Bow Bridge (1868)

Post date: Mar 17, 2013 4:59:50 PM

Extract from Maidstone Telegraph 11 April 1868

HIGHWAY BOARD MEETING.

The annual meeting for the reception of the certificates of the waywardens for the district was held on Wednesday last, at the Swan Hotel, Mailing.

Present: Messrs. H. Peppercorn, Tomkin, J. Taylor T. Peters, H. White, J. Usher, Larkin, R Allen, Bidwell,T Sharman, S. Spratt, O. Foreman, and J M. Shaw.

The following were the wardens appointed for the various districts:

Addington -—George Larking, Allington,

Allington —-James Buckland, New House Farm.

Aylesford-—J. M. Shaw, Rome-place, Aylesford.

Burham-—James Cole, Little Cosington, Aylesford.

Birling—John Selby, Birling.

Burham—James Cole, Little Cosington, Aylesford.

Hunton-—Owen Foreman, jun.

Ightham—-Stephen Love, Warren Farm, Ightham

Leybourne—-James Diplock.

Malling, East-—H. Peppercorn, East Malling

Mereworth- John Taylor

Nettlestead—-Robert Allen, Nettlestead.

Offham—-Edward John Goodwin, Cannon Court, Wateringbury.

Peckham, West-—Thomas Sharman, Mereworth.

Peckham, East—Edward Bidwell, East Peckham.

Stansted—-J. E. Crouch, Stansted.

Teston—-William Arthur Fremlin, Wateringbury.

Trotterscliffe—-John Sutton, Trotterscliffe.

Wateringbury-—Henry White, Wateringbury.

Yalding—-G. Thomas Tomkin. Yalding.

Mr Peppercorn and Mr Tomkin were respectively elected to act as chairman and vice-chairman for the ensuing twelve months.

On the motion of Mr Taylor, a distress warrant was ordered to be issued against Mr Buckland, for the recovery of £19, arrears of rates. Mr Norton said that the Finance Committee met the day previous, and had examined the surveyor's monthly statement and the treasurer's balance sheet, which showed a balance of £1,058 13s 3d, due. From West Mailing, £112; from Allington, two calls, amounting to £19.

The Chairman said that the next subject for consideration was the alteration of their days of meeting. As the County Court, Maidstone, was now held on the second Mondays and Tuesday in the month, it would be inconvenient for their clerk (Mr Norton) to attend their present meeting. It was then unanimously determined that the Board meetings should be held the third Wednesday in every month.

The following calls in accordance with the surveyor's estimate, were then ordered to be made :— Addington,£25 ; Allington, £36: Aylesford, £492 ; Birling, £153; Burham, £153; Ditton, £51; Farleigh West, £72; Farleigh East,- ; Hunton, £430; Ightham, £156 Leybourne, £18; Malling East, £230; Malling West, £255; Mereworth, £90; Nettlestead, £42; Offham -; Peckham East, £225; Peckham West £141; Ryarsh, £90; Snodland £123; Stansted,£60; Teston, £18; Trotterscliffe, £63; Wateringbury, £117; Yalding, £825.

The Chairman remarked that the calls would be made in three applications. Mr Norton-—We generally appoint the days for the first two calls and leave the third open. Chairman-—The first call will be the first Thursday in May and the second call will be the first Thursday in Sept.

Mr E. Tomkin proposed and Mr Allen seconded, "That it is desirable that the wooden bridge called Wateringbury Bow be removed and a substantial bridge substituted at a point higher up the river in a straight line with the road from Bow Hill and that the existing road from Wateringbury turnpike gate to the turning at the foot of Bow Hill be stopped up and a new road substituted which shall lead from the said turning in a straight line over the proposed new bridge into the road leading from Wateringbury to Nettlestead, and that a committee consisting of the chairman and vice chairman, and the waywardens of Offham, West Farleigh, Nettlestead, Hunton, Mailing, Mereworth, and Teston, formed to make inquiries and report to the best mode of carrying out the improvements above suggested.'' The resolution was put to the meeting and carried unanimously.

Mr Norton, in the absence of Mr Woollett, said that a resolution had been passed in Vestry calling upon the tenants of a path near the Church leading to Offham, to repair the same. The Board was of opinion that they had nothing whatever to do with the matter. Moved by Mr Tomkin and seconded by Mr Taylor that no action be taken in the matter. The report the district Surveyor was then read, which terminated the business of the Board.

Extract from Maidstone Telegraph, 23rd May 1868

Mr Tomkin, said that with respect to the proposed new bridge at Wateringbury, the Medway Company had only offered them £100; that sum was not sufficient to warrant the proceedings being undertaken. The South Eastern Railway Company had also been written to on the subject but they proffered nothing. If they could get the Medway to advance another 100, with a little assistance from the Railway company they could venture upon the undertaking. Norton the county might do something in the matter. If directed by the Board Mr Russell said would lay the subject before the Court of General Sessions. The subject was deferred upon the understanding that Mr Norton would give instruction to that effect to Mr Russell.

Report of Kent General Sessions from Maidstone Telegraph of 27th June, 1868

WATERINGBURY BOW BRIDGE.

A letter was read from the Malling Highway Board, asking the county contribute towards the erection of new bridge in place of the present wooden bridge called Wateringbury Bow Bridge. The Chairman remarked that the county could have nothing to do with it. It was a question for the South Eastern Railway and Medway Companies.

At the Highways Board meeting of 19th June 1871 (as reported in the Maidstone Telegraph of 24th June 1871) evidently nothing had actually been achieved as:

The question of the repair of Bow Bridge, Wateringbury, was again brought forward, and Mr Norton said he had completed his enquiries. Mr Norton produced some correspondence that had taken place some years ago in reference to the matter, in which it was shown that the South Eastern Railway at one time denied their liability, but afterwards admitted it, and ordered the bridge to be repaired. The Clerk received instructions to take counsel's advice, and proceed in the matter at once.