MARGARETTING, a small pleasant village on the London road, 4 miles S.W. by S. of Chelmsford, and nearly 2 miles N.E. of Ingatestone, has in its parish 483 souls and 2260 acres of light fertile land, including 180A. of wood. It is traversed by the Eastern Counties Railway, and the church is more than a mile south of the village, and less than a mile from the Railway Station at Ingate- stone. The parish is bounded on the east by the small river Wid, near which it has some rich meadows or ings, from which, and the patron saint of the church, it derived its name. Lord Petre is lord of the manor of Margaretting Hall, which has been held by his family since 1592. The Hon. Arthur Chas. Augustus Petre, a son ofthe late Lord Petre, is lord of the manor of Coptfold Hall, a neat modern mansion, where he resides. He married adaughter of the Earl of Wicklow. Coptfold Hall is delightfully situated in a small park, on a commanding eminence, 3 miles S.W. of Chelmsford. It was built in 1861-2, after the old one had been taken down. Peacocks, another handsome residence on the east side of the parish, near the river, is the seat of George Straight, Esq. , and stands near the site of Shenfield Manor House, which was surrounded by a moat, and had a drawbridge, guarded by watch towers. Kellegrew’s farm-house is moated. Canterburys is the pleasant seat of Benj . Bond, Esq.
The Church (St. Margaret) is avery ancient building, with awooden tower containing four bells, and crowned by a shingled spire. It has anave, south aisle, chancel, and north and south porches. The latter are of wood, in the Tudor style. The lower part of an ancient screen remains, and one of the windows is filled with stained glass. The Vicarage, valued in K.B. at £9. 2s. , and in 1831 at £168, is in the patronage and incumbency of the Rev. F. Hopkins, M.A. The vicarial tithes have been commuted for £191. 5s. , and the rectorial for £431. 5s. The latter are in the impropriation of G. Straight, Esq. The Vicarage House stands near the railway, and is a good residence. In 1625, John Tanfield charged the manor of Coptfold Hall with the distribution of 10 dozen ofpenny loaves among the poorduring Lent; but the present owner distributes amuch larger quantity. The Rev. Charles Fdk. Bond, in 1827, left £100 Bank Stock, and directed the yearly dividends (£8) to be applied in supporting a Sunday School, and in providing the children with prayer-books, &c. The parish has 19 tenements, which are mostly occupied by paupers and partly by poor families at low rents, which are carried to the poor rates.
POST OFFICE at Lucy Firmin’s . Letters via Ingatestone.
Berring James, shopkeeper
Bond Benjamin, Esq. Canterburys
Bonnett Charles, victualler, Spread Eagle
Campbell Dr. Ivy Hill Cottage
Cottee Henry, butcher
Earee George, builder, wheelwright, smith, and insurance agent
Firmin Lucy, shopkeeper
Gray Wm. shopr. & victualler, White Hart
Hopkins Rev. Frederick, M.A. vicar
Justice Chas. baker, &c.
Justice Henry, butcher, beerhouse, & shopkeeper
Lancaster Mrs, schoolmistress
Mulcock Thomas, victualler, Red Lion
Nunn John, parish clerk
Petre Hon. Arthur C.A. Coptfold Hall
Speakman John, gent. White’s place
Spight John, victualler, Bull Inn
Straight George, Esq. Peacocks
Turnidge Robert, shoemaker
Welch Edward, gentleman
Wright John, higgler and beerhouse
Wright William and Son, academy
FARMERS. (* Are Owners .)
*Baker William, White Bridge
Clarke Samuel
*Coleman Richard
Malyon Mary
Mulcock Thomas
*Parnell James
Nunn Henry
*Poole George and Son, Hall and Killigrews
*Spight John
*Turner Nathaniel
Warren Thomas, Wayletts