Ardleigh 1848 Whites Directory
ARDLEIGH, a pleasant village on the Colchester and Manningtree road, 5 miles N.E. of the former, and 4 miles S.W. of the latter town, has a Station , with a large yard for coal, lime, &c., on the Eastern Union Railway, near which an extensive steam corn-mill has recently been erected. About 3 miles of this railway are in the parish of Ardleigh, which contains many scattered farm-houses, 1605 inhabitants, and 5045 acres of land. The soil is mostly a fertile sandy loam, on gravel ; and about 1 mile W. of the church is Ardleigh Wic farm and the Crown Inn, near the sources of a rivulet which flows southward to the Colne. A fair for toys and pedlery, is held in the village on Sept. 29th. The parish has been variously spelt Ardlee, Erdelega, Hardley, &c. , and belonged to six freemen in the Confessor’s reign ; and at the Conquest, to four Normans. It is partly free and partly copyhold ; and the following are the names and lords of the four manors, viz. , Picotts, Edw. Reeve, Esq.; Bovills, Wm. S. Lamb, Esq.; Martell’s Hall, Lord Ashburton; and Mose Hall, belonging to the heirs of the late Mrs. Garland. Agreat part of the soil belongs to other proprietors, among whom Wm. Webb, J. W. E. Green, C. G. Round, Wm. Austin, and T. Catchpool, Esqs., and Messrs. J. Eagle, T. Bromley, D. aud S. Cooper, and J. Whitaker, are the principal. Badley Hall, an estate about a mile S.E. of the village, has been called a manor, and was formerly held by the Gilberd, Harris, and Lugar families. Ardleigh Park is the seat of J. P. Osborne, Esq.
The Church (Virgin Mary,) is a handsome structure, which was rebuilt some years ago, of brick and flint, with stone dressings, on a smaller scale than the original fabric. The interior is neatly fitted up, and in the tower are six musical bells. In the reign of King Stephen, Robt. de Ramis gave the rectory and advowson to St. John’s Abbey, Colchester, but the former was soon after given to the Archdeacon of Colchester. The vicarage, valued in K.B. at £11.0s. 10d. , and in 1831 at £262, is in the patronage of the Lord Chancellor, and incumbency of the Rev. Hy. Bishop, M.A., who has a good residence, and 7A. 2R. of glebe. The rectory-house, with 27A. of glebe, and the great tithes, are held on lease, under the Archdeacon, by Wm. Webb, Esq. The tithes have been commuted, the rectorial for £1360, and the vicarial for £325 per annum. A National School is about to be erected, and there is in the village a neat Wesleyan Chapel. The parish sends about twelve free scholars to Dedham Grammar School, and the poor have £2. 10s. yearly from Love’s Charity, as noticed with Aldham. Nathaniel Winder, a respectable old farmer in this parish, died in March 1847, aged 96 years.
POST OFFICE, at the Lion . Inn. Letters despatched every evening, & received every morning, via Colchester mail cart
Ackers Hugh, police inspector
Bacon Peter, brickmaker
Bishop Rev. Hy. M.A. vicar & dean
Brill John Dakin, station master
Byham Charles, broom maker
Carringion Mr Benj.
Bryan J.
Fenn John Green, auctioneer and farmer, Rookery
Hawkins Jamea, plumber, painter, &c
Holditch Mr James
James Samuel, hay trusser
Lamb & Fenn, coal, chalk, &c. merchants
Lamb Wm. Sandford, Esq. , Bovills Hall
Mayhew James, drill owner
Osborne Jno. Posford, Esq. , Park (brewer, &c. , in Colchester)
Pudney Geo. relieving officer & registrar
Simson Edward, farrier
Southgate Joseph, parish clerk
Taylor Mrs Mary
Webb William Esq., Rectory
FARMERS.
Abbott Edw.
Abrey Samuel
Bacon Henry
Bedford John
Biggs James Bell
Bull Jonth.
Bromley John, Fenn Farm
Bromley Thomas, Mose Hall
Carrington Jonth.
Cole John Cook Anthony
Cook Thomas
Cooper Daniel, Bounds
Cooper Samuel, Buck House
Cooper Thomas, Ardleigh Wic
Cooper William Salmon
Dines John, The Grove
Dunningham Thomas
Eagle John, Esq. , Badley Hall
Fenn John Green
Fenn James
Fitch John, Shaw’s Farm
Francis Daniel and Isaac
Hellen Dixon
Hellen George
Keable Robert, Lufkin, Heath
King James
Lamb W. S.
Lugar John
Kelley, Martells Hall
Lugar Robert William, Park Farm
Mayhew James
Parker George
Smith John, Beet House
Smith Sarah, Slough Farm
Sorrell John, Burnt House
Strutt William
Thompson John R., Picotts
Vince James
Vince John
Webb John
Went Thomas
Wolfe Thomas
INNS AND TAVERNS.
Crown, Elisha Ladbrook
Fox and Hounds, John Whitaker (& wheelwright, timber merchant, &c)
King’s Head, Henry Bacon
Lion Inn, Mary Vince, Post Office
ACADEMIES
Carrington Mrs.
Jones Mrs. J.
Lambert Mrs.
Oxley Mrs. W.
Salmon Mrs. S.
BEER HOUSES.
Fenner Thomas
Luen J. R.
Merchant Rt. S.
Sadler William
Symonds Thos.
White William
Wincoll Spring (& drill owner) – Wheatsheaf
BLACKSMITHS.
Bond Thomas
Sargeant William
Smith George
Whitaker John
BRICKLAYERS.
Howbrough Hy.
James William
Strutt William
BOOT & SHOE MAKERS
Bones John
Bull George
Bust William
Norfolk William
Southgate Joseph
Waller James
BUTCHERS .
Biggs James B.
Everitt William
Vince James
CARPENTERS .
Barber James
Buck John C.
Ladbrook Elisha
Sargeant Samuel
CORN MILLERS.
Mortimer John
Nickolls John Lot
Wakeling J. S.
Warren Zachariah, Phœnix mill
SADDLERS.
Luen John Robert
Orris Thomas
SHOPKEEPERS.
Boys Mrs., Heath
Creake John
James W. (and baker)
Sawyer William
Taylor Thomas
TAILORS.
Salmon Thomas
White James
WHEELWRIGHTS.
Francis Samuel
Ladbrook E.
Osborne William
Whitaker John
RAILWAY
Trains to London, Ipswich,&c. six times a day.
CARRIERS
Pass daily to Colchester, Harwich, &c.