Little Horkesley 1863 Whites Directory
HORKESLEY (LITTLE) is a parish of scattered houses on the south side of the vale of the Stour, including Westwood Green, and Hey Green, and extending from 4 to 6 miles N.W. by N. of Colchester, and from 2 to 4 miles S.S.W. of Nayland. It contains 253 souls and 1060 acres of land. Mrs. Blair Warren is lady of the manor of Little Horkesley Hall, a neat brick mansion, which was rebuilt some years ago. Westwood House is the seat of John Leveson-Gower, Esq. , and is a large handsome mansion, with a beautiful lawn and pleasure ground. The Hooth or Hotts farm belongs to Mr. A. Sadler. A house on the north side of the church, belonging to J. Joscelyn, Esq. , occupies the site of the PRIORY, founded by Robert Fitz Godebald and Beatrix, his wife, in the reign of Henry I. for Cluniac monks, subordinate to Thetford Priory, in Norfolk. It was suppressed and given to Cardinal Wolsey, as part of the endowment of his proposed College at Oxford, and was then valued at £27 7s. 11d. per annum. In 1554, it was granted to Sir John Huddilston, and afterwards passed, through various families, to the Joscelyns.
The Church (St. Peter and St. Paul,) is ahand- some building on an eminence, and has a tower and three bells. It is lighted by spacious windows and has several neat monuments belonging to the Husbands, Swinbourn, and other families. It was repaired in 1854, when several mural paintings were discovered.
The benefice is a perpetual curacy, valued in 1831 at £69. It is in the patronage of Mrs. Blair Warren (impropriator;) and the Rev. Charles Wade Green, M.A., of Nayland, is the incumbent. The poor parishioners have £4. 10s. yearly from Love’s Charity(See Aldham.)
Post from Great Horkesley, via Colchester.
Bibby John, parish clerk
Everett John, steward
Leveson-Gower John, Esq. Westwood House
Scott James, blacksmith
Smeaton David, steward
Stiff Wm. shopkeeper & vict. Beehive
Warren Mrs Blair, Horkesley Hall
FARMERS.
Bush Jonathan, & maltster & miller
Messent Francis, The Hotts
Page Elijah
Turrall Henry