1848 Whites directory Great Waltham
WALTHAM, (GREAT) a pleasant village on the west side of the river Chelmer, and on the Dunmow road, from 4 to 5 miles N. of Chelmsford, has in its populous and extensive parish, many scattered houses, and the small villages, hamlets, &c. , of How Street, 1 mile N.; Chatham Green, 1½ mile N.E.; Walthambury, 1 mile W.N.W.; Little Lee Green, 2½ miles N.; and Fourth End , Black Chapel, and North End,from 3 to 4 miles N.N.W. of the Church ; near which is Church End and South End. It is one of the largest parishes in Essex, and contains 2,154 inhabitants, and 7,054 acres of land, well watered by the Chelmer and some of its tributary streams ; and having a variety of soils, but generally a wet loam, much improved by draining, and judicious management. There are in the parish several old manor houses, occupied by farmers. The principal manor, and a great part of the soil, belong to John Jolliffe Tufnell, Esq., who holds a court leet and baron, and resides at LANGLEYs, a large and handsome mansion, seated on a pleasant eminence, between the church and the river Chelmer, in an extensive park, well stocked with deer. The Marshall or Mariskill family, held the manor of Langleys from the reign of John to that of Edward III. , and it afterwards passed to the Everards, one of whom, (Sir Hugh,) was created a baronet, and died in 1705, leaving his estates so much in debt, that his son was obliged to sell Langleys and other estates, to Samuel Tufnell, Esq. , who represented Colchester, Maldon, &c. , in parliament. He pulled down most of the old mansion, and rebuilt it on a larger and more elegant plan. He also made an extensive park round it. His successors have considerably improved the house and grounds, and the present worthy proprietor is highly esteemed, both as a landlord and a magistrate. His son resides at Waltham House.
At the time of Domesday Survey, Geofrey de Mandeville held the parish, but it was afterwards divided into seven manors, viz.:- Walthambury, Chatham Hall, Warners, or Little Lee Park ; Hyde Hall, South House, Langleys, and the Rectory. The latter was give
by Geofrey de Mandeville, to Walden Abbey, and at the Dissolution , it was given to Sir Richd. Rich, who sold it to Sir Thos. Pope, Kt. , and he settled it as part of the endowment of Trinity College, Oxford, founded by him. The Bird, Skill, Dowsett, Livermore, Tozer, Ran- dall, Young, and other families, have estates here.
The CHURCH (St. Mary and St. Lawrence,) is a large and ancient structure, con- sisting ofa leaded nave, south aisle, and chancel, with a massive octagon tower at the west end, containing a fine peal of eight bells and chimes ; and crowned by a clumsey spire, covered with lead. It is in the Norman style of the 12th century ; but the windows are insertions of a
later date, in the perpendicular style. Two of them are remarkable for beautiful tracery. The interior was thoroughly cleansed and beautified, in 1847, when some fine distemper paintings were discovered on the walls, with figures as large as life. One of these antique frescoes, over the chancel arch, has been preserved, and is supposed to represent the Redeemer, after his resurrection, seated triumphantly in heaven, surrounded by angels. Part of the rood loft, and the staircase leading to it, remain; and in the porch, the ancient stoup has recently been discovered. Under an arch, in the north wall, is acostly marble monument, with recumbent effigies of Sir Anthony Everard and his Lady. The vicarage, valued in K.B. at £18. 13s. 4d., and in 1831 , at £299, is in the patronage of the President and Fellows of Trinity College, Oxford ; and incumbency of the Rev. J. H. Dyer, B.D., who has a good residence near the church. The tithes were commuted in 1839, for the yearly rent charges of £1,754. 17s. 2d. to Trinity College, and £400 to the vicar.
Commodious National Schools with house for the master and mistress, were built here in 1847, in the Elizabethan style, at the cost of £1,045 . There is a small Independent Chapel at Fourth End.
Charities : An acre of land, given by John and William Wolmer, in 1542, for repairing the church and bridges of Great Waltham parish, was exchanged for a large garden, &c., about 26 years ago. The poor parishioners have yearly, in Lent, 3 barrels of white, and 1½barrel of red herrings, from Lord Rich’s Charity. ( See Felsted.) In 1580, Thos. Wiseman left, out of a farm at Great Baddow, 20s. a year for repairing the church, and 20s. a year for the poor ofthis parish. On Good Friday, 40 of the poorest householders have 6d. each, from ayearly rent charge of 20s. left by Richard Everard, in 1616, out ofahouse in How Street. In 1723, J. Shuttleworth left a yearly rent charge of £5. 4s. out of land called Graveley’s, to provide for a weekly distribution of 2s. worth of bread among 12 poor widows. In 1822, Marshall Straight left £276.10s. 10d. three per cent. Consols, in trust, that the churchwardens should distribute the dividends in bread, on the 21st of December, among the poor parishioners, who have also 20s. ayear out of property in Romford, leftby John Adams, in 1828.
BLACK CHAPEL, at the North End ofGreat Waltham parish, 9 miles N. by W. of Chelmsford, has been long used as a chapel, and forms one half of an ancient messuage, the other part of which is let as a dwelling, for £4 a year.
This building, and the following property, have been long vested in trustees for the general benefit of the inhabitants of North End hamlet, viz:-Crouch House, let for 44; and Bridge Mead, Butler’s Mead, Stebbing Mead, the Grove, and a piece of land in Stock Croft Common, let at rents amounting to £23. 13s. per aunum. Out of the rents, the trustees pay yearly, £15 to the minister of Black Chapel ; £2 to the chapel clerk ; and £3 to the teacher of the Sunday school. The minister has also £23 a year from the Butchers’ Arms publichouse and two acres of land, purchased with £60, left by Ann Wiseman, in 1681, to be invested for the better support of the said minister.
In the 13th of Elizabeth, Thos. Wiseman gave ayearly rent charge of £5. 6s. 8d., out of his lands, called Burgess Well, near Chelmsford, in trust, to employ it in the most needful works of charity in North End. This rent charge is applied towards the expenses of Black Chapel. In 1620, Jeffery Child left £100, to be invested in land, for the relief of poor people in North End. This legacy was laid out in the purchase of a cottage, barn, and 5A. of land, at High Easter, let for £10 ayear, which is distributed by Mr. Charles Skill and the other trustees ofBlack Chapel.
Those marked 2 are in How Street ; 3 at Fourth End ; 4 Chatham Green ; 5 North End; and the others near the Church, or where specified.
Boultwood James, cooper
3 Coe Joseph , basket & sieve maker
Dannatt Robert, schoolmaster
Dannatt Robt. jun. plumber, painter, registrar, insurance agent, &c.
Dowsett Mary, bricklayer
Dyer Rev. Jas. Hardwick, B.D. vicar
French Harriet I. schoolmistress
Joscelyne Benjamin, auctioneer, &c.
Phillips Joseph. & Mrs, National Schools
Porter Sarah, dress maker
Tyler Mr. Joseph
Maryou Mrs.
Tyrell Richard, parish clerk
Tufnell John Jolliffe, Esq. Langleys
Tufnell J.J.jun. Esq. Waltham House
3 Wardley Rev. George (Indpt. min. )
5 Young Solomon, veterinary surgeon
FARMERS. (* are Owners.)
2*Adams Samuel
Bright Richard
Brewster Robert, Chalk Farm
Bright Mary, Fitz Andrew’s
Campen James, Baileys
Coote Jonas, Fitz John’s
*Dannatt Robert, Clark’s
*Dowsett James, Poulters
*Dowsett Pp. (horse dealer) Parkgate
*Dowsett. Thomas, South House
Emberson Abraham, Fanners
Emberson Mary, Garnett’s
Eve Joseph.
Green Chas. higler
Hasler Thomas, Apple Trees
Hitchcock William, Humphrey’s
*Hodges Thomas, Warners
4Josling Abm.
Lucking Wilson
Joslin Joseph, (bailiff) Wallops
*Josling Wm. Little Lee Park
Lee Richard, Hyde Hall
Mead William, Balls
Portway William, Absol Park
2 Robinson Jno.
Rolph My. A. Butler’s Rust Jane
Rust Robt. & Richd. Wiseman’s
*Skill Charles, North End Place
Snow Peter, Longs
Stock James, Walnut Trees
Stock Lucy, Israels
*Townsend William, Wall Farm
Willers Samuel, How street
*Wilson George, Walthambury
INNS AND TAVERNS.
Butchers’ Arms, William Snow
2 Green Man, Charles Perry
Rose and Crown, Matthew Newcomb
Six Bells, John Spencer Francis
Spread Eagle, William Hasler
Wind Mill, Joseph Ward
White Hart, Rt. Gooch (Little Waltham)
BAKERS.
Emberson Jabez
Francis John S.
BEER HOUSES .
2 Green James
Matthams John, Littley Green
4 Matthams Thos.
Smith John
5 Stock James
BLACKSMITHS.
Newcomb Mathew
2 Robinson John
Young George
BUTCHERS .
Luckling Wilson
3 Reed Hugh
2 Snow Benjamin
Sorrell Henry
CARPENTERS .
2 Milbank Jph.
Snow William
CORN MILLERS.
2 Adams Samuel
4 Bentall John
GROCERS, &c.
Brewer Henry
5 Fowler James
5 Ketley Joseph
2 Phillips Philip
Porter George
3 Reeve James
2 Smith William
Snow William
3 Stock William
SADDLERS.
Green Abraham
2Willers Thos.
SHOEMAKERS.
Bedwell Thomas
Burton William
George John
Gowers John
2 Smith William
Thurston Jno.Jas.
Tyrell William TAILORS.
Frankland Edm.
Hasler William
WHEELWRIGHTS.
2 Brewster John
3 Coe William
Ellis Thomas
POST OFFICE at H. Brewer’s.
Letters via Chelmsford