Manningtree and Mistley 1848 Whites Directory
MANNINGTREE is an improving market town, and forms with MISTLEY, a port, or creek, under Harwich, pleasantly situated on the south side of the Stour, at the point where that river begins to ex- pand into a broad estuary, about half a mile below where it is crossed by the Eastern Union Railway, 9 miles N.E. by E. of Colchester, 11 miles W. of Harwich, and 60 miles N.E. by E. of London. Its parish is remarkably small, containing only about 17 acres of land and 1255 inhabitants ; but the town has a western suburb in Lawford parish, and a large and handsome eastern suburb in Mistley parish, where there is a large and commodious Quay; so that the total population of the town and suburbs is upwards of 3000. The Stour is navigable for barges as high as Sudbury, 20 miles above Manningtree, which carries on, in conjunction with Mistley, an extensive trade in corn, coal, timber, fish, &c. Here are also several very extensive malting establishments, which pay annually in duty about £50,000 ; and the number of vessels belonging to the port is now about 460, and their aggregate amount of tonnage nearly 37,000 tons : though in 1840, its number of vessels was only 308. In 1847, eight ships brought here 5447 quarters of wheat from the Baltic, and in the same year there were large importations of oil cake, deals, &c. The light dues paid here amount to about £500 per annum. In 1844, Mistley Hall estate was sold in lots to suit purchasers, and since then several wharfs, warehouses, neat dwelling-houses, and other buildings have been erected upon it, the river there having 14 feet of water at the quay, while there is only about seven feet at Manningtree. Manningtree Station, on the Eastern Union Railway, is about half a mile west of the town, and from it will diverge the Harwich Railway, passing near the quay at Mistley, and through Wrabness, &c. This station is near the river, and commands a fine view both up and down the vale. A small market for corn, &c. , is held every Thursday, in the High street ; and a fair for toys and pleasure on Whit-Thursday. A regatta is held on the river about the second week in September. T. G. Kensit, Esq. , of Brighton, is lord of the manor of Mistley, which includes Manning- tree, both parishes being included in Domesday Book under the name of Sciddinchou ; but the soil of the two parishes is freehold, and belongs partly to E. Norman, R. E. Page, J. T. Ambrose, and many smaller proprietors.
Manningtree Church (St. Michael,) was rebuilt in 1616, and was enlarged some years ago by the addition of 345 free sittings , towards which the Society for building and enlarging churches, gave £450. It anciently had a Guild dedicated to the Holy Trinity ; and until 1840, its perpetual curacy was consolidated with Mistley ; but in that year, it was constituted a separate benefice, in the patronage of the Rector of Mistley. It is in the incumbency of the Rev. J. S. Dunn, M.A. , and is valued at £130, of which £40 is paid out of the tithes of Mistley. Trinity Guild, noticed above, was valued at £8. 5s. 4d. per annum at the Dissolution. In a certificate of its chantry lands, Manningtree is described as ” a great towne, and also a haven towne, having it yt to the number of 700 houseling people. ” Here are two neat chapels belonging to the Independents and Wesleyans ; and a large National School, built in 1814 for children of Manning- tree, Mistley, and Lawford parishes, and conducted on the Glasgow system. A house, occupied rent free by poor people, is said to have been given by one Smith, about 1680, and afterwards used as a workhouse.
Manningtree Savings Bank, of which Mr. John Webber is secretary, was established in 1817, and on Nov. 20th, 1847, it had deposits amounting to £11,629, belonging to 280 depositors. Gas Works were erected here in 1840, at the cost of £1700, and they have since been extended to the Railway Station. Mr. W. Webber is the largest shareholder.
Petty Sessions are held at the Packet Inn every fourth Monday, and Mr. Wm. Angell is clerk to the magistrates, and also clerk of Tendring Union. Three fire engines are kept here, two belonging to the town, and one to the Farmers’ Insurance Company.
In the church is a marble monument, in memory of Thos. Ormond, a fuller, who was burnt here for not adhering to the Roman Catholic faith, in 1555, during the reign of Queen Mary, when many other martyrs suffered at Colchester and other places. In the 17th century, three persons were executed here for the supposed crime of witchcraft.
MISTLEY parish contains 2053 acres of land, and had 976 inha-bitants in 1841, but since then its population has considerably increased, many houses, wharfs, warehouses, and a large steam-mill, having been built in it since the sale of Mistley Hall estate, in 1844. As already noticed, it forms an eastern suburb of the town and port of Manningtree, and has a large and commodious quay, and many neat houses. The manor of Mistley, or Sciddinchoe, was held by the wife of Henry de Ramis, at the Domesday Survey, and its capital mansion was called Old Hall, and is supposed to have stood on the site of that which was called New Hall in 1387, when it was the seat of Thomas Hardyng. In 1552, Edward VI. granted this manor to Sir John Rainsforth, to hold in socage, together with the manor of Abbots, which had belonged to the monks of St. Osyth. Another manor in this parish, called Sheddon, or Sharing Hall, belonged to Aluric, in the Confessor’s reign, and to the Countess of Albemarle, at the Con- quest. It afterwards became the property ofMaud de Clare, Countess of Hereford and Gloucester, who gave it to the nunnery at Leigh, in Devonshire. At the dissolution, it was granted to the above- named Sir John Rainsforth, to be held of the Queen, in capite. His estates here, afterwards passed to the Starkey and Baker families. They were sold by the latter to Viscount Bayning, and passed to his grand- daughter, who married the last Earl of Oxford of the Vere family. In 1703, Edw. Rigby, Esq., Wm. Peck, Esq. , and others, who had pur- chased the reversion of the estates of the said Earl, obtained an act of parliament for their division, and those in this parish were allotted to Edw. Rigby, Esq., and consisted of New Hall, White Hall, Abbots Farm, Fords, and Dikeley Hall. The village of Mistley, delightfully situated on the south bank of the estuary of the Stour, owes its beauty and importance to the late Rt. Hon. Richd. Rigby, who, in the latter part of last century, built fifty of the best and handsomest of the ori- ginal houses, with several granaries, warehouses, a large malting- house, and the spacious quay, which forms an extension of the port of Manningtree. Mistley Hall, which was long the seat of the Rigbyfa- mily, had a beautiful and well wooded park of 700 acres, and was a hand- some mansion, on an elevated site, commanding charming prospects of the vale and the estuary of the Stour, but it was taken down about four years ago. On the death of the late Lieut. Col. Rigby, his estates descended to Lord Rivers, in right of his lady. Mistley Hall estate was sold in lots, in 1844, and since then the extensive park has been divided into meadows, &c., which may be irrigated from the conduits ofpure water which the Right Hon. R. Rigby brought from the neighbouring hills, not only for supplying the hall and park, but the inhabitants of his new village. Some neat houses and other buildings have already been built within the bounds of the park, and the new Hall is now the residence of Robert Page, Esq. MistleyPlace, anotherneat mansion, is the seat of Edw. Norman, Esq. T. G. Kinsit, Esq. , is now lord of the manor.
The old parish Church (St. Mary) stood nearly a mile south-east of the village, and its porch is still preserved and fitted up for the performance of the burial service. Richard Rigby, Esq., who died at Mistley Hall, in 1732, directed his executors to rebuild the parish church, and to erect, near the Thorn Inn, six almshouses, for the residence of six aged parishioners, to be appointed by the lord of the manorfor the time being, and to have yearly, for ever, six chaldrons of coals, 24 bushels of wheat, and 24 bushels ofbarley or malt, out of the profits of the wharfs at Mistley.
Though twelve tenements were built by the Rt. Hon. Richd. Rigby, about 1778, on the spot pointed out by the testator for the site of the almshouses, the charity had not been established in 1837, when the Parliamentary Commissioners certified the case to the Attorney-General. It has since been decreed by the Court of Chancery, that an annual sum, equal to the value of the quantities of coal, wheat, and barley, stated above, shall be distributed among six poor parishioners, out of the profits of the wharfage, which yielded in 1837 about £500 per annum. On the sale of the Hall estate, lot 13, comprising part of the quay, was purchased by Mr. Allen, of Sudbury, subject to this rent- charge. Instead of rebuilding the old one, the Right Hon. Richd.
Rigby erected an elegant NEW CHURCH, at Mistley Thorn, which was finished in 1777, and is an unique building, of the Doric order, from which rise two lofty circular domes. The interior is handsomely fitted up, and has some neat mural tablets belonging to the Rigby family, whose burial-place is under a portico in the old churchyard.
The benefice is a discharged rectory, with the vicarage of Bradfield annexed to it, valued in K.B. at £16 . 13s. 4d., and in 1831 , at £705. The perpetual curacy of Manningtree was also consolidated with it till 1840, as noticed at page 462. The joint benefices are now in the patronage and incumbency of the Rev. John Edw. Carter, B.A., who resides at Bradfield Vicarage, as stated at page 449. The tithes of Mistley have been commuted for about £668 per annum. The Rev. B. H. Puckle, B.A., is the curate, and resides at Mistley Thorn, but there is no rectory-house.
MANNINGTREE AND MISTLEY DIRECTORY. (Including part of Lawford Parish.)
Those marked 2, are in High street ; 3, Lawford street ; 4, MISTLEY ; 5, Mistley street ; 6 , MISTLEY THORN ; 7, North street ; 8 , Regent street, (in Mistley ; ) 9, South street ; and 10, at South hill. ( See also Lawford )
The POST OFFICE is at Mr. Thos. Taylor’s, High street. Letters are received at 5 morning, and despatched at 8 evening. , via Colchester mail-cart.
2 Alston Daniel Constable, merchant
Ambrose John Thomas, solicitor ; h Mistley Green
5 Angell William, clerk to magistrates and Tendring Union, sub-distributor of stamps, and insurance agent
Barton Benj . jet ornament dealer
5 Baxter Thomas, excise officer
Bellingham Thomas, gentleman
3 Bendall Offwood, ironfounder and agricultural machine maker
Bestall Rev. William S. (Wesleyan)
2 Blyth William, omnibus proprietor, &c
3 Borrett William, farrier
4 Candler James, clerk of MistleyChurch
9 Cant Benjamin, letter carrier
5 Cant James, fishmonger & carrier
4 Davies Mr Mark Lawford House
10 Day Thomas, bookkeeper
9 Downing Robert, parish clerk
2 Dunn Rev. James Salisbury, M.A. incumbent of Manningtree
4 Freeborn William, farmer
2 Frost William, fish salesman
4 Groom John, coast officer
2 Howard Jas. ship owner & merchant.
5 Howard John, ship, &c. builder
3 Hutchinson Mr. station master
Jones Rev. Thomas, ( W esleyan)
3 Leigh Geo.fellmonger& woolrug mfr.
9 Long John, guano, &c. dealer
4 Mann Henry Isaac, excise officer
May John, gent. High street
4 Monteith James, Esq. Oxford road
4 Nicholson Thomas, gentlemen
Norman Edw. Esq. merchant, Mistley Place
Nunn Carrington, Esq. banker ; house
Little Bromley 6 Nunn Misses Eliz. and Maria
2 Nunn Thomas, jun. Esq. banker
Nunn Thomas, Esq. banker ; house
Page Mr John, South street
4 Page Joseph, wool merchant, &c
Page Robert Everett and Robert, jun. Esqrs. Mistley Hall
4 Page Thomas, farmer, Abbot’s Hall
4 Parmenter William, farmer
Paskell Mr J. S., Mistley
4 Pertwee Joseph. farmer, Dikeley Hall
4 Pinchback Rev. Thomas, ( Independent )
4 Puckle Rev. Benj . Hall, B.A. curate
2 Rayner William, registrar 4Roberts James, supervisor
Russell Edw. gardener, Back hill
9 Sargeant Philip, police inspector
9 Scrivener Thomas, undertaker, &c
2 Shansfield William, tallow chandler & salt and coal merchant
4 Shepherd Charles, coke merchant
2 Sizer John, commission agent
4 Taylor Charles, bank clerk
2 Taylor Thos. postmaster & insurance agent
2 Watts Thomas, printer, stationer,& tailor
2 Webber J. W. sec. to Savings Bank, &c
2 Wright John, bookkeeper
4 Wymark William, merchant, &c
Wymark George, ship agent
ATTORNEYS.
2 Ambrose John Thomas; h Mistley
8 Lawrence Henry, ( attends Thurs.)
2 Owen Charles Spencer
AUCTIONEERS, &c.
9 Goodwin Robert, (land agent and deputy surveyor of bridges)
9 Goodwin Robert jun. ( & upholsterer)
BANKS.
2 Alexander & Co. ( draw on Barnett, Hoares, & Co.)
2 Nunn and Co. (draw on Barnett, Hoares, & Co.)
2 Savings’ Bank, open 1st & 3rd Mon. of each month; W. Webber, sec.
FIRE AND LIFE OFFICES.
2 Alliance and Marine, T. Taylor
9 Essex & Suffolk Eqtble. T.Scrivener
5 Essex Economic, William Angell
2 Farmers’ & General, John Sizer
2 Guardian, William Rayner
10 Licensed Victuallers’, T. Day
2 National Loan Fund, John Sizer
5 Norwich Union, William Angell
2 Suffolk Amicable, T. Taylor
INNS AND TAVERNS.
2 Cock Inn, John Sizer
4 Cross, William Clarke
9 King’s Head, Richard Horlock
6 Mistley Thorn, William Simmons
2 Packet Inn, William George Stewart
3 Railway Tavern, John Barnes
9 Red Lion, William Lamb
2 Rose & Crown, John Skinner Long
5 Wherry, John Moor
2 White Hart, (posting,) Nathaniel Dale
BAKERS.
Balls George
Burgess John
4 Bullimer John
3 Cant William
10 Cook James
8 Finch William
4 Hurring Eliz.
6 Joyce George
9 Long John
2 Lowe John
3 Page Samuel
2 Paskell Thomas
5 Paskell Robert
2 Rivers John
BASKET MAKERS.
9 Pittock James
2 Vice James
BEER HOUSES.
4 Betts George F.
Burgess John
10 Cook James
Crisp John
6 Ely James
Fairs Peter
4 Fenn Fenn
10 Francis John
4 Kerridge Robert
4 Mawson Edw.
Pisey John
5 Paskell Robert
4 Stevens Eliz.
2 Thompson Robert
6 Wilson James
7 Woodbine W. C
BLACKSMITHS.
6 Disney William & John
5 Frostick James
3 King Henry
4 Smith George
Towler Robert, Back hill
4 Vincent George
BOOT & SHOE MAKERS
9 Carter George
2 Gosling John
4 HumphriesJno.
5 Humphries William
8 Jerman James
2 Hurran William
Long Samuel, Quay
2 Mason Eliz .
2 Ralph William
4 Southgate Chas.
Ward Jtn. Quay
6 White George
BRAZIERS AND IRONMONGERS.
6 Baxter John ( Wyncoll }
2 Disney William
2 Harris William
10 Ponder Robert
BREWERS.
2 Alston Edward and Daniel C.
2 Blyth William
BRICKLAYERS .
2 Candler Benj.
4 Candler James
8Hawes Thomas
BUTCHERS.
6 Abbott Henry
8 Clark John C.
10 Cook James
2 Green Thomas
2 Green William G.
9 Long Henry
3 Page Samuel
CABINET MAKERS .
4 Curtis Anthony
5 Paskell John
5 Self Robert
CARPENTERS
Capon Rt.,Back street
4 Curtis Anthony
6 Ely James
4 Fenn Fenn
9 Goodwin Robert
9 Goodwin Rt.jun.
4 Self Robert
CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS.
2 Hooker Jas. Fras.
2 Winter Sus.
COACH BUILDERS.
2Alderton Fisher
Alexander Isaac,
Back street
COAL MERCHANTS
4 Allen Robert
4 Bowles Edward
4 Mann John, ( & coke)
4 Norman Edw.
4 Page Robert E. and Son
2 Shansfield William Jarrold
4 Squirrell H. F.
Taylor & Jessup
4 Tovell Charles
4 Tovell Samuel
4 Wymark William
4 Wright James
CONFECTIONERS.
8 Finch William
2 Rivers John
COOPERS.
3 Borrett William
Naylor John
CORN MERCHANTS.
2 Alston Edward and Daniel C.
9 Long John
2 Norman Edw.
2 Page Rt.E. & Son
2 Shansfield W. J.
4 Squirrell Henry Freeman
2 Vice James
4 Wymark William
CORN MILLERS .
3 Death Wm.
3 May James
GROCERS& DRAPERS
6 Baxter William
2 Brooks Thomas
2 Harvey Samuel
2 Hickenbottom William
2 Sadd William
6 Wright James
HAIR DRESSERS
9 Saxby William Wood
2 Viall George
IRONMONGERS.
6 Baxter J. W.
2 Disney William
2 Harris William
MALTSTERS.
2 Alston E. & D.C.
4 Norman Edw.
4 Page Robert E.
MILLINERS
Downing Sus.
10 Cook Mary
2 Mason C. & M.
2 Page Mrs
OIL MERCHANTS
4 Baxter John
4 Harris William
PILOTS.
Hurran Oliver
Jeffries William
4 Eteen Benjamin, John, & Jno. jun.
4 Saunders William
Thompson James
PLUMBERS, GLAZIERS,& PAINTERS
4 Betts George Fall
9 Finch James
2 Mason John
10 Parsons William
4 Parsons W. jun.
SADDLERS.
3 Bloom James
2 Leigh Richard
SAIL MAKERS.
5 Moor John
6 Moor John, jun.
SHIP OWNERS
2 Green Thomas
2 Horlock Richard
4 Howard George
4 Howard James
9 Jessup John
5 Long Benj .
4 Maulding Fdk.
May John
5 Moor John
4 Page Robert E.
2 Taylor Thomas
4 Tovell Charles
4 Tovell Geo. R. (& brick maker. )
4 Tovell Samuel
4 Tovell S. jun.
4 Wymark William
SHIP MASTERS .
Anderson Samuel
Brown Joseph
Burgess John
Carrington Thomas
Chipperton James
Chisnall Charles
Chisnall C. J.
Cooper Robert
Crisp Samuel
Davis James
Eade Samuel
Edgley John
Forster William
Gobell Jacob
Hebble Robert
Humphries W.
Hurran Oliver
Jeffries William
Jenkins William
Lawrence Robert
Lever Joseph
Lilley John
Lucas James & Thomas
Maulding Fredk.
Maynard James
Morley John
Noye William
Osborne Isaac
Pear John
Price Daniel
Proom Samuel
Purdy Robert
Richardson Jas.
Russell Stephen
Spendley James
Strutt Wm.
Thompson Chas.
Thompson Robert
Thompson William
Totham William
Went James
Wright James
SHOPKEEPERS .
4 Atkins Henry
5 Betts William
5 Cant James
10 Fitch Henry
8 Finch John
10 Francis John
4 Hart Elizabeth
4 Hempson Sarah
5 Petto George
2 Newman John
Powell William
Russell Edward
9 Sherlock Edw.
9 Watts Elizabeth
2 Viall George
STRAW HAT MKRS.
5 Betts Mrs
2 Finch Maria
2 Finch Charles
SURGEONS.
2 Ingram Peter
2 Smith James Hy.
TAILORS.
(* Drapers also.)
2* Carter Jonathan
6* Disney John
9 Downing Benj .
9 Downing Robert
2* King William
Watts Thomas
WATCHMKRS. &c.
2 Buxton George W.
2 Bryant Felix
2 Spark James
WHARFINGERS.
4 Howard James
4 Norman Edw.
4 Page Robert E.
Taylor & Jessup, (& timber merchants)
4 Wymark William
WHEELWRIGHT
3 Daniels John
4 Kerridge Robert
WINE AND SPIRIT MERCHANTS.
2 Alston E. & D.C.
6 Bawtree Chas. S.
6 Folkard William
CONVEYANCES
RAILWAY TRAINS 8 times aday to Ipswich, Colchester, London, &c.
An OMNIBUS from W. Blyth’s, High street to the Station, to meet every train.
COACH to Harwich, every evening at half past 5.
CARRIERS :
Jas. Cant, to Harwich, Tues. and Friday; and Mail Cart every morning, at half past 5.
To Colchester, Samuel Baker, from the Swan, and Jas. Wilson, from Mistley, Mon. Thurs. and Sat. To Ipswich
and Great Bromley, Wm. Poulton, from the Cock, every Wednesday.
VESSELS to London, &c. from the wharfs, weekly.