Langdon 1848 Whites directory
LAINDON, or Langdon Clay, is a pleasant village, on the northern declivity of the Laindon Hills, 34 miles S. by E. of Billericay, and 7
miles S.E. by E. of Brentwood. Its parish contains 568 inhabitants, and 2300 acres of land, exclusive of Basildon chapelry, which is consolidated with it ecclesiastically, under the name of Laindon cum Basildon, as afterwards noticed ; but they support their poor as two separate townships. Since Domesday Survey, the manor of Laindon, or Langdon, has been held by the successive Bishops of London, but part of the soil belongs to W. Roper and several other proprietors. The estate called Gobions was held by the Gobion family in the 14th century, and afterwards by the Symonds and Gaynesfords.
The Church (St. Nicholas,) stands on rising ground, and has a nave, south aisle, and chancel, with a wooden tower and spire. It had a chantry,
founded and largely endowed in 1329, by Thomas Berdefield, for a chaplain to pray for his soul for ever, at the altar of the Virgin Mary and St. Thomas the Martyr. Some ancient grave-stones in the church have several figures of persons in religious habits, but the inscriptions are gone. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £35.6s. 8d. , and in 1831 at £779, with the perpetual curacy of Basildon annexed to it, is in the
patronage of the Bishop of London, and incumbency ofthe Rev. Edw. Hodgson, M.A., who was inducted in 1803, and resides at Rickmansworth vicarage, Herts.
In 1617, John Puckle left in trust, for charitable uses, a farm of 62 acres, called Puckle’s, and now let for £50 a year. The rent of this farm having greatly exceeded the sums directed by the donor to be paid for charitable uses, a new scheme for the future administration of the charity was confirmed by the Court of Chancery, in 1831, and under it the rent is applied yearly, as follows – £4 to the poor of Great Burstead parish ; £20 to the master of Laindon School, for teaching 20 poor children of this parish ; £1 for a sermon on St. John’s day ; and £25 in distributions of coals and clothing among the poor parishioners-except what it may be necessary to deduct for repairs, &c. The poor of this parish have also a yearly rent- charge of £4, left by an unknown donor, out of an estate called the Vineyard, in Fobbing parish.
Birrell Rev. A. P., M.A. curate
Blanks Christopher, shopkeeper & smith
Crick Joseph, road contractor
Everett William, beer seller
Hollowbread Henry, victualler, Fortune of War
Murray John, wheelwright
Spurgeon Mr Richard
Wright George, victualler, Duke’s Head
FARMERS.
Archer Charles
Archer Joseph
Buckenham Chas.
Dove Charles
French Joseph
Hunt John
Jeffrey Thomas
King Geo. Harvey
Mason Wm.
Mason James
Pryer Henry
Richardson Thos. & cattle dealer
Roper John Sadler James
Scotchman Stn.
Wright Daniel
LETTERS from Brentwood