DOWNHAM, a parish of scattered houses on the north side of this Hundred, 4½ miles E. by W. of Billericay, has 247 souls, and 2152 acres of land, rising in bold undulations. It is not named in Domesday Book, and is now in three manors, viz.:-
Downham Hall and Berne Hall, belonging to R. B. Berens, Esq.; and Fremnales, belonging to the Manbey family. Major- General John Disbrow was seated at Fremnales, but having married one of the four sisters of Oliver Cromwell, he exchanged the spade for the sword, and rose to eminence in the parliamentary army. He became one of Cromwell’s council, and during the Commonwealth he received in salaries for his various civil and military offices £3236. 3s. 4d. per annum.
He earnestly opposed Cromwell’s taking the title of king, and persuaded his son, Richard, to dissolve the parliament. The Church (St. Margaret) is a small ancient building, with a handsome square tower, and contains many memorials of the Tyrell, Alslow, Disbrow, De Beauvoir, and other families, who formerly flourished here.
Two new windows were inserted in the chancel in 1862. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £12. 2s. 8½d. , and in 1831 at £409, is in the patronage of R. B. Berens, Esq. , and incumbency of the Rev. E. R. Berens, M.A. , who has a good residence. In 1635, Lady Cæsar left a yearly rent-charge of £9, out ofland at Crow’s Heath, for the poor of the four parishes of Downham, Ramsden-Bellhouse, and East and West Hanningfield, but it has not been paid since 1838.
POST from Billericay.
Alexander Misses B. S. & M. Berne Hall
Berens Rev. Edw. Riou, M.A.Rectory
Clar kWm. parish clerk, & Sarah, school
Goldsmith Lionel, farm bailiff
Smith Cphr. baker and grocer
Watts Jane, victualler De Beauvoir Arms
FARMERS. (* are Owners .)
Archer David, Berne Hall Farm
Blyth Thomas, Fremnales
Clark Isaac Frederick ; h Dunton
Clark Isaac John ; h Wickford
Dale Walter, and thrashing machine owner, Hall
*Dale James John, Ware Farm
*Richardson Thomas, Castledon
Stock William, Sudbury Farm
Wayling William. De Beauvoir Farm
*Wright Simon