LOCAL TRANSPORT from PIGOT'S DIRECTORY 1840
Pigot's Trade Directory is extremely useful in locating social history, being published over a number of years it charts the rise of trades of all types and gives an idea of the industriousness of the town. Of particular interest for Deal is the transport to the rest of the country. Here is a daily timetable for coaches and vans, all horse drawn leaving Deal. There will be a similar number returning from all these places. Information from other towns indicate there were other forms of transport going to Deal - notably an Omnibus from Dover daily. This timetable shows strong links to the neighbouring coastal towns.
DAILY OUTWARDS from DEAL
07.00 Coach to Herne Bay. Sandwich at 8.00
08.30 Coach to Canterbury, Pockett & Bates "The Defiance"
08.30 Coach to Margate & Ramsgate, Pockett & Bates,
09.00 Van to Dover
10.30 Coach to Dover, Post Coaches, (From Margate & Ramsgate)
11.00 Coach to Margate & Ramsgate, Post Coaches, (From Dover)
11.00 Van to Canterbury (Thursday and Friday only)
16.00 Coach to Margate & Ramsgate, Pockett & Bates.
16.30 Van to Canterbury
17.00 Coach to Margate & Ramsgate, Post Coaches, (From Dover)
18.00 Van to Dover (Black Horse)
18.00 Van to Dover (The Bull)
18.00 Coach to Dover, Post Coaches, (From Margate & Ramsgate)
18.00 Coach to Margate & Ramsgate, Pockett & Bates,
18.30 Coach to London "Royal Mail" (Sandwich at 19.00 then on to Canterbury)
The fast "Royal Mail" coach from Deal to London is noted at all the towns en route
Leave Deal 18.30
Sandwich 19.00
Wingham 20.30
Canterbury 23.30
Faversham 00.30
Chatham 02.30
Rochester 02.45
Dartford 04.00
Estimated arrival time in London before 06.00
This is a journey of 11½ hours... but still faster than the shipping!
If you would like to see transport of this period then visit Maidstone Museum of Transport containing 60 vehicles and is still viewed as one of the finest collections in Europe.
Related pages:
Mail coaches - the national scene
Researched by Alan Buckman