Kent Registration Districts in 1837

When civil registration began in July 1837 the Registration Districts were based on the Poor-law Unions; groups of parishes based around a workhouse. In time these districts became Urban or Rural Sanitary Districts (USD or RSD) and then Urban or Rural District Council areas (UD or RD) alongside long standing Borough and City Councils.

There have been a number of boundary changes over the years, but for family history research the most significant changes were 1889 when the County Councils were formed and parts of north-east Kent became part of London, and more recently 1997 when Medway became a Unitary Authority, independant of Kent County Council.

Old Kent Registration Districts and their constituant parishes

Blean RD  Records now kept at Tunbridge Wells

Blean St. Cosmas & St. Damian Chislet St. Mary the Virgin Hackington St. Stephen Herne St. Martin Hoath Holy Cross Reculver St. Mary Seasalter St. Alphege Staplegate (extra parochial, no church) Sturry St. Nicholas Swalecliffe St. John the Baptist Westbere All Saints Whitstable All Saints

Bridge RD  Records now kept at Tunbridge Wells

Adisham Holy Innocents Barham St. John the Baptist Bekesbourne St. Peter Bishopsbourne St. Mary & St. Nicholas Bridge St. Peter Chartham St. Mary Fordwich St. Mary Harbledown St. Nicholas Ickham St. John Kingston St. Giles Littlebourne St. Vincent Lower Hardres St. Mary Milton by Canterbury St. Nicholas Nackington St. Mary Patrixbourne St. Mary Petham All Saints Stodmarsh St. Mary Thanington St. Nicholas Upper Hardres St. Peter & St. Paul Waltham St. Bartholomew Wickhambreaux St. Andrew Womenswold St. Margaret

Bromley RD  Now part of Greater London, records kept at Bromley Register Office

Beckenham St. George Bromley St. Peter & St. Paul Chelsfield St. Martin of Tours Chislehurst St. Nicholas Cudham St. Peter & St. Paul Downe St. Mary the Virgin Farnborough St. Giles Foots Cray All Saints Hayes St. Mary Keston (no dedication) Knockholt St. Catherine North Cray St. James Orpington All Saints Sidcup Christ Church St. Mary Cray St. Mary St. Pauls Cray St. Paulinus West Wickham St. John the Baptist

Canterbury RD  Records now kept at Tunbridge Wells

Canterbury All Saints All Saints Canterbury Holy Cross Holy Cross Canterbury Mary Magdalen St Mary Magdalen Canterbury St. Andrew St. Andrew Canterbury St. Margaret St. Margaret Canterbury St. Martin St. Martin Canterbury St. Mary Bredin St. Mary Canterbury St. Mary Northgate St. Mary Canterbury St. Paul St. Paul Canterbury St. Peter St. Peter

Cranbrook RD  Records now kept at tunbridge Wells

Benenden St. George Cranbrook St. Dunstan Frittenden St. Mary Goudhurst St. Mary Hawkhurst St. Lawrence Sandhurst St. Nicholas

Dartford RD  Records now kept at Tunbridge Wells

Ash next Ridley St. Peter & St. Paul Bexley St. Mary Crayford St. Paulinus Darenth St. Margaret Dartford Holy Trinity East Wickham St. Michael Erith St. John the Baptist Eynsford St. Martin Farningham St. Peter & St. Paul Fawkham St. Mary Hartley All Saints Horton Kirby St. Mary Kingsdown St. Edmund Longfield St. Mary Lullingstone St. Botolph Ridley St. Peter Southfleet St. Nicholas Stone next Dartford St. Mary Sutton at Hone St. John the Baptist Swanscombe St. Peter & St. Paul Wilmington St. Michael & All Angels

Dover  RD  Records now kept at Tunbridge Wells

Alkham St. Anthony Buckland (nr Dover) St. Andrew Capel-le-Ferne St. Mary Charlton (nr Dover) St. Peter & St. Paul Coldred St. Pancras Denton St. Mary Dover (St. James) St. James Dover (St. Mary in the Castle) St Mary Dover (St. Mary) St. Mary the Virgin East Cliffe (extra parochial) East Langdon St. Augustine Ewell St. Peter & St. Paul Guston St. Martin Hougham St. Lawrence Lydden St. Mary Oxney (no church) Poulton (no church) Ringwould St. Nicholas River St. Peter Sibertswold St. Andrew St. Margaret's at Cliffe St. Margaret West Cliffe St. Peter West Langdon St. Mary Whitfield St. Peter Wootton St. Martin

East Ashford RD  Records now kept at Tunbridge Wells

Aldington St. Martin Bilsington St. Peter & St. Paul Bircholt St. Margaret Bonnington St. Rumwold Boughton Aluph All Saints Brabourne St. Mary Brook St. Mary Challock St. Cosmas & St Damian Chilham St. Mary Crundale St. Mary Eastwell St. Mary Godmersham St. Lawrence Hastingleigh St. Mary Hinxhill St. Mary Hurst (no church) Kennington St. Mary Mersham St. John the Baptist Molash St. Peter Orlestone St. Mary Ruckinge St. Mary Magdelene Sevington St. Mary Smeeth St. Mary Warehorne St. Matthew Willesborough St. Mary Wye St. Gregory & St. Martin

Eastry RD  Records now kept at Tunbridge Wells

Ash by Wingham St. Nicholas Barfreston St. Nicholas Betteshanger St. Mary Chillenden All Saints Deal St. Leonard Eastry St. Mary the Blessed Virgin Elmstone unknown Eythorne St. Peter & St. Paul Goodnestone (nr Dover) Holy Cross Great Mongeham St. Martin Ham St. Augustine Knowlton St. Clement Little Mongeham (no church) Nonington St. Mary Northbourne St. Augustine Preston by Wingham St. Mildred Ripple St. Mary Sandwich (St. Clement) St. Clement Sandwich (St. Mary) St. Mary Sandwich (St. Peter) St. Peter Shoulden St. Nicholas Staple St. James Stourmouth All Saints Sutton (Dover) St. Peter & St. Paul Tilmanstone St. Andrew Waldershare All Saints Walmer St. Mary Wingham St. Mary the Virgin Woodnesborough St. Mary Worth St. Peter & St. Paul

Elham RD  Records now kept at Tunbridge Wells

Acrise St. Martin Cheriton St. Martin Elham St. Mary the Virgin Elmsted St. James the Great Folkestone St. Mary & St. Eanswyth Hawkinge St. Michael Hythe St. Leonard Lyminge Saint Mary & St. Eadburga Lympne St. Stephen Monks Horton St. Peter Newington-next-Hythe St. Nicholas Paddlesworth St. Oswald Postling St. Mary & St. Radegund Saltwood St. Peter & St. Paul Sellindge St. Mary Stanford All Saints Stelling St. Mary Stowting St. Mary Swingfield St. Peter

Faversham RD  Records now kept at Tunbridge Wells

Badlesmere St. Leonard Boughton under Blean St. Peter & St. Paul Buckland (nr Faversham) (no church) Davington St. Mary Magdalene Doddington The Beheading of St. John the Baptist Dunkirk Christ Church Eastling St. Mary Faversham St. Mary of Charity Goodnestone (nr Faversham) St. Bartholomew Graveney All Saints Hernhill St. Michael Leaveland St. Laurence Luddenham St. Mary Lynsted St. Peter & St. Paul Newnham St. Peter & St. Paul Norton St. Mary Oare St. Peter Ospringe St. Peter & St. Paul Preston (nr Faversham) St. Catherine Selling St. Mary Sheldwich St. James Stalisfield St. Mary Stone near Faversham St. Mary Teynham St. Mary Throwley St. Michael & All Saints

Gravesend RD Records now kept at Tunbridge Wells

Milton-next-Gravesend St. Peter & St. Paul Gravesend St. George

Greenwich RD  Now part of Greater London, records kept at Greenwich Register Office

Deptford St. Nicholas St. Nicholas Deptford St. Paul St. Paul Greenwich St. Alphege Hatcham St Catherine Woolwich (pre 1868) St. Mary Magdelene

Hollingbourne RD  Records now kept at Tunbridge Wells

Bicknor St. James Boughton Malherbe St. Nicholas Boxley St. Mary the Virgin & All Saints Bredhurst St. Peter Broomfield St. Margaret Chart Sutton St. Michael Detling St. Martin East Sutton St. Peter & St. Paul Frinsted St. Dunstan Harrietsham St. John the Baptist Headcorn Saint Peter & St. Paul Hollingbourne All Saints Hucking St. Margaret Langley St. Mary Leeds St. Nicholas Lenham St. Mary Otterden St. Laurence Stockbury St. Mary Magdelene Sutton Valence St. Mary Thurnham St. Mary the Virgin Ulcombe All Saints Wormshill St. Giles Wychling St. Margaret

Hoo RD  Records now kept at Medway Register Office: Unitary Authority

Cooling St. James Grain St. James High Halstow St. Margaret Hoo Allhallows All Saints Hoo St. Mary St. Mary Hoo St. Werbergh St. Werburgh Stoke St. Peter

Lewisham RD  Now part of Greater London, records kept at Lewisham Register Office

Charlton (until 1868) St Luke Eltham St. John the Baptist Lee St. Margaret Lewisham St. Mary Plumstead (until 1868) St. Margaret

Maidstone RD  Records now kept at Tunbridge Wells

Bearsted Holy Cross Boughton Monchelsea St. Peter East Barming St. Margaret East Farleigh St. Mary Hunton St. Mary Linton St. Nicholas Loose All Saints Maidstone Holy Trinity Marden St. Michael Nettlestead St. Mary Otham St. Nicholas Staplehurst All Saints Teston St. Peter & St. Paul West Barming see Nettlestead (no church) West Farleigh All Saints Yalding St. Peter & St. Paul

Malling RD  Records now kept at Tunbridge Wells

Addington St. Margaret of Antioch Allington St. Lawrence Aylesford St. Peter Birling All Saints Burham St. Mary Ditton St. Peter East Malling St. James East Peckham St. Michael Ightham St. Peter Leybourne St. Peter & St. Paul Mereworth St. Lawrence Offham St. Mildred Plaxtol No Dedication Ryarsh St. Martin Shipbourne St. Giles Snodland All Saints Stansted St. Mary Trottiscliffe St. Peter & St. Paul Wateringbury St. John the Baptist West Malling St. Mary West Peckham St. Dunstan Wouldham All Saints Wrotham St. George

Medway RD  Records now kept at Medway Register  Office: Unitary Authority

Chatham St. Mary Gillingham St. Mary Magdelene Grange St. James Rochester Cathedral - St. Margaret Rochester Cathedral - St. Nicholas

Milton RD  Records now kept at Tunbridge Wells

Bapchild St. Lawrence Bobbing St. Bartholomew Borden St. Peter & St. Paul Bredgar St. John the Baptist Hartlip St. Michael Iwade All Saints Kingsdown (Sittingbourne) St. Catherine Lower Halstow St. Margaret Milstead St. Mary & Holy Cross Milton Regis Holy Trinity Murston All Saints Newington (nr Sittingbourne) St. Mary Rainham St. Margaret Rodmersham St. Nicholas Sittingbourne St. Michael Tonge St. Giles Tunstall St. John the Baptist Upchurch St. Mary

North Aylesford RD (renamed Strood in 1884)  Most records now kept at Tunbridge Wells, those marked * kept at Medway Register Office: Unitary Authority

Chalk St. Mary *Cliffe St. Helen Cobham St. Mary Magdalen *Cuxton St. Michael Denton see Gravesend (no church) *Frindsbury All Saints *Halling St. John the Baptist *Higham St. Mary Ifield St. Margaret Luddesdown St. Peter & St. Paul Meopham St. John the Baptist Northfleet St. Botolph Nurstead St. Mildred Shorne St. Peter & St. Paul *Strood St. Nicholas

Romney Marsh RD  Records now kept at Tunbridge Wells

Blackmanstone (no church) Brenzett St. Eanswith Brookland St. Augustine Burmarsh All Saints Dymchurch St. Peter & St. Paul Eastbridge (no church) Fairfield St. Thomas Becket Hope All Saints Ivychurch St. George Lydd St. Mary Midley (no church) New Romney St. Nicholas Newchurch St. Peter & St. Paul Old Romney St. Clement Orgarswick (no church) Snargate St. Dunstan Snave St. Augustine St. Mary in the Marsh St. Mary West Hythe St. Mary

Rye  One Kent parish, others in Sussex

Broomhill (no church)

Sevenoaks RD  Records now kept at Tunbridge Wells

Brasted St. Martin Chevening St. Botolph Chiddingstone St. Mary Cowden St. Mary Magdalen Dunton Green St John the Divine Edenbridge St. Peter & St. Paul Halstead St. Margaret Hever St. Peter Ide Hill St Mary Kemsing St. Mary Leigh St. Mary Otford St. Bartholomew Penshurst St. John Riverhead St. Mary the Virgin Seal St. Peter & St. Paul Sevenoaks St. Nicholas Shoreham St. Peter & St. Paul Sundridge St. Mary Westerham St. Mary the Virgin

Sheppey RD  Records now kept at Tunbridge Wells

Eastchurch All Saints Elmley St. James Harty St. Thomas Leysdown St. Clement Minster in Sheppey St. Mary & St. Sexburga Queenborough Holy Trinity Sheerness Holy Trinity Warden St. James

Tenterden RD  Records now kept at Tunbridge Wells

Appledore St. Peter & St. Paul Biddenden All Saints Ebony St. Mary the Virgin High Halden St. Mary Kenardington St. Mary Newenden St. Peter Rolvenden St. Mary Stone in Oxney St. Mary Tenterden St. Mildred Wittersham St. John the Baptist Woodchurch All Saints

Thanet RD  Records now kept at Tunbridge Wells

Acol St. Nicholas Birchington All Saints Broadstairs - Thanet St Peter St Peter Margate - Thanet St. John St John Minster in Thanet St. Mary Monkton St. Mary Magdelene Ramsgate - Thanet St. Lawrence St Lawrence Sarre, see St. Nicholas at Wade St Nicholas St. John the Baptist (Margate) St. John the Baptist St. Lawrence in Thanet St. Lawrence St. Nicholas at Wade St. Nicholas Stonar (no church) Westgate see Thanet St John St John

Ticehurst RD  Two Kent parishes, records kept at Tunbridge Wells, others in Sussex

Frant St Alban Lamberhurst St. Mary

Tonbridge RD  Records now kept at Tunbridge Wells

Ashurst St. Martin of Tours Bidborough St. Lawrence Brenchley All Saints Capel St. Thomas a Beckett Hadlow St. Mary Horsmonden St. Margaret Pembury St. Peter Southborough St. Peter Speldhurst St. Mary Tonbridge St. Peter & St. Paul Tudeley All Saints Tunbridge Wells St. Charles the Martyr

West Ashford RD  Records now kept at Tunbridge Wells

Ashford St. Mary the Virgin Bethersden St. Margaret Charing St. Peter & St. Paul Egerton St. James Great Chart St. Mary the Virgin Hothfield St. Mary Kingsnorth St. Michael Little Chart St. Mary Pluckley St. Nicholas Shadoxhurst St. Peter & St. Paul Smarden St. Michael Westwell St. Mary

Woolwich RD  Now part of Greater London, records kept at Greenwich Register Office

Charlton (after 1868) St. Luke Plumstead (after 1868) St. Margaret Woolwich (after 1868) St. Mary Magdelene

Current Register Offices:

There are still local Register Offices in all the main towns in Kent for registration of current births and deaths and for marriages,
but all the old registers for the current KCC area are now held at, and certificates can be obtained from:
The Mansion House
39 Grove Hill Road
Tunbridge Wells, Kent
TN1 1SL
Tel: 08458 247400

Medway Council hold all the old registers for the current Medway Unitary Authority area. Certificates are available from
Medway Register Office
Northgate
Rochester
Kent
ME1 1LS
Tel: 01634 338899

The parts of historic Kent which are now London Boroughs now hold their own registers and certificates can be obtained from the appropriate local office.

Bromley Register Office Civic Centre Stockwell Close Bromley BR1 3UH Tel: 020 8313 4666

Greenwich Register Office Town Hall Wellington Street Woolwich SE18 6PW Tel: 020 8921 4377

Lewisham Register Office 368 Lewisham High Street London SE13 6LQ Tel: 020 8690 2128

 

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