THUNDERSLEY, a pleasant village on a rising ground, from 2 to 3 miles S.W. of Rayleigh, and 8 miles S.E. of Billericay, has in its parish 531 inhabitants and 2610 acres of land, of which 200 souls and 860 acres are in Thundersley Hamlet, in Rochford Hundred, about 1 mile east of the church.
The whole parish is in Rochford Union. The soil is fertile, and the surface picturesquely undulated and well-wooded.
Some of the houses command extensive and beautiful prospects, and on the east side of the parish are the extensive woods of Rayleigh and Eastwood. Several brass and copper spear heads were found about 20 years ago in a gravel pit; and in the adjacent parish of Rawreth, several Roman urns, drinking cups, &c. , of baked clay, were dug up in 1848.
At the Norman Survey, Thundersley was held by Suene of Essex, but it was afterwards divided into two manors.
That called Thundersley belongs, with most of the soil, to the Rev. R W Bosanquet M.A. The small manor of Busches, or Burches, was held by the Busch, Sandon, and other families ; and now belongs to J. Fane, Esq. Part of the parish belongs to several smaller freeholders. The Church (St. Peter) is of mixed Norman and early English architecture, and stands on abold eminence, commanding a prospect of wide extent, over the estuary of the Thames. It has a nave with aisles, a chan- cel, anda tower crowned by a spire. The nave and aisles are separated by short round and octagonal pillars, with flowered capi- tals, and pointed arches. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £14. 13s. 4d. and in 1831 at £561, is in the patronage and incumbency of the Rev. Geo. Hemming, M.A., of Little Parndon. The glebe is 40A. , and the tithes were commuted in 1838. A new Rectory House wasbuilt in 1830.
THUNDERSLEY.
Marked * are in Thundersley Hamlet. Post via Rayleigh.
Eckworth Mrs Sar. victualler , White Hart
Harrod Samuel, grocer, &c.
Maclean Miss, schoolmistress
Pennanter Peter, parish clerk
Salisbury Rev. Elijah Edward Baylee, B.D. curate, Rectory
Sexton Mrs Eliz. West Cottage
Shelley Samuel wheelwright & smith
Thorne Henry, blacksmith
Webb Jeremiah, farm bailiff
Wiltshire Zachariah, beerhouse
FARMERS.
Belcham William
Belcham Fras.
Dean Wm. Sml.
*Harvey George
Brown Isaiah, Claydons
James Francis, Dawes Heath
Mayn William
Peacock George
Pratt Jas . Harlands
Pratt Mrs
Shaw William
Scudder Henry
*Thorrington William
*Woollings John, Brambles Hall