Aldington
Aldington is a small Kentish village set on the Greensand escarpment that forms a boundary between the Romney Marsh and the towns and villages inland. The escarpment runs parallel along the coast and affords the most amazing views over the marshland to Dungeness and even Rye on a clear day. It was formed around 125 million years ago by layers of sand, clay and chalk, the deposits of a shallow sea. These deposits eventually hardened to form a dome topped with sandstone, geological movement otherwise known as earthquakes made the layers buckle and fold creating the ridge of chalk that we see today. This particular layer is the youngest and was laid down during the Upper Cretaceous period
As you would expect of a village that possibly pre dates even the Saxon settlers from whom it gained its name, the village has a large number of historical buildings including the remnants of a palace belonging to the Archbishops of Canterbury. The name Aldington is derived from “Ealda” the name of the family who had settled the area, “ing” which quite literally means followers or family of and “tun” which signifies a Saxon settlement.
Farming provided a major source of income for centuries but this was supplemented by smuggling, an occupation that involved evading the payment of tax. Kent was ideally situated for the illicit trade across the channel, from wool in the 13th century to a much wider shopping list consisting of tea, silk, alcohol and tobacco in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. During the French Revolution, émigrés seeking refuge from “Madam Guillotine” were also smuggled into the country!
After the Napoleonic War the country was broke and the government of the day had imposed large tax rises to pay for the war. Prices rose so quickly that household incomes couldn’t keep up, people couldn’t afford everyday necessities let alone luxuries because of the hike in prices caused by taxation. For as long as there have been taxes there will always be enterprising individuals trying to circumnavigate the system. In Aldington a group of local men formed a smuggling organisation that was to become infamous, they were known as the Aldington Gang! They were led by Cephas Quested and George Ransley, as well as being a drop off point their headquarters was the Walnut Tree Inn. The gang would land their contraband anywhere along the coast from Rye to Deal in a bid to evade the revenue men.
The goods were usually trafficked at night and hidden in a number of different locations including churches. Although they were a violent organisation that had no qualms when it came to murdering others to protect their income, people on the whole were willing to turn a blind eye to their activities because everyone barring the government had something to gain from the smugglers activities. As with most lucrative industries it tends to attract the best and worst of humanity but we should keep in mind the fact that the goods were not stolen but honestly bought.
Unfortunately the gangs luck ran out in July 1826, they were caught on a beach in Dover and a violent clash with the revenue men ensued. Richard Morgan a Midshipman was believed to have been killed by George Ransley, the leader of the Aldington Gang. He was eventually arrested by the Bow Street Runners and taken to court. The death sentence was commuted to deportation because the murder had taken place in the dark making the evidence unreliable for hanging but enough to send Ransley to Tasmania!
copyright© Wendy Stevenson 2011
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