This notice was in 1801: Kentish Gazette, 20 January, front page:
Contract for scavingering:
Persons willing to contract for scavingering the streets lanes and public passages in the town and port of Dovor, for one year, to commence on 24th February next in two separate districts; the town district comprising the whole of the streets etc. upwards from the Travelling Wagon Alehouse; and the Pier District, comprising the streets etc. downwards from thence , are desired to send in Tenders in writing, sealed up to Mr SHIPDEM, Attorney at Law, Dovor (acting clerk for the commissioners under the Paving Act) before Thursday the 12th February next, on which day at 11 o'clock in the forenoon the commissioners will meet in the Guildhall Dovor and be ready to enter into the contracts.
NB The dirt collected in the streets is to be deemed the property of the contractors and full particulars of the contracts may be known by applying to Mr SHIPDEM.
Dover 26 January 1801.
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And Thirty Years later - in 1837:
William TOMS (a lad), at Dover Magistrates Court, charged with illegally collecting dirt from the streets, the property of the Pavement Contractor
(Dover Telegraph 18 March 1837 p.8 col.4)
Richard COLLARD - Police Report - he was fined 5 shillings for taking dirt from the streets, the property of the contracting scavenger
(Dover Telegraph 30 Dec 1837 p.8 col.2)
CAUTION TO DIRT COLLECTORS:
Mr F. Prescott, the contracting scavenger under the Pavement Board, preferred a charge on Monday before the Magistrates, against a boy of the name of Dennis, for taking dirt off the streets, contrary to the provisions of the Pavement Acts. The father of the boy, who was only 11 yrs of age, did not appear; but it was stated that he possessed three donkey carts which were used by his children in the collection of rubbish; and as this was not the first occasion on which the contractor had received cause to complain of the family the Magistrates felt bound to inflict a punishment; which they did on the lowest scale - a penalty of five shillings or seven days imprisonment. The Mayor observed it was distressing to send so young a child to prison, even for so short a period; but as his friends did not choose to come forward there was no alternative. (Dover Telegraph 4 Nov 1837 back page col.3: POLICE REPORT)
Dover Scavenging Staff in 1898: