Shalford 1863 Whites directory
SHALFORD, a scattered village, in the vale of the river Pant or Blackwater, from four to five miles N.N.W. of Braintree, has in its parish 760 souls and 2407 acres of land, finely undulated, and having avaried but generally fertile soil, in some parts gravelly, upon a white and yellow sand, which is beneficially applied to the wet heavy lands. For a long period, most of the parish was held of the Honour of Clare, and was divided into five manors, several of which were afterwards united. Richard Marriott, Esq. , owns a great part of the soil, is lord of the principal manors, and has a handsome seat here, called Abbot’s Hall, from the estate having been held by the monks of St. Osyth. J. S. Legerton, the Rev. R. E. Kerrich, and several smaller owners, have estates here, mostly freehold, and partly copyhold, subject to arbitrary fines. Shalford Hall, now a farm-house, is a large square building, formerly belonging to the Northwood, Thompson, Moore, and Raymond families. The other estates and reputed manors are Nicholls, Sherne Hall, Redfants, Wymers, &c.
The CHURCH (St. Andrew) is an ancient structure, with a tower and five bells. It has three ancient tombs, and in the south aisle is a hagioscope (holy view), through which a person might see the Elevation of the Host, without being seen by the congregation. The discharged vicarage, valued in K.B. at £7, and now at £205, is in the patronage of the Prebendary of Shalford, of Wells Cathedral, and in the incumbency of the Rev. John Groomes, M.A. The Prebend of Shalford was founded in 1174, by Hamo Fitz-Geoffery, who endowed it with the rectory and the advowson of the vicarage. The tithes were commuted in 1847, the rectorial for about £500, and the vicarial for £204 per annum. Sergeant Bendlowe built an almshouse on the site of an old one, called the Guildhall, for two old men and their wives; and in 1573, he endowed it with 20s. a year, out of land called Baylies,
at Bocking. The poor parishioners have two yearly rent charges, viz., 20s. out of the manor of Nicholls, and 10s. out of Iron Bridge Farm, but the donors are unknown.
Allen Sarah, beerhouse & shopkeeper
Bell John, shoolmaster & parish clerk
Blanks Thos. beerhouse, shopkeeper & smith
Groomes Rev. John, M.A. vicar
Harvey Berjamin, vict. George Inn
Hitching John, baker and shopkeeper
Marriott Richard, Esq. Abbot’s Hall
Root John Clark, wheelwright
Shipton Daniel, maltster
Tanner Edward Page, beerhouse
Tanner Geo. carpenter and builder
Thompson John, gardener
Thompson James, shopkeeper
West Thos. miller, Shalford green
Willis George, gardener
FARMERS.
Adams Mrs Jane, Hunts
Alger JohnClift, Redfants
Byatt Cornelius, Parsonage
Byford Henry, Dines
Byford Frederick, Roselands
Fitch Charles, Tan Office
Fitch Alfred, Iron bridge
Hoddy William, Hubbard’s
Jackson John Legerton, Bays
Legerton John Stock, White House
Legerton John S. jun. Little’s
Ling Henry Quye, Shalford Hall
Perry Thomas (and gardener)
Tanner George, Jasper’s green
Willis Porter (and brewer and maltster) , Sheering Hall
POST OFFICE at John Hitching’s. Letters via Braintree.
CARRIERS pass to Braintree, &c.