Gosfield 1863 Whites directory
GOSFIELD, a pleasant village, on the high road, 2½ miles S.W. of Halstead, and 44 miles N.E. by N. of Braintree, has in its parish 620 souls, and 2966 acres of land, including several scattered farm houses, and the large and beautiful park of GOSFIELD HALL, the seat of Samuel Courtauld, Esq. , the lord of the manor. The mansion of Gosfield Hall, though greatly altered, presents an interesting specimen of the domestic architecture which prevailed in the construction of the residences of the nobility during the reign of Henry VII. , when houses were built with all the strength, but without the external appearance of baronial castles. It is an extensive brick building, surrounding a quadrangular court. Originally there were not any windows on the ground floor, except those looking into the court, and those of the upper story were strongly barricaded. The west side of the quadrangle remains nearly in its original state, but the north, east, and south fronts were rebuilt byJohn Knight, Esq , who owned the estate at the beginning of last century. Various alterations were afterwards made by Earl Nugent, and also by the Marquis of Buckingham, who died in 1813. The hall and estate afterwards passed to the late Edw. Geo. Barnard, Esq. In the reign of Napoleon I., the exiled royal family of France spent much time at Gosfield Hall, in which there is a gallery 106 feet long, called Queen Elizabeth’s Gallery, in commemoration of that sovereign having twice visited Lady Ryche at Gosfield. About half a mile east of the church is GOSFIELD PLACE, a handsome modern mansion in a large park, the seat of Basil Sparrow, Esq. It is in the manor of Biggs, which belongs to the trustees of the late James Goodeve Sparrow, Esq. Several smaller owners have estates in the parish, partly copyhold, subject to arbitrary fines.
The Church (St. Catherine) is a small neat building, in the park, and has a tower and three bells. It was restored in 1856. On the north side ofit is a small chapel, originally built for a chantry priest, by Thomas Rolfe, who was buried here in 1440. In the chancel are several old tombs, which were robbed of their brass tablets during the civil wars. In the chapel is an elegant monument, with full-length figures of two members of the Knight family, admirably executed by Scheemaker. On the white marble tablet is a poetical inscription, written by Alexander Pope. The vicarage, valued in K.B. at £8, and in 1831 at £268, was augmented, in 1720, by John Knight, Esq, and Mrs. Anne and Mary Millington, in conjunction with an allotment of Queen Anne’s Bounty. The land purchased for this augmentation is at Sible Hedingham. Samuel Courtauld, Esq., is impropriator of the great tithes, and patron of the vicarage, now in the incumbency of the Rev. S. W. Dowell, who has a good residence, which was much improved in 1848. The tithes were commuted in 1842. In the village is a commodious school, lecture and preaching room, supported by Mr. and Mrs. Courtauld. Religious service is performed in it by the Rev. A. Macdougal.
GOSFIELD.
POST OFFICE at Jno.Ward’s. Letters via Halstead.
Bickmore James, shopkeeper
Broyd William, brick and tile maker
Chamberlain Eliz. vict. Green Man
Cook William, vict. King’s Head
Copsey George, fruiterer & carrier
Courtauld Samuel, Esq. (silk manufacturer, ) Gosfield Hall
Dowell Rev. Stephen Wilkinson, vicar
Hawkes Peter, bricklayer
Jeggo Joseph & John, broom maker
Newcombe Joseph, butcher
Newcombe Luke, shoemaker
Newcombe Sarah, baker & beerhouse
Porter Charles, carpenter
Pryke Mary, blacksmith
Rankin Joseph, wheelwright, &c.
Root William, shopkeeper & sexton
Round Edw. gent. Gosfield Cottage
Scratton Mrs Elizabeth, Cut-hedge
Spencer William, wheelwright
Sparrow Basil, Esq. Gosfield Place
Staines Theophilus, farm bailiff
Ward John, shopkeeper, Post Office
FARMERS.
Ardley Henry, Hawkwoods
Ardley William, Aylwards
Deeks George, Peterfields
Edwards Richard, Shardloes
Evershed Henry, Park Hall
Joyce John, Liston Hall
Quilter Abraham, Beechley’s
Rawlings Mary, Iron Pear Tree
Rayner Jonathan
Savill John, (auctioneer, &c.) Orange Hall
Smith David, Harmass
CARRIERS pass to Braintree, &c.