Petitions to House of Commons re malt tax (1831)(1836)/and hop duty (1859)

Post date: Apr 01, 2012 10:2:48 PM

Extract from Morning Post 24th February 1831 reporting on proceedings in the House of Commons the previous day:

Sir E. Knatchbull presented Petitions from Hornham, Lenham, Wateringbury, and another place in Kent, praying a repeal of the Duty on Malt. — Ordered to be printed.

Malt was used in the brewing of beer in Wateringbury and one place where it was produced was The Maltings, just up Red Hill from the crossroads before the Pelicans. In the malting process cereal grains (most commonly barley) are made to germinate by soaking in water, which is followed by stopping the germination process by drying with hot air.

Whether coincidence or not the following bankruptcy was reported in The London Gazette 26th May 1832 :

Richard Gibbon, Wateringbury, Kent, brewer, June 5, at eleven, and July 6, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Attorney , Mr. Penfold, Harper-street.

The Morning Post reported on proceedings in the House of Commons as follows on 21 April 1836:

Sir W. GEARY presented petitions from Wateringbury and other places, praying for the repeal of the malt tax. The Hon. Member also presented petitions from Holbeach and other places, complaining of agricultural distress.

Extract from Kentish Gazette 19th July 1859:

The Hop Duty.—ln the House of Commons on Thursday evening, Sir E. Filmer presented thirty-four petitions from the parishes of Maidstone, Barming, Stockbury, Chart Sutton, Lenham, West Farleigh, Otham, Harrietsham, Mereworth, Malherbe, Aylesford, East Sutton, Broomfield, Boughton Monchelsea, Birling, Langrey, Stapleburst, Burbam, Sutton Valence, Nettlestead, East Malling and Ditton, Sittingbourne, Borden, Bapchild and Bredgar, East Farleigh, Linton, Hollingbourne, Thurnham, Loose, Leeds. Debtling, Headcorn, Wateringbury, Boxley, Hunton, and Ulcomb, for reduction of the excise duty on hops to 1d. per lb. weight,