Arkesden Whites Directory in 1863
ARKESDEN, a pleasant village, on the banks of a rivulet, 5 miles S.W. of Saffron Walden, has in its parish 506 souls, and 2300 acres of land, exclusive of roads. The Rev. Richard Birch Wolfe, who has a handsome seat here called Wood Hall, owns most of the soil, and is lord of the manors called Wood Hall, Mynchens-with-the- Rectory, and Rockells-Wiggepets-and-Coggeshalls. At Domesday Survey, the parish was held by Eudo Dapifer.
The Church (St. Mary) is a neat stone fabric, consisting of a nave and side aisles, a chancel, and a square tower containing six bells. The north aisle was built in the reign of Henry VII. by Thomas Alderton, fishmonger, of London, who also founded a chantry here. An ancient altar tomb in the chancel bears the recumbent effigies of Richard Cutte and his wife, who died in 1592 and 1594. Here is also an elegant marble monument, with a Latin inscription, in memory of John Withers, Esq. , who died in 1692. The vicarage, valued in K.B. at £13. 6s. 8d. , and in 1831 at £181, is inthe patronage of the Rev. R. B. Wolfe, and incumbency of the Rev. T. J. Griffinhoofe, B.A. , who has a good residence, and 151 acres of glebe, mostly allotted at the enclosure in 1812, in lieu of tithes. At the same time 31A. 2R. 25P. of land was awarded to R. B. Wolfe, Esq. , the late impropriator, in lieu of the rectorial tithes chargeable on land not belonging to him.
Here is a neat National School, built in 1844. The poor have 13s. a year from Martin’s Charity. (See Chrishall.)
Archer George, vict. Green Man
Fenner Caroline, schoolmistress
Griffinhoofe Rev. Thomas Jno. B.A. vicar
Hayden William, blacksmith
Reed John, carpenter
Watson William, parish clerk
Wolfe Rev. Richard. Birch, Wood Hall
FARMERS.
Bailey Nathan
Bailey Thomas
Ellis Joseph
Griffin Henry
Jay Charles James
Martin Edwin
Nottage John
Pigram Mary
Stock John
Woodcock William
Woodcock Samuel, Newland End
BEERHOUSES.
Bailey Nathan
Reed John – Axe & Compasses
Taylor Samuel
SHOEMAKERS .
Machon George
Smith Robert
SHOPKEEPERS.
ArcherGeorge
Patmore Abm.
Pluck William
Post from Bishop Stortford.