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Newspaper Reports continued 21:-

Shoreham’s home-grown justice was also used for other offences. In 1799 the miller at Southwick windmill was prosecuted for selling flour deficient by 5lbs in the hundredweight. This so incensed the populace at Shoreham (to whom he apparently sold his flour) that they ‘exhibited the miller in effigy about the streets’ then burnt it on a bonfire. Another man was known to have ill-treated his wife (1848) so some 200 townsfolk paraded through town carrying an effigy of the offender on a pole ‘chanting some doggerel rhyme,’ marched to his house in the High Street, let off fireworks and burnt his effigy in front of him.

Newspaper Reports continued 20:- 

In 1853 following three break-ins to his Buckingham House residence and expecting another, Harry Colville Bridger had his servants lie in wait at night with guns. When the burglar returned for the fourth time he was shot dead – the court returned a verdict of justifiable homicide.  

 Newspaper Reports continued 19:-

Some things never change (1853 report)

Newspaper Reports continued 18:-

Punishment for criminal offences was very harsh. In Shoreham stocks were still being used for lesser offences well into the 19^th century. The thief who stole goosebarries from Barruch Blaker’s garden was ordered to receive ‘a good whipping through Shoreham’ administered by the parish constable (1819); a number of months’ hard labour was the sentence for minor theft and other misdemeanours; John Hindess received six months hard labour for keeping a brothel (1842); John Banks was found guilty of stealing a cow (1823) and after attempting to escape across the river near the Pad was re-arrested and later executed; John Baldock of Shoreham also received the death penalty for burglary 1838; Charles Packett was convicted of stealing one of John Glazebrook’s sheep (1838) and sentenced to be transported to one of Australia’s harshly run penitentiaries for ten years – all this at the time an increasing number of emigrants had been voluntarily sailing from Shoreham for a new life in that country and Canada (1832).

Newspaper Reports continued 17:-

Hotmail is nothing new – this from the 1780’s

Newspaper Reports continued 16:-

Crime seems to have been a particular problem for Shoreham. With a population then of just 1,000 it seems a disproportionate number of crimes were being committed prompting the correspondent of one report to suggest that the fortnightly Petty Sessions at Steyning should be held on alternate weeks at Shoreham – and they were!

Continue reading “Life in 18th and 19th Century Shoreham”

Newspaper Reports continued 15:-

The first ever Shoreham regatta took place in 1854 but only the second one seems to have been reported (August 1855).  An occasion involving sailing and rowing boat races only (the associated carnivals didn’t happen until later) the events starting at the Custom House quay then down to Kingston and back. The occasion drew 3,000 spectators and was followed by a fancy dress ball at Swiss Gardens. 

Newspaper Reports continued 14:-

21^st June 1858 two travelling showmen exhibiting a fat woman and a peep show were prosecuted for erecting their booths in the High Street thereby obstructing the footway. In 1854 on the Ham a portable theatre was put up for sale consisting of three carriages, a wardrobe, raised stage and scenery – £30!

 

Newspaper Reports continued 13:-

Ideas that never happened:- John Vallance with Mr. Ricardo submitted proposals, and received approval for, an atmospheric, cylinder railway ‘for the conveyance of passengers and parcels’ to be constructed between Shoreham and Brighton (1827).

Continue reading “Life in 18th and 19th Century Shoreham”