Francis and Robert Hammond were members of Sir Walter Raleigh’s expedition to Guyana [Guiana], now a part of Venezuela, that left England in June of 1617 in search of El Dorado, the fabled South American city of gold. The expedition was a complete failure and Raleigh was arrested on his return to England in mid-1618 […]
Category: Nonington in the Wars
The Boys Family of Fredville & Bonnington in the English Civil War of 1642-1651 [revised 03.01.2021]
During the English Civil War of 1642 to 1651 close neighbours, friends and even family members frequently took opposing sides in the conflict between the Royalists and Parliamentarians. These divisions were very obvious in Nonington and the adjoining parish of Goodneston as can be seen in the following article. ~~~~~~ Sir Edward Boys and Major […]
Nonington and Cromwell’s Commission in Kent of 1655-57
A commission was established by Oliver Cromwell as Lord Protector of the Commonwealth to control and punish anti-Cromwell and anti-Parliament land-owners in Kent. One of the commission’s leading members was Major John Boys of Fredville who had served on earlier Parliamentary Committees for Kent from at least 1643, as had his father, Sir Edward Boys of […]
Nonington & The Second Boer War, 1899-1902
The Nonington Parish Vestry minutes of 1899 record that at least five volunteers from Nonington were serving in the 3rd Battalion of The Buffs [East Kent Regiment], the regiments volunteer battalion, in what was then known as the South African Campaign but is now known as the Second Boer War [11th October 1899 – 31st […]
The Nonington War memorials-further revised 13.10.20.
There are two memorials to the Fallen of the Two World Wars in St. Mary’s Churchyard, a roll of honour in the yew tree by the main entrance to the churchyard and a stone memorial to the Fallen of the Two World Wars set in the west wall of the church. The Parish Magazine for […]
Nonington and the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1792 to 1814.
Increasing fears of a French invasion caused plans to be made for the defence of England and in August of 1796 “Invasion No. 113”, the first detailed and systematic defence plan, was drawn up in the office of Sir David Dundas, the quarter-master general. One of the assumptions of the plan was that if the […]
Nonington and The Great War-plans for evacuation in the event of a German invasion
As the outbreak of armed conflict between the British Empire and the German Empire became more certain plans were made to evacuate the civilian population of Kent in the event of invasion. The arrangements for the evacuation of Nonington’s inhabitants have recently come to light, and appear to have made shortly before the outbreak of […]
The Napoleonic Wars-Nonington and The East Kent Volunteers.
On February 1st.,1793, France declared war on Britain and Holland causing some alarm in southern England because of the closeness of the enemy. This caused the leading inhabitants of East Kent and Canterbury to call a meeting the following month where it was decided to form an association for the defence of East Kent and […]
Colonels Francis and Robert Hammond-updated biographies
The 1555 purchase by John Hammond began an ownership of the St. Alban’s estate by the Hammond family which continued until the late 1930’s, during which time the family continued to acquire additional land and property in Nonington and in neighbouring parishes. By the time the St. Alban’s Court estate was sold off in 1938 […]