Alresford 1848 Whites Directory
ALRESFORD is a pleasant village and parish, on the eastern side of the vale of the river Colne, 5 miles S.E. of Colchester, containing 289 souls, and 1427A. 2R. 25P. of land, watered by two rivulets, which fall into a creek of the Colne, on the south side of the parish. The creek is fordable at low water ; and from this ford, and the alders still growing near it, the parish had its name. At the Norman survey, it belonged to the Earl of Boulogne. It is in two manors, Alresford and Cockayne, both now held by Mrs. Mary Higginbotham, of Lon- don, and formerly by the Fercle, Staunton, Tabor, Cockayne, and other families. Most of the soil belongs to other proprietors, the largest of whom is W. W. Hawkins, Esq. , of Alresford Hall, which stands on an eminence, and has lately been much enlarged. Mr. Hawkins is lessee of the manors.
The Church (St. Peter,) is a small well-proportioned structure, in the early decorated style, supposed to have been built about 1300, by Anfred de Staunton, to whom there is an inscription, in Norman-French . The chancel underwent extensive repairs in 1848, when new stone windows were inserted. The painted glass in the east window was given by W. W. Hawkins, Esq. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £8, and in 1831 at £322, is in the incum- hency of the Rev. J. H. Swainson, M.A., and in the patronage of the Trustees of Wm. Hulme, Esqr.’s Exhibitions at Brazenose College, Oxford, who obtained the advowson in 1765, and always present one of their Exhibitioners. The Rectory House is a commodious brick building, with tasteful grounds; and the glebe consists of 8A. in this, and 29A. in Little Bentley parish. The tithes have been commuted for £356 per annum. A neat National School has been erected by W. W. Hawkins, Esq., in the Elizabethan style; and the poor parishioners have a vearly yearly rent- charge of 12s. 8d., out of the Pointer Farm, in satisfaction of the bequest of Edmund Porter, in 1558. This farm now belongs to Mrs. Simons.
POST OFFICE, at J. Keeble’s Letters despatched 7 evening via Colchester
Went Charles, shoemaker
FARMERS.
Barton Joseph, Church Farm
Candler Samuel, Lodge
Connor William
Church William
Green Robert
Smith John
Simons Mrs My. Eleanor, High Elms
Wade Frederick, Heath Farm
Colchester Carriers pass daily.