Magdalen Laver 1848 Whites directory
LAVER (MAGDALEN) parish lies south-west of High Laver, 4 S.E. of Harlow, and 5 miles N.N.W. of Chipping Ongar. It has a small scattered village, and contains 217 souls, and about 1000 acres of land, which gives rise to one of the tributary streams of the small river Cripsey. At the Norman Survey, it belonged to Ralph de Todeni, and it afterwards passed to the Burnaville, Waldene, Bataile, Aylet, Cole, and other families. James Ewing, Esq., is now lord of the manor, but part of the parish belongs to J. A. Houblon, the Rt. Hon. J. H. Frere, and a few smaller owners. The copyholds are subject to arbitrary fines. In 1757, some labourers, when ploughing in the field called Red Mill Shot, found a stone coffin, containing a skeleton. Human bones have been ploughed up in other parts of the same field, but no traces have been found of there having been a church, or other building there.
The parish Church (St. Mary Magdalen, ) is a small ancient fabric, with a wooden belfry, leaded. A handsome wooden screen, of ancient appearance, separates the nave and chancel. In the latter is a Latin inscription in memory of the Rev. Geo. Kindleton, who was rector here, and suffered much for his loyalty and orthodox faith, during the Commonwealth, and after be- ing banished sixteen years, was reinstated in the living, on the restoration of Charles II . The rectory, valued in K.B. at £16. 12s. ld. , and in 1831 at £283, is in the patronage of the Rev. Wm. Wilson, and incumbency of the Rev. W. J. Burford, D.D., of Chigwell. The glebe is 27A. , and a new parsonage house is about to be built. The tithes were commuted in 1847 for £310 per annum.
Gapes William, vict. Green Man
Moreton John, beerhouse
Spencer Ann, shopkeeper
FARMERS .
Banks Benj
Chaplin Thomas
Edwards James
Hazlewood William
James John
Larter John
Lucking William
Reddington Thomas.
Weald James
Wilson John
(Letters from Harlow. )