1792 – 1856 George Ransley lead the Aldington Gang of smugglers after its previous leader, Cephas Quested, was captured. He was arrested, convicted at Maidstone assizes and transported. George Ransley was born in 1792 in Ruckinge. His parents, Robert and Martha were both Ransleys. No records of any siblings have been found. James and William…
Cephas Quested was leader of the Aldington Gang of smugglers. He was captured at the ‘Battle of Brookland’, tried at the Old Bailey and sentenced to hang.
1911 – 1964 Percival Edward Norman was a twentieth century polymath; an artist, model-maker, silver-smith, sculptor, designer, inventor, teacher, violin maker and player. He was a brother of Charles and Frederick Norman, the founders of Norman Cycles and spent his early life in Ashford. Percival Edward Norman (PEN) was born on 25th November 1911, at…
1888 – 1915 Awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously for most conspicuous bravery near Le Rutoire, France on 25th September, 1915. Was a constable in the Kent County Constabulary in Ashford and later worked at the Beaver Inn public house. Harry Wells was born on 19th September 1888 at Hole Cottage, Maypole, Hoath, Kent; son of…
1835–1913 First began writing poetry seriously in 1860, and until 1898 he worked for the Conservative newspaper the Standard, and several other journals. He made his first noteworthy appearance as a writer with The Season: a Satire, which contained incisive lines, and was marked by some promise both in wit and observation. He was appointed…
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