HEDINGHAM ( SIBLE) is an extensive and pleasant village on the western side of the vale of the Colne, opposite Castle Hedingham, 35 miles N.W. of Halstead. It has a fair for toys and pleasure on Easter Tuesday, and in its two principal streets are many neat houses, and several good inns and well stocked shops. Its parish contains 2322 inhabitants, and 5248 acres of fertile land, rising in gentle undulations from the river Colne, and several of its tributary streams, and including Morris Green, Southey Green, Crouch Green, and many scattered farmhouses, &c. Some of the best Essex hops are grown here in small plantations in different parts of the parish. In 1838, a quantity of fossil bones, were dug up in a field, near Swan street, Ashhurst Majendie, Esq., is lord of the principal manors, but the greater part of the soil belongs to John Cutts, C. A. Hilton, G. Nottidge, W. Seymour, J. Taylor, and W. B. Wigson, Esqrs.; the Rev. Joseph. Fenn, the Ironmongers’ Company, London ; Mr. John Eley, and several smaller free and copy holders. Part of the latter are subject to arbitrary, and the rest to certain fines. The six principal estates and reputed manors are Preyers, Boure Hall, Greys , Graveshall, Blois, Prayours, or Glascocks, Hawkwoods, and Sparrows, which derived their names from their ancient owners. At the Domesday Survey, Sible Hedingham was held by Roger Bigod, whose daughter conveyed it, in marriage to the De Veres, of Castle Hedingham.
The Church ( St. Peter,) is a spacious and handsome structure, with leaded nave, aisles, and chancel, and an embattled tower, containing five bells. It is supposed to have been built about the reign of Edward III., and from the numerous ornaments of hawk s carved in stone, the Hawkwood family are believed to have been the principal contributors towards the erection. Arecess in the south wall formerly contained a splendid monument in memory of Sir John Hawk- wood, a famous warrior, but the whole of it is gone, except a part of the canopy. The large and elegant circular window at the east end was given by the late patron in 1824. Four of the side windows are also enriched with stained glass. There were six obits here ; and a chantry was founded by the friends of Sir John Hawkwood, for one chaplain here, and another at Castle Hedingham. The house where the chantry priests resided had been anhostelry for the entertainment of pilgrims, and still bears the name of ” the hostage.” The rectory, valued in K.B. at £22, and in 1831 at £905, is in the patronage of the Trustees of the late Thos. Warburton, Esq. , of Hackney, and incumbency of the Rev. Hy. Warburton, B.A., who has a good residence, and 524. of glebe. The tithes were commuted in 1840 for £1515 per annum, subject to parochial rates. In the village is a Baptist Chapel, built in 1807, and an old Friends’ Meeting House, but the latter is now used by Independents. Here is a commodious National School, and the parish has the following Charities : –
In 1516, Sir John Green and Richard Herward conveyed a farm of 34A, called Barnard’s, in trust, to pay the King’s taxes, or other common burthens of the inhabitants, and the surplus for the relief of the poor. The farm is let for £40 a year, nearly the whole of which is applied in repairing the church. In 1672, Thomas Jegon left a yearly rent charge of £6. 18s. 8d. , out of the manor of Prayours , or Glascocks, for a weekly distribution of 2s. 8d. in bread to eight poor parishioners. In 1732, the Rev. Moses Cook left 7 acres of land, in trust, that the rector should distribute the rent yearly in Bibles and Prayer Books amongthe poor. This land is let for £7. An Almshouse, in four tenements, occupied bypaupers, was endowed with an annuity of 20s. , by Sergt. Bendlowe, in 1571, buthas not been paid for some years. (See Great Bardfield.) A cottage and garden, called Airing House, were given to the parish by Edw. Rich, in 1579, aud are now occupied by a pauper family Acottage, called the Pest House, occupied by paupers, and a garden, let for 30s., were given by Thomas Aubrey, in 1516. Till 1829, an annuity of 14s. 4d. for the poor of this parishwas paid out of the Exchequer, under the name of Henry VIII.’s Charity.
SIBLE HEDINGHAM.
POST OFFICE at Joseph. Curtis’s. Letters despatched 7 morning and 5 evening. by Halstead & Haverhill mail gig
Baynes Mr Joseph
Bell Mr Joseph
Bull Mrs My. A.
Butler William, dealer
Currey Mrs My.
Davis Eliz .
Curtis Joseph relieving officer & registrar
Eley John & Thomas. corn millers
England Saml. Eli, excise officer
Everton Edward, wood turner
Fitch Fredk. Nunn, surgeon
Fitch Rosanna, straw hat maker
Fowke Miss M. E.
Hills Mr Geo.
Heckford Edward, hairdresser
Hockley Samuel, fruiterer
Howell Rev. James, ( Baptist)
Jennings Thomas. gent. High House
Letch Robert, higgler
Moor J. E. bookkeeper
Nott Samuel, jun. rate collector
Osborn Mr John
Root John, dlr
Pearse Rev. Thos. M.A. curate
Root Thomas, cooper
Sampson Mr David
Savill John, auctioneer, land surveyor, & estate & insurance agent
Seymour William, gentleman
Spurgeon John & Joseph, grocers & drapers, & registrars of marriages
Staines Matthew, gentleman
Warburton Rev. Hy., B.A. Rectory
Willis Thomas, coach builder
FARMERS .
Bell George, Prayours
Bell Henry, Blois
Britton Richard, Ferry Green
Carr William, Morris Green
Carter George, Brook House
Downes George, Southey Green
Flack Charles, Brick Wall
Gatward Roger, (and jobber)
Gunn William, Greys
Hale William, Monks
Hilton Chas. Agsts.
Hubbard John Kemp Saml. (salesman,)
Hawkwoods Leonard Wm. Priors
Letch Robert, Morris Green
Letch Robt. jun. Welcome Slough
Moor Edward, Wash Farm
Moss John, Gormansey
Nash Daniel, Graveshall
Rawlinson John, Looms Hole
Rist David, Sparrows
Smith Joseph , Almshouses
Thorn Charles Eglonton
Winterflood Sarah, Hole Farm
Wood Grimwood, Hostages
INNS & TAVERNS.
Bell, George Bird
Black Horse, Thomas Kendall
Lamb, Robert Prentice
Swan, Charles Rallings
Three Sugar Loaves, Wm. Root
White Horse, Richard Fitch
ACADEMIES .
Ebbels Adam, Diocesan School
Marson Geo. Jas.
Martin Joseph. and Mrs. National
BAKERS .
Ames George
Garrod Thomas
Hutton Ann
KendallW.& Geo.
BASKET MAKERS.
Dodman Horace
Goss James
BEER HOUSES.
Fitch Henry
Mayhew William
Orbell John – White Lion
Redgwell Robert.
White Ths. Hy.
BLACKSMITHS.
Conway Henry
Mead William
Pettit John
Tiffen Richard
White William
White Thomas. Hy.
BOOT & SHOE MRS.
Abrahams William & leather cutter
Ames Charles
Fitch Richard
Gibbons William
Ince Robert
Lee William
Pettit Thomas
Scotcher Joseph
Westrop John
BRICKLAYERS.
Brett Robert
King Wm.
BRICK&TILE MRS.
Hilton Chas. Ags.
Parish John, Southey grn
BUTCHERS.
Ames George
Ames William
Fitch Richar
Hammond Robert.
Harrington Robert.
CARPENTERS, &c.
Cock Edward
Jarman James
Orbell John
Spurgeon John, & builder
FLOUR DEALERS.
Lazell Hannah
Stuck William
Willett William
GARDENERS AND SEEDSMEN.
Fairbank Frederick.
Flack Ann
Flack Charles
Flack Elizabeth
Mayhew William
Rule Benj .
Thorn Chas. E.
MALTSTERS.
Hubbard John
Taylor Jno. (seed & coal mercht)
MILLINERS .
Jefferies Ann
Moss Martha
Scotcher Sus.
Willett Eliz.
PAINTERS, GLAZIERS. & PLUMBERS
Andrews Jacob
Farrow William
SHOPKEEPERS .
Bishop Thomas
Fitch Henry
Levitt Henry
Nott Samuel
Spurgeon John & Joseph
TAILORS
Abrahams George
Newborn Joseph
Coppin George
WHEELWRIGHTS.
Prentice Robert
Willis Thomas
COACH From Clare to Chelmsford calls at the Swan, at 9 morning (on Mon. at 6 morning )
CARRIERS Pass to London, &c. three days aweek