Ridgwell 1863 Whites directory
RIDGWELL, OF REDGWELL, is a pleasant village, built round a large green on a commanding eminence near the source of the river Colne, 9 miles N.W. of Halstead, and 2½ miles N.W. of Yeldham Station. It has in its parish 795 souls and 1663 acres of land, including several scattered houses and the detached hamlet of RIDGWELL NORTON, 3 miles S.W. of the parish church. In the 14th century, Ridgwell had a weekly market on Tuesday, and a fair on St. Lawrence’s day, but they have long been obsolete. The manor, with great part of the soil, belongs to St. John’s College, Cambridge, for which it was purchased in 1521. G. Nottidge and KingViall, Esqrs. , and several smaller owners, have estates in the parish, mostly free and partly copyhold. The farm called Three Chimneys, belongs to Queen’s College, Cambridge. The old farm- house called Causeway, is surrounded by a moat. The Roman road from Colchester to Cambridge pased through the parish, and many Roman coins, tiles, tesselæ, and the remains of a villa, were discovered in 1794. Traces of the Roman road were very distinct in 1790 in this and neighbouring parishes. Among the coins found at various periods are several of Octacilia, Severa, Nero, Vespasian, Domitian, Trajan, Carausius, Constantine the Great, and other emperors.
The Church (St. Lawrence) is a large and handsome stone fabric, with a nave, chancel, and north aisle, and a square embattled tower containing five bells. The roof of the nave is leaded and richly carved, and on the south side is a large porch. The wife of William de Munchency gave this church to her nunnery at Waterbeach, in Cambridgeshire. At the dissolution the rectory was given to Catherine Hall, Cambridge, and it still belongs to that College, together with the patronage of the discharged vicarage, valued in K.B. at £10, and now at £192, inthe incumbency of the Rev. Francis T. Hurst, M.A., who has a good residence, built in 1841, and 125 acres of glebe, partly purchased with £200 of Queen Ann’s Bounty, and money given by the patrons and the Revs. M. Cook and J. Johnson. The tithes were commuted in 1840, the rectorial for £420, and the vicarial for £136 per annum. Here is an Independent Chapel, rebuilt in 1859, and belonging to a congregation formed in 1662, under the ministry of the Rev. Daniel Ray, an ejected Nonconformist
POST OFFICE at William Fitch’s. . Letters via Halstead and Haverhill.
Baynes Mr Joseph
Bowman Wm. plumber, painter, &c.
Bridge Rev. Samuel (Independent)
Chaplin William, cornmiller
Howard William, beer retailer
Howlett Foyster, vict. King’s Head
Hurst Rev. Fras. T. M.A. vicar
Hustler William, blacksmith
Paul Mrs Sarah, Richmond Place
Pennell John, coal dealer
Smith George, beerhouse
Sore Ezekiel, corn miller
Ward Robert, carpenter
Ward Allen, blacksmith & wheelwright
Ward Emily, straw hat maker
White Benjamin, blacksmith
Winch Jas. parish clerk and sexton
FARMERS.
Chaplin William (miller) Moat Farm
Chaplin John Rd. Three Chimneys
Cock Joseph, Great Town Farm
Fitch William, and butcher
Gatward James, Hill Farm
Giblin Charles, Ridgwell Hall
Howard William, Great Norton
Norden George, Ridgwell Hill
Reeve Hayden, and horse dealer
Sharp Mrs Mary Ann, Essex Farm
Smoothy Samuel, Causeway
Yeldham John, Little Norton
BAKERS, &c.
Cole Thomas
Goody Peter
Humphrey Rebecca
Smith William
SHOEMAKERS.
Lilley Robert
Osborne Isaac
Smee David
SHOPKEEPRRS .
Bartrup William
Cole Thomas
Hemstead Hy. K. and gardener
Lilley Lewis
Pearson John
TAILORS.
Gunn George
Smee Cyril
CARRIER.
William Byford to Hedingham station daily