The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868

"HYTHE, a parish, parliamentary and municipal borough, and cinque-port, in the hundred of the same name, lathe of Shepway, county Kent, 16 miles from Dover, 25 S. of Canterbury, and 75 from London by the South-Eastern Railway, which has a station here. It is situated on the Royal Military canal, near the river Limne, and at the end of the old Roman way called Stone Street. A passage boat plies daily between this place and Rye.

Hythe signifies a "haven," and was anciently an important maritime town, with a good haven, which has since been silted up, and the beach is now nearly three quarters of a mile from the town. It was rated at five ships, with a complement of 21 men each, for the service of the king. In 1036 it was given to the archbishops of Canterbury, who built a castle at Saltwood, traces of which are still visible. During the reign of Edward III. this borough returned two members to parliament, and by the Reform Act this town, with Cheriton, Newington, Folkestone, and Saltwood, returns one member to parliament. It received its first charter of incorporation from Queen Elizabeth, who granted the place at a fee-farm rent of £3 to the inhabitants.

It is governed by a mayor, 4 aldermen, and 12 common councilmen, with the style of the "mayor, jurats, and commonalty of the town and port of Hythe." The town, which consists chiefly of one long street, is remarkably clean, well paved, and lighted with gas. It contains a dispensary, townhall, bank, savings-bank, gaol, a literary and scientific institution, and market-house, which latter, situated on the N. side of the High-street, is a commodious structure erected in 1794. Hythe being situated on the sea-coast affords facilities for sea-bathing, and has latterly become a place of great resort for that purpose. In its vicinity are to be seen the ruins of the castles of Saltwood, Lympne, and Studfall. It is a petty and quarter session town.

Many of the inhabitants are engaged as fishermen, and there is a large brewery employing many persons. At the W. end of the town a range of barracks was erected in 1807 for 300 men, besides officers. Here is now established a celebrated school of musketry, where volunteers go to perfect themselves in the use of the rifle. The living is a perpetual curacy in the diocese of Canterbury, value £175, in the patronage of the Rector of Saltwood. The church, dedicated to St. Leonard, is situated on a hill, and has a tower with a steeple containing eight bells. It contains tombs of the Deedes of Sandling Park. In the crypt is a large quantity of human bones, supposed to be the remains of the Britons who fought a battle with the Saxons between this town and Folkestone in 456.

The parochial charities produce £485 a year. In the town are two hospitals-St. Bartholomew's, founded in 1336, by Hamo, Bishop of Rochester, which has an endowment of £221, now distributed between five men and eight women, who each receive £20 per annum; and St. John's, with an endowment of £180, which supplies two men and seven women with £18 per annum. The Wesleyans, Independents, and Roman Catholics have each a place of worship. During the reign of Henry IV. a fire broke out which destroyed a considerable portion of the town; this was afterwards followed by the plague, which carried off a great many of its inhabitants. About 2½ miles E. of the town is Shortcliffe camp. The market day for corn is Thursday. Fairs are held on the 10th and 11th July and 1st December.

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868 by Colin Hinson ©2010]