Much like today, the Island was a hotbed of news back in 1858 and the newly-founded Sheerness Guardian did a brilliant job in capturing day-to-day Sheppey life.

William Turner, charged with stealing a florin from the till and five cigars being the property of his master Mr Charles Bassett, grocer of Chapel Street, was sentenced to six months' hard labour. An extraordinary length of parental discipline was meted out to an 11-year-old boy who failed to return home on time for tea.

His father flogged him and sent him to bed without a meal. In the morning at 6am, having fortified his resolution with a good night's rest, the father lay hold of the boy again and bundled him into a rabbit hutch measuring 3ft 4in long by 2ft width. There he remained without food or water until early evening.

When the circumstances were made known, a mob assembled in the street and a neighbour released the boy.

The paper opined: "Parents, however, troublesome your children, try to correct them without loss of temper - and without the extremity of a threatened ejection from the window or the Nana-Sahib like process of tying the offender by the hands in a raised position; or you may find that your presence is required 'over the water'."

Steamboats left Sheerness Pier, Blue Town, every day (except Sunday) at 9.15am, 1.15pm and 5.15pm in time for the trains to London and Maidstone.

On Sundays there were four sailings to link with trains to London and Maidstone. Extra boats left Sheerness for Strood on Mondays to link with trains. Fares by boat and rail (one payment) were: single first class 4s, second 3s and third 2s.

Ratepayers requested the Board of Health to pave with York flagstones the footpath from the end of Edward Street, next to Mr Selby's house, to the further extremity of the wall of Trinity Churchyard.

It was observed that it was needful and proper to be done.

It was noted that many people attended the church, and the present path was inconvenient in sloppy weather, especially for ladies.

It was agreed the work be done under the supervision of the Superintendent of the Pavement Commission with the exception of the part between Mr Selby's house and the wall which was to be paved with headstones.