Billericay is a small market town and chapelry, in the parish of Great Burstead, it has 1284 inhabitants, and is pleaantly situated on a commanding eminence, 24 miles ENE of London, 10 miles South of Chelmsford, and 5 miles East of Brentwood Railway Station, at the junction of roads from Romford to Southend and from Chelmsford to Tilbury Ferry. It gives name to a large Union, and to a polling district, comprising Bastable Hundred, for which Petty Sessions are held once a fortnight, on the first and third Tuesday of every month, at the Town Hall. Its Market, for corn, swine &c is held every Tuesday, pursuant to a charter granted by Edward IV in 1476. It has two annual Fairs for cattle &c, held on August 2nd and October 7th. The town has been much improved during the last twenty years, by the erection of new houses, and has several good inns and well stocked shops. It has a neat and clean appearance, and is a great thoroughfare. The lofty eminence on which it stands commands extensive and beautiful views over the broad vale of the Thames; and the Nore, Sheerness, and the Kentish hills may be seen in fine weather. On the north and west sides of the town many Roman antiquities have been found, and it is clearly proved by these relics, that the Romans had a station here; with a road passing either through or near the town.
Lord Petre is lord of the manor, and holds a court leet and baron annually, in Whitsun week, and at the former of which constables and other officers for the internal regulation of the town are appointed.
Part of the western side of the town is in Lord Petres manor of Cowbridge. The Church (St Mary Magdalen) occupies the site of an ancient chapel, which was founded about 1342, for the accommodation of the inhabitants of this part of Great Burstead parish, and endowed with lands for the support of a chantry priest. The chapel and the chantry were sold by Henry VI to one of the Tyrrells, who, reserving the lands for himself, sold the chapel to the inhabitants. The body being mostly rebuilt, and it is not known whether the original chapel had been consecrated, the inhabitants surrendered it to the Bishop of London, who consecrated it on August 30th, 1693. The body of the church is a plain but substantial brick building, of modern appearance; but the tower, which rises little higher than the roof, is ancient and handsome. The benefice is now a perpetual curacy, in the patronage of the Bishop of London, and incumbency of the Rev J H Bailey, MA, whose income is chiefly derived from the pew rents.
Here is a Baptist and also an Independent Chapel, the former belonging to a congregation formed in 1815, and the latter to one which dates its origin from a non-conformist minster of the 17th century. The old Quakers Chapel here is in a dilipidated state, there being now no members of the Society of Friends resident in the town. Here is a National School; and the town and chapelry participate with the rest of Great Burstead parish in Charities.
Billericay
Post Office at Mr William Curtis’s. Letters despatched via Ingatestone. Money orders granted and paid.
Bailey Rev John Hopkins, ME, incumbent
Bars Thomas, bricklayer & builder
Bulwer Mr John E, Tye Common
Chambers Charles, clerk
Crowest Thomas B, architect, land surveyor and Baptist minister
Curtis William, builder, cabinet maker &c.
Davan John, currier & leather cutter
Duncan Robert, master of the Union
Ede Captain Denzil
Gladwin George, assistant overseer
Hatch William, gardener
Hills John, auctioneer and land surveyor and agent
Joslin Robert George, upholsterer
King John, cooper & basket maker
Kluht Rev B (independent minister)
Mant Charles, excise officer
Mead Misses Ann and Rachel
Moor Mr Richard, Union office
Oates Misses Sarah & Ann, tanners and fellmongers
Painter Thomas, carrier to Chelmsford
Pease Esau, fishmonger
Pease Joseph, farmer, South green
Pease Thomas & William, carriers
Richardson George, cattle salesman
Ripon John, music professor
Roberts Rev Alfred, Union chaplain
Roberts Edmund, Esquire
Roberts Benjamin, glover
Rolph George, auctioneer & land agent
Rolph William, brewer, and wine and spirit merchant
Rushbrook William, veterinary surgeon
Schneider Robert Wilmot, Esq
Smith James, glove and breeches maker
Spitty Captain Thomas Jenner
Spurge James, watch & clock maker
Young Jane, matron, Workhouse
Academies (* Boarding)
*Burningham Susannah
*Cross Misses Sarah and Deborah
*Johnson Eliza
Mabbs Hannah
*Lee Walter Robert Bartley, Grammar School
*Sopwith Miss Matilda
National School, John Smith and Ellen Cooper
Attorneys
Blatch James (and insurance agent)
Collin Henry (union clerk, $c.)
Shaw George (clerk to magistrates)
Woodard Edw (& insurance agent)
Fire and Life Offices
County & Provident, J Blatch
Essex Economic, E Woodard
Essex & Suffolk Equitable, G Rolph
London Corporation, Rd Mumford
Norwich Union, William Curtis
Phoenix, John Barrell
Royal Exchange, John Nix
Inns and Taverns
Bell, Mrs Baker
Black Bull, Thomas Curtis
Chequers, George Palmer
Crown Inn, William Rolph (posting)
Crown Tap, William Piper
Red Lion Inn, Richard Mumford
Sun, James Banson
Three Horse Shoes, Thomas Burrell
White Hart, William Punt
Bakers
Collins Sarah
Miller John
Moss William
Palmer John
Thompson, William, & cabinet maker
Wood William
Beerhouses
Denton John
Hart Charles
Parker Robert
Wright John – Queens Arms
Blacksmiths
Caton Joseph
Makings Sarah
Piper William
Rushbrook William
Boot & Shoe Makers
Cross Charles
Dove Jesse
Drake William
Gentry Thomas
Hummerstob W
Hummerston T
Joslin Joseph
Mott Thomas
Stebbing Edw
Thorp Richard
Whistler William
Worrin William
Butchers
Cooper James
Richardson Daniel
Smith Thomas F
Stock John (and salesman)
Whipps George
Carpenters and Builders
Bars Thomas
Curtis George
Curtis William
Mumford William
Ruffell William
Chemists and Druggists
Hooper J
Nix John
Corn Factors
Attending the Market House,
Alexander Hy
Burls John
Cole George
Cross William
Gray Charles
Grove James
Lucas William
Meeson & Hinton
Moss William (and miller)
Robinson William
Tyler Philip
Wood William
Wood Finch (& miller)
Grocers &c.
Barrell John (& stamp distributor)
Cleveley James
Eldridge Richard
Gladwin George
Lloyd George
Moore Thomas and William
Morris Frederick A
Oliver Thomas
Salter Job J
Tunbridge John, & glass &c dealer
Hair Dressers
Dennis John (& organist)
Scott John
Horse and Gig Owners
Clark William
Cross Charles
Rolph William
Rushbrook William
Ironmongers
Gladwin Frederick
Smith John (and watch maker)
Linen & Woollen Drapers
Brightwell John
Haughton Caleb
Moore T & W
Oliver Thomas
Tunbridge John
Milliners
Joslin Ann
Upson Hannah
Wish Esther
Painters, Glaziers & Plumbers
Bassom James
Orbell John
Whipps James
Saddlers
Burgess George
Upson George
Straw Hat Makers
Cheveley James
Oliver Thomas
Surgeons
Carter William, registrar
Hunt James
Parrott __
Raine George White
Tailors
Clark Thomas
Smith John
Walker James
Wheelwrights
Caton Joseph
Clark William
Parker Abraham
Wine and Spirit Merchants
Barrell John
Rolph William
Conveyances
Coach from Southend to Rochford, to meet trains at Brentwood, daily, from the Crown Inn
Carriers – Ts Painter, to Chelmsford, Mon, Thurs & Friday morning
s.
Thomas and William Pease, to London, Mon, Thurs & Friday; and to Rochford & Southend, Wed & Sat.
Post to Ingatestone and Rochford daily