Brightlingsea 1848 Whites Directory
BRIGHTLINGSEA, a considerable fishing village on the eastern side of the estuary of the river Colne, 10 miles S.E. by S. of Colchester, and 3 miles W.N.W. of St. Osyth, has in its parish 3093 acres of land, extending about three miles along the banks of the Colne, and bounded on the north by Alresford creek, and on the south by Bright- lingsea creek. Being nearly encompassed by the river and these navigable creeks, it has been considered an island, and at high tide it can only he approached by land from the Thorrington road, at its north-east angle. It increased its population from 1020 souls, in 1811 , to 2045, in 1841. The village consists chiefly of one very long street, but the principal part of it is on the south side of the parish, near Brightlingsea creek, which is navigable for vessels of 140 tons, and has on each side of it innumerable oyster layings, where the fishermen lay the spat and young brood, (which they gather in the Colne, Blackwater, &c.,) till they have grown to the size of small oysters, when they are nearly all sold to Kentish oyster merchants, who carry them to their own creeks and layings, where they grow to maturity, and are ultimately sent to London as the finest ” native oysters. ” Brightlingsea has long been celebrated for its connection with the oyster and sprat fisheries, and it sends annually in February or March about 60 smacks to the island of Jersey, Falmouth, &c. , where they continue two or three months, dredging for oysters. For some years about thirty smacks have been employed on the coast in gathering cement stones, of which immense quantities are sent to London to be manufactured into Roman cement, &c. About 300 of the inhabitants are licensed to dredge for oysters in the river Colne and its creeks, by the Corporation of Colchester, and about 160 smacks are employed here, of from 15 to 40 tons burthen, and carrying from 3 to 5 men each.
Two fairs for toys and merchandise are held in the village, one on St. Swithen’s day, or the Thursday before, and the other on October 15th. Brightlingsea is within the limits of the port of Colchester, which has here a principal coast officer and tide surveyor ; and it enjoys, like its neighbour Wivenhoe, some important privileges as a member of the cinque port of Sandwich, in Kent, and as such, it annually elected a Deputy Mayor, till 1804. The agent of this cinque port resides at Wivenhoe, and owing to their connection with it, the inhabitants of Brightlingsea are exempt from the payment of county rates, and from serving in the militia, or on juries. In Saxon times this lordship was held by the Crown, but at the Norman Conquest it was given to Eudo Dapifer. It is in two MANORS, viz. , Brightlingsea Hall, which was given by Eudo Dapifer, to St. John’s Abbey, Colchester, and afterwards passed to the Cromwell, Henneage, Moyle, and other families ; and Moverons, a small manor, which was held by a family of its own name. Both the manors were bought in 1763, by Nicholas Magens, and they are now held, with a great part of the soil , by Dorien Magens, Esq. , of East Grinstead, Sussex The Hon. Col. Onslow, H. Baker, Esq. , and a few smaller owners, have estates here, chiefly copyholds, subject to arbitrary fines.
The CHURCH (All Saints) is a stately fabric, situated about 1 mile from the principal part of the village, upon a very elevated site. It is seen at a great distance both by sea and land, and is used as a sea mark; the tower rising to the height of 94 feet. It is constructed of flint, with stone dressings. In the chancel is a splendid marble monument in memory of the late Nicholas Magens, Esq. , a rich merchant, of London, who died in 1764, the year after he had purchased the two manors of this parish. It is a beautiful work of art, said to have cost £6000 ; and near it is an elegant tablet in memory of the late Hon. Cecelia Magens, wife of the present lord of the manors . The church was appropriated to St. John’s Abbey, Colchester, but the abbot and convent gave it to the Dean and Canons of St. Paul’s, and the Bishop of London. The discharged vicarage, valued in 1831 at £213, is still in the patronage of the said Bishop, and is now enjoyed by the Rev. William Latten, M.A., who has a good residence, and a small glebe farm at Little Bromley. D. Magens, Esq., is impropriator of the great tithes. A small Chapel of Ease (St. James,) has been erected in the village, in the pointed style ; and here are three Dissenting Chapels, belonging to Independents, (built 1833,) Wesleyans, (built 1843,) and Swedenborgians.
The congregation of the latter sect was formed in 1813. A School was founded here by the late vicar and lord of the manor, and endowed with £12 a year for the education of 16 poor boys. Here is also a National School, built in 1845. The poor parishioners have 52s a year, left by the late Rev. John Sympson, rector of St. Olave’s, London, and a native of this parish .
BRIGHTLINGSEA.
POST OFFICE at W. D. Minter’s. Letters despatched 5 evening via Colchester, by foot pos
Appleby Rev. David, ( Independent)
Bond Martha, butcher
Cole Charles, chemist & druggist
Cole Samuel, linen and woollen draper
Fletcher Moses, surgeon
Harmer William, furniture broker
Jeffries Alfred, beer seller
Latten Rev. William , M.A. vicar
Lewis James, parish clerk
Parker John C. surgeon
Richardson John, butcher
Roberts Lieut., R.N. preventive service
Ronayne William, coast officer and tide surveyor
Scrutton Osborne, brick maker, &c.
Tranham John, beerhouse. & William, gardnr.
Underwood John, foreman of the Colne Fishery Company
FARMERS.
Bagley William (and baker)
Baker Henry Whitmore
Barker Thomas
Bond Martha Capon Thomas
Fields James
Folkard Robert Bones
Martin Shadh.
Noble John
Mason James, Moverons
Mason James, jun. Lodge
Mason Robert , Brightlingsea Hall
Micklefield Rt. White, ( & maltster)
Ormes John
Riches Nathaniel
Root William, Park
Ruffell Ambrose
Simons Nathaniel. W.
Wade Thomas
York Mary
INNS AND TAVERNS .
Anchor, James Harrington
Duke of Wellington, Joseph Woolvett
King’s Head, James Everett
Ship, William Baker
Swan, John Harmer, (horse letter )
White Lion, Mary Coppin
ACADEMIES.
Cant Mrs
Harris Joseph
James Mrs
Lufkin Eliza
Richardson Sma
Tranham Eliz.
BAKERS.
Bagley William
Coppin Samuel
Jessiman John
Riches Nathaniel.
BLACKSMITHS.
Hubbard John
Minter William
BOOT & SHOE MAKERS
Clary William
Coppin George
Coppin Shpd.
Harmer John
Riches Thomas
Vince William
CARPENTERS.
Aldous James
Aldous William
CEMENT STONE MERCHANTS.
Everett & Peggs
Francis & Tabor
COAL MERCHANTS
Barker Thomas
Harrington Thomas
Stammers John
Weller James
GROCERS and Drapers
Clary William
Dumerton William
Fisher Abraham
Fleming William
Griggs William H
March Geo. (Cooperative So.)
Minter William Dl.
Ormes John
HAIR DRESSERS.
Barber John
Watson Chas.
OYSTER MERCHANTS And Smack Owners.
Ames Abm. M.
Braisted William
Capon Thos.
Cranniss William
Day John
Drake Joseph
Edgerton James
Everett John Burgess
Everett John jun
Francis Robert
Harris John
Howe James
Jeffries Thomas
Jolly John
Jolly William
Laysell James
Lee John
Peggs William
Richardson Joseph
Root John
Stammers John
Tabor Joseph M
Underwood John
Underwood Joseph
Weller James
Woolvett Joseph
SAIL MAKERS
Sadler Ts. & Son
Went John
SHIPWRIGHTS .
Aldous James
Wenlock & Sadler
SHOPKEEPERS.
Aylett Richard
Griggs Chas.
Harmer John
Vince William
SURGEONS.
Fletcher Moses
Morris William
Parker John C.
TAILORS
King William (and Colchester)
Ormes John
Ruffell William
WHEELWRIGHTS.
Lake George
Rose John
CARRIERS
To Colchester daily (except Sun.) 9 morning
Day George, cart
Harmer Jno. van,
(and Omnibus M. Wed. & Sat.)