Felstead 1863 Whites directory
FELSTED, or Felstead, is a large village, with many good houses, on the north-eastern acclivity of the vale of the Chelmer, and near a tributary stream of that river, 4 miles E. by S. of Dunmow, 6 miles W.S.W. of Braintree, and 10 miles N. by W. of Chelmsford. Its parish contains 1715 inhabitants and 6246A. 2R. 17P. of land, including roads, &c., and the GREENS called Bannister’s, Bartholomew’s, Cobler’s, Cock, Grimsall, Molehill, Pye’s, Thistley, and Willow Greens, where there are many scattered farm-houses and cottages. The soil is generally a strong fertile loam, on a whitish clay marl ; and on the south side of the parish is Hartford Bridge, on the Chelmer. Several houses in Rayne village are in this parish. In the Confessor’s reign, Algar, Earl of Mercia, held the lordship of Felsted, but at the Conquest it was given to Caen Abbey, in Normandy. The Earl of Mornington is now lord of the manor, but a great part of the soil belongs to Guy’s Hospital and many other proprietors.
The Church (Holy Cross) stands on an elevated site, and is seen at a great distance. It is a fine antique fabric, consisting of a nave and aisles, a chancel, and amassive square tower, containing five bells, and having a lantern rising above the battlements. The gallery in the south aisle was erected in 1828, when 70 additional free-sitings were provided. A small chapel on the south side of the chancel is the burial-place of the Rich family, and contains a superb monument to the memory of Richard Lord Rich, who died in 1567, and founded the school and almshouses, afterwards noticed. The effigy of his lordship, in his chancellor’s robes, reclines under a grand cornice, decorated and supported by Corinthian pillars.
The church was repaired about 18 years ago. On the south side of the parish there was anciently a free chapel, called Camseys or Hartford Chapel, and appropriated to Leigh Priory, but no traces of it are now extant. The lands belonging to it were granted, in 1591, to Edward Wymark. The vicarage, valued in K.B. at £18. 6s. 8d., and in 1831 at £402, is in the patronage of the Earl of Mornington, and incumbency of the Rev. R. R. P. Stanley, who has 27A. 3R. 11P. of glebe and a parsonage house, but does not reside here. The tithes were commuted in 1843.
Here is an Independent Chapel, built in 1833, and also National and British Schools.
FELSTED GRAMMAR SCHOOL and HOSPITAL were founded by Lord Rich in 1554 and 1565, together with a provision for the yearly distribution of red and white herrings, during Lent, among the poor of Felsted, Little Leigh, and Much Waltham. For the foundation he obtained the letters patent of Philip and Mary, which vested the patronage of the charity in him and his heirs. His son Robert was created Earl of Warwick in 1618, and left three co-heiresses, one of whom married Daniel Finch, afterwards Earl of Nottingham, in whom the patronage of the hospital and school became vested. George Finch, Esq. , of Burley, in Rutlandshire, is the present patron. In 1797, Lady Augustus Eliz. Finch left £500, and directed the yearly proceeds to be distributed after the death of her two sisters among the six almspeople. This legacy was received in 1830, and vested in the purchase of £649. 7s. three per cent. consols. The property derived from the gifts of Lord Rich, the founder, consists of the Rectory of Broomfield, now worth £500 a-year, and a farm there, let for £180 per annum; the Rectory of Matching, worth about £450 per annum ; a Farm at Morton End, comprising 76A, let for £93 a year; the Rectory of Braintree, worth £680 per annum ; a yearly rent-charge of £20 out of Felstedbury Farm; a farm of 21A. , and two woods, containing 5A. , at Felsted, occupied by the almspeople; and a house, garden, and close occupied by the schoolmaster. Though the three Rectories and the farm at Morton End are worth more than £1800 per annum, they were for many years let by the patron for the time being to his friends at small rents, amounting to only about £600 in money, and 2 qrs. 6 bushels of wheat, and 4 qrs. 1 bushel of barley malt.
The HOSPITAL forms three sides of a quadrangle, and is occupied by six almspeople, five womenand one man. As noticed below, the Hospital and School are now vested with trustees, under a new scheme. Five of the almspeople have each a
yearly stipend of £20, and the other, who acts as matron, has £30 a-year. They have also divided among them yearly £35 in coals and clothing.
FELSTED GRAMMAR SCHOOL, Owing to the mismanagement of the endowment, was for many years without scholars, though a master was regularly appointed. It had no scholars in 1835, when the Charity Commissioners certified it to the Attorney-General for the consideration of a Court of Equity. It was without scholars in 1848, when application was made to Parliament for an act to alter, vary, and extend the trusts and administration of Felsted School and Hospital, which had been so long abused. A new scheme was instituted in 1851, by the Court of Chancery, for their future management, under the following TRUSTEES, viz. :-Archdeacon Burney, T. W. Bramston, Esq. , J. J. Tufnell, jun. , Esq. , Rev. John Bramston, T. B. Western, Esq. , O. S. Onley, Esq., Rev. W. B. Ady, and Messrs. James Skill, C. F. Phillips, John Abraham, and T. C. Rolfe, with the Bishop of Rochester as visitor. In 1859, the Trustees purchased a field of 45 acres close to the village, and commenced the construction of new school buildings, by the erection of commodious dwelling-houses for the head and second masters. As soon as they have accumulated funds for the purpose, they will fill up the space between these houses by the erection of new school rooms and a large boarding-house. Pending the completion of these buildings the old school, as reconstructed in 1800, and improved in 1851, together with part of the second master’s house, is used for the reception of about 90 boarders. Each boy pays yearly £28 for board and washing, and £8 for tuition, including stationery. The new scheme provides for free scholars, but none have applied for admission, and there are seldom more than two day scholars. Besides the free use of good houses, the head master has a yearly salary of £200, and the second master £100. They have also capitation fees from the scholars above the number of 27. Since the appointment of the present efficient staff of masters, this school has risen to high repute, and affords, on moderate terms, such a liberal course of education as ensures a complete preparation for the Universities and the highest competitive examinations.
Sidney Boteler, in 1669, left a yearly rent-charge of £7. 12s. out of the glebe lands. Of this annuity £5 is applied in educating poor children, and £2. 12s. in a weekly distribution of bread ; for which the poor have also £2. 12s. yearly, left by one Tanner, out of Brook farm ; £2. 12s. per annum from Palmer’s Charity (see Stanstead Mountfitchet) ; and £14 yearly from two cottages and 5A. of land, left by Arthur Wilson in 1654.
FELSTED DIRECTORY.
Marked 1 are at Bannister Green ; 2, Bartholomew’s Green; 3, Causeway End ; 4, Cobler’s Green; 5, Cock Green; 6, Grimsall Green ; 7, Hartford-End; 8, Mole hill Green; and 9 at Willow Green. (See also Rayne Village.)
POST OFFICE at Thomas French’s . Letters via Chelmsford.
7 Barker Joseph
Livermore C.
Ellis William, coach maker. & wheelwright
French Thomas, plumber, painter,&c.
1 Fuller Mr James
Houlton Robert
Green Mary Ann, National schoolmistress
Laws Miss, British schoolmistress
MarkRev. John Jonas (Independent.)
Parkerson James, surgeon
Phillips Cheveley Frederick, insurance agent, appraiser, &c.
Ridley Thos. Dixon, brewer & miller
Skingle Miss Jane, Folly Farm
Stanley Rev. Robert Rainey Pennington, vicar
Suckling Elias, tailor
Taylor Elias, parish clerk
FELSTED GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Head Master, Rev William Stanford Grignon, M A ; Second Master, Rev John Harris Backhouse, M A
3rd, 4th and 5th Masters, E T Constable, B A; A W Rowe, B A; and W E Bird, B A
INNS AND TAVERNS.
Bell, Joseph Peachey
Chequers, James Skingle, weaver
Swan Inn, William Philpot
1 Three Horse Shoes, Frederick Fuller
FARMERS.-(*Are Owners.)
*Abraham John, Sewards, &c.
Bentall Arthur, Howletts
*Bentall Emma, Whelpstones
*Bentall Daniel, Old Peaches
Bentall Mrs Mary, Willow Green
Brown James, Glandfields
Brown Fordham, Grandcourts
Brown Grandeur, Drapers Farm
Clowton Charlotte, Sparlings
*Edwards Joseph, Felstead Place
Fewell William, Bridge House, &c.
*Gladwin Thomas, Frenches Green
Hobbs Henry, Gaters Farm
Hutley Jonathan, Gatewoods
Laver Caroline, Watch House, &c .
Laver James, Woods Farm
Linsdell Robert, Cock Green
Mills John, Fairy Hall
Overall William, Stebbing Ford
Philpot William, Moors Farm
*Ridley Thomas Dixon, & miller, &c.
Rolfe Geo. Clapton, Leighs Lodge
Rolfe Thomas Clapton, Pond Park
Sewell Henry, Princes Half Yard, Horstages and Garnetts Farms
Skill James, Felstedbury
*Smith John, Pye’s Bridge
*Taylor William, Brook Farm
Weaver James, Gt. Greenfield, &c.
Wright, William, Bannister Green
BAKERS, &c.
Oldston Joseph
Norris William and saddler
Taylor Elias
BEERHOUSES.
6 Clowton Charlotte – Crooked Billet
6 Digby Joseph
1 Fuller Mark
Hardy William
BLACKSMITHS .
1 Fuller Frederick
4Fuller Philip
Hardy William
BOOT & SHOE MAKERS.
Barker James
8Cornell William
BRICKLAYERS.
Lazell Thomas
BUTCHERS.
Archer John
Thompson John
CARPENTERS.
Bass John
Prance James
GROCERS, &C.
Allen Alfred & draper
Clarke Elizabeth
9Digby Joseph
3 Houlton
7 Moss Hannah
Reynolds Thomas
CARRIER.
George Dalby, to Chelmsford & Braintree