Littlebury Whites Directory in 1863
LITTLEBURY village is pleasantly situated on the London and Newmarket road, and the river Cam or Granta, 2 miles W.N.W. of Saffron Walden, and N. of Audley-End Station. Its parish contains 974 souls, and 3408A. 2R. 19p. of land, including the small scattered villages of Catmere End, Chapel Green, and Littlebury Green, from 1 to 2 miles W. and S.W. of the church. From the ninth century till the dissolution of the monasteries this parish belonged to Ely Abbey. Lord Braybrooke is lord of the manor, but many smaller owners have estates here, mostly copyhold, subject to certain fines.
A Roman road crossed the parish at Littlebury Green, which in some records is called Streetly Green.
The CHURCH (Holy Trinity) stands within the area of a Roman camp, and is a plain building of great antiquity. It has a nave, side aisles, and chancel, and a square embattled tower containing six bells. The font is beautiful, and has a splendid oak canopy. The sinecure rectory was abolished in 1852, by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. The vicarage, valued in K.B. at £10. 2s. 1d., and now at £206, is inthe patronage of the Bishop of Rochester, and incumbency of the Rev. Joseph Wix, M.A., who has a good residence and 158A. of glebe, mostly allotted in lieu of tithes at the enclosure in 1801.
Henry Winstanley, the celebrated architect, who was clerk of the King’s works at Newmarket and Audley-End, under Charles II. and James I., was a resident of Littlebury. He built the first Eddystone Lighthouse on the dangerous rock near the entrance to Hamoaze Bay, and was so confident in the strength of the work that he expressed a wish to be in it during an extraordinary storm. His wish was gratified, in the dreadful tempest of November 27th, 1703, when the lighthouse was carried away, with the architect and all who were with him.
LITTLEBURY FREE SCHOOL was founded by Dame Jane Bradbury, at an early period, but the grant and feoffment being lost, the land with which she endowed it was seized by the lady of the manor in 1657, and re-granted to the school trustees in the same year. Since the enclosure in 1801, the school property has consisted of about 234. of land and five cottages, let in eight lots, at rents now amounting to £70 per annum, master, who is appointed by the lord of the manor. The school is open for free instruction to all the children in the parish without distinction, except that they must be six years of age when admitted.
The poor parishioners have 19s. 6d. yearly from Martin’s Charity (see Chrishall) , and £3 yearly from Dr. Harvey’s Charity. The latter is paid by the bursar of Trinity Hall, Cambridge. They have also a yearly rent- charge of 20s. out of Perring’s Farm, left by Thomas Clarke, in 1585 ; the interest of £60, left by Thomas Sutton, in 1585 ; and a rent-charge of £8, out of the mansion of Audley-End, granted in 1783, in satisfaction of the will of Robert Raymond, dated 1722. Five poor men and five poor women of Littlebury are clothed annually from Lord Howard de Walden’s Charity, as noticed with Saffron Walden. The dividends of £405. 18s. Three-and-a-half per Cent. Reduced Annuities, left by William Steevens Walton, in 1833, are divided among the aged and industrious poorhouseholders of the parish. The Poor’s Allotment, awarded at the enclosure, is 2A. 2R. 39P. , let for £2. 14s. , which is distributed in bread.
LITTLEBURY.
POST OFFICE at Thos. Green’s. Letters via Saffron Walden.
Abraham William, carpenter
Barr Colonel, High House
Bewsher Mr Edw. L.
Duke John
Bird William, shopkeeper
Bull Sarah, vict. Queen’s Head
Burges William, machine maker, &c.
Duke (Jn.) & Edwards (Wm.) butchers
Godfrey Ann, wheelwright
Green Thos. blacksmith, Post Office
Green Thomas, plumber & vict. Falcon
Hardwick Jethro, baker, &c.
Hooper Frederick William, schoolmaster
King Ezekiel, tailor
King Waller Mills, corn miller
Stackwood Alfred, coach builder, &c.
Stubbings, William, parish clerk
Wix Rev. Joseph, M.A. vicar
Wright John, bricklayer & shopkeeper
Wright William, bricklayer
BEERHOUSES.
Mickley Charles
Piper Robert Dean, high constable
Abraham William – Carpenters Arms
Law Sarah – Rose
Pettit George – Hoops
FARMERS.
Claydon John
Duke William
Emson Edmund
Ilott John
King W. M.
Nichols George, Burdeaux
Priest Joseph
Robinson Sarah
SHOEMAKERS.
Barker James
King William
Suckling John
CARRIERS pass to London, Newmarket, &c