Living with Commercial Distress in 1826
The collapse of many banks was inevitable in a fragile and unregulated financial world. The country was still coming to …
Category Archives: No category
Napoleon and the ‘City of Smugglers’ 1810–1814
In the final years of the Napoleonic Wars, Napoleon allowed English smugglers entry into the French ports of Dunkirk …
Contraband bargains now available at your local Customs House.
The growth of the 18th and 19th century free trade touched the lives of practically everyone. The trade was driven …
A fatal riot near Canterbury
West Kent Guardian – Saturday 02 June 1838: It will be recollected that a person representing himself as Sir William …
The collapse of the Canterbury Union Bank. The fall of the Baldock empire.
On October 8th 1841 the Canterbury Union Bank went into receivership. All three partners were liable for the massive debts …
William Henry Baldock: High Sheriff of Kent 1818. Banker 1830. Bankrupt 1841.
William Henry Baldock was a nephew of William the smuggler. His father was Richard Baldock and his mother, Mary Hobday, …
William Henry Baldock joins the 1841 Canterbury Election revelries
In the 1841 UK general election, Sir Robert Peel’s Conservatives took control of the House of Commons. The Whigs lost …
The fine House at Petham
The peak of William Baldock’s success was embodied in the House at Petham. It was designed on such a grand …
HMS Bellerophon: Prison to the Corsican thief and 300 boys.
HMS Bellerophon was a 74 gun 3rd rate ship of the line. It was launched to the accompaniment of storms …
William Baldock. Freeman of the City of Canterbury by redemption
No man or woman could trade in the city of Canterbury without obtaining the ‘freedom’ of the city and this …
Blue Anchor Corner 