The journey of William Titchener from Highworth, Wiltshire to Park Gate Farm near Chelsfield, Kent around 1808.
One summer day in the years between Trafalgar and Waterloo (1805-1815) a young man was walking over London Bridge. In those days the side-walks were obstructed with booths, where fruit, sweetmeats, books and many different commodities were on sale, and again and again he paused to listen to the cries of the vendors and to inspect their wares. Then he would push between the booths to the parapet of the bridge and gaze down the river at the great three-masted schooners riding at anchor in the Pool and at the clumsy barges drifting lazily down with the tide, until his gaze was arrested by the massive pile of the Tower on the river bank. Nor could he satisfy himself with all the crowded life of the river below the bridge; but, being a man of inborn curiosity, he crossed the bridge, braving all the dangers of heavily-laden drays pulled by mighty horses and of faster-moving vans and carriages, to find what might be seen on that side. There he looked over wharves and warehouses to the lofty dome of St. Pauls and followed the winding river round to the sparkling palaces of Westminster.
To young William Titchener, brought up in a quiet Wiltshire village yet full of interest in the great world of which London was the centre, it was a "a crowded hour of glorious life" thus to stand on the famous bridge and drink in the sights and sounds of London Town. But he could not linger; he must hurry on all too soon, for at 10.0 o'clock he had to present himself at an inn in the Borough, where he was to join Mr. Spain's carter. On the great waggon which the carter had brought up to market laden with Kentish fruit, William Titchener would journey down through Kent to Park Gate Farm near Chelsfield, where he had obtained a situation.
Meanwhile at Park Gate all was busy activity, for at this season there was employment for all from morning to night. Farmer Spain had been about since daybreak superintending the gathering of crops for next day's market; his wife had prepared the breakfast and dinner, and in between had collected the eggs from the hen-houses and had got the churn ready to turn the afternoon's milk into butter. And Fanny Meekham - ah, Fanny Meekham, how busily she had tripped in and out of the kitchen, washing-up dishes sweeping floors and dusting chairs and tables. All the day the house had rung with her happy laughter and song, for Fanny was always happiest when there was most to do, and the sunlight of the Kentish orchard was reflected in her sunny smile.
The afternoon was wearing away, and Fanny had put on the kettle ready for tea, when Farmer Spain's voice was heard in the yard; "Come on, Joe," he called to the carter-boy, "here's Jack Carter coming down the road; get the stable ready." Very soon the waggon rumbled into the yard, and the rattle of harness was heard as the horses were unhitched. "Well, William," Fanny heard Farmer Spain say, as his footsteps approached the door. "You've had a long journey. We'll soon have some tea ready for you." Of course, Fanny remembered, it was the new young man from Wiltshire who was coming to work at the Farm. "Come, Fanny," called the Farmer, "is the tea ready?" Out of the corner of one eye Fanny had already caught a glimpse of the newcomer. And somehow she was feeling awkward - a most unusual experience for her. Very nearly she dropped the kettle as she took it from the fire; and then she almost put the sugar into the teapot and poured the water into the sugar basin What was the matter with her?
And William Titchener, tired as he was with his journey suddenly woke into new life, as he sat on the kitchen bench watching as closely as he dared this fresh-eyed, rosy cheeked Kentish maiden, and scarcely knew what answers he had given to the questions with which Farmer Spain plied him concerning his home and his journey.
The Wiltshire youth spent a busy summer, but often in farmyard or kitchen he would pause in his work to exchange a merry joke with Fanny Meekham, and at the end of a long summer evening, when the day's work was over, he would talk to her of his home in Wiltshire and she would tell him of the people and customs of his new home.
Autumn came round, and it would happen that when Fanny had been for an evening stroll, on a message for her mistress or visiting her friends, William Titchener would chance to be found on the same road, and, of course, they would walk home together. So their friendship deepened into love, and William asked Fanny when they would be married. After their marriage they moved to Cockerhurst. Five boys were born and one girl, those with whom we are most concerned being John, born in 1819, and Anne, born in 1827.