Ramsden Crays 1848 Whites directory
RAMSDEN CRAYS, a small village, near the confluence of two sources of the river Crouch, 2 miles E.S.E. of Billericay, has in its parish 282 souls, 2260 acres of fertile land, and the small village of Crays Hill, nearly a mile S. of the church. At the Domesday Survey, it belonged to Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, and Ralph, brother of Ilgar. T. B. Batard, Esq., is now lord of the two united manors, but a great part of the soil belongs to several smaller owners. The manor of Ramsden Crays belonged to Simon de Crei, or Cray, in 1262, and afterwards passed to the Liston, Tyrell , Walton, and Hopkins families. The manor of Tiled Hall was formerly held by the Bohun, Vere, and Chevre families, and afterwards passed to the same owners as the capital manor.
The Church (St. Mary,) is a small antique fabric, with abelfry and spire. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £20, and in 1831 at £252, is in the patronage and incumbency of the Rev. Thos. Knox, M.A., who has about 80 acres of glebe, and an ancient parsonage house.
The tithes were commuted in 1844.
Batard Thos. Beard, Esq. Three Ash Cottage
Bligh James, butcher
Clarke Charles, blacksmith
Gardner George, victualler, Shepherd & Dog
Knox Rev. Ts. , M.A. rector of Ramsden Crays and Runwell, Rectory
Mead John, wheelwright
Scholding George, grocer, &c.
Cottage Such John, tailor
FARMERS .
Bligh Benj , Hall
Borrodell John
Cole Robert
Gibbons Samuel
Low Edmund
Porter William, Tiled Hall
Richens Mrs
Wright James