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Kent Online Parish Clerks




white cliffs of Dover
photo of St. Nicholas parish church of St. Nicholas at Wade and Sarre in the Isle of Thanet, Kent, England
St. Nicholas Parish Church
by kind courtesy of Alan Makey and the Kent FHS
(Click photo for larger view)

Sarre Parish



     A View of the Parish

Sattelite image of Sarre, Kent, England
Click on map to view full size on Google Maps.
1881 Ordnance survey map of Sarre with link to modern ordnance survey map
Click here for larger image of this 1881 survey.
Click map for modern Ordnance survey map.
Reproduced from Ordnance Survey map data by permission of Ordnance Survey, © Crown copyright.
worldcomputer.PNG - 44860 BytesWe are sorry, there is no Online Parish Clerk for this parish.


We have no other information or data for this parish except what is accessed by or detailed on this page.

If you wish to volunteer for this post or have data you wish to contribute, please use the appropriate link on our
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Statistical Summary

Acres:  653
OS co-ordinates:  TR256650
Latitude:  51:20.3670N
Longitude:  1:14.3195E

Parish Church:  St. Nicholas at Wade
Registers commence:
  1653 original parish registers
Other Denominations:
  
Markets:
  Monday - St. Nicholas at Wade
  Wednesday - Ramsgate
  Thursday - Sarre
  Friday - Minster
  Saturday - Monkton, Margate &
  Ramsgate

Fairs:
  Palm Monday - Minster
  30 May - Acol
  13 July - Minster
  22 July - Monkton
  10 Aug - St. Lawrence
  8 Sep - St. Nicholas at Wade
  14 Oct - Sarre

Newspapers:  weekly at Ramsgate
Electoral Place:  Ramsgate
Courts:
  Petty Sessions and County Courts -
  Margate and Ramsgate

Jails:  at St. Clement's, Sandwich
Hospitals:
  Royal National at Westgate
Amenities:
  Post office under Margate

Registration District:  Thanet
Poor Law Union:  Thanet 1835-1930
Workhouse:  Minster, Thanet Diocese:  Canterbury
Archdeaconry:  Canterbury
Deanery:  Westbere
Probate:
   pre-1859 - Archdeaconry Court of        Canterbury
   post-1858 - Principal Probate Registry
Lathe:  St. Augustine
Hundred:  Ringslow
Houses:  40.1
Parishes within 6 mile radius:
  Acol, Ash (Sandwich), Birchington Chislet, Elmstone, Margate, Minster in Thanet, Monkton, Preston (Ash and Wingham), Sarre, Reculver, Sandwich (Sts Clement, Mary and Peter), St. Nicholas at Wade, Stonar, Stourmouth, Thanet St Lawrence, Thanet St. Peter
Greenwood map of Sarre as it existed in 1805
Ordnance Survey, First Series Map circa 1805. Click map for larger image.


Domesday Reference:
   None

Principal landholder:
   None

Sarre

Sarre, a village and a ville in Thanet district, Kent.  The village stands on the river Stour, adjacent to the Ashford and Ramsgate railway, 2 miles NE of Grove-Ferry rail station, and 8 west-south-west of Margate; and has a post office under Margate, and a fair on 14 October.  The ville comprises 653 acres, and is a member of the Cinque Port liberty of Sandwich.  Real property, £1,787.  Population 169.  Houses, 40.1

The VILLE OF SARRE, now united to the parish of St. Nicholas, was once a separate parish of itself; it was anciently spelt Serre, and was sometimes written in ancient records, St. Giles, alias Serre, and St. Giles at Serre, from the church of it being dedicated to that saint. It is a small village adjoining to the parish of St. Nicholas south-westward, being situated at the entrance into this island from the county eastward, and at the western extremity of it. It seems anciently to have been much larger, and more populous than at present, on account of its being the most frequented passage into this island, and a place where the shipping often lay at anchor, in their passage to and from the Northmouth or Yenlade, there being a most commodious haven for them here; and Twine, in his treatise, De Rebus Albionicis, says, "Erat olim in boc fluvio statio firmissima navibus & gratissima nautis Sarra nominata." The distance between the upland and the county, and this place, across the marshes over Sarre wall, is about a mile.2

This space was anciently covered with water, the sea flowing over it between Northmouth and Richborough, being the usual passage for the shipping to and from London, and here the two tides met, which flowed in at the north and east mouths of it. This water was so much decreased (and on that account named the Wantsum) in Bede's time, that it then was no more than three furlongs broad; so that there were kept here two ferry boats to carry men and cattle over it, to and from the island; the tribute or toll of these, which used to be paid to the king, was granted by king Egbert to the abbey of Minster, in Thanet. (Regist. Mon. Sci Agust. cart. 162)2

In the ancient rude map of this island, formerly belonging to the abbey of St. Augustine, a pretty large boat is placed here, a man rowing it, and another nearly up to his knees in the water, with a staff in his hand, carrying a monk on his back to the boat; which seems to intimate, that then the water was so much fallen away that the boat could not come up quite to the shore.2

This water still decreasing, ceased to be a continued stream, and the flood gates erected across it dispersed it among the adjoining lands, insomuch that it became too narrow, even for the use of a ferry, and the inhabitants applying to parliament for licence to build a bridge at Sarre ferry, an act passed in the first year of king Henry VII for that purpose; and a bridge was soon after erected here over this water, which is not more than ten or twelve feet wide. This bridge has always belonged to the commissioners of sewers, by whose orders it is constantly repaired. The ancient ferry-house, situated at a small distance westward from the bridge, on the south side of the high road, belongs likewise to them.2

Leland, who wrote in king Henry VIII.'s time, says, in his Itinerary, "At Northmuth, where the estery of the se was, the salt water swellith yet up at a creeke a myle and more toward a place cawled Sarre, which was the commune fery when Thanet was fulle iled."2

The VILLAGE OF SARRE is situated at a small distance from the bridge above-mentioned eastward, the road from thence across the island leading through it. It consists of only a few straggling houses, one of which, on the south side, is the manor house. There is a fair held here on Oct. 14, for toys, et cetera.2

Whilst the sea flowed up hither and the ships reforted to this haven, it was accounted a pleasant, healthy situation; but afterward the continued fogs and damp vapours, occasioned by the vast quantity of marshes inned from the decreasing waters, soon made this place exceedingly unhealthy, and at the same time unpleasant, and of course decreased the populousness of it, so that it has been for a long time but very thinly inhabited, and that by those only whose occupations among these sickly marshes oblige them to reside in it.2

This ville, or parish of Sarre, has ever been accounted one of the ancient members of the cinque port of Sandwich, and as such, within the liberty and jurisdiction of those ports; notwithstanding which, a dispute arose in king Henry VI.'s time, touching the assessing of it, as lying within the county; to take away all disputes of which, the king, by his letters patent, united it again to Sandwich.2

The PARISH CHURCH OF SARRE stood upon the hill to the eastward of the town, about thirty rods on the left hand of the great road leading from Sarre to Monkton. It was dedicated to St. Giles, and was a vicarage, which in the 8th year of king Richard II. on account of its smallness was not taxed to the tenth.2

The alteration made in this place by the failing of the Wantsume, and consequently the decrease of the inhabitants, occasioned very probably the dissolution of this little vicarage, and the uniting it, together with this parish, to that of St. Nicholas; soon after which, the church decaying, was suffered to fall down, and there are at this time no remains of it left.2

The vicar of St. Nicholas receives the small tithes, offerings, &c. of this little parish, or ville of Sarre, the inhabitants of which are assessed to the repairs of the church of St. Nicholas, but they still keep up the distinction of maintaining their own poor.2

The church of St. Giles's at Sarre was part of the possessions of the eminent family of Crevequer, lords of the manor of Sarre, to which it was appurtenant, and continued so till Robert de Crevequer, founder of Ledes priory, in king Henry I.'s reign, gave this church to that priory, and this gift was confirmed by his son Elias de Crevequer, who procured the consent of archbishop Theobald, to appropriate it to the canons of that church; which was afterwards confirmed by several of his descendants, archbishop Hubert, and by king Edward III. in his 41st year, by his charter of inspeximus. (Dugdale's Monasticon, vol. ii. p. 110) In which state the appropriation of this church continued till the dissolution of the priory in the 31st year of king Henry VIII. for the vicarage was dissolved long before, when it came with the rest of the possessions of the priory into the king's hands, who by his dotation charter in his 33d year, settled it on his new-founded dean and chapter of Rochester, with whom the inheritance of it now remains. But the great tithes of this ville or parish are very inconsiderable, there being very little corn or sowing land in it. Mrs. Gillow is the present lessee of the parsonage.2

1Source:  John Marius Wilson, comp.  The Imperial Gazatteer of England and Wales. (London, England: A. Fullerton & Co., 1870).

2Source:  John Marius Wilson, comp.  The Imperial Gazatteer of England and Wales. (London, England: A. Fullerton & Co., 1870).


Sarre Bibliography

-- various. 'Archaeologia Cantiana'. Publisher: Kent, England: Kent Archaeological Society, various dates.  [Note:  The following volumes can be found on archive.org:  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (1876), 11, 12, 13 (1880), 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 32, 34, 35, vol. 1907 supplement.]


  • General references to Sarre: vol. , pp.
  • Currently in revision

Great Britain, Public Record Office. 'Calendar of the patent rolls preserved in the Public Record Office--Edward II, Vol. 1. 1307-1313'Each volume has own index. Publisher: Genealogical Society of Utah d.b.a Historical Books on FamilySearch; http://www.familysearch.org.

Great Britain, Public Record Office. 'Inquisitions and assessments relating to feudal aids : with other analogous documents preserved in the Public Record Office, A. D. 1284-1431', Vol. 3. Publisher: Genealogical Society of Utah d.b.a Historical Books on FamilySearch; http://www.familysearch.org.

Great Britain, Exchequer. 'The book of fees commonly called testa de nevill, pt. 3'. The Book of fees contains information about the holdings of feudal tenants. Publisher: Genealogical Society of Utah d.b.a Historical Books on FamilySearch; http://www.familysearch.org.

Hall, Hubert, 1857-1944. 'The Red book of the Exchequer - Liber rubeus de Scaccario, Vol. 3'. The Red book of the Exchequer was a register intended to preserve important documents comprising charters, statutes of the realm, public acts (Placita), private deeds and ordinances, correspondence. Publisher: Genealogical Society of Utah d.b.a Historical Books on FamilySearch; http://www.familysearch.org.

Glencross, Reginald Morshead. 'Administrations in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Vol. 1. 1559-1571'. Publisher: Genealogical Society of Utah d.b.a Historical Books on FamilySearch; http://www.familysearch.org.

Hasted, Edward. 'The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent; Containing the antient and present state of it, civil and ecclesiastical; collected from public records, and other authorities: illustrated with maps, views, antiquities, etc. The second edition, improved, corrected, and continued to the present time'. 12 volumes. Publisher: Canterbury: Printed by W. Bristow, 1797-1801. URL: British History Online

Hussey, Arthur. 'Notes on the churches in the counties of Kent, Sussex, and Surrey, mentioned in Domesday book, and those of more recent date'. Publisher: London J.R. Smith,(1852).

Letters, Dr. Samantha. 'Kent', Gazetteer of Markets and Fairs in England and Wales to 1516 (2005).  URL: British History Online.

Page, William, 1861-1934, ed.. 'The Victoria history of the county of Kent'. Publisher: London: Constable (1908).  URL: British History Online

Sharp, J. E. E. S., ed.. 'Inquisitions Post Mortem, Edward I, File 39', Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Volume 2: Edward I. Published:(1906), pp. 315-323.  URL: British History Online.

Sharp, J. E. E. S., ed.. 'Inquisitions Post Mortem, Henry III, File 45', Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Volume 1: Henry III. Published:(1904), pp. 296-302.  URL: British History Online.


Location of Records

The following list of records is not intended to be exhaustive.  There are many records that are awaiting discovery in archive offices throughout Kent and England.  This list is intended only to set out those records that are available via at least two relatively easy-to-access avenues.  If you have used or discover a record that would be of benefit to other researchers, that is not on this list, please send me an email with the details of the archive - name, address and archival call number.

Census | Church of England | Non-Conformist | Parish chest | Workhouse and Poor Law | Land | Assizes and Sessions | School

 

Census

Date The National Archives, Ruskin Avenue,
Kew, Richmond,
Surrey,
TW9 4DU
also available at:
Sarre Local Studies & Archives, Central Library, High Street, Sarre, BR1 1EX, tel. 020 8461 7170, Email: localstudies.library@Sarre.gov.uk
LDS Family History Centre
(Find a centre near you)
and indexed online at:
New FamilySearch.org
6 June 1841 Currently under revision  
30 Mar 1851 Currently under revision  
30 Mar 1851 census name index & images Currently under revision  
7 Apr 1861 Currently under revision  
2 Apr 1871 Currently under revision  
3 Apr 1881 Currently under revision  
5 Apr 1891 Currently under revision  
31 Mar 1901 Currently under revision  
2 Apr 1911 Currently under revision  
2 Apr 1911 RG 78/139 - Census Enumerator's Summary Books online only http://www.1911census.co.uk and other subscription sites none
 

Church Records, Church of England

Record Type Dates Archive 1
(Addresses)
Corresponding LDS Family History Library film numbers
(Find a centre near you)
Parish Register   Currently under revision  
Bishop's transcripts   Currently under revision  
CMB transcripts   Currently under revision  
Parish Registers, transcribed by Thomas Colyer-Fergusson   Currently under revision  
 

Church Records, Non-Conformist

Record Type Dates Archive 1
(Addresses)
Corresponding LDS Family History Library film numbers
(Find a centre near you)
Particular Baptist Chapel, Nonconformist Return   Currently under revision  
Methodist Church Registers   Currently under revision  
 

Parish chest records

Record Type Dates Archive 1
(Addresses)
Corresponding LDS Family History Library film numbers
(Find a centre near you)
Parish Council Minutes   Currently under revision  
Removal orders out of Sarre   Currently under revision  
Settlement Examinations, Minute book   Currently under revision  
Overseers' Accounts   Currently under revision  
Return of Churchwardens, constables and defaulters     
Tithe Apportionment Files      
Poor Rate books   Currently under revision  
 

Workhouse and Poor Law Records

Record Type Dates Archive 1
(Addresses)
Corresponding LDS Family History Library film numbers
(Find a centre near you)
Admission & Discharge books   This section currently under revision  
Guardians' Minutes      
Ledgers      
Births   Currently under revision  
Deaths   Currently under revision  
Religious creed registers   Currently under revision  
Apprentice Register      
Registers of lunatics      
Letters books      
Vaccination registers, Sarre area 1899-1930 Currently under revision  
 

Land Records

Record Type Dates Archive 1
(Addresses)
Corresponding LDS Family History Library film numbers
(Find a centre near you)
Land tax assessments 1780-1831 Currently under revision  
Land tax assessments 1875-1876 Currently under revision  
Land tax assessments 1889-1890 Currently under revision  
Rates and Duties - Houses, Windows, Lights   Currently under revision  
Manorial Court rolls   Currently under revision  
War Damage Files 1939-1962 Centre for Kentish Studies, Maidstone, Kent, no.: Finding Aid at CKS-DRb/RW 123 None
 

Assizes and Sessions Records
(poor laws, jail terms, oaths, and other municipal and public records)

Record Type Dates Archive 1
(Addresses)
Corresponding LDS Family History Library film numbers
(Find a centre near you)
Hearth tax   Currently under revision  
Victuallers Recognizances   Currently under revision  
Churchwarden's Presentments   Currently under revision  
Parish rate books   Currently under revision  
 

School Records

Record Type Dates Archive 1
(Addresses)
Corresponding LDS Family History Library film numbers
(Find a centre near you)
    Currently under revision  
       

Chronology

Coming Soon


Church Registers


Census


Parish Chest
Records

  • Settlement Certificates
  • Removal Orders
  • Bastardy Examinations
  • Parish-assisted Immigrants
  • Churchwarden's Accounts
  • Overseer's Accounts
  • Surveyor's Accounts
  • Workhouse Records
  • Pew Rents
  • Donors' Rolls
  • Vestry Minutes
  • Bishops' Visitations
  • Parish Magazines
  • Parish Histories

Directories


Total Population

Ville
1801   -   169
1811   -   186
1821   -   191
1831   -   200
1841   -   215
1851   -   194
1861   -   169
1871   -   162
1881   -   184
1891   -   160
1901   -   160
1911   -   135
1921   -   147
The civil parish of the same name at the 1921 census was coextensive with such parish (or place).


Sarre Distance* to

London 58.8 mi.
Canterbury 8.1 mi.
Ashford 20.7 mi.
Bromley 52.9 mi.
Chatham 30.4 mi.
Cranbrook 34.5 mi.
Dartford 45.7 mi.
Deptford 55.9 mi.
Dover 14.8 mi.
Faversham 15.0 mi.
Folkestone 17.6 mi.
Gravesend 37.8 mi.
Greenwich 54.0 mi.
Hythe 19.5 mi.
Maidstone 30.9 mi.
Margate 7.2 mi.
Milton Regis 21.7 mi.
Queenborough 21.7 mi.
Sarre 8.1 mi.
Rochester 33.0 mi.
St. Peter's 4.2 mi.
Sandwich 6.2 mi.
Sheerness 22.2 mi.
Tenterden mi.
Tunbridge Wells 44.4 mi.
Woolwich 51.8 mi.
*Based on distances from Thanet, St. Peter.


Directories


Municipal & Public Records

  • Mayors
  • Town Clerks
  • Recorders
  • Chamberlains
  • M.P.s
  • Jurats, Aldermen and Common Councilmen
  • Electoral Register
  • Freeholders
  • Freemen Index
  • Freeman's Roll
  • Masters Index
  • Pubs, Taverns, Inns, Alehouses
  • Victuallers

Wills & Estate Records

  • AD index 1448-1857
  • CC index 1448-1857
  • PCC 1338-1858
  • PPR 1858-1925
  • Depositions

Court Records

  • Gaol Returns
  • Quarter Sessions
  • Transportations
  • Summons for Pavement Repairs
  • Protestation Rolls c1641-1643
  • Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy 1662
  • Oaths of Allegiance c1720s

Military Records


Land Records
& Maps


Tax Lists

  • Poll Tax
  • Hearth Tax
  • Window Tax
  • Hair Powder Tax
  • Land Tax Assessments 1780-1831
  • Land Tax Assessments 1799-1805

Other Records


Village Resources