DANBURY is a pleasant village, commanding extensive prospects, and seated on the highest hill in Essex, about 44 miles E. by S. of Chelmsford, and 5 miles W. by S. of Maldon. It is admirably adapted to the purpose of a military station, and from the remains ofancient works of that nature, it is evident that its natural advantages have been improved by art. An alarm beacon formerly stood onthe site ofthe parsonage house; and upon the edge of the glacis, south-east of the church, was a watch-house. The lines of the ancient encampment encompass an area of about 680 yards in circuit, and the glacis on the north side is nearly 30 feet deep. The name plainly indicates that it has been a castle or town of the Danes, and the remains of the camp, at an elevation of more than 700 feet, shew that it was one of their strongholds. The parish contains about 3670 acres, and 1113 inhabitants, ofwhom about 300 are in RUNSELL hamlet, which is a mile east of the church, in Dengie Hundred; and about 170 are in BICKNACRE hamlet, which is nearly 2 miles S. of the village, and is partly in Woodham Ferrers, as noticed, with its Priory, in that parish. DANBURY has a fair on May 29th, chiefly for pleasure. Sir B. W. Bridges, Bart. , is lord of the manors of Danbury and Runsell, which comprise 2964a. 2R. 4P. of land. A great part of the soil belongs to various owners, the largest of whom are, J. R. S. Phillips, Esq. , of RIFFHAMS, a hand- some mansion, with sylvan grounds, on the north side ofthe parish ; and the Bishop of Rochester Rochester, for whose residence Danbury Place, now called DANBURY PALACE, was purchased in 1845 by the Eccle- siastical Commissioners, with a large estate surrounding it, at the cost of £24,700. The Bishop’s residence was formerly at Bromley, in Kent, which is not now within his diocese. The episcopal estate extends into Sandon parish, and the mansion is an extensive and elegant building, in the Tudor style, with turrets, pinnacles, and ornamental chimneys. It is surrounded by a well-wooded lawn and pleasure grounds, and was built about 25 years ago, by the late John Round, Esq. , now of Brighton. It occupies the site of a mansion which was built by Sir Walter Mildmay, Kt. , who died in 1589. During most of last century, it was a seat of the Fytche family, as noticed with Woodham Walter. At the Domesday Survey, Geofrey de Mandeville held most of the parish, and it afterwards passed to the St. Clere, Heyron, De Vere, De Grey, Darcy, Parr, Bohun, and other families.
Danbury Church (St. John the Baptist) stands on the summit of the hill, within the area of the encampment. At the west end it has a stone tower, containing five bells, and crowned by a lofty wooden spire, which is used as a sea mark. In 1402, the nave and aisles and part of the chancel were destroyed; and in 1750, about 20 feet of the spire was burnt by lightning. The south aisle was rebuilt in 1776, and the whole fabric was thoroughly repaired and beautified about 1847, when the chancel was newly fitted up with richly carved benches and stalls, and one of the latter appropriated to the Bishop. The chancel is mostly in the decorated style of the 14th century, and formerly had four chantries,-three of them founded by the Darcy family. Under arches, in the wall of the north aisle, are the effigies of two cross-legged Knights, curiously carved inwood, and supposed to represent two crusaders of the St. Clere family. In 1779, when digging a grave under one of these arches, a leaden coffin was found only 36 inches below the pave- ment, and within it was an elm coffin, in which was the body of a man preserved in a pickle or aromatic liquor, partaking of the flavour of catsup and Spanish olives. The body was tolerably perfect, the flesh white and firm, and covered with a shirt of fine linencloth, with some rude antique lace on the breast. Feathers, herbs, and flowers, floated on the liquor, quite perfect, but totally discoloured. After satisfying the curious, the coffin was again soldered up, and replaced in the grave. The benefice is a rectory, valued in K.B. at £20, and in 1831 at £455. It is in the patronage of Sir B. W. Bridges, Bart. , and incumbency of the Rev. T. P. Bridges, B.A. , who has a good Rectory House, and 23A. 1R. 2P. of glebe. The tithes were commuted in 1844, for a yearly rent-charge of £575. The sect called “ Peculiar People,” have built a smal chapel here. National Schools for boys, girls, and infants, are supported by the rector and patron, and the small payments of the the scholars. The Church and Poor’s Land has been vested in trust from an early period, and comprises 35A. 2R. 14P. , in Purleigh parish, let for £38 ; about 4A. at Woodham Walter, let for £4. 10s. , and an acre in this parish, let for 25s. Adjoining the latter is a garden, and two cottages, built by the trustees in 1831, and now occupied rent free by two poor families. One moiety of the clear income belongs to the poor parishioners, though the whole was, for many years, applied with the church rates. The poor have also the rent of4A. of land, given by an unknown donor, and now let for £5 .
In the following DIRECTORY OF DANBURY PARISH, those marked 2, are at Eves Corner ; 3, at Runsell ; and * are land owners .
BISHOP OF ROCHESTER, the Right Rev. Joseph Cotton Wigram, D.D.
3 Ashwell William, corn miller
Bridges Rev. Thomas, Pym, B.A. rector
*Cooper Fdk. Jno. wine & spirit merchant.
Fisk William, gent. Gay Bowers
Flory Robert, saddler
Hazell Jno, veterinary surgeon, Bicknacre
Hearn John, plumber, painter, &c.
*Hilton Mr William. & Miss
Irdell Lestock Wilson, gent. Gay Bowers
*Phillips John Robert Spencer, Esq. Riffhams
Pullen Thomas, tailor
3 Smith Simon, coal dealer
Thorp Rev. Gervase, curate
Thornton Daniel, parish clerk
Wilson William, bricklayer
FARMERS.
*Agar Isaac
Argent Mrs
Carter George, Danbury House
*Chapman John, Slough House
Cooper John
Cooper Frederick John
Dedman William
2 *Ellis Mrs 2
*Mason Jeremiah, and salesman
Mayes Daniel, Gay Bowers
3 Ratcliff Samuel
Pool William
2 Simmons John, and corn dealer
Simmons William, Rumballs
3*Simpson John
Stevens William
Trussell James
Wilkin Charles
Trussell John, Gay Bowers
INNS AND TAVERNS.
Bell, James Ellis, builder
Cricketers, John Jaggs, brewer
Griffin, William Henry Hipsley
3 Saracen’s Head, Joseph Wright
Beerhouses
2 Hollingsworth William
Joyce William
3 Wiggins Chas. – Anchor
BLACKSMITHS.
Harris Mrs
Reeve George
2 Ward Samuel, & wheelwright
BUTCHERS.
Dennis Thomas
*Hipsley William
CARPENTERS.
Barker Alfred
Cain William
Ellis James
GARDENERS.
Crow Joseph
Wackrell James
Wenley William
SCHOOLS.
Diaper Frederick
Forster Emma
Tovell Miss
SHOEMAKERS.
2 Brett John
Nash George
Sayer Philip
SHOPKEEPERS. (* Are Bakers.)
Barker Sarah
3* Bunn James
2* Hollingsworth William
*Joyce William
Lee Frederick. draper
POST OFFICE at Fdk. Lee’s.
Letters via Chelmsford
CARRIERS.
Thomas Freeman to Chelmsford daily
Omnibus to Maldon &Chelmsford Friday