Great Chishall Whites Directory in 1863
CHISHALL (GREAT) is a pleasant village and parish, at the north-western extremity of Essex, 9 miles W. by N. of Saffron Walden, and 4 miles E.S.E. of Royston. It has a hilly surface and contains 532 souls, and 2618 acres of land, which was held at Domesday Survey, by Geoffrey de Mandeville and Roger Othurville. Lord Dacre owns a great part of the parish, and is lord of the principal manors, but the Rev. Robert Wilkes is lord of the manor of Farance Fee, impropriator of the rectory, and patron of the vicarage, valued in K.B. at £10, and now at £173, in the incumbency of the Rev. H. H. Hastie, B.A., who has a good residence. The tithes were commuted for allotments of land, at the enclosure, in 1818, when 137 acres were awarded to the vicar.
The Church (St. Swithin) is an ancient structure, consisting of a nave and side aisles, a chancel, and square tower, containing five bells, and crowned with a small spire. It was appropriated to Walden Priory, by Geoffrey de Mandeville, in 1136, and was granted to Sir Thomas Audley, at the dissolution. The poor parishioners have yearly 13s. from Martin’s Charity (see Chrishall) ; 5s. left by Thomas Witcham, in 1624, out of a house at Chrishall ; £1. 16s. 8d. as the rent of three roods of land, left in 1627, by George Langley ; and £2. 8s.8d. from 2A. 1R. 27P. allotted at the enclosure, in lieu of land left by Richard Dale, in 1620, and George Bownest, in 1650.
Bolden William, parish clerk
Cane Abel,saddler and ironmonger
Hastie Rev. Hy. Hepburn, B. A. vicar
Hoy William, baker
Howard James, carpenter and victualler, Plough
Ryder MaryAnn, schoolmistress
Wilson Robert, blacksmith
Wood George, wheelwright
FARMERS.
Baker Thomas
Andrews Henry, and miller
Kent Joseph
Waters Hy. Hall
SHOEMAKERS.
Baker Thomas
Muncey Joseph
SHOPKEEPERS.
Muncey Ann
Pitty Dinah
Post from Royston