No 2 Battery, Parish of Worth, Kent

[Stephen Evans]

Hi All,
I have recently traced a relative in the 1841 Census a Josiah Dornford,RN, living at No2 Battery in the Parish of Worth.
Does anyone have any information on this location and does it still exist??
Cheers|cheers|

[daggers]

A Gazetteer of 1904 gives Worth as a parish and village in Kent, pop. 536, 1.5 miles SE of Sandwich. This could have been a site for coastal defences from Napoleonic days.
Another Worth is larger, in Sussex, 6 m west of East Grinstead, so less likely to involve the Navy.

[Stephen Evans]

Thanks for that, it must have been in Kent.

[Kerrywood]

The census clearly says Worth, Kent.

It looks like a Coastguard station to me. There are some details of your man here (http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/Coastguards/D-E.html).

Let us know if you're seeking Coastguard information, so that a mod can move this thread to the appropriate forum? ;)

Kerrywood

[Stephen Evans]

Thanks for the info, Kerrywood,
I do have quite alot of interesting information on this relation, I'm interested to see that the family were living at the battery also. Also interested to know if the battery is still to be seen today?
Cheers|cheers|

[Kerrywood]

Also interested to know if the battery is still to be seen today?

Apparently it was still there last April, according to a post on another forum ;)

If you google Coastguard Sandwich Galbraith, the first result will take you to the relevant thread :)

Kerrywood

[Mutley]

I think Kerrywood is right, therefore, I have moved this thread to the Coastguard forum.

Stephen, you may receive more information from the locals in the area.

Good Luck

[crimea1854]

Hi Stephen

You may well have some, or all of this information already, so forgive me.

Lt. Dornford entered the CG Service on 2nd July 1823, and from the CG Nomination Book was posted to Mundsley in Norfolk. Using the records in ADM 175, which can be downloaded for free from the National Archives, it should be possible to trace his entire CG career.

Because he was an officer, I checked the Service Records in ADM 196 and found an entry for him (ADM196/36), he also appears to have taken part in the Admiralties survey of officers service, there being an entry in ADM 9/7/2391.

Since he was in the Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and appears to have still been alive in 1847, it is possible that he was entitled to, and applied for the Naval General Service Medal. To check if this is the case I would need to know what ships he served on, and when, to consult the medal roll.

Regards

Martin

[Stephen Evans]

Thanks all for your interest, with a slight stroke of luck on consulting the Times Archive, I have been able to trace an incident in the Times 2nd January 1840, involving Lieutenant Dornford, of No2 Battery, Deal, on reprimanding one of the men under his Command, who had outstayed his leave of absence by two or three days and was drunk. Serious stuff. The Maidstone Gazette coverd the case.

:D

[Davran]

The village of Worth in Kent is not on the coast, nor do I think it ever was, so not likely to have had coastguards, I would have thought. Deal, however, was the HQ for the Royal Marines for many years.

[Kerrywood]

Stephen, are you aware that a researcher on another forum is offering digital photos of No. 2 Battery? See my post #6 above.

Davran, I don't think it has been suggested that the coastguards were in the village of Worth, but in the parish of Worth (as per the 1841 census, HO107; Piece 470; Book: 28; Civil Parish: Worth; County: Kent; Enumeration District: 5; Folios: 18-19; Pages: 8-10).
Would that make more sense?

Kerrywood

[crimea1854]

Because Coast Guard Stations were by their very nature in rather isolated locations, many took the name of the nearest village, which sometimes meant they appeared to be inland.

Martin

[busyglen]

I agree with that Martin.

Worth, was the Parish, and being a small village with nothing but fields etc. to one side leading to the sea, it would have been the ideal spot to place a Battery in the 1840's. I had a great Aunt who lived there when I was a child, but back in the 1840's there would not have been that many houses around.

Also, it was between Sandwich (which had a CG station) and Deal which had a larger station. The river Stour ran between these also making it ideal for sneaking boats in.

Glenys

[busyglen]

Just to add a bit more, I have just had occasion to check something up on my Kent CD for 1841, and came across Worth, which contained quite a few families of Coastguard Boatmen etc. with their families, and the address was Shingle End, Worth, so it would appear that there was a CG station in this area.

NB: Have also just come across the Sandhills 2 Battery, so there were a couple of stations there. Obviously quite important!

Glenys

[sueannbowen]

You know what everyone? This for me, is what makes this the most amazing forum ever. People are chipping in from all over - we have experts and locals and others and the end result whether or not you have an interest in Worth or Batteries or Coast Guards or Deal or all and any of the above - is fascinating.

:D:D:D

[Stephen Evans]

Sueannbowen, As this great forum can boast as the Beatles song went 'With a little help from my friends" has made this posting interesting to others and thanks to the odd census like 1841.
Research from here in Malta thanks to the Internet and Computers has certainly made life more helpful in this subject. The story goes on a great subject and sorry beats stamp collecting!
From an island where it has been 96-100 degrees for the last five weeks, there are moments when one would like to be at No2 Battery and cooler climes.

Cheers|cheers|

|snore|Siesta Time

[sueannbowen]

Apparently it was still there last April, according to a post on another forum ;)

If you google Coastguard Sandwich Galbraith, the first result will take you to the relevant thread :)

Kerrywood

Hi Kerrywood - what came up was this thread. I scrolled around but couldn't find another relating to Worth.

Sue:confused:

How bizarre - just tried again and up came the one you were talking about! t v m