Chafford Hundred 1848 Whites directory
CHAFFORD HUNDRED
Extends about eight miles along the north bank of the river Thames,
opposite Erith Reach, Long Reach, and St. Clement’s Reach ; from Hornchurch March to Grays Thurrock. It extends about 12 miles northward, but decreases from 7 to 2 miles in breadth, and is bounded on the west by Havering- atte- Bower Liberty ; on the east, by Barsta- ble Hundred ; and on the north, by Navestock parish. The small river Ingerbourn flows along its western boundary to the river Thames ;
and other rivulets flow through it, and unite their waters with the Thames, at Purfleet and Cold Harbour. It is crossed on the north by the Eastern Counties Railway, near South Weald and Brentwood,
where there is a station ; and other lines have been proposed to cross it, from Ilford to Tilbury, or from Romford to Thames Haven, &c. It is in the Southern Parliamentary Division of Essex, in the Diocese of Rochester, Archdeaconry of Essex, and Deanery of Chafford ; of which the Rev. T. Ludbey, M.A., of Cranham, is Dean. Its only market town is Brentwood, where the County Court is held monthly for a large district.. It has a fertile soil, and picturesquely undulated and well wooded surface, with many handsome seats, some of them commanding fine views of the busy Thames and the Kentish hills. The following enumeration of its fourteen parishes, and four hamlets, shews their territorial extent, and their population in 1841 .
Annl. Annl.
PARISHES, &c. Acres. Population in 1841
*Aveley parish 2852 849
Childerditch parish 1570 247
Cranham parish 1875 280
Ockendon (North) p. 1703 306
*Ockenden(South)p 2872 968
*Rainham parish 3160 777
*South Weald p 4654 1450
*Brentwood ch. 460 2362
Stifford parish 1547 402
*Thurrock(Grays) 1332 1464
Thurrock West 2863 328
Purfleet ham, — 704
Upminster parish — 880
Corbets tye ham. 3157 177
Hacton hamlet — 60
Warley (Great)§ p. 2653 596
Warley (Little) p. 1651 216
Wennington parish 1285 281
TOTAL 34,180 12,347
*Those marked * are in the Liberty of the Duchy of Lancaster.
† Purfleet return included 199 persons in the Barracks, and 172 Irish labourers, in barns or sheds. There were also, of the latter, 113 in Aveley, 60 in Stifford, and 160 in Wennington.
§ The increase of population in South Weald and Great Warley parishes was attributed to many railway labourers living there when the census was taken.
Grays Thurrock return included 57 persons in barges and boats. Deducting the moveable population above alluded to, Chafford Hundred has not more than 11,500 inhabitants.
UNIONS : Aveley, North and South Ockendon, Stifford, Greys and West Thurrock, and Purfleet, are in Orsett Union; Cranham, Rainham, Upminster, Great Warley, and Wennington, are in Romford Union ; and Childerditch, South Weald,
Brentwood, and Little Warley, are in Billericay Union. These Unions are described at other pages.
The CHIEF CONSTABLES are, Mr. S. R. G. Francis, of Cranham, and Mr. J, Joyner, of Purfleet. PETTY SESSIONS are held at Brentwood, on the second and last Thursday of every month, for BRENTWOOD DIVISION, which comprises Chafford and Barstable Hundreds. Mr. C. C. Lewis is clerk to the magistrates ; and Mr. Thos.Coulson, is the police superintendent, for this division.