Chingford Whites Directory in 1848
CHINGFORD, an irregularly built but pleasing rural village, is picturesquely situated on the east side of the river Lea, in the south angle of Waltham Hundred, 9 miles N. by E. of London, and 4 miles South of Waltham Abbey. Its parish is within the jurisdiction of the Central Criminal Court, and contains 971 inhabitants, and 2459 acres of land, including a large tract of open common land, and about 200 acres of wood, on the western side of Epping Forest. The surface in many places rises high, and commands varied and extensive prospects.
The parish has several handsome seats, and had its name from the Saxon Chinz, or King’s ford, which crossed the river Lea near the site of the present bridge ; beyond which, on the Middlesex side of the valley, is the Edmonton Station on the North- Eastern Railway. The chief manor, called Chingford St. Paul’s, was given by Edward the Confessor to the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul’s, but was granted by Edward VI. to Sir Thomas D’Arcy. Queen Mary took it from the latter, and gave it to Susan Tongue and her heirs. In 1467, it was conveyed to John Leigh, whose descendants resided here more than a century, and in 1691, sold it to Robert Snell, Esq. , of Hertfordshire . It has recently been sold by Col. Snell to R. Hodgson, Esq , the present lord of the manor, in which the copyholds are subject to certain fines.
The manor of Chingford Earls, or Comitis, was held by the Bourchiers, Earls of Essex, in the 15th century, and previously by the Gernons and Montfichets. In 1608, it was purchased by Thomas Boothby, Esq. , and it is now held by the Rev. Robert Boothby Heathcote, who has a handsome residence at Friday hill. The copyholds in this ma- nor are subject to arbitrary fines. The other principal landowners are,
Mrs. Wood, of Mount Echo ; Capt. A. P. Hamilton, of the Mount ; John Dean, Esq. , of White Hall ; Sir R. S. Ainslie, Bart. , of the Rolls, (Chigwell ; ) and the Misses More, of Edmonton. An estate, called Scotts-Mahews, alias Brindwoods, is held of the rector of Chingford ; and on every alienation, the following singular ceremony takes place :-” The owner and his wife, and man and maid servant, attend singly on horseback, and at the parsonage the owner does his homage, and pays his relief, as follows: He blows three blasts with his horn ; carries a hawk upon his fist ; and his servant has a greyhound in a slip, both for the use of the rector that day. He receives a chicken for his hawk, a peck of oats for his horse, and a loaf of bread for his greyhound. They all dine, after which the master blows three blasts, and they all depart. “
The Old Parish Church, dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul, is a low, small, ancient structure, of flint and stone, profusely covered with ivy of enormous growth. The pews, &c. , in the nave have been removed, and the chancel is now only used for funerals and other occasional duty. In the latter are several handsome marble monuments, belonging to the Leigh, Boothby, Heathcote, and other families . One has kneeling effigies of Sir Robt. Leigh and his wife, and on the floor is an antique brass, in memory of Robert Rampston.
The New Church, which stands on the green, in a more central situation, is a large structure, and was built by the present rector, at the cost of about £5000, in 1843-4, of white brick, with ornamental devices in black flint. It is in the Gothic style, and has an embattled tower, crowned by a handsome spire, and containing a clock which has three dials, and strikes the quarters. The interior is neatly fitted up,
and has sittings for about 700 hearers. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £14. 5s, 5d., and in 1831 at £595, is in the patronage and incumbency of the Rev. Rt. Boothby Heathcote, B.A., the lord of one of the manors, who resides at Great Friday Hill, but has 154. of glebe, and a handsome modern Rectory House, now occupied by the curate. The tithes were commuted in 1842, for £515 per annum.
Here is a National School for both sexes. For distribution in coals, the poor have the dividends of £400 three per cent. Reduced Annuities, derived from the charities of John, Ann, and Rebecca Popplewell. For distribution in bread, they have £3 yearly from Rampston’s Charity, (see Walthamstow,) and an annual rent-charge of £3, left by Thomas Boothby, out of Chingford Earls estate . The poor widows of the parish have l acre of marsh land, let for £4.
POST OFFICE, at Mrs. Jane Williams’s. Letters received and despatched twice a day, via London.
Allen William, tailor and shopkeeper
Bayley William, gardener
Binden Thomas, harness maker
Claxton William, National schoolmaster
Conner George, gentleman
Cox Thomas, shoemaker
Dean John, Esq., White Hall
Dunsford William, gardener
Goldacre Robert,vict. King’s Head
Hamilton Capt. Arthur Pp. , Mount
Hartshorn William, builder
Heathcote Rev. Robert Boothby,B.A. rector, Great Friday hill
Herbert Edmund, smith and farrier
Hill John, builder
Johnson Henry, parish clerk
Knight Edward, gentleman
Lea Thomas, grocer and glass cutter
Legleitner Alphonso, corn miller
Martin Edward, cattle dealer
Matthews Joseph, blacksmith
Mills James, forest keeper
Nutting Eliz. National schoolmistress
Pinder Thomas, saddler
Reid Rev. Jno. M.A. curate, Rectory
Robinson Samuel, butcher
Russell Samuel, butler
Servey Alfred, jeweller
Stevens Daniel E., gentleman
Stubbings James, swine dealer
Swain Chas. vict. Bull and Crown
Thompson Charles, shoemaker
Wallace James Esq. , Little Friday hill
Ward Joseph, grocer and draper
Watkins William, forest keeper
Wood Mrs Eliza, Mount Echo
Worby William, cattle dealer
BAKERS.
Day Thomas
Turner Joseph
BEER HOUSES.
McNarrin Mary
Turner Mary
Wheeler John
FARMERS.
Appleby Charles
Bird James
Bruhle George
Burrell William
Cole James
Humphreys Jeremiah , Chingford Hall
Humphreys William, Green Farm
Martin Eliz.
Perry George
Reeves George William
Small Jno . Hatch
Wanger George Thomas
Warren James
WHEELWRIGHTS.
Reynolds John
Vale Jno. Hatch
RAILWAY
Trains from Edmonton Station to London, &c.
Omnibuses and Carriers from Woodford