Birdbrook 1863 Whites directory
BIRDBROOK, a pleasant village, on a bold eminence, near the chief source of the river Colne, 10 miles N.W. of Halstead, and four miles S.E. of Haverhill, has in its parish 616 inhabitants, and 2330 acres of land, including the hamlet of BAYTHORN END, on the high road, and onthe south bank of the Stour, two miles N.E. of the church, and three miles from Haverhill and Clare. It has several neat mansions and scattered farm houses, and the soil is generally a strong wet loam, and partly a deep sandy loam. The surface is well wooded, and picturesquely broken into hill and dale; and the views from some of the summits are extremely beautiful.
The executors of the late Sir W. B. Rush are lords of the manor, but the greater part of the soil belongs to J. E. H. Elwes, King Viall, W. Gibbons, G. Gent, A. G. Fitch, and H. Gurney, Esqrs., and a few smaller owners. Baythorn Hall, an old mansion near the Swan, is the property of King Viall, Esq. , who also owns the larger mansion of Baythorn Park, which has extensive grounds, and stands on a bold acclivity above the river Stour. The latter was built in 1688, by George Pyke, whose father purchased the estate in 1640, and whose descendant, ofthe same name, took down the gate and court walls in 1801, and new-fronted and greatly improved the house. The park was formerly stocked with deer, and has some fine large trees. Several of the farm houses in this parish are fine old mansions, and that on the Moat farm is encompassed by a moat. That called Herksted Hall, now belonging to G. Gent, Esq. , was the seat of the Walfords. Human bones have been dug up on Chadwell and Honex farms, and in other parts of the parish, and with them several Roman urns were found.
The Church (St. Augustine) is a small ancient structure, without aisles, but having a tower, containing three bells, and crowned by a small wooden spire. It was thoroughly repaired in 1793 and the two following years. The handsome font, and a fine painting of Jesus baptised of John in the river Jordan, were given by the late T. Walford, Esq. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £19, and in 1831 at £500, is in the patronage of Clare Hall, Cambridge, and incumbency of the Rev. Jph. Cape, M.A., who has a good residence, and 89A. 2R. 22P. of glebe. The tithes were commuted in 1843 for £600 per annum. As noticed with Finchingfield, this parish is entitled every fifth year to the rent of Messings Farm, left by Ann Cole, in 1730, and now let for about £60 per annum. The rent received by Birdbrook parish is applied in schooling poor children. Martha Blewitt, who died here in 1681, had nine husbands.
BIRDBROOK.
Marked * are at Baythorn End.
POST OFFICE at Mrs. Farrants, Baythorn-End. Letters via Halstead.
Cape Rev. Joseph , M.A. Rectory
French John, wheelwright
*Fitch Ambrose Gardiner, corn miller ; h Wixoe
Hoare Miss, schoolmistress
Ralling Frederick, parish clerk & sexton
Ralling Charles, machine owner, &c.
*Savill James, vict. Swan Inn
*Turner James, blacksmith
FARMERS.
Colman J. C. Messings Farm
Coppin Henry, Upper House
Cowling Mary, Herksted Green
Fitch Ambrose Gardiner, Eagle Farm
Goodchild Henry William, Whitley Farm
Payne Henry, Moat Farm
Pool Robert, Wash Farm
Ralling Charles, Great Carters
Ralling Robert Stammers, Chadwell
Rider Thomas, Herksted Hall
Smoothy John, Birdbrook Hall
Smoothy Samuel, Bailey hill
*Viall King, Baythorn Park (&Stoke)
*Viall Simon Quye, Baythorn Hall
BEERHOUSES.
French John – Coln Valley Arms
Ralling Charles – Plough
Sorrell William
SHOEMAKERS.
Brown Daniel
Ralling William
*Smee Elijah
SHOPKEEPERS.
Brown Daniel
*Farrant Eliz