Wormingford 1863 Whites Directory
WORMINGFORD is a parish and scattered village, on the southern acclivity of the vale of the navigable river Stour, six miles N.W. of Colchester, and three miles W.S.W. of Nayland. It contains 503 souls, and 2270A. 2R. 8P. of land, rising boldly from the banks of the river, and having a sandy soil, with an abundant admixture of clay. It is in two manors, viz., Wormingford Hall and Church Hall, and John Jolliffe Tufnell is lord of both; but a great part of the soil belongs to George Nottidge, Esq. , J. T. L. Hallum, Esq. , and several smaller owners.
Wormingford Hall, now a farm-house, had formerly a park; and a mere of 12A. , formed by the Stour, opposite Smallbridge, belonged to it. Church Hall was given with the church to the nuns of Wikes, by Walter Windle-sores, in the reign of Henry II., but was granted by Henry VIII. to Cardinal Wolsey, who gave it to the abbey of Waltham Cross.
It afterwards passed, with the other manor, to the Waldegraves, and was sold by J. Wall to S. Tufnell, Esq., of Langleys. Near the river is the site of an ancient moated house called Garnons, from the family who occupied it ; and about a mile from the church is Wood Hall (now unoccupied), which belongs to J. T. L. Hallum, Esq. , who resides at The Grove. Wood Hall was formerly a member of the honour of Rayleigh.
The Church (St. Andrew) is a neat structure of stone and brick, and has a leaded nave and south aisle, a tiled chancel, and a square tower, containing four bells. The vicarage, valued in K.B. at £7. 13s. 4d., and in 1831 at £310, is in the incumbency of the Rev. T. P. Tufnell, M.A., who has a good residence, and 64A. ofglebe. J. J. Tufnell, Esq., is patron, and also impropriator of the rectory. The tithes were commuted in 1839,
the rectorial for £478, and the vicarial for £363 per annum. The poor parishioners have £2. 10s. yearly from Love’s Charity. (See Aldham.) In 1832, JAMES ROBINSON Covenanted with the vicar of this parish that his executors, within six months after his decease, should, out of his personal estate, purchase as much stock as would yield £35 per annum, to be applied as follows :-£10 for schooling poor children ; £10 in supplying the poor parishioners with coals,
at reduced price ; and the remaining £15 in a distribution of blankets and winter clothing to the most needy parishioners. In the same year he left by will £500 to be invested in stock, and the dividends to be distributed yearly amongst the most deserving poor of the parish on St. Thomas’s day. These charities were not established till after the termination of a suit in Chancery. In 1836, the executors were ordered to pay into court upwards of £3000 which they had received in respect of the donor’s personal estate, and out of that sumthe costs of the suit were paid, and stock waspurchased agreeable to the donor’s will. The annuity of £10 for education is applied in aid of the National School.
POST OFFICE at William Fowler’s. Letters via Colchester.
Arnold Thomas, blacksmith
Bush John, shoemaker
Boutell Abraham, vict. Crown
Clarke James, parish clerk
Clark Mrs Eliz. shopkeeper
Death William, shopkeeper and rat catcher
Gilby William, saddler, &c.
Hallum John Thomas Lay, Esq. The Grove
Leggett Edward, baker & shopkeeper
Oakley John, wheelwright
Scott John, blacksmith & beerhouse – Queens Head
Stannard Robert and Wm. cornmillers
Tufnell Rev. Thomas Pocklington, M.A. Vicarage
Wilby James, shoemaker
Woodcock James, machinist
FARMERS.
Bull Robert, Ratchfords
Clarke Elizabeth
Constable Abram. Garnons
Cooper Mark, Church Hall
Green William, Hall
Harvey Mrs S.
Quincy __
Rolfe Mrs Ann
Sargeant Hannah
Tompkin Edward
CARRIER to Colchester.
Fowler William