson Benjamin
Stevens Samuel
Thorpe George
Wrenn Edward

BUTCHERS.
Baker Robert
Gausden Charles
Gausden Charles, jun.
Saxby Joseph
Slatter Samuel

COOPERS.
Foord Thomas (and inspector of weights and measures)
Phillips William

CORN FACTORS & DEALERS.
Goodwin Charles Augustus (and brewer and coal dealer)
Lester John
Neve William
Shaw John
Weller Ebenezer

FIRE, &c. OFFICE AGENTS.
KENT, Thomas Ticehurst
NORWICH UNION, John Kenward
ROYAL EXCHANGE, Wm. Ticehurst

GARDENERS & SEEDSMEN.
Cockett John
Denyer William (& greengrocer)
Knight William (and nurseryman and florist), North Trade
Smith George Frederick

GROCERS & TEA DEALERS.
(see also shopkeepers)
Flint Robert (and cheesemonger)
Gorham George
Johnston Peter
Manser James
Mathis Richard
Metcalf William
Slatter George (and cheesemonger)
Wickins Thomas (and tallow chandler and melter)

INNS – COMMERCIAL.
Chequers (and excise office), Emma Standen
George (and posting), Christopher Senior Richardson
Star, Henry Alderton

IRONMONGERS AND HARDWAREMEN.
Burgess John (and stationer)
Laurence Jas. (furnishing ironmonger)

LINEN DRAPERS, CLOTHIERS AND HATTERS.
Burgess James
Eldridge John
Kenward John
Sargent George

MILLERS.
Bates William, Whatlington
Hayward John, Baldsloe
Neve William
Sham John
Stevens William
Weller Ebenezer

MILLINERS & DRESS MAKRS.
Crouch Jemima
Eldridge Harriet
Ray Mary Ann
Sinden Harriet

PAINTERS, PLUMBERS AND GLAZIERS.
Brook William
Cruttenden Samuel
Vidler Thomas

SHOPKEEPERS & DEALRS IN GROCERIES & SUNDRIES
Beaney George
Coleman Willaim
Foord Elizabeth
Slatter Mary

STRAW HAT MAKERS.
Cockett Catherine
Hyland Mary Ann
Reeves Susannah
Walker Sophia

SURVEYORS.
Chilton John (taxes)
Inskipp James (buildings)
Jenner James (land)
Richardson Christopher (roads)
Ticehurst Thomas (land)

TAILORS.
Beney James (and draper)
Farra Charles (& draper & hatter)
Selmes Henry

TAVERNS & PUBLIC HOUSES.
Black Horse, Henry Baker
Conquering Hero, Charles Augustus Goodwin
Duke of Wellington, Samuel Day
Half Moon, Thomas Eldridge
King’s Head, William Auston

WATCH & CLOCK MAKERS.
Boffi Leopold
Quaife Thomas
Ray Lydia (& silversmith & jeweller)

Miscellaneous.
Burden Wm. registrar of births & deaths
Dobell Charles, basket maker, confectioner & fruiterer
EXCISE OFFICE, Chequers Inn – Henry Lane, supervisor
GAS WORKS, Wm. Weller, superintendent
Jeffery Thomas, wheelwright
Longley Henry, gun maker
Martin James, clerk to the commissioners of assessed taxes
MECHANICS’ INSTITUTION, William Metcalf, jun. secretary
Pemble Paul, glover
Philcox George, patten maker
Skatter George, wine & spirit merchant
Ticehurst Thomas, clerk to the board of guardians and superintended registrar of marriages
Walker James, bricklayer
WORKHOUSE, Richard Hollyer, governor; Hester Hollyer, matron

COACHES.
To LONDON, the Royal Mail (from Hastings) calls alternately at the George and Star Inns, every night at ten minutes before eleven – and Coaches call at the George, every morning at ten & eleven, and at the Star, every day at a quarter before twelve.
To BRIGHTON and LEWES, a Coach calls at the George, and another at the Star, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday forenoon at a quarter before eleven.
To HASTINGS, the Royal Mail (from London) calls alternately at the George and Star Inns, every morning at four – Coaches call at the George, every afternoon at a quarter before four, a quarter before five and a quarter before six, and at the Star, every evening at a quarter before seven - & a Coach (from Brighton) calls at the George, and another calls at the Star, every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday afternoon at half-past two.

VANS.
For passengers and Goods.
To LONDON, a Van (from Hastings) calls at the George, every afternoon at a quarter past four.
To HASTINGS, a Van (from London) calls at the George, every morning at six, and one (from Maidstone) calls at the Star, every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday afternoon at half-past three.
To MAIDSTONE, a Van (from Hastings) calls at the Star, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning at ten.

CARRIERS.
To LONDON, Thomas Richardson, every Monday and Wednesday.
To DALLINGTON, James Haiselden, every Tuesday.
To EWHURST, Thomas Richardson, every Wednesday and Saturday.
To HASTINGS, Abel Reynolds, daily – William Palmer, daily (Thursday excepted); - Watson, every Monday, Wednesday & Friday - & James Olave, every Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday.
To HEATHFIELD, Joseph Pankhurst, every Friday.
To LEWES, Richard Haffenden, every Wednesday and Saturday – and Robert Parks every Friday.
To MAIDSTONE, Thomas Richardson, every Wednesday and Saturday.
To MOUNTFIELD and ROBERTSBRIDGE, James Olave, every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
To NINFIELD, William Harmer, every Thursday.
To PEVENSEY, Thomas Ling, every Monday.
To RYE, - Hoad, every Monday – and William Palmer, every Thursday.
To SEDDLESCOMBE, Edward Watson, every Tuesday and Friday.