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The Corporation minute book, when recording the visit
of Queen Elizabeth at Bartholomew-tide in 1571-2 to Rye, Hempsted, and
Sissinghurst, makes no mention of Tenterden. Her Majesty visited the
Weald on two or three occasions, since which time royal visits here have
been few and far between.
At the outbreak of the Civil War, a landing of the
supporters of Charles I took place at Rye (A.D.1642), and orders were
issued by the Parliament to intercept and seize the horses of all "malignants"
that might be found in the neighbourhood; but the great Kentish rising
did not take place until 1648.
The surveys of Crown lands, and possessions of the Church,
which were ordered by the Commonwealth to be made with a view to a sale,
included "the Seven Hundreds" (now the property of Viscount
Cranbrook), and the rectory of Tenterden, let on lease to Sir Edward
Hales, Bart. Amongst the royalists whose estates at Tenterden were
sequestered, and who were heavily mulct for their loyalty, were those of
the Colepepers, the Guldefords, the Argalls, Sir Peter Richards, and Sir
Robert Pointz. |
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The manors of Morgue and Godden were
still held together, and had passed from an Essex family named Argall
(who held at this time Kenchill) to Sir John Colepeper. The
Parliamentary Commissioners sold Sir John's interest in Morgue and
Godden to his relative Sir Cheney Colepeper, and an interest attaches to
the notice in these Parliamentary papers of a breach of the sea, whereby
156 acres of the Morgue lands were returned as "drowned
lands," since the breaking in of the sea in Wittersham level; and
that in four years (1644 to 1648) the water scots in the Morgue and
Gatesden lands amounted to £1025, and there was but little hope of
their returning to their former value, without great care and expense.
The Parliamentary Commissioners, however, declined to make any allowance
for these heavy scots, and the fine was assessed at £200.
Within two months of the restoration of Charles II (19
March, 1660) Tenterden Court Hall was burnt down, and the Corporation
chest with its charters and ancient documents |