Gillingham is a market town and large parish at the northern extremity of the county.  Only the small parishes of Silton and Bourton are to the west and Motcombe to the east. The church of St Mary the Virgin was, with the exception of the chancel rebuilt in 1838 although within are monuments dating from 1625. The registers start in 1559. There were also chapels for Baptists, Wesleyans and Primitive Methodists. There are several cemeteries.

In the 19^th century the town was the base for the 1^st. Vol. Battalion Dorsetshire Regt. There were three flour mills, an extensive brewery, a bacon-curing establishment, brick, tile and drain-pipe works and a large dairy. A very large market was held every other Monday. The village of Sandley in the parish was renowned for the Compton Horse Stud. Milton has a small church dedicated to Saints Simon and Jude, Huntingford was also a separate village. The area of the parish is 7834 acres and the population in 1891 was 3003.

Photographs © Jan Genge Kennedy 2003

The Online Parish Clerk (OPC) for Gillingham is Jan Genge Kennedy
Please put 'OPC Gillingham' in the subject line of e-mails. 
                

Census

1871 Census online,remaining census will be transcribed

Parish Registers

Baptisms  1735-1749, 1750-1774, 1775-1786, 1787-1812, 1813-1837
Marriages 1735-1837
Burials 1735-1837
Banns 1754 - 1797

Postal Directories

Kelly's 1895 Directory on line so far

Other Records

Gillingham Manor Court Rolls