Berden 1863 Whites Directory
BERDEN, or Berdon, a small village, 9 miles S.W. by S. of Saffron-Walden, and 6 miles N. by W. of Bishop’s Stortford, has in its parish 418 souls, and 1771A. 3R. 37p. of land. Christ’s Hospital, London, owns the manor of Berden Hall. Here are several small free and copyhold estates, the latter subject to certain fines. There was a small Priory of Augustine canons here, supposed to have been founded by one of the Rochfords, in the 13th century. In 1266, the prior had a license to hold a fair. After the dissolution, the priory and the rectory were granted to Henry Parker, and in 1583 they were given by Thomas Ramsey to St. Thomas’s and Christ’s Hospitals, London. The governors of the latter are now impropriators ofthetithes (commuted in 1838 for £360 per annum), and patrons of the perpetual curacy, now valued at £150, in the incumbency of the Rev. F. G. Nash, M.A. It was annexed to Ugley Vicarage till 1846. The Church (St. Nicholas) is a small ancient structure of early English architecture, consisting of a tiled nave and chancel, two transepts, and a tower, built of pebbles, and containing four bells. The north transept is called the Priory-end.
The Parsonage House is a neat building, erected in 1847, at the cost of £1000, by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. Here is a small Wesleyan Chapel. The poor parishioners have 13s. a-year from Martin’s Charity (see Chrishall),and a rent-charge of 30s. out of Lambert’s Farm, left by Cath. Rich and Eliz. Mead. The sum of £62, left by a Mr. Thompson, was laid out, with other benefaction money, in the purchase of 9A. of land, now let for £14, which is distributed among the poor, together with the rent of two old tenements. Adjoining the latter is a house built by the parish about 35 years ago. The parish school was built about four years ago.
Joseph Mede, M.A., a learned theologian, was born here in 1586, and died in 1638. His Commentary on the Apocalypse is esteemed his best work.
Post from Bishop’s Stortford.
Causton Isaac, parish clerk
Chipperfield George, tailor
Hoy Thomas, beerhouse – Old KIngs Head
Kent George, grocer and draper
King John, swine dealer
Nash Rev. Frederick Gifford, M.A. incumbent
Sibley Lydia, blacksmith
Sibley Thomas, wheelwright
FARMERS.
Beard John
Rayment William, vict. Raven Inn
Roberts Edward, jun.
Seabrook George, Priory
Seabrook, Mrs Eliz.
Sibley George
Sibley Susan
Wisbey Thomas