Trawling through old newspapers is a favourite way to pass a rainy afternoon, and a subscription to The British Newspaper Archive online has proved worth its weight in gold. I have found articles, advertisements and announcements that pad out the stories of long passed family members but, more than that, just reading the texts of a previous time gives one a sense of what life was really like - and what people wanted to know about. There are details of deaths and marriages, of awards (for scholars and for farmers) handed out, of post mortems concluded, of court cases prosecuted, and of almost everything in between.
I've transcribed a few snippets relating to Stourmouth, and include them here.
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The Canterbury Journal and Farmers' Gazette - Saturday, 24 April 1840
Mr. Phillips is instructed to SELL by AUCTION, at Garraway's, on Wednesday May 20th, at One precisely, all that the FREEHOLD, or REPUTED MANOR of DOWNBARTON, in the Isle of Thanet, producing TWENTY POUNDS annually, in Quit Rents with its Court Leet, Court Baron Rights, Royalties and Appurtenances, ranging over the chief part of the Island, and affording EXCELLENT SHOOTING, as well as good fishing in the River Stour, and the benefits of Wrecks, Waifs, Strays, and other Manorial Rights and Privileges. - Also sundry pieces of SALT MARSHES, MUSCLE ROCKS, SEA WALL, and SEA BEACH, in the parishes of St Nicholas, At Wade, Sarr, and Stourmouth, let for £12 12s. a-year.
The Canterbury Journal and Farmers' Gazette - Saturday, 4 October 1856
STONE HALL, IN THE PARISH OF STOURMOUTH, MR. CULMER WILL SELL BY AUCTION, ON THE PREMISES, On Thursday and Friday, October 9th and 10th - The whole of the live and dead farming stock, household furniture, and effects, of Mr. Fox, retiring from business.
The Canterbury Journal and Farmers' Gazette - Saturday, 7 November 1863
The twenty fifth anniversary of the Nonington, Wingham, Ash and Eastry Agricultural Association was celebrated at Ash, followed by a dinner for members. A Stourmouth resident and shepherd D. Ellenden (under Mr. N. Woollett) won a prize of fifteen shillings for 'rearing 76 lambs from 51 ewes', the category being: SHEPHERDS Having reared the greatest number of Lambs in Proportion to Ewes under his daily management and care; one fourth being Tags. [Interestingly, qute apart from agricultural awards, there were cash prizes for labourers who deposited money in bank accounts and savings clubs, and for long-serving servants - even for individuals who supported themselves during illness without turning to the parish for relief. Fascinating stuff!]
The Canterbury Journal and Farmers' Gazette - Saturday, 15 November 1873
WINGHAM PETTY SESSIONS, THURSDAY - Before J.J. Harvey (chairman), J. Henderson, W.H. James, N.H. D'Aeth, C.J. Plumptre, and J.D. Toomer, Esqs. - James Brown, was charged with being drunk in the parish of Stourmouth. P.C. Marsh stated that he was called, a little after five o'clock in the afternoon, to remove the defendant from the Rising Sun. He went into the tap room, and found the defendant, stripped, creating a disturbance. After a great deal of trouble the defendant left the house and threatened to smash the constable's nose. When the summons was served the defendant tore it up and threw it at the policeman, exclaiming that he did not care for any of them. Defendant said he had only four pints of beer and a quartern of gin, and that got up in his head. The Bench fined him 40s., costs 14s., or one month's hard labour.
The Canterbury Journal and Farmers' Gazette - Saturday, 24 February 1883
DEATH BY DROWNING IN THE STOUR - On Tuesday an inquest was held at the Guildhall, before Mr. J.C. Martin, on the body of William Wreckwood, who was found drowned on the same morning. Mr. W.P. Dawson was chosen foreman of the jury. The body was identified by Thos. Sladden, labourer, of Upstreet, who stated that the deceased was about 42 years of age, and had been residing of late at the ferry house, Pluck's Gutter, Stourmouth. - George Graves, master of the ketch Ann of Rye, deposed that deceased assisted on Sunday last to bring the vessel from Pluck's Gutter to Sandwich. They came ashore together about 6:30, and returned on board the vessel in a small boat about 10. The mate was also with them and sculled the boat up to the vessel's side. Witness and the mate got on board the vessel first, and witness, after making fast the painter, went forward and asked the mate to give him a hand with the ropes. He saw deceased's hands on the rail of the vessel and immediately after heard a splash and a cry. The mate jumped into the boat and went in search of the deceased. But they could see nothing of him and received no answer to their calls. It was very dark at the time and the tide was running out. Search was made for the body the next day, but with no result; it was discovered about 10:15 on the morning of the inquest by means of grapnels. Deceased was quite sober at the time. - Samuel Rice deposed to assisting the mate in the search for the deceased immediately he fell over; he saw the head of deceased above the water for a moment, but then lost sight of him. - Dr. Scott deposed that the cause of death was drowning. - The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death."
The Canterbury Journal and Farmers' Gazette - Saturday, 30 January 1886
MORE RARE BIRDS IN EAST KENT - The eastern part of the county of Kent is just now being visited by a number of singularly rare birds, which seem to have been brought over to the south coast by the recent wintry weather. The capture of two fine specimens of the golden eagle has already been recorded, and there is another hovering over the Isle of Thanet. A few days ago a golden-eyed female duck was shot near Wingham, and has come into the possession of Mr. G. Dowker, of Stourmouth. This species of wild duck has its natural home as far north as SIberia and Spitzbergen, where it spends its breeding time.
The Canterbury Journal and Farmers' Gazette - Saturday, 6 June 1896
BRIDGING THE STOUR AT GROVE FERRY - At the weekly meeting of the Isle of Thanet Rural District Council on Thursday, the clerk to the Blean District Council (Mr. J.E. Burch) wrote to the effect that the Council having been memorialised by several Parish Councils in their district as to the necessity of bridging the Stour at Grove Ferry, he had been directed to write to the District Councils of Bridge, Eastry, and the Isle of Thanet, with a view to suggesting that joint action should be taken by the several bodies if they decided to support the movement. He would be glad to hear whether the Council were in favour of the proposition, and whether they deemed it advisable to have a joint meeting of the Authorities to consider the matter and arrange the course of action to be pursued. The Chairman (Mr. A. Collard) said he believed they had agreed to support the other scheme, which came before Council a short time since. - Mr. West thought the scheme proposed some time back would be more useful. - The Chairman did not think they could get a bridge over Grove Ferry, as the man to whom the ferry belonged wanted so much for it. - On reverting to the old minute book, the Clerk read the decision of the Council, which was in favour of Mr. White's scheme for a bridge over the Stour at Pluck's Gutter, and also read a reply from the County Council, regarding their powers in the matter, to the effect that they could not contribute towards the cost of making a road, but could if thought necessary, contribute towards the cost of erecting a bridge. - The Chairman mentioned that the scheme had been dropped. - Mr. Ralph thought the Pluck's Gutter scheme was the cheaper. - Mr. West proposed that the Clerk should write stating that the Council had already expressed themselves in favour of Stourmouth, but at the same time they were of the opinion that the scheme which was before them some time back of Pluck's Gutter was the better one. - This course was decided upon.
[editorial - seems to me that council meetings ever have and ever will be the same!]
The Canterbury Journal and Farmers' Gazette - Saturday, 12 February 1898
UNMUZZLED - Henry Sladden, labourer, Stourmouth, was summoned for allowing his dog to be on the highway without a muzzle at Stourmouth of January 24th. - Defendant stated that the dog, which was in charge of a young man, had a collar. - P.O. Adams stated that he saw the dog straying in the street at Lower Stourmouth without a muzzle. It was about half-a-mile from the defendant's dwelling. - Fined 1s., without costs.
The Canterbury Journal and Farmers' Gazette - Saturday, 14 September 1901
LICENSING BUSINESS - Mr. R.M. Mercer applied for, on behalf of Mr. White, of Stourmouth, for a provisional license for a new house to be erected in place of the Dog and Duck, Pluck's Gutter. Owing to the new road from Stourmouth to Monkton, the present house, which is small and inconvenient, would be placed in an awkward and somewhat inaccessible position, through the high bank of chalk that would be raised at that point. The plans of the proposed new building were produced, and a provisional license asked for was granted.
The Canterbury Journal and Farmers' Gazette - Saturday, 14 June 1902
EASTRY RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL - The common seal of the Council was ordered to be affixed to the mortgage for £2025 to the Public Works Loan Commissioners on account of the new road from Stourmouth to Monckton, and the Clerk was directed to write to the joint committee calling their attention to the manner in which the work of the river bridge was being carried out, and that it appeared to the Council there was a serious waste of time and money.
The Canterbury Journal and Farmers' Gazette - Saturday, 13 May 1911
STILL A MYSTERY - The discovery of the body of a newly-born female child in a box afloat in the Stour in this parish [Stourmouth] was the subject of an adjourned inquest on Wednesday in last week by the East Kent Coroner (Mr. Rutley Mowll) at the Dog and Duck Inn. The inquest had been adjourned in order that the police might have the opportunity of making further enquiries, but these had been ineffectual. Dr. Brigham stated that the death might have been caused by neglect of attention at birth, of which there was every appearance. - The jury returned a verdict of "Found Dead," considering there was no evidence to show the cause of death.