Hopping (1851)

Post date: Apr 11, 2012 11:40:41 AM

Extract from Leamington Spa Courier, 23rd August 1851:

Hop Dinner at Wateringbury.—On Wednesday evening week the annual hop dinner took place here at the house of Mr. Harris, King's Head Inn, when about 50 gentlemen interested in the hop growing, hop dealing, or hop betting, attended. J. Woodbridge, Esq., presided. After the company had disposed of the excellent fare provided for the occasion, the business part of the meeting was proceeded with. Many bets were made at and under the market price (as we are accustomed to term the Borough quotations), but the setting for the sweepstakes for the forthcoming duty will indicate the state of our market in this particular. A very wide range was taken, some setting so low as £50,900., and others going up to £171,000., the former taking a very gloomy view of our prospects and the latter being sanguine of an average crop. These " matters and things" having taken their course, the remainder of the evening was spent in a most agreeable manner, a characteristic of our annual hop dinner.

For more about The King's Head including a picture of it see Wateringbury Hero (1903)

The following extract from the West Kent Guardian of 20th September shows that not all hoppers arrived in Wateringbury by train and the type of risks they ran on the roads:

Accident to the Hoppers.—On Saturday afternoon last a man named William Fullager, was taken to the West Kent Infirmary for surgical treatment, having received a concussion of the brain. It appeared that he with other Irish labourers were coming from Sittingbourne to Wateringbury for hopping. They were driven by Fullager, and were coming at a most furious pace down the road leading from the Chiltern Hundred to the Queen Anne Gate, when the lynch pin broke, and one of the wheels coming off the waggon overturned, and the party were thrown out. Some of the people who fell under the waggon fortunately escaped unhurt, but others who came off on the side received more or less severe injuries and Fullager sustained a blow on the head, causing concussion of the brain, as above stated. When taken to the Infirmary he was insensible, but is now we are happy to say, going on favourably. It is but fair to assume that he had been drinking freely, as we are told he had been driving at the same furious rate as when the accident occurred down Detling-hill, thus placing in jeopardy not only his own life, but also the lives of his companions.

For other cart accidents around Wateringbury at this time see Speeding boy racer.