Chipping Ongar 1848 Whites directory
ONGAR ( CHIPPING) is a small and remarkably clean and neat market town, pleasantly situated betwixt and near the confluence of the river Roding and the Cripsey brook, on the London and Dunmow road, 20 miles N.E. of the former, 14 miles S. by W. of the latter, 7 miles N.N.W. of Brentwood, 7 miles E. by N. of Epping, and 11 miles W. by S. of Chelmsford. It gives name to Ongar Union and Hundred, which are already noticed at pages 412 and 413. Its parish has only 870 inhabitants, and 452 acres of land, but the town, popularly called ONGAR, has a large suburb, in the parish of High Ongar, on the opposite side of the Roding, and a smaller one in Greensted parish, on the opposite side of the Cripsey brook, so that the total population of the town and suburbs is about 1800. The market, formerly held on Tuesday, is now held on Saturday, and has much improved of late years. Petty Sessions are held on the same day, in the Town Hall, over the Market House, which was repaired some years ago. A statute fair, for hiring servants, &c., is held on Oct. 12th. The appellation chipping is a corruption of cheaping, and was derived from the field where the market and fairs were held in ancient times. The town is lit with gas, and consists chiefly of one long and wide street, in which are many good houses, most of which are cemented, whitewashed, or constructed of white brick. It is approached on one side by a bridge of three arches, over the Roding ; and on the other, by a bridge of one arch, over the Cripsey brook. In some records, it is called Angre, Angria, and Aungre ; and, from its castle, it was sometimes called Ongar de Castrum. At the Domesday survey, the manor was held by Eustace, Earl of Boulogne, whose grand-daughter, Maud, conveyed it in marriage to King Stephen, whose son, William, gave it to Lord Richardde Lucy, of Diss, Norfolk, together with Greensted and several other manors. This nobleman was Lord Chief Justice of England, and his manors in this neighbourhood were created into an Honor. He built a CASTLE here, on the summit of a high artificial hill, surrounded by a deep and broad moat; but Mr. Gough supposes this fortress to have been formed out of a more ancient and extensive work, either of Roman or Saxon origin, the entrenchments of which are supposed to have encompassed the site of the town. The moat which surrounded the keep is generally filled with water, and the sides of the mount are planted with trees and shrubs, through which a steep winding path leads to the summit, where the chief part of the building stood, but being ruinous, it was pulled down in the reign of Elizabeth, by Wm. Morice, who erected on the site a brick building . The latter was taken down in 1744, by the then owner, Edw. Alexander, Esq., who built on the site a hand- some summer house, but it is now in ruins. The summit of the hill commands extensive prospects over the surrounding country, and at the foot of it, on the opposite side of the moat, is the Castle House, and farm yard, now occupied by Mr. Wm. Coe. From the Alexander family, the manor and the site of the castle have descended to their present owner, E. Alexander Bennett, Esq. , but part of the parish belongs to Capel Cure, Esq. , Jno. Barnes, Esq., and several smaller proprie- tors. The Church (St. Martin,) is a small neat structure, and has many Roman bricks worked up in its walls. It has a belfrey, crowned by a wooden spire ; and at the west end, a new porch has recently been erected. Among the monumental inscriptions in the interior are several belonging to the Alexander and other families, and one in memory of Jane, daughter of Oliver Cromwell, who died in 1637.
Foundations of Roman buildings are said to have been dug up in the churchyard, and, as a collateral proof of the antiquity of the town, the principal road from London to Colchester is recorded to have passed through it. The living is a discharged rectory, valued in K.B. at £6, and in 1831 , at £159. It was augmented in 1721 with £598. 10s. , obtained from Queen Anne’s Bounty, and the gifts of Edw. Colston and the Rev. – Houblon. It is in the patronage of E. A. Bennett, Esq. , and incumbency of the Rev. Edmd. Fisher, M.A., who has a small ancient residence, and 5A. of glebe. The tithes were commuted in 1842, for £144 per annum. Here is an Independent Chapel, and a new parochial School Room has recently been erected. A Mechanics’ Institution was established in the town in March, 1848, and it already comprises about 90 members, including those who had been some time associated under the name of the Ongar Mutual Improvement Society. C. Cure, Esq. , is president; Sir J. E. Swinborne and Hy. Bullock, Esq. , are vice-presidents ; and Mr. J. Wright is secretary of this useful institution. Ongar Labourers’ Friend Society was established about five years ago, and holds an annual ploughing match in September. Sir E. B. Smijth, Bart. , is the patron, and H. Bullock, Esq. , the president. Ongar General Friendly Society, instituted in 1828, has 58 honorary and 661 subscribing members, and a capital of about £2600 . Mr. Chas. Mott is the clerk. Ongar and Epping Building Society meets on the first Saturday of every month, at the Crown, and Mr. J. Wright is its secretary. The Savings Bank, for Ongar and the neighbourhood, is open every Saturday, from 1 till 2, and Mr. T. S. Richardson is the actuary. The Board of Guardians meet every Tuesday, at the Town Hall, but the Union Workhouse is at Stanford- Rivers.
In 1698, Joseph King left five houses at the north end of the town, in trust, that the yearly rents should be applied in schooling and apprenticing poor children, &c. These houses are now let for £74. 7s. per annum ; out of which £2 is paid to a schoolmistress, for teaching four poor girls ; about £17 to a schoolmaster, for ten boys ; £1 for distribution in prayer books and bibles; and 4s. to the sexton, for cleaning the donor’s tablet. The remainder, after deducting incidental expenses, is applied in books and stationary for the boys, and in apprentice fees. The rector and others are trustees. The dividends of £50 Old South Sea Annuities, left by Mrs. Septane Mitchell, in 1706, are distributed in bread among the poor parish- ioners, by the churchwardens.
ONGAR ( CHIPPING. ) (See also High Ongar.)
POST OFFICE, at Mr. William Scruby’s.
Letters despatched at 4 to 8 morning, and at 6 evening. Money Orders granted and paid.
Baker William solicitor, Union clerk, & superintendent registrar, and clerk to magistrates, Manor House
Barlow James, carpenter
Barltrop Ammon, smith, wheelwright, and coach maker
Boyer Fras. wine & spirit merchant, & agent to Sparrow & Co., bankers
Boyer Mrs Mary Ann
Clements Stephen, carrier
Coe William, farmer, Castle House
Collier Mrs L.
Crooks Mrs. S.
Cook Nathan, wheelwright
Crabb Robert, farmer
Darby Ann and Harriet, milliners
Drake Samuel, carrier
Fisher Rev. Edmd. , M.A. , Rectory
Flood Henry, police superintendent
Foster Charles, plumber, painter, &c.
Gibson William, solicitor and clerk of the peace; house Greensted Hall
Gidley Miss F.
Mason Mrs. E.
Hart William, fishmonger
Havers Richd. Esq. agent to London and County Bank
Kersteman Capt. Thomas Bowes
King William, veterinary surgeon
Lewis Jonathan, auctioneer and surveyor, Water End Farm
Mott Charles, stationer, stamp seller, and glass, china, &c. dealer
Noble Richard, builder
Noble Richard, jun. surveyor
Oldham Mrs Ann
Oliver Richard, veterinary surgeon
Parker Cath. & Jnh. , Berlin wool dealers
Playl Jeremiah , sen. , green grocer
Powell Mrs. A.
Shadrack Mrs. J.
Rand William, brick and tile maker, and superintendent of Gas Works
Reynolds Thomas, furniture broker
Richardson Thos
Stockwell, bookseller, printer, porter agent, &c
Scruby William, stationer and postmaster
Spurgin Joseph Cakebread, druggist, dentist, and insurance agent
Suckling John, blacksmith
Sweetinbourg Maria, dressmaker
Tyrrell Rev. Chas. Jenner, Marden Cottage
West John, coach owner
Wood Henry, carrier
FIRE AND LIFE OFFICES.
Britannia, and Clerical and Medical, Joseph C. Spurgin
Essex Economic & Royal Exchange, H. A. Johnston, Marden Ash
Phœnix, County, & Licensed Victuallers, T. S. Richardson
Royal Farmers, &c. , J. P. Fordham
Sun, Charles Mott
INNS AND TAVERNS.
Blue Anchor, John White
Bull, Richard Cooper
Cock, Francis Starkey
Crown Inn, William Mulley
King’s Head, Elizabeth Rawlings
Lion Inn, ( excise office, ) Joseph Fuller
White Hart, Thomas Holt
ACADEMIES
Champness Thomas Brown
Champness Mrs S. (& organist)
Stokes Rd., boardg
BAKERS
Cowee Mary
Starkey Henry
Webster Arthur
BOOT & SHOE MAKERS
Bridge Jeremiah
Brown John
Derham Edwin
Griffin George
Hancock William
Mitchell Mary A.
Wood Thos.
Wood William
BUTCHERS.
Clements Stephen
Cooper John
Cowell Thomas
Gidley Thomas
Perry Eliz.
CORN DEALERS.
Johnston H.A. ( & maltster)
Loud James J.
Webster James
DRAPERS
Pollard George
Sandle Thomas
Waterhouse William
GROCERS, &C.
Brown Charles
Dobbs Thomas
Haines Philip
Nottage Mary
Sammes Edw. ( & broker)
Upton John
HAIR DRESSERS .
Drake James
Kemp Thomas
Leah Samuel H.
IRONMONGERS.
Penson James
Wright John
SADDLERS.
Parker William
Silcock Jonathan
SURGEONS.
Keane George , M.D.
Pincott Rupert
Potter Frank Dobson
TAILORS
Darby Edward
Cowee Thomas
Pavitt William
Playl Jeremiah
WATCHMAKERS.
Griffin Bonner
Turner John
COACHES.
From the Lion to London, 8 morning , & Brentwood Station, to meet trains (from John West’s) at 8 morning and 4 afternoon.
CARRIERS.
Stephen Clements, to London, Tuesday and Friday, 4 afternoon Samuel Drake and Henry Wood, to Chelmsford. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings