1562 (OS): Thomas Sheriffe (aka Shrive) was baptised, the son of William and Grace. Thomas was named as an Alderman in the King James Charter of 1604; he would later go on to be Mayor of Harwich, and own a significant property in the town. 1803: The Morning Chronicle of this date reported that the … Continue reading On This Day: May 31
County Directory Extracts II
Following on from part one, here are more contemporary insights into Harwich events, through historical county directories. 1867, Post Office"In July, 1865, the Great Eastern Hotel was opened: it is one of the most extensive and beautiful along the Essex coast: it fronts the pier, where passengers are within easy access of the boats, which … Continue reading County Directory Extracts II
County Directory Extracts
The various historical county directories available on sites like Ancestry - Pigot's, White's, Post Office/Kelly's, etc. - are invaluable for multiple reasons, mainly as a way to keep track of people, public houses, senior roles, and similar, but another useful part of them is the brief description of the area at the beginning, which can … Continue reading County Directory Extracts
Kitchels/Ketchels, A Brief Sketch-el
It's mayor-making season again, and while the usual festivities will not be occurring this year, the Standard recently published a piece about the history of the ceremony, including a primer on those buns that get thrown out of the window, called kitchels. It is one of the many eccentricities of Harwich, but as the article … Continue reading Kitchels/Ketchels, A Brief Sketch-el
On This Day: May 18
1561 (OS): A Londoner named Reynold Peyrs wrote his will (Pearce/Pierce; also Pryreson/Pearson). This resident of St Michael Wood Street is significant due to this line in said will: "I geve & bequethe to my Cosyn Leonard Alday m[y] Howse & landes in Harwiche in the Countie of Essex". It is known that "Alday" was … Continue reading On This Day: May 18
HPFC Update II
Since my last main post on the subject of the football club, I have gotten in touch with Martin Westby, an expert on the subject of old football clubs - he is the author of "England's Oldest Football Clubs 1815-1889", and runs the accompanying website. He had done some work on Harwich along the way, … Continue reading HPFC Update II
Ambrose Gilberd
On April 18 1604, King James I granted Harwich & Dovercourt a new charter, within which the hierarchy of the borough of Harwich was formally structured so that there would be 32 leading men (effectively councillors) – eight Aldermen, from which a mayor would be chosen annually, and 24 capital burgesses. One of the most … Continue reading Ambrose Gilberd
Swan & Ship Slipway Switch
NOTE: Update, posted July 27 2020, can be found here In 1820, two of the licenced public houses in Harwich were called the Swan and the Ship. In 1850, there were still two pubs by the same name. What happened in between, however, is nearly as troublesome to the typical thinker as the tongue twister … Continue reading Swan & Ship Slipway Switch
On This Day: March 25
Until 1752 this was considered to be the first day of the year. 1699 (OS): A Russian letter from Peter the Great to his assistant Andrei Krevet on this date speaks of the recent death of John Deane (Яна Деня), the son of Sir Anthony Deane, who was in Peter's service. John had died earlier … Continue reading On This Day: March 25
European Relations
In 1892, there was a modest amount of attention on Harwich & Parkeston FC's proposed double-header with Antwerp Town, this being the first time an association football club from the UK had turned their head towards the continent. The first leg was played in Belgium on November 27, and on the "Plaine des Manœuvres" Harwich … Continue reading European Relations
Harwicensis 