HORNDON, (EAST) a fertile and picturesque parish on the east side of the extensive park of Thorndon Hall, has a pretty village, with many neat houses on the road called HERONGATE, 3 miles S.E. of Brentwood. It has 474 inhabitants, and 1400 acres of land, mostly belonging to Lord Petre, the lord of the manor, and partly to George A. Lowndes, Esq. (lord of Touchers manor), and several smaller owners, mostly freeholders. In the Confessor’s reign the parish was held by a thane, a priest, and a freeman ; and at the Domesday Survey it was mostly held by Suene of Essex and the Bishop of London. Heron Hall had anciently a heronry, and was a seat of the Heron family. Thomas Tyrell, who obtained the estateby marrying the daughter of Sir William Heron, had license, in 1363, to impark 400 acres round his mansion. The estate afterwards passed to the Earl of Arran, who married the daughter of Sir John Tyrell.
Heron House, a commodious farm-house, stands near the site of Heron Hall, which was pulled down about 1790. An estate, called Abbots, was given by Hugh de Nevill, in 1195, to Waltham Abbey ; and, in 1544, it was sold to Sir W. Petre, an ancestor of its present owner, Lord Petre, of Thorndon Hall, in the adjoining parish of West Horndon. The Church is an irregular brick building, dedicated to All Saints, and evidently constructed at different periods. The tower at the west end is strengthened by massy buttresses. The chancel has an octagonal ceiling of wood, and is ornamented with carved shields of arms, roses, and other figures. On the south side are chapels of the Tyrell and Petre families; and in the former, on a flat stone, is a quaint Latin inscription, in memory of Sir John Tyrell, who suffered greatly for his adherence to Charles I. The chancel has lately been reseated, and a handsome east window inserted, in memory of the rector’s family.
The rectory, valued in K.B. at £10, and now at £336, is in the patronage and incumbency of the Rev. John Pearson, M.A., who has about 35 acres. of glebe. The tithes were commuted in 1840. The National School has about 80 scholars.
EAST HORNDON PARISH.
POST OFFICE at William Such’s, in HERONGATE. Letters via Brentwood.
Bass John, beerseller
Boardman Thomas, carpenter
Boosey William, victualler, Boar’s Head
Brewster Thos. boot and shoe maker
Burgess George, saddler, &c.
Clark William, bricklayer & builder
Cole Philip, farmer
Cox Arthur Zachariah, Esq.
Crossley Jonas, grocer and draper
Dunton Richard, beerseller
Edwards Charles, parish clerk
Eldred George, baker and beerseller
Haines Richard, farmer
Hall Miss Harriet, schoolmistress
Harris George, blacksmith
Jiggens James, marine store dealer
Lucas Edward, Esq. St. Joseph’s
Lyle Captain H. C. R.A.
Moss William, postman
Pearson Rev. John, M.A. rector and rural dean
Robinson Hy. William, miller & farmer
Squier Joseph , farmer, Dunton Hills
Stone Mrs Mary, Heron House
Such William, tailor, Post Office
Tolmash William, farmer
Wood William, thatcher
Young Joseph, wheelwright