STANFORD-LE-HOPE is a small village on a rivulet, about 1½ mile north of that portion of the Thames called The Hope; 2 miles S.E. of Horndon- on-the-Hill ; and 12 miles E.S.E. of Romford. It has a Station on the London and Southend Railway. A bridge crosses the rivulet on the site of the ancient stone ford, which gave name to the village. The parish contains 504 inhabitants, and 2418 acres of land, extending southward to the Thames, and bounded on the west by Mucking, and on the east by Corringham ; but extending northward to Horndon and Laindon Hills. In the Confessor’s reign, it washeld by 18 freemen, and at the Domesday Survey by Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, and Suene of Essex. J. Scratton, Esq. , is now lord of the manors called Hassingbrook and Abbot’s Hall, the former of which has its name from the rivulet which divides this parish from Mucking. Abbot’s Hall was given by Wm. de Semeles to Waltham Abbey, and after the dissolution, it passed to the Farr, Curson, Aleyn, and other families. Part of the parish now belongs to the Wilson, Mayes, and other families.
The Church (St. Margaret) is an ancient structure standing on rising ground, and consisting of a nave with aisles, a chancel, and a tower. The interior has many monumental inscriptions, and had anciently a chantry, endowed with lands which were granted at the dissolution to William Golding. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £12. 19s. 9d. , and in 1831 at £608, is in the patronage and incumbency of the Rev. John Clark Knott, M.A., who resides at Monkton-Combe. The glebe is 26A. 1R. 1P. The Rectory House is occupied by the curate.
Here is a small Wesleyan Chapel. The Free School, held in part of the church, was founded by Eliz. Davison, who in 1789, left her residuary property to four of her relations for their lives, and after the death of the survivor, she directed the said property to be vested in trust with the rector, churchwardens, and overseers of Stanford-le Hope, for the support of a free school for poor children. The survivor of the legatees for life died in 1826, when £250 Three per Cent. Annuities, and £300 South Sea Annuities, were transferred to the school trustees. The annual dividends, £37. 10s. , are paid to the schoolmistress for teaching all the boys and girls of the parish who apply for instruction. The Poor’s Land, one acre, is let for £2. 15s. The poor have a yearly rent- charge of 40s. , out of Earl’s Hope; and £9 per annum, as the rent of a house and orchard at Fobbing, called Vine House, but the donors are unknown. hard at Fobbing, called Vine House, but the donors are unknown. They have also the dividends of £100 Three per Cent. Consols, left by John Pain in 1798.
POST OFFICE at H. E. Massey’s. Letters via Romford and Horndon-on-the-Hill.
Gane Rev. Brisco Morland, B. A. curate
Bearman William, parish clerk
Coe Edward, baker
Dale James, plumber, painter, &c .
Dent Thomas Allen, butcher
Dentry Miss E. S. schoolmistress
Dexter Thomas, station master
Dove George, victualler King’s Head
Frostick William, grocer and draper
Gentry John, wheelwright & builder
Knowles John, blacksmith
Massey Herbert Edward, grocer, &c.
Nash Thomas, shoemaker & shopkeeper
Parrott Thomas Michael, surgeon
Payne William, carpenter
Stevens William, victualler, Railway Tavern
Taylor Peter Davey, gent.
Wilson William, Esq. Moor Place
FARMERS.
Blyth John, Hassiugbrook Hall
Eastwood William, Great Garlands
Eve William, Pitsea Farm
Mayes John, Grove House
Offwood Henry Bell, BroadHope
Spitty Frederick George, Old Garlands
Wilson William
Bates Charles
TRAINS to London and Southend 5 or 6 times aday.