Bowers Gifford 1848 Whites directory

Bowers Gifford 1848 Whites directory
BOWERS GIFFORD, or Bures Gifford, a small village, 4 miles W.S.W. of Rayleigh, has in its parish 249 souls, and 2606 acres of land, partly in low marshes, extending southward to South Benfleet creek, and including part of Canvey Island. Before the Conquest it belonged to Westminster Abbey, but at Domesday Survey it was held byRalph Peverell and Walter the Deacon. It afterwards passed tothe Leyhorn, Sutton, Bigod, Gifford, Vere, Lewen, Honychurch, and other families. Capt. Spitty and the Rev. T. S. Scratton own a great part of the soil, and the former is lord of the manor. The estate, called Earl’s Fee, was long the seat of the Read family, who sold it in 1747, to G. Montgomery, Esq. The Church ( St. Margaret,) is a neat structure, with a nave and chancel of one pace, and a tower containing three bells, and crowned by ashingled spire. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £25, and in 1831 at £571, is in the patronage of Mrs. Curtis, and incumbency of the Rev. W. W. Tireman, M.A., who has 33 A. of glebe, and a commodious residence, with pleasant grounds.
POST OFFICE at G. Saveall’s. Letters via Rayleigh, at 4 afternoon
Blakeley Mrs. Sarah farmer
Buckenham James, farmer
Hilton Mr. William jun.
Gullan Thos.
Large Samuel, shopkeeper
Ransom Stephen, blacksmith
Read Mrs. Susan, shopkeeper
Saveall George, shoemaker
Shuttleworth Chas. farmer, Bower’s Hall
Smith Thomas, victualler , Gun
Spitty Thomas, Esq.
Tireman Rev. William Walter, M.A., rector