George Mills' Birthplace 1836

(the following articles was found in an English Gazetteer dated 1831.)

Bognor was a small market town and chapelry in the parish of South Bersted, county of Sussex, 7 miles (S.E.) from Chichester, and 68 miles (S.W. by S.) from London. The place, anciently called Bogenor, implying, in the Saxon language, a rocky shore, was, prior to 1790, and insignificant village, inhabited only by a few labourers and fishermen. The rocks, extending several miles along the coast, render it accessible only to small fishing boats and ships of small burden, detracting from those commercial advantages which the situation in other respects offers: it owes its increase to the salubrity (healthiness, freshness) of the air, and the commodiousness (attractive, accommodating) of the beach, which have made it eligible as a place for bathing. In 1790, Sir Richard Hotham, Kent, member of parliament for the borough of Southwark, perceiving the natural advantages which Bognor possessed as a watering-place, erected a handsome villa for his own residence, and several lodging-houses, which he furnished at considerable expense for the accommodation of visitors. From this circumstance the town is also frequently called Hothampton, in honour of Sir Richard, whose additions to it were such as to entitle him to be considered its founder. After his decease, his estate here being sod to different purchaser, Bognor increased the more, and in a few years became a place of fashionable resort. The town is pleasantly situated near the peninsula of Selsea, and is sheltered from the north winds by a chain of hills, called the South Downs, extending from Portsdown to Dover; but it is exposed to inundations of the sea, which frequently breaks in upon the adjacent coast: it commands an extensive view of the Isle of Wight; and, in a clear day, the Ower's light may be distinctly seen, which at night assumes the appearance of a gem in the ocean. It contains several handsome villas, respectable lodging-houses, and a commodious hotel, and is connected by good roads with the pleasant village of Aldwick, and other places in the vicinity, and by a ferry over the river Arun with Little Hampton, whence are pleasant rides to Worthing and Brighton. The warm and cold baths are conveniently arranged for the use of invalids; there are two subscription libraries, and races occasionally take place on the sand. The character of the place seems to render it peculiarly eligible to families who seek to avail themselves of the benefit of sea-bathing and marine atmosphere in tranquility and retirement, rather than to frequent watering-places in search of amusement. There is no other trade than what is necessary for the supply of the inhabitants, of whom several are employed in the fishery, for the supply of the London Market. (Topographical Dictionary of England. Vol. 1, by Samuel Lewis, 1831)

The birthplace of Caroline Boxall, Cocking was a small parish in the county of Sussex, 2.5 miles South from Midhurst, containing 340 (1830 census) inhabitants. The church is in the early style of English architecture, with some later additions. In 1730, stephen Challen bequeathed certain messuages in trust, for the education of twenty children of this parish and the parish of Oving; but the rental was only 4 pounds a year, part of which is paid to a schoolmistress for teaching four children of this parish to read. (Topographical Dictionary of England. Vol. 1, by Samuel Lewis, 1831)