Chipping Ongar 1863 Whites directory
ONGAR (CHIPPING) is a small market town, pleasantly situated betwixt and near the confluence of the river Roding and the Cripsey brook, on the London and Dunmow road, 20 miles N.E. of the former, 14 miles S. byW, of the latter, 7 miles N.N.W. of Brentwood, 7 miles E. by N. of Epping, and 11 miles W. by S. of Chelmsford. The railway from London to Loughton is intended to be extended to Epping, Ongar, and Dunmow. Ongar gives name to Ongar Union and Hundred. Its parish has only 867 inhabitants and 452 acres of land, but the town, popularly called ONGAR, has a large suburb, in the parish of High Ongar, on the opposite side of the Roding, and a smaller one in Greensted parish, on the opposite side ofthe Cripsey brook, so that the total population of the town and suburbs is about 1800. The market, formerly held on Tuesday, is now held on Saturday. Petty Sessions are held on the same day. A statute fair, for hiring servants, &c., is held on Oct. 12th. The appellation, chipping, is a corruption of cheaping, and was derived from the field where the market and fairs were held in ancient times.
The town is lit with gas, and consits chiefly of one long and wide street, in which are many good houses, most of which are cemented, whitewashed, or constructed of white brick. It is approached on one side by a bridge of three arches, over the Roding; and on the other, by a bridge of one arch, over the Cripsey brook. In some records, it is called Angre, Angria, and Aungre ; and from its castle it was sometimes called Ongar de Castrum. At the Domesday Survey, the manor was held by Eustace, Earl of Boulogne, whose granddaughter, Maude, conveyed it in marriage to King Stephen, with Greensted and several other manors. This nobleman was Lord Chief Justice of England, and his manors in this neighbourhood were created into an Honor. He built a CASTLE here, on the summit of a high artificial hill, surrounded by a deep and broad moat ; but Mr. Gough supposes this fortress to have been formed out of a more ancient and extensive work, either of Roman or Saxon origin, the entrenchments of which are supposed to have encompassed the site of the town. The moat which surrounded the keep is generally filled with water, and the sides of the mount are planted with trees and shrubs, through which a steep winding path leads to the summit, where the chief part of the building stood, but being ruinous, it was pulled down in the reign of Elizabeth, by Wm. Morice, who erected on the site a brick building. The latter was taken down in 1744, by the then owner, Edw. Alexander, Esq. , who built on the site a handsome summer house, now in ruins. The summit of the hill commands extensive prospects over the surrounding country, and at the foot of it, on the opposite side of the moat, is the Castle House and farm yard, occupied by Mr. Wm. Coe. Philip Chaplin, Esq. , is lord of the manor, but Capel Cure, Esq. , J. B. Stane, Esq. , and others have estates in the parish.
The Church (St. Martin) is a small neat structure, and has many Roman bricks worked up in the walls. It was restored in 1860, when several stained glass windows were inserted.
Foundations of Roman buildings are said to have been dug up in the churchyard, and, as a collateral proof of the antiquity of the town, the principal road from London to Colchester is recorded to have passed through it. The living is a discharged rectory, valued in K.B. at £6, and in 1831, at £159. It was augmented in 1721 with £598 10s. , obtained from Queen Anne’s Bounty, and the gifts of Edw. Colston and the Rev. Houblon. It is in the patronage of Admiral Swinburne, and incumbency of the Rev. Edmund Fisher, M.A., who has asmall ancient residence and 5A. of glebe. The tithes were commuted in 1842, for £144 per annum. Here is a small Catholic Chapel, opened in 1862, but a larger one is about to be built. Here is an Independent Chapel and a Parochial School. Ongar Labourers’ Friend Society was established in 1842, and holds annual meetings in September, when prizes are awarded for skill in husbandry, industry, good service, &c. The Rev. F. A. S. Fane is the secretary. Ongar General Friendly Society, instituted in 1828, has about 700 members, and a capital of about £6000. Mr. Chas. Mott is the clerk. The Savings’ Bank, for Ongar and the neighbourhood, is open every Saturday, from 1 till 2, and Mr. Chas. Brown is the actuary. The Board of Guardians meet every alternate Tuesday, at the Town Hall, but the Union Workhouse is at Stanford-River. The Ongar, or 18th Essex Rifle Volunteers, are commanded by Captain Philip J. Budworth.
In 1698, Joseph King left five houses at the north end of the town, in trust, that the yearly rents should be applied in schooling and apprenticing poor children, &c. These houses are now let for £74. 7s. per annum;
out of which £35 is paid to the schoolmaster and mistress ; £1 for distribution in prayer books and bibles ; and 4s. to the sexton, for cleaning the donor’s tablet. The remainder, after deducting incidental expenses, is applied in books and stationery for the boys and in apprentice fees. The School was built in 1846. The dividends of £50 Old South Sea Annuities, left by Mrs. Septane Mitchell, in 1706, are distributed in bread among the poor parishioners, by the churchwardens.
ONGAR (CHIPPING) . (See also High Ongar.)
ONGAR POST OFFICE at Mr. William Scruby’s . Letters are despatched twice aday. It is a Money Order Office and Savings’ Bank.
Adams Joseph, coach, &c. owner
Auger Jas. fishmonger and beerhouse
Baker Wm. solicitor, superintendent registrar and Union and Magistrates’ clerk
Barltrop Mrs Chtte. milliner, &c.
Brown Chas. grocer, savings’ bank, actuary and agent for Essex Bank
Chafy Wm. Westwood, Esq. Bowes Hs.
Cleeve Clement Fisher, gentleman
Clements Stphn. carrier to London
Coe Willian, auctioneer and farmer, Castle House
Dickins Fras. professor of music, &c
Drake James, hair dresser, &c.
Eve Mrs Mary
Bailey Mrs My. A.
Fisher Rev. Edmund, M.A. rector
Foster Charles, plumber, painter, auctioneer, &c.
Fox Charles, police sergeant
Gibson Henry, solicitor and clerk of the peace; h High Ongar
Gibson Mrs
Kean Mrs
Gidley Mrs Fanny, milliner, &c.
Gordon William gent.
Grant Mr Jas.
Howard John, drill sergeant
Jago W. P. mason; h Dunmow
Kennett Thomas Henry, law clerk
Marrable John, parish clerk
Mason Mrs Eliz.
Milbank Chas.
Moore Rev. Denis T., B.A., curate
Mott Charles, china, &c. dealer, and insurance agent, Stamp Office
Noble Frederick, plumber, builder, brickmaker & proprietor of Gas Works
Oliver Richard, veterinary surgeon
Parker Miss Cath. fancy depôt
Penson Wm. carpenter, upholsterer, furniture broker, and bellhanger
Penson Mrs, upholstress, &c.
Reeve Edward, Esq. White House
Reynolds Sarah, furniture broker
Reynolds John, cooper and turner
Sammes Edward, furniture broker
Scruby Wm. stationer, &c. Post Office
Searle Geo. nursery and seedsman
Shadrack Miss
Starkey Mrs Slocombe Chas. printer, stationer,&c.
Sparrow & Co. Essex Bank; Charles Brown, agent
Spurge John, plumber, painter, &c. and Wants Farm
Stubbins Mr Joseph
Stocker Mrs
Thimbleby Mr Samuel & Misses
Thompson Thos. relieving officer & registrar
Thurgood Miss Elizabeth
Vanstone Thomas, revenue officer
Waterhouse Wm. wine, spirit, ale, and porter merchant
White John, coal mert. and carrier
FIRE AND LIFE OFFICES.
County and Provident, C. Slocombe
Liverpool & London, J. Playl
Manchester, William Hancock
Norwich Union, Rd. Jas. Chapman
Reliance and East of England, William Scruby
Royal Farmers’ , S. Josling, High Ongar
Royal Exchange, Hy. A. Johnston
Royal Insurance, &c. James Drake
Sun, Charles Mott
Union, Charles Brown
INNS AND TAVERNS.
Bell, Frederick Tanner
Bull Hotel, Wm. Jas. Legg, brewer
Cock, Francis Starkey, and brewer
Crown, Joseph Olley, cattle dealer
King’s Head, Jas. Barlow, brewer
Lion Inn (Commercial & Posting), Chas. Smith, wine and spirit merchant
White Horse, Thomas Holt
ACADEMIES .
Clark William C., M.A. & Ph. Dr.
Mott Chas. jun. and Wife
Ramsden Mrs
Sargent Miss
BLACKSMITHS.
Barltrop Abslm.
Suckling John
BAKERS, &c.
Beckwith James
Giblin Thomas
Parsons George
Webster William Hucks
BOOT & SHOEMAKERS
Bridge Jermh.
Griffin James
Hancock Wm.
Keys James
Lacey Peter
Wood William
BUTCHERS.
Cooper John
Cowee Thomas
Darby George
Finch John
Matthams Robert
BUILDERS.
Barlow James
Noble Frederick
Noble Richard
CORN DEALERS.
Johnston Hy. A. and maltster
Loud James J.
Webster William H. and coal
DRAPERS.
Childs Henry
Pollard George
Stiles Ezekiel
Swinton John
Thimbleby Mary
DRUGGISTS.
Chapman Rd. Jas.
Ward David
GROCERS, &c.
Brown Charles
Hayward Robert
Martin William,& china, &c. dlr.
Stiles Ezekiel
Wood William
GREENGROCERS.
Clapham James
Drake Samuel
Hart Elizabeth
Houchin James
Lawrence John
IRONMONGERS.
Penson James
SherwoodDd. W.
SADDLERS, &c.
Parker William
Silcock Jonathan
SURGEONS
Grattan M H
Potter Frank Dobson
Playl Jeremiah registrar
Shilleto James
TAILORS .
Cowee Henry
Darby Edward
Houchin Charles
Pavitt William
WATCHMAKERS.
Griffin Bonner
Turner John
WHEELWRIGHTS.
Bunyon William, coach builder
Cook William J.
COACH to Brentwood Station every day at 8 a.m. and 3.45 p.m. (Joseph Adams, proprietor)
COACH from Fyfield to London at 8a.m.
MAIL CART to Romford at 6 p.m.
CARRIERS.
Stephen Clements to London, Tues. and Friday
Samuel Drake to Chelmsford, Monday, Wednesday, & Friday, 8a.m.
John White to Brentwood, daily