Stebbing 1863 Whites directory
STEBBING, three miles N.E. of Dunmow, is a large straggling village, with many good houses, onthe eastern acclivity of a valley, through which a rivulet flows southward to the Chelmer, and has here several mills. It has a fair for fat calves and other cattle, on the 10th of July; and its parish contains 1345 inhabitants and 4301 acres of land, including many scattered houses, and the districts called Bran-End, one mile N., and Stebbing Green and Stebbing Ford, more than a mile S.W. of the church. In the Confessor’s reign, it was held by Siward, a Saxon thane ; and at Domesday Survey, by Ralph Peverel and Henry de Ferrers. In the parish is a conical hill, still surrounded by a moat, and said to have been the site of a castle, but there is no historical evidence of such a building. The manor of Stebbing was held by the noble family of Ferrers till the latter part of the fourteenth century, when their heiress carried it to the Greys. In 1545, it was sold in exchange to Henry VIII. , who exchanged it with Sir Giles Capel, an ancestor of the Earl of Essex, the present lord of the manors of Stebbing Hall and Porter’s Hall, and owner of a great part of the parish. Colonel Bingham, as impropriator of the rectory, is lord of the manor of Prior’s or Friar’s Hall ; and here are several smaller proprietors, partly free and partly copyholders.
The Church (St. Mary) is a grand specimen of the decorated style of the fourteenth century, consisting of a nave, with aisles, a chancel, north sacristy, south porch, and a west tower, containing five bells, and crowned by a spire. The nave was repaired and beautified in 1825, when galleries were erected and 143 additional free sittings provided.
There was a chantry here, founded by Sir John Bultell; and an obit, endowed by John Gunnock. The rectory was given by Wm.
de Ferrers to the Knights Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem ; but is now in the impropriation of Colonel Bingham, who is also patron of the vicarage, valued in K.B. at £12, and in 1831 at £212, and now in the incumbency of the Rev. M. D. Duffield, M.A., who has a good residence, rebuilt in 1832 and 1840, at the cost of about £1060, borrowed from Queen Anne’s Bounty. The glebe of the impropriate rectory is about 128A. The tithes were commuted in 1839- the rectorial for £850, and the vicarial for £351 per annum. Here is an Independent Chapel, built in 1719, but enlarged and repaired in 1820 and 1842. The congregation date their origin from 1662, when the Rev. Samuel Bantoft, B.D., was ejected from the vicarage for nonconformity. Here are National and British Schools; and also a Friends’ Meeting House, built in 1674. For the relief of the poor of this parish, Robert Fuller and John Polly, in 1588, gave two cottages and a garden, adjoining the churchyard, now let for £8. 4s. a year. The poor parishioners have £3 yearly, as the rent of 4A. of land at Oxen-End, in Little Bardfield, purchased in 1612 for £39, of J. and T. Buttolfe ; and also a yearly rent-charge of 20s. out of land left by John Lum, in 1796. A legacy of £150, left to the poor by Frances Batt, in 1736, was laid out in two cottages, now let for £10. 17s. a year.
STEBBING.
Marked 2 are at Bran-End, and 3 at Duck- end.
POST OFFICE at Thos. Thorogood’s.
Letters via Dunmow.
2 Chopping Samuel, miller, maltster, baker, and brick maker
Davey Mr Thos. Prospect place
Duff Rev. Charles, (Independent)
Duffield Rev. Matthew Dawson, vicar
Easton James Brooks, surgeon
Lapworth William, parish clerk
Linsell Robert, cattle dealer, &c.
Lewis Henry, marine store dealer
Meadows Harvey, baker, draper, &c.
Nichols Zachariab , corn miller
Ruffel Thos. & Son, wheelwgts. &c.
2 Thorne Joseph. & Wm.machine owners
Warden Wm. Rennie, baker, &c.
FARMERS.
Adams Samuel, Carter’s Farm
Barnard William, Holts
Brookes Mr, Bacon’s Farm
Byett William, Yew Tree
Byford James, Scollops
Byford Alfred, Hill Farm
Clarke Richard, Parsonage Farm
Davey Thomas, Church Farm
Ereth John, Stones Farm
Hitching Charles, William’s
Hutley John, Porter’s Hall
Lewsey Sarah, White Hart Farm
Massey John Bailey, Stebbing Park
Messent Charles, Tan Office
Metson George, Lubber Hedge
Metson Thomas, Tollesbury
Rawlinson Samuel, Brick Kiln
Rawlinson William, Hobby Binns
Smith Joseph, Green and Poplars
Tarbert John, Lucas Farm
2 Whitehead Joseph, and miller
Whitney George, Cowlands
Wood Henry, Stebbing Green
INNS AND TAVERNS.
Bell, James Linsell, and saddler
Green Man, Mr Smart
King’s Head, Charles Lewsey
Red Lion, James Emms
White Hart, Samuel Adams
ACADEMIES.
Burgess Jane
Cock Mary
2 Thorn Sarah
BEERHOUSES.
Brand Thomas
2 Monk William
BLACKSMITHS
3 Barker Josiah
Parr Richard
2 Stokes Nathaniel
BOOT & SHOEMAKERS
2 Gowers Esdras
Philpot James, & gardener
Saggers Joseph
Thorogood Thomas
BRICKLAYERS.
2 Cross Thomas
Lazell Thomas
BUTCHERS.
Britton William
Firmin J.
Wood Thomas
CORN MILLERS.
2 Chopping Sl.
2 Whitehead Joseph
SHOPKEEPERS
Gould James
Linsell William
Meadows Harvey
2 Monk William, and tailor
Staines Ann