Goldsmiths & Skips Cottage - Hartley-Kent: The Website for Hartley

Goldsmith's Cottage lies just inside Hartley on Hartley Bottom Road; it is an "L" shaped thatched cottage dating back to the 17th century with a Grade II listing from Historic England.  It is named after the Goldsmith family who owned it around 1800, but no earlier name of Goldsmiths is known.

It was once a 34 acre farm in its own right.

The Beresfords were substantial landowners, who lived at Squerries Court, Westerham, although their house was later replaced by the Georgian structure you can visit today.  When Michael Beresford died in 1610, the jury at the "inquisition post mortem" listed no less than 20 different properties in Kent and Derbyshire, which belonged to him (up until 1660 such inquisitions were held when large landowners died to establish what land they owned and who was the legal heir).  As well as Goldsmiths, the Beresfords owned Gorsewood (then called "Hartley Gosse") and other land and woodland called "Great Northfield", probably roughly equivalent to hartley Wood.  Then the woods would have been commercially managed - in the early 17th century the tenant of Goldsmiths was Richard Stephens, whose trade was a collier (charcoal maker).  This industry was not just centred on the iron making areas of the Weald, many charcoal makers worked on Bromley Common for example.  At this time the annual net income of Goldsmiths was £1.

By his will of 1608 Michael left his share to his son George Beresford.   George died in December 1613.  In his will he ordered all his property to be sold to provide for his 7 children children.  Somehow his son Tristram Beresford became the owner.

Tristram sold the farm to Edmund Peckham in 1663.  The brief description given suggests that, with the exception of one orchard, the entire farm was devoted to arable.   Somehow the ownership descended to  Reginald Peckham, who was buried at Wrotham on 27 November 1675.  He left Goldsmiths to his younger son Edmund (1651-1723), however in 1689 Edmund complained that his elder brother Reginald (1649-1714) had questioned his title to the land.  Reginald replied he did not.  Both Edmund and Reginald were christened at Ash.   

In 1723 the Peckhams mortgaged it to the Sevenoaks solicitor Francis Austen.  He used a lot of his wealth acquired in his dealings in land to support his inpecunious nephew George, first by putting him through university and then by buying a good church living for him.  Had he not done so, George's daughter Jane might never have been able to use her literary talents.  So this is Hartley's (very tenuous!) linkwith one of England's greatest novelists.

Sometime between 1723 and 1729 Goldsmiths was acquired by James Burrow of West Kingsdown, in his will of 1729 he leaves to his wife Elizabeth "all that messuage or tenement.... situate... in Hartley.... in the occupation of Edward Thorpe or his assignees, and which I lately purchased of Reginald Peckham and Edmund Peckham" (the early history above relies on the identification of this with Goldsmiths, although other possiblities seem to be ruled out).  He also owned New House Farm and is commemorated in theimposing wall monument in the Church.  James's daughter Elizabeth Selby sold the farm to the then tenant William Goldsmith in about 1782.  It seems that the family had already sold part of the estate to Hartley Court, as Goldsmiths is henceforth described as 14 acres and in the Tithe Survey of 1844, Hartley Court had gained a couple of fields bordering the future Grange Lane, which historically are not part of the estate.

Goldsmiths then passed through a number of the Goldsmith family.  William left it to his son John in 1803, provided that his other son George would be the tenant.  John lived in Gravesend and was also a publican; he died in 1810 and left the two cottages (an early reference to Skips Cottage) and land to his daughter Mary Ann Goldsmith.

From the parish rating books, we can identify many of the 18th and 19th century tenants of Goldsmiths.

   Edward Thorpe (by 1729 - 1747)

   John Knowles (1747 - 1763)

   Francis Glover (1763 - 1780)

   John Knowles (1780 - 1782)

   William Goldsmith (1782 - 1802)

   George Goldsmith (1802 - 1806)

   William Bensted (father and son) (1806 - 1862)

An earlier tenant of Goldsmiths had been Francis Glover (from 1762 to 1769) who was possibly a direct ancestor of the Glover family who own the house today.

Throughout the 19th century Goldsmiths was home to a number of farm labourers and thier families, none of whom seem to have lived there long, as a new family appears in each successive census.  The freehold was sold to the owners of Fairby in 1855, and ultimately came to Small Owners Ltd in 1913.  For a while Goldsmiths formed part of the Hartley Manor estate, but has since been acquired by the Glover family and now is part of Hartley Bottom Farm.

Richard Wilson held a messuage and 30 acres in Hartley in chief by knight's service.  He died seized of it in 18 Elizabeth.  Robert Wilson gave these premises in marriage with his daughter, Margaret, to Thomas Acourt, who in the 19th year of that reign has livery of them.  (Rot Essch eius anni)

Humbly complaineth sheweth to your lordships your daily orator Edmund Pekham of Wrotham... gent.  That whereas heretofore, that is to say in or about the month of August.. 1674, Reginald Peckham the elder of Yalding in the parish of Wrotham, esquire, your orator's fa[ther] being seized in fee to him and his heirs of and in his house and lands called Hockinden in the parishes of St Mary  Cray and North Cray... and in another house and of other lands in the parish of Hartly … containing by estimation 34 acres, and in another houser at Culversole Green.. Meopham... and in the inn called The Crown in Northfleet […....] the said Reginald designed to make necessary provision and settlement for  the maintenance of your orator out of the said premises, as he had  before out of other lands and tenements […..] upon Alice his wife, your orator's mother, and Reginald Peckham the younger... your orator's eldest brother.  To which purpose your orator's said father, being of sound mind, memory and understanding, did on or about 26th August in the year aforesaid make his last will and testament in writing and thereof Sir Demetrius James, knight and your orator's said mother Alice his executors in words following:

In the name of God, Amen.  I Reginald Peckham the elder of Yalding ….  being of good and perfect memory, thanks be to God, do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner following

Summary

• He leaves his soul to God.

• Inventory to be taken of his goods at Yalding.  Alice to have life interest in them during her widowhood and may take them away if Reginald his son proves unkind to evict her.  If he is kind to her then the goods go to him, pro-vided he doesn't disturb her quiet continuing in the house.  If he is unkind to her she can dispose of them as she wishes.

• To Alice for life house at Little Comp and 3 houses at Ightham, but to go to Reginald if he doesn't disturb her.  To Reginald with reversion for want of heir to other sons in order of age.

• To Alice two coach houses.

• “Item I give and devise to my son Edmund.  All my house and lands called Hockinden...And also all that house and lands in the parish of Hartley in the said county containing by estimation 34 acres more or less, now in the occupation of Richard Fermer, husbandman...” and the estates mentioned above at Meopham and Northfleet.  With reversion to his eldest son and for want of heirs to 2nd, 3rd son etc, then to daughters if no son.  Edmund may make a jointure of them to any wife he marries.

• Witnesses Thomas Tomlyn, John Tunbridge, Frances Cheesham, Anne Whiteguift.

And shortly after in or about … 1675, he the said Reginald Peckham being seized of the premises.. in manner aforesaid without having made any revokation of or alteration of the said will.. departed this life, your orator's said mother and said brother surviving.  And your said orator's mother by herself in due form of law, proved the said will and took upon herself the burden and execution thereof.  And your orator further sheweth that upon the death of your orator's said father, your orator entered into and possessed himself of all the said premises so devised... and well hoped that your orator and his posterity might safely and without any opposition from your orator's said elder brother, have continued to hold the same, the rather for your said orator's elder brother was much more plentifully provided for by the said will and by former settlements made for him by your orator's said father.

But now so it is... your orator's said elder brother …. being heir at law to you orator's said father, hath some hopes that all the witnesses to the said will may shortly die, and that he knows that if they should die, your orator hath in such case no ways or means to make out or prove the said will and your orator's title to the said lands be-queathed to your orator as aforesaid, whereby your orator's title to the said lands will be defeated for want of perpetuating the evidence of the said will and the due and fair execution thereof.

In tender consideration whereof and for the matter of the nature are properly receivable in this court, the rather for that most of the witnesses to the said will are now very old and not likely by the common cause of nature long to live...... May it please your lordships to grant unto your orator their majesties' most gracious writ of subpoena to him the said Reginald Peckham directed...

Reply dated 22.1.1689

See photo 6466.

The answer of Reginald Peckham, esquire, eldest son of Reginald Peckham, late of Yaldham in the parish of Wrotham esquire deceased, to the bill of complaint of Ed-mund Peckham gentleman, complainant.

All advantage and benefit of exception to the manifold errors and imperfections of the said bill of complaint now and all times he makes himself and reserves unto [....], for a full and perfect answer thereunto or to so much thereof, as materially concer-neth this defendant to make answer unto [.....] he doth know that Reginald Peckham his said late father was about the time for that purpose mentioned in the said bill of complaint, lawfully seised in fee to him and his heirs of some other lawful estate of inheritance of and in his house and lands commonly called Hockinden.....And of and in another house and lands in the said parish of Hartley in the said county.... But he doth not believe that he was seised in fee simple to him and his heirs of and in the inn called the Crowne in Northfleet... , nor of the lands thereunto used or some of them are copyhold.  And this defendant further saith that he doth believe that his said father, having desired to make some provision for the maintenance of the complainant, he did about the time for that purpose mentioned make his will in writing to the purpose in the bill set forth and that he was of sound memory when he made the will and never revoked the same to this defendant’s knowledge, and made such ex-ecutors as is set forth and named.  And that after this defendant’s father’s death , the complainant entered into all the presmises by the same will devised, and hath ever since quietly enjoyed the same without any interruption or hinderance of this defendant, or any claiming from under him, but ???? this defendant’s said father had any power to make any such settlement unto the complainant of all the premises  

mentioned to be settled as in the said bill and will is set forth, this defendant knoweth not  ???? there was no surrender to this defendant’s [.....] knowledge made of the copyhold lands to the use of his will.  And therefore for those lands he submitteth to the judgement of this honourable court.  And this defendant said that all the mes-suages, and lands which this defendant hath in quiet possession were as this defendant is informed, settled upon him this defendant by his own said father as being his eldest son of his father and not by his father as is alleged, as this defendant takes it, for that this defendant’s said father had as this defendant takes it only an estate for life in his said messuages and lands, which this defendant as yet enjoyeth, and is in possession of.  As also of all such messuages and land as this defendant’s mother enjoys out of his father’s or this defendant’s estate.  Nevertheless to fulfil this defendant’s said father’s will and desire, this defendant to his mother hath confirmed those lands mentioned to be given her.  And that also permitted the complainant to enjoy all his inn and lands devised, to him quietly without any interruption.  And this defendant further saith that he doth believe that his said father was seised in fee at the time of his decease of the messuages and lands mentioned in the said bill to be given to the said complainant, having the inn and lands devised thereto belonging at Northfleete for the reasons aforesaid, and that he died so seised.  And believes that he was at the time of publishing and declaring his said will of sound and perfect memory and understanding, and doth not know of any alteration or revocation thereof.  And he this defendant is very willing that the said complainant do make probate of the said will in this honourable court.  Without that any other matter, ???? or thing material or effectual in the said bill of complaint contained and not hereby or herein well and sufficiently answered, confessed or avoided, traduced or [.....] is true.  All which matters and things this defendant is ready to aver, justify , maintain and prove as this honourable court shall and will award.  And prayed to be here dismissed with his reasonable costs and charges in this behalf .....