From the Kent Herald, 11 April 1833

Mereworth. Fatal accident.

On Monday last, Mr. Thomas Banfield, of East Peckham, after paying his hop-duty at Town Malling, went to Maidstone, and stayed there till night. He called at several public houses on his road home, and drank freely. He rode a young horse which would not be properly broken in, and, in going through the turnpike at Teston, he complained to the gatekeeper that he had been thrown and nearly killed. He dismounted and examined the saddle girth, &c. The turnpike man persuaded him not to remount as he saw that he had been drinking. Mr. Banfield would not take his advice, but mounted and went off. He was next seen at Mereworth toll-gate, when he told Sanders, the gatekeeper, that he had paid at Teston. The latter requested him to stop, but the unfortunate man urged the horse which started off at full speed. The toll man saw him swing from side to side as if intoxicated and when the horse had proceeded about a hundred yards, he heard him fall. Sanders immediately ran to his assistants and found him lying in the road, (opposite to a house to which he had formerly lived) with his neck dislocated, and the back part of his skull fractured as if he had fallen backwards from the horse. He was taken to the "Torrington's Arms" public house, Mr. Starling the Surgeon was instantly sent for but found him lifeless.

An inquest was held on the body on the next day and a verdict of accidental death returned. The deceased was 62 years of age. He had experienced previously several severe accidents. He had on different occasions broken his ribs, and one of his thighs, and had dislocated his knee.

Maidstone Gazette.