Deal received its Charter as a Borough in 1699 though the parish registers of St Leonard's church started in 1559. St Leonard's is situated in what is now called Upper Deal. St Leonard is/was the patron Saint of Prisoners! The Church has a 12c nave, 13c chancel, 17c tower and an 18c porch. A hatchment above 15c doorway is that of Vice Admiral Sir Francis Samuel DRAKE, a descendant of the famous one! There is a wall tablet on the outside of the Church which reads:

"Sacred to the memory of Captain William McCulloch RN of Barholm, Scotland, who departed this life on the 25th October, 1825. Age 45 years."

Captain McCulloch was in command of the Coastal Blockade in this part of Kent and was Captain of the Ramilles at the time of his death. A very interesting book on the subject of the Blockade and the Captain has been written by John Douch entitled "SMUGGLING - Flogging Joey's Warriors" and the details are provided on the books and sources page. All of Captain McCulloch's eight children were baptised at St. Leonard's and the nearby church of St. Mary's at Walmer.

Stories abound of tunnels under Deal, some running miles inland, used by the smugglers. Some modern historian deride this idea as it must be nearely impossible to build tunnels in shingle. This picture of St. Leonard's is taken from The Admiral Keppel, a local hostelry, where there is a blocked up tunnel which is meant go under the existing road to the Church. There is no doubt that there were very many hideaways full of brandy, lace and tobacco.

Where the main town now stands was largely marshy ground, Lower Deal. This area developed to provide the supplies required by an ever increasing fleet of ships which moored in the Downs just offshore waiting for favourable winds to proceed up or down the Channel. The Deal boatmen in their famous Deal galleys and luggers serviced these ships from a port without a harbour.

A semaphore station was built to allow Naval ships to communicate with London (via a series of repeater towers). In fact, four miles inland from the Tower, to the East of the village of Tilmanstone, stands Telegraph Farm. Given the name, it is probable that one of these repeater towers stood in this vicinity. In 1855 the Semaphore House was converted to the Time Ball Tower so that ships in the Downs could set their chronometers. At 12.55 the ball was raised half way, at 12.58 full way and at 1 pm it was dropped..
In 1927 it was all dis-mantled and the present one is a replica. (I think the ball on the roof is still dropped at 1 pm). This Tower is now a museum.

With the advent of steam ships and the end of the wars with France, Deal lost a lot of trade. The Royal Marines (and their predecessors) had been stationed in Deal from 1665 but now - alas - have been moved.

Coal mines were opened at Tilmanstone & Betteshanger nearby and parish registers show many Welsh and Scottish names. The last pit closed in 1987.

Deal and Walmer Castles warrant a visit but the third of these, Sandown Castle has been ruined by the sea.