Waltham Abbey Whites Directory in 1848
WALTHAM ABBEY, or WALTHAM HOLY CROSS, is a small ancient market town, on the east side of the river Lea, about a mile E. of Waltham Cross Staton on the North-Eastern Railway, in Hertfordshire, on the opposite side of the vale ; and 12 miles N. by E. of London. It is lighted with gas from the works at the above named station, and is in a low situation near the river Lea, which receives near it the Cobbin Brook, and forms several small islands, bordered by fruitful meadows, and said to have been caused by King Alfred, when he altered the course of the river, for the purpose of stranding the Danish fleet. These little islands are partly occupied by the Royal Gunpowder Mills and Magazines, which extend in detached branches, a distance of four miles towards Epping. Some of the corning mills were blown up in 1801 and 1843, and on the latter occasion seven men were killed.
The town is irregularly built, and consists chiefly of one main street. It has a small market on Tuesday, and fairs on May 14th and Sept. 25th and 26th. Its extensive PARISH is in Edmonton Union, and comprises 11,474 acres of land, and 4177 inhabitants ; and is divided into four wards, viz. , WALTHAM ABBEY, which comprises the town and suburbs, and has 2041 inhabitants ; HOLYFIELD hamlet, which extends three miles northward, between the river Lea and Cobbin Brook, and includes Galley and Mangham Hills, part of the Gunpowder Mills, and 382 inhabitants ; SEWARDSTONE hamlet, which extends from 1 to 3 miles S.W., and includes a large part of Epping Forest, High Beech, (where there is a new district church,) Leopard’s Hill, Sewardstone Green, many scattered houses, and 901 inhabitants ; and UPSHIRE hamlet, which extends 2 miles eastward from the town to the forest, and along the south side of Cobbin Brook, and includes Warley Park, Sergeant’s Green, many scattered houses, and 853 inhabitants.
In Sewardstone is a large private LUNATIC ASYLUM, in three separate houses, beautifully situated on the borders of the forest, viz. ,
Fairmead House, Leopard’s Hill Lodge, and Springfield House,where patients are classified according to their respective states of mind.
About 70 acres of land are attached to this well-conducted asylum, and a large portion of it is laid out in gardens and promenade grounds,
for the use of the patients. The late Dr. Allen founded this retreat for those afflicted with the worst of human maladies, insanity, and it is now under the management of Mrs. Allen and Dr. Forrest, the latter of whom is the resident physician. Waltham Abbey has a Literary and Scientific Institution, established in 1844 ; and a ” Working Man’s Mental and Moral Improvement Society.” Here is a Pin Manufactory, several Corn Mills, and two Breweries. Petty Sessions are held here every Tuesday, at the Police Station ; and Mr. J. Jessopp is clerk to the magistrates. The assessments to the property tax of the four wards, in 1843, were as follows : Waltham Abbey, £8111 ; Sewardstone, £5992 ; Upshire, £6594 ; and Holyfield, £5152.
ABBEY. Waltham derived its early importance from its extensive and richly endowed Abbey, of which there are now but few remains. The first mention of Waltham occurs in the time of Canute, in whose reign the then lord of the manor, Tovy, or Tovius, standard bearer to that monarch, attracted by the great quantities of game in the forest, founded here a village and church, placing 66 dwellers in the former, and two priests in the latter. After his death, his son and heir, Athelstan, squandered his inheritance ; and Waltham, reverting to the Crown, was given by Edward the Confessor to Earl Harold, on condition that he should build a monastery in the place where there was a little convent founded by Tovy. Harold enlarged this small convent, and refounded and endowed it as a college, for a dean and 7 secular canons of the Augustine order. A distinct manor was allotted for the maintenance of each canon, and six for the support of the dean. The church was at the same time enriched with a vast number of relics, one of which was a miraculous cross, with a figure of Our Saviour upon it, and said to have been found at Montacute. Henry II. , about 1177, changed the old foundation of seculars into an abbey of regular canons of the same order, augmentiug the number to 24, and proportionably increasing their revenues, by a grant of the rich lands of Sewardstone and Epping.
Great additions were made to the church and monastic buildings, and the whole was rededicated to the aforesaid Holy Cross and St. Lawrence. The first abbot was Walter de Gaunt, who was indulged by the Pope, in 1191, with the use of the pontificals, and exempted from episcopal jurisdiction.
Richard I. granted to the Abbey his whole manor of Waltham, with the great wood or park called Harold’s Park, 460A. of essart lands, and other estates and privileges. He afterwards gave the mansion and estate of Copped Hall, to be held in fee of the abbey, by Robert Fitz Aucher. Henry the Third augmented the privileges of the Abbey, and bestowed upon it many rich gifts, so that it now became one of the most opulent monasteries in the kingdom. The latter monarch frequently made the Abbey his place of residence, to avoid the expenses of a court ; and for the purpose of supplying the increased consumption which his presence and retinue occasioned, he granted the town the privilege of a weekly market, and a seven days’ annual fair. In his reign, great disputes took place between the monks and the townspeople, respecting the right of the former to pasture their cattle on the adjoining grounds ; and these were no sooner ended, than a dispute arose between the abbot and the lord of the manor of Cheshunt, respecting some land held by the former, and claimed by the latter as parcel of his manor. During these altercations, the monks were charged by their enemies with much affectionate consolation from the holy sisters in the nunnery at Cheshunt. After being enlarged, repaired, and beautified, the Abbey was again solemnly dedicated in 1242. The last event of importance, which occurred in it, prior to the dissolution, was the accidental meeting between Thomas Cranmer and the prelates Fox and Gardiner, which ended
so remarkably in the advancement of the former to the see of Canterbury, and drew with it a train of consequences highly interesting to that age, as well as to succeeding times. The Abbey was suppressed in 1539, when its annual revenues were valued at £900. 4s. 11d. according to Dugdale, or at £1079. 12s. 1d. as recorded by Speed. The last abbot, Robert Fuller, may be reckoned among the literati of the monastery, of which he wrote a history in 460 folio pages ; the substance of which is given by his namesake Fuller, at the end of his ” Church History. ” The site of the Abbey, with the manor, &c. , was granted for 32 years to Sir Anthony Denny, who dying about the second of Edward VI., his widow bought the reversion in fee, for about £3000 . Sir Edward Denny, grandson of Sir Anthony, was created Earl of Norwich, by Charles I., and from him the manor of Waltham Holy Cross passed by the marriage of his daughter to the celebrated Earl of Carlisle. It afterwards passed to the Wakes, and is now held by Sir Charles Wake, Bart. , of Courteen, Northamptonshire. R. B. Andrews, Esq. , is the manor steward, and holds the manor court yearly on Whit- Monday. In 1636, the Earl of Norwich charged the Claverhambury estate (about 7001.,) with the yearly payment of £100 for the officiating minister of Waltham Abbey, but his grandson sold the whole, except the manorial rights and the Claverhambury farm ; the latter of which is now subject to the rent-charge of £100 ; but should it cease to be of that value, the other farms are liable to make up the deficiency, viz., Eames Green , Riddens, Braches, and Bowtells , now respectively the property of Mr. George Palmer, Mr. R. Dyson, Major Bury, W. Banbury, Esq. , and Mrs. E. Cade. There are many other proprietors iu the parish, and some of them have neat mansions, with tasteful pleasure grounds, as afterwards noticed. The Abbey House was a large building, which was new fronted by Charles Wake Jones, Esq.; but the whole of it was pulled down in 1770. The gateway into the Abbey-yard, a bridge which leads to it, some ruinous walls, an arched vault, and the parish church, are the only vestiges of the ancient magnificence of Waltham Abbey. Adjoining the gateway is the Porter’s Lodge, and a piece of ground now called Bramblings, but formerly Romeland, on account of its rents being formerly appropriated to the see of Rome. On this spot, Henry VIII. is said to have had a small pleasure house, which he frequently occupied on his visits to Waltham. In the convent garden, occupied by a market gardener, is an ancient tulip tree, said to be the largest in England; and near the bridge is the abbey-mill.
CHURCH. The Abbey Church was an extensive and elegant cruciform structure, with a massive tower, and five large bells, afterwards purchased by the parish of the King’s Commissioners. The intersection of the transept is yet visible, though the site of Harold’s tomb, which stood in the chancel, is about 40 yards from the termination of the present building. Part of the tower fell down a few years after the surrender of the Abbey, and the rest was taken down in 1556, together with the remains of the choir, transept, &c. , leaving only the west end of the building, which constitutes the present parish church. This venerable relic, though much disfigured and mutilated, contains several interesting and curious specimens of the ornamented columns, semicircular arches, and other characteristics of the Norman style of architecture. Its length, from the western entrance to the altar, is about ninety feet ; and its breadth, including the side aisles, forty- eight. The body is divided from the latter by six arches on each side, sup- ported by pillars : five of them are semicircular, and are decorated with rude zigzag ornaments ; the sixth, or western arch, is pointed, and ap- parently of a later construction. The pillars are extremely massive ; and two on each side, which correspond, have wavy and spiral indentations, similar to those of the nave and choir in Durham Cathedral. Above this lower range of arches rise two tier of smaller ones, formed and ornamented in the same manner. The upper row of these enlighten the roof; and at the bottom of the lower tier is the narrow passage usual in cathedral and conventual churches, called triforia. The roof itself is of timber, modern, and but little ornamented; the side aisles are surmounted by galleries, which, with the pews in the nave, have been erected for the accom- modation of the parishioners. At the west end is a heavy square tower, having the date 1558. It was repaired about 50 years ago ; and a new window was then introduced. It is built with stone, is embattled, and rises to the height of eighty- six feet. The original charge of building, in 1558, independent of materials, was 33s. 4d. per foot, for the first fifty- three feet, and 40s. per foot, for the remainder. This expense was defrayed out of the stock in the church box, which had been acquired partly by the sale of stone, lead, and timber, from the monastic buildings, but chiefly by the sale of the goods of the ” brotherhood” belonging to the church, which consisted of three choristers and two sextons, and was not dissolved till the reign of Edward VI. The sum of £67.14s. 9d. was raised by the sale of 271 ounces of plate belonging to this fraternity. Though the five old bells are said to have been sold to raise money for the completion of the present steeple, it has now a peal of eight. From the south side of the church projects a chapel, formerly Our Lady’s, but now a school room, under which is a beautiful arched charnel house, or crypt. Here was also St. George’s Chapel, and a third little chapel, or outbuilding, at the north-east end of the church, is now a repository for rubbish. Towards the east end is a handsome screen of wood, and near it there was formerly a painting in glass of Harold, the founder, which was destroyed by the puritans, in the reign of Charles I. The unfortunate Harold offered up his prayers for victory in this church, previous to his engagement with the Norman invaders. His body, with those of his two brothers, slain at the same time, was brought here for interment, attended by a small dejected remainder of the English nobility. His tomb was of plain grey marble, and the epitaph is said to have been only these two expressive words, Harold infelix; though Weever gives it in a dozen lines of barbarious Latin, from an ancient manuscript once belonging to the Abbey. In the reign of Elizabeth, a gardener found alarge stone coffin, supposed to contain the royal corpse, but the remains, on being touched, mouldered into dust. About 1800, a second coffin was found near the same place, containing an entire skeleton enclosed in lead, which conjecture identified as one of the royal brothers. The benefice is a donative curacy, which was valued in 1831 at £237, and was endowed in 1636, by the Earl of Norwich, with £100 per annum, out of the Claverhambury estate, as already noticed. The Earl, at the same time, vested the patronage in Trustees, and the living is now held by the Rev. James Francis,
M.A. The Church Estate comprises two houses in Sewardstone street, and 23A. IR. 7P. ofland in Upshire hamlet, vested in trust, for the service of the Church, and now let for £91. 14s. per annum. Here are two Baptist Chapels, one belonging to a congregation formed in 1729 ; and at the top of Quaker lane is a Wesleyan Chapel.
WALTHAM ABBEY PARISH DIRECTORY.
Those marked 1, are in High Beech ; 2, Holyfield Hamlet ; 3, Upshire Hamlet ; 4, Sewardstone Hamlet ; and the rest are in the town of Waltham Abbey, viz. , 5, in Green yard ; 6, High Bridge street ; 7, Market place ; 8, Sewardstone street ; and 9, in Sun street.
POST OFFICES at Miss Eliz. Allsup’s, High Bridge street, and at Mr. Wm. Burrell’s, High Beech.
Letters despatched at 12 noon, 25 afternoon, and 7 evening ; from the former, via Waltham Cross ; and at 20 minutes past 7 morning, and at 24 afternoon, from the latter, via Woodford.
Adams William, master worker, Gunpowder Mills
3 Banbury William Esq. , Warley Park
Beldam Mr William
9 Brackett John
1 Allen Mrs B., Fairmead House, &c Asylum
3 Allen Mr John, Upshire
1 Arabin Richd. Esq. and Mrs Mary
Austin Thos. supt. of machinery at Gunpowder Mills
5 Bradford Richard. registrar sub-disr. of stamps, and agent London Ins. Co.
4 Burch William, cotton manufacturer
4 Burgess Samuel, gentleman
Carr William, parish clerk
4 Chetwood Mr Thos. butler
Clark John, glover, Sun street
Cockburn Rt. Hon. Admiral Sir Geo. Bart. and G.C.B., High Beech
2 Colvin Beale Blackwell, Esq. , Mangham’s Hall
Connop Newell, Esq. Upshire
5 Cornish Benjamin, cooper
9 Crean Geo. pastry cook and confectioner
4 Davis John, Esq. Yardley House
Dawson Jas. Esq. High Beech
7 Dench Thos. fishing tackle mkr
Durnford Geo. E. second clerk, Gunpowder Mills
6 Dyer William, furniture, &c. broker
East Rev. J. (Baptist) Paradise row
9 Faulkner Samuel, dyer
Ferguson Joseph, manager
1 Field Rev. S. Pryer, M.A. incumbent of High Beech
1 Forrest Chas., M.D., Springfield House Asylum
Francis Rev. Jas. , M.A. incumbent
Griffith John, Esq. High bridge st
6 Hale Thos. fellmonger & wool dlr
6 Hobson Jas. & Chas. stone masons
Hutton Edw. police sergt. Sun st
Johnston W. J. first clerk, Gunpowder Mills
Jones Colonel Richd.
4 Edw. Esq.
1 Jones W. Y. Esq. High Beech
Joyce Frdk. percushion cap mfr
Littler Mr William, High bridge st
3 Lovegrove William chair maker
6 Maynard William umbrella maker
Mellish Joseph. police inspector
Merrington Mrs Martha, Upshire
3 Miller Mr Thomas, Upshire
7 Mills Jas. pin mfr. (and London)
2 Palmer Capt. Geo. , Claverhambury
Parnell John, Esq. Paradise Cottage
Presland Mrs Fanny, carrier
4 Preston Chas. Esq. Sewardstone
Pryor Chas. auctioneer, estate agent, and agent to Phœnix Fire & Pelican Life Offices
6 Rapley John, timber
6 Ratcliff Thos. Esq. R.E. clerk of works, Gunpowder Mills
3 Reffell Mr John
1 Rowe Geo. attendant at Leopard’s Hill Lodge Asylum
6 Rowley Jas. bacon dealer, &c.
9 Saffery Rev. P. J. (Baptist)
9 Sayer William, foreman
2 Smith John, high constable, Harolds Park
1 Sotheby Capt. Chas., R.N. Manor House, High Beech
1 Tatlock Paul, Esq. High Beech
5 Turner John, basket maker
6 Turner Joseph, fishmonger
4 Usborne Thos. Henry, Esq.
3 Walker Henry, potter
1 Wells Fdk. gent. and Webb Misses
3 Westley Mr John
4 Whitehead Mrs Hannah
6 Wright Jas. Esq. deputy gunpowder store keeper
6 Yorke Capt. R.E. commanding engineer, Gunpowder Works
ACADEMIES.
8 British School, Thos. Pugh
6 Charity School, John Braim
Hill J., Sewardstone street
8 Leggatt William ( & surveyor)
National Schools, Benj. and Martha Merryman ; and 1, Miss Burrell
ATTORNEYS.
6 Allsup Jas. ( clerk to magistrates of Enfield District)
6 Jessopp Joseph. (clerk to magistrates of Waltham District)
Parnall John Jessopp, Green yard
INNS AND TAVERNS.
Angel, Mary Aylin, Sun street
Cock, Hy. Quare Alger, Sun st
7 Green Dragon, Daniel Read
9 Greyhound, William Camfield
Harp, Isaac Baker, Sun street
6 King’s Arms, William Roberts Clark
1 King’s Oak, Jas. Phillipson
9 New Inn, Richard Tuckwell
Oak, Thos. Sinkwell, Sewardstone
4 Owl, Jno. Murdock, Leopard’s hill
Red Lion, William Argent, Market pl
3 Rose & Crown, John Spurgen
Ship Inn, Jas. Death, Sun street
Sun, John Clayden, Sun street
8 Three Compasses, William Green
Three Tuns, Jas. Eldridge, Mkt. pl
Wake’s Arms, Geo. Rand, Upshire
White Horse, Fanny Smith, Sun st
White Lion, Jas. Dubourg, Sun st
BAKERS .
8 Coxshall Geo.
9 Crean George
9 Hicks William
9 Page Jonth.
6 Mumford Thos.
6 Reed Thomas
2 Smith John, high constable, Harold’s Park
6 Reed William
8 Tyler Samuel
BEER HOUSES.
3 Askew George
4 Bride John
4 Cole John
6 Collins John
Copperwheat Hy.
1 Glendenning Fk
3 Harding Joseph.
4 Hitchman Robert
6 James William
7 Larman James
2 Eaton John
4 Lane Jemima
2 Pryor Benj .
6 Rapley John
7 Reed William
7 Rickett William
8 Sloper Eliza J.
3 Stiles John
7 Woodbridgr Jn.
BLACKSMITHS.
9 Cook William (and farrier)
1 Greatorex Jno.
9 Green Thomes
4 Powell Philip
9 Reed Samuel
BOOKSELLERS.
9 Johnson Eliz .
6 Marshall Jas.A.
6 Smith S. & S.
7 Thompson Ebz. (and printer)
BOOT & SHOEMAKERS.
6 Beckwith Jas.
6 Colverd James
6 Godfrey Thos.
6 Howell Joseph
1 Hunt Charles
7 Larman James
8 Pegrum Joshua
9 Reynolds Hy.
6 Sanders Isaiah
7 Upton Joseph
2 Walker J. B.
BREWERS .
9 Chatteris Thos.
2 Death James
BRICKLAYERS.
8 Adams Thos.
9 Sibthorp William
4 Sinkwell Thomas
9 Wiggs William
BUTCHERS.
7 Brown James
6 Carr Charles
7 Dugard William
8 Hilton Francis
9 Nash Andrew
6 Newland Chas.
9 Paine John
9 Smith Richard
CARPENTERS.
6 Franklin Jas.
7 Gardener John and Wm.
9 Phillips Henry
CHEMISTS & DRUGGISTS .
9 Baker William
6 Marshall Jas. A.
CHINA, GLASS, &c. DEALERS .
7 Barwick Mary
7 Isaacs Joel
7 James Isaac
COAL ADD CORN MERCHANTS .
6 Clark William
4 Hampton John
7 Smith Thomas
9 Webster William
6 Whipps Chas.
COAL DEALERS .
9 Aylin Mary
6 Meeson Thos.
6 Woodbridge Jn.
CORN MILLERS.
9 Brown Fredk.
9 Carr James
9 Webster William
CORN AND FLOUR DEALERS.
9 Bates William Jno.
9 Carr James
9 Clayden John
9 Crean Geo.
9 Hanchet John
9 Hicks William
6 Jones Edw.
9 Rudge Richard.
7 Smith Thomas
9 Webster William
FARMERS .
3 Alderson Chpr.
4 Ashcomb Hy.
4 Ashcomb John
4 Atkinson John
3 Bailey William
4 Banks Henry
3 Barton Stephen
3 Bates Richard
2 Brett Thomas
3 Buer James
4 Burrell Chas.
4 Bursill Frederick.
2 Chapman Chas.
2 Chapman John R., Holyfield Hill.
Chapman Thos. , Abbeyfarm
3 Clark John
6 Clark Joseph
2 Dawson Richard.
3 Doe James
2 Eaton John
3 Gray Deskford
2 Green William Waterman
4 Hampton Jas.
4 HamptonJonas
3 Haines Thos.
3 Hardinge Mary
3 Hartwell Joseph C., Woodridden Hill
3 Hide John
4 Kendall John,
Leopard’s hill
2 Littlechild Dd., Bowtells
3 Mills Benjamin, Maynard’s
3 Mills Jno, Fearn Hall
4 Mills Peter
3 Mills Thos.
2 Mills William
3 Morgan James
2 Palmer Geo.
3 Palmer Joseph
3 Parrish William
3 Passfield Thos.
2 Pegrum William
2 Perry Thomas
2 Pryor Benjamin
9 RickettThomas
4 Risley John
3 Roberts John
2 Smith John
4 Sprugen John
4 Trapps Maria
3 Webb James
4 Welch Joseph
GARDENERS.
6 Carter David
King Thos. , Abbey Gardens
Maloney Mrs.
4 Perry James
9 Savill William
GROCERS, &C.
7 Barwick Mary
9 Bates William Jno,
4 Bride John
1 Burrell Wm.
9 Dendy William
7 Isaacs Joel
7 James Isaac
6 O’Brian James Edward
6 Reed Thomas
7 Rickett James
Thompson Sam. , Green yard
6 Wood John
6 Wray Eliz.
IRONMONGERS AND BRAZIERS.
9 Marsh John
9 Richardson William
LINEN DRAPERS.
7 Andrews Cph. F.
9 Howell J. E.
9 Pugh Samuel Boyes
9 Sedgwick William
MALTSTERS.
9 Chatteris Thos.
7 Jones Edw.
MILLINERS, &c.
6 Allsup Eliza
7 Bigg P. and J.
6 Champness Cath
6 Speller Sophia
PERFUMERS AND HAIRDRESSERS.
7 Dench Thomas
9 Law William
PLUMBRS. , PAINTERS, GLAZIERS,&C
9 Goff Sarah
6 King Thomas
9 Rudge Richard
SADDLERS .
9 Crossingham S.
9 Judd William
9 White Edward
SHOPKEEPERS .
7 Boards Thos.
6 Champness W.H
8 Laurence Jas .
1 Meyers Joseph
2 Walker Thos.
SURGEONS.
6 Bursey Henry
9 Brown John
8 Priest Arthur
TAILORS.
9 Dixon Thomas
6 Gowler Chas,
9 Mumford Geo.
7 Phipps John
9 Speller James Warner W. P.
WATCHMAKERS.
9 Longden William
6 Sargent J. B.
7 Warden Jno. S.