Stapleford Abbots 1863 Whites directory
STAPLEFORD ABBOTS, a pleasant and fertile parish, has many scattered farm-houses and neat cottages on the southern acclivity of the vale of the Roding, near Passingford Bridge, Curlmill Green, How Green, Knowle’s Hill, Newport Hatch, &c., from 5 to 6 miles S.E. by S. of Epping, and 6 to 7 S.W. of Chipping Ongar. It contains 492 souls and 2300 acres of land, rising boldly from the vale. Before the Conquest it belonged to the Abbey of St. Edmund’s Bury, and in 1010 it was one of the places where the monks rested with the body of that saint when being carried back from London to Bury St. Edmund’s. The parish is now in three manors.
ALBYNS was long the seat of the Abdy family, and now belongs to Sir Thomas Neville Abdy, Bart. , but is occupied by William C. Gellibrand, Esq. It gives name to a manor and estate which extends into Navestock parish, and anciently belonged to a chantry at Wivenhoe, and afterwards to the Luter, Cely, Ffitch, and other families. The mansion is a fine old building, erected by Sir Christopher Wren. It was completely repaired in the last century by Sir John Abdy, Bart., and stands in a large park overlooking the river Roding. His baronetcy was created in 1660, and became extinct in 1759. The present Sir T. N. Abdy was created a baronet in 1849. P. Barnes, Esq., is lord of the manor of Stapleford Abbots Hall, which belonged to the Abbey of Bury St. Edmund’s, and afterwards to the Maynard, Granville, and Ffitch families. The Crown, J. B. Stane, Esq., Colonel Wood, and several others have estates in the parish. In a wood are the remains of Bishop’s Moat, which tradition says was paved with marble, and was one of the defences of the fortified mansion which was occupied by the warlike Bishop Spencer.
The Church (St. Mary) was an ancient structure, consisting of a nave, chancel, south porch, and tower; but it was rebuilt on a larger scale in 1861-2, at the cost of about £2000. Externally the walls are faced with Kentish rag stone, but the doors and windows have Bath stone casings. It is fitted with open pews. A chapel on the north side of it is the burial-place of the Abdy family. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £16 15s. , and in 1831 at £513, is in the patronage of the Lord Chancellor, and incumbency of the Rev. C. W. Pitt, M.A., who has about 30A. of glebe and an old residence. Knoll’s hill Free School was erected in 1734, by Sir John Fortescue, Kt., who endowed it with £25 a year out of Knoll’s hill estate for a schoolmaster to teach reading and writing to 20 poor boys of this parish, and 20 of Lambourne parish. The master has also the free use of a house and about an acre of land, and is allowed to take other scholars. The poor parishioners have ayearly rent-charge of £3, left by Elizabeth Watson, in 1782, out of Mitchell’s estate at How green, in this parish, now belonging to Emanuel College, Cambridge; and also the dividends of £166. 13s. 4d. Three per Cent. Consols, purchased with £105, left by the Rev. Dr. Gould in 1799.
Post from Stapleford Tawney.
Barnes George, beerhouse
Dawkins Francis, wheelwright
Dixon James, shopkeeper
Gellibrand William Clarke, Esq. Albyns
Hurrell Richard, vict. Plough
Parrish Samuel, schoolmaster
Pitt Rev. Charles Whitworth, M.A. rector
Pigg Miss, school
Roach Mr William
Stevens Charles, miller, Water Mill
Thompson Thomas, relieving officer & registrar
FARMERS.
Crawley John
Baber William F.
Clark Henry
Lenny Mark
Lenny William
McMurray John
Mollett Charles
Staines James
Surridge James
Surridge Thomas
Taylor Philip, BlackBush
Webber Mr
Young Rd.Stokes