Dedham 1863 Whites Directory
DEDHAM, a small and well built town, which formerly had a market, is pleasantly situated at the north-east angle of Lexden Hundred, on the south side of the river Stour, which divides it from Suffolk. It is a little below Stratford Bridge, where it has a suburb called Dedham Green, on the Ipswich road, 6½ miles N.N.E. of Colchester, and 4 miles W. of Manningtree, and N.N.E. of Ardleigh Station. Its parish contains 1734 inhabitants, and about 2660 acres of land, extending down the vale to its junction with the tidal waters of the Stour, and intersected by the Black Brook rivulet ; but the southern parts, on and near Dedham Heath, (now enclosed,) are high and dry, and have many scattered houses. As early as the reign of Richard II., Dedham was a seat of the woollen manufacture, which continued to flourish here for some centuries, but was discontinued many years ago. It formerly had a market every Tuesday, and has still a fair for pedlery, &c., on Easter Tuesday. The parish has been variously spelt Dedham, Delham, and Dyham, and is intwo MANORS, viz. , Dedham Hall, of which Wm. Wootton, Esq. , of London, is lord ; and Over and Nether Hall, of which Francis Smythies, Esq. , of Colchester, is lord; but the soil is chiefly copy-hold, and belongs to W. Downes, T. L. Ewen, W. Blyth, E. Cook, C. Eyre, H. J. Back, S. Barker, Capt. Jackson, the Devisees of the late W. W. Francis, W. Richards, and several smaller proprietors, some of whom have neat houses here, with tasteful pleasure grounds.
Hill House, the residence of H. J. Back, Esq. , is a large mansion, with a beautiful park and pleasure grounds, extending over 55 acres. The Grove, another neat mansion, with pleasant grounds, is the seat of Capt. Jackson. Dedham Hall belonged, at an early period to the Stutevilles, and was sold in 1629 by Charles I.
The other manor was held by the Dedham family, and was given to Campesey Nunnery, in Suffolk. At the Dissolution, it was granted to Humphrey Wingfield, and it afterwards passed to the Seckfords and Watkinsons.
The Church (Virgin Mary,) is a large and handsome building in the perpendicular style, with a spacious nave, aisles, and chancel, covered with lead ; and an elegant tower at the west end, rising to the height of 131 feet, containing eight bells, and terminated by enriched battlements and pinnacles. The nave is about to be restored and newly fitted up with open seats. This fine church has evidently been erected on the foundations of a former edifice ; and beneath some of the arches are the arms of York and Lancaster, so that it was no doubt built soon after the union of those royal houses.
It has a good organ and several handsome monuments. On the east side of the battlements is a statue of Margaret, Countess of Richmond. The rectory was appropriated to Butley Priory, Suffolk, and after the dissolution, it remained with the Crown, till James I. granted it to Robert Strafford. As afterwards noticed, the impropriate rectory now forms the chief part of the endowment of the Lecturship, which is in the patronage of the Governors of the Grammar School, and is now held by the Rev. Geo. Taylor, D.C.L. It is now valued at £430 per annum. The Vicarage, valued in K.B. at £10. Os. 2 d., and in 1831 at £179, is in the patronage of the Duchy of Lancaster, and incumbency of the Rev. Geo. Murray, M.A.
It was augmented with £30 a year by Dr. William Clarke, as noticed below. The tithes were commuted in 1843, the rectorial for £500, and the vicarial for £130 per annum. In the town is an Independent Chapel, belonging to a congregation formed in 1736,
and having a house for the minister. The parish has a large and well endowed Grammar School, a National School, and various Bequests for charitable and other uses ; an endowed English School; and a Literary Institution. The latter has a reading room and occasional lectures.
In 1595, WILLIAM CARDINALL devised to the Governors of Dedham Grammar School, a farm at Great Bromley, in trust to apply the yearly rent towards the support of two poor boys of Dedham, or Great Bromley, at St. John’s College, Cambridge, who should be fit to go there from the said Grammar School. Five acres of land, purchased with £86, belonging to the poor parishioners, have been added to this farm, which now comprises 49A. 2R. 26P. , and a good dwelling-house and outbuildings, erected since 1818, at the cost of about £500. It is let for about £85 per annum. There have been but few claims to the rents, on the part of an
Exhibitioner, for many years, and the clear income has often been paid to the Lecturer of the parish church (who is appointed by the Governors) , though part of it belongs to the poor. The donor’s will gives a discretionary power to the Governors of applying the income to such charitable or godly uses as they think most ” meet and requisite,” when not claimed by any Exhibitioners. The Lecturer has also the rent of a small estate at Chattisham, purchased by the Governors in 1693. The Vicar has £30 per annum from the Trustees of Dr. William Clarke’s Charity, founded in 1679, for augmenting poor livings in ten parishes. In 1703, the REV. WILLIAM BURKITT, author of a commentary on the New Testament, bequeathed his mansion house in Dedham, for the residence of the Lecturer, who should be chosen by the Governors of the Grammar School, and should preach on Sunday afternoons and on Tuesday mornings. For the better support of the lecturer, he purchased lands at Wix with money given by Dr. Eades and other donors. The land at Wix was sold in 1704 for £300, which, with £300 more raised by subscription, was laid out in purchasing the impropriate Rectory of Dedham, which has since been enjoyed by the Lecturer, who is bound to repair the chancel as well as the parsonage house, and required to preach every Sunday evening and every Tuesday. The rents of CLACTON LAND and CRAB MEADOW are applied for repairing and ornamenting the church . The former comprises 27A. 1R. 8P. , in Little Clacton, purchased with £163. 6s. 8d. belonging to the parish, in 1616. Crab Meadow consists of la. 1R. 16P. , at Stratford St. Mary, in Suffolk.
DEDHAM FREE GRAMMAR SCHOOL was built, with a house for the master, early in the 16th century, by Dame Joan Clarke, and was endowed, in 1571, by Wm. Littlebury, with Ragmarsh Farm, which comprises 1824. 1R. 3P. of land, inthe parishes of Bradfield and Wrabness, now let for £290 a year. This farm was vested by the donor, with 23 trustees, to pay the clear yearly rent to a schoolmaster, who should have taken a degree in the University, and should teach grammar and writing freely to 20 of the poorest men’s children in Dedham, Ardleigh, Great Bromley, and Bradfield, in Essex; and of Stratford, in Suffolk. By letters patent of Queen Elizabeth, in 1579, the Vicar of Dedham and 23 others were incorporated by the name of the ” Governors of the Free Grammar School of Queen Elizabeth, in Dedham,” with power to make orders and rules for the better government of the said school . Many years ago the governors required the master to employ an usher to teach English reading, writing, &c. , to the 20 free scholars, and they have lately established a new scheme, under which the head master and his assistants teach the classics and all the branches of an English education, freely to the 20 foundation boys ; but the others pay from 40 to 60 guineas per annum for board and instruction. The head master is allowed to take as many as fifty boarders, for whom he has ample room in his house, which was rebuilt in 1731. In respect of the school premises, 24. 2R. 38p. of land was allotted at Dedham enclosure. Cardinall’s exhibitions for two scholars from this school are noticed at p. 132. Dedham ENGLISH SCHOOL, with a house for the master, was given by Edmund Sherman, in 1599, and it was endowed in 1642 with a yearly rent-charge of £6, left by John Marsh, out of Dedham Hall estate. At the Dedham enclosure, an allotment of 14A. was awarded in respect of the school premises. There is also belonging to this school 8A. 38p. of land, called Purney Heath, but it is not known how it was acquired. The master has now about £90 a year, and teaches about 30 free scholars in reading, writing, and accounts. In aid of the NATIONAL SCHOOL, £3. 16s. 8d. is paid yearly, as the rent of about 5la., at Stoke by Nayland, given in 1698, by the Rev. Wm. Burkitt, towards the support of School Dames, appointed by the Vicar. This school is attended by about 130 girls, and was built in 1825. On Dedham Heath is an Infant School, built about four years ago.
In 1517, Stephen Dunton left nine ALMSHOUSES for the use of seven poor people, to be placed therein by the Churchwardens; and he endowed them with 24. 2R. 19p. of land, behind the Almshouses. He directed two of the tenements to be let, and the rents applied in buying fuel for the seven almspeople. In 1571, WM. LITTLEBURY left an estate, called Brocks and Brewses, and directed about two-thirds of the yearly rent thereof to bedivided among the poor people in these almhouses, and the residue amongst the aged and infirm poor of the parish. This estate comprises 69A. SP. The old Almshouses were pulled down in 1806, when ten new dwellings were erected at the cost of £599. Two persons are allowed to reside in each house, and they receive small weekly payments and a yearly allowance of fuel. The Governors of the Grammar School are trustees.
Four other Almshouses here were founded by Mrs. Mary Barfield, for four aged widows, with an endowment of 4s. a week, and a chaldron of coals yearly for each. The Independent minister and others are trustees.
The TOWN LANDS, consisting of 35A. 10p. , and a cottage, in Ardleigh parish, were left by John Chapman, in 1657, and are now let for about £45 a year, which is distributed in coals and money, by the Church-wardens and Overseers, amongst the poor parishioners. EDWARD BETTS, in 1825, left to the Vicar and Churchwardens £500 four per cent. stock, in trust, to distribute the dividends among the industrious poor parishioners, attending the Church, in coals, bread, blankets, &c. This stock is now in the 3 per cents. The poor have also the interest of £90, left by GRACE MARRATT, in 1825
DEDHAM PARISH DIRECTORY.
The Post Office is at Mr. George Fitch’s. Letters via Colchester.
Money Orders granted and paid.
Auden Rev. Thomas M.A. curate of Langham and assistant master of Grammar School
Austin Robert & Son, wine & spirit merchants
Austin Robert, sen; h Dedham Hall
Ayles John, gent. Princel Green
Back Hatfeild Jas. Esq. Hill House
Barstow Thomas John, solicitor
Blomfield Mrs Harriet
Booth Charles, agent to the Suffolk Alliance Insurance Co.
Branford Mr James
Canham John, toll collector
Cobbold Rowland Townsend, Esq. Dedham Lodge
Collins Reuben, estate agent
Davey Miss Martha and Fras. Esq.
Dixon John Nicoll, gentleman
Downes William, Esq. land agent, Stoneylands
Elton Mrs Mary Ann
Ewen Thomas L’Estrange,Esq.Rookery
Eyres, Rev. Chas. M.A. Upper Park
Fitch Charles, assistant overseer, &c. Post Office
Folkard John, carrier to Colchester
Freeman Mrs Mary
Creagh Mrs
Gage Joseph Francis, gardener
Green Captain Charles, R.N.
Griffiths Fdk. furniture broker
Gurdon John Barrett,Esq. Albany House
Hitchcock Ebenezer, cooper and parish clerk
Jackson Mr Isaac
Jackson Captain William Travers Forbes, R.N. Dedham Grove
Jacob Garrad, watchmaker, &c
Jenkins Henry Maine, druggist, dentist, and insurance agent
Lee William, coach builder and smith
Le Neve Capt. Anselm Peter, R.N.
Lenny John, nurseryman
Lermit Rev. Gerald Thomson, M.A. headmaster of Grammar School
Mason Joseph and Pp. corn millers and merchants Dedham & Sudbury Mills
Mens Edwin, music professor
Mingaye Chas. Paget, surgeon
Mules William, Esq. Grove Hill
Mumford Mrs Mary
Murray Rev. George, M.A. vicar
Murrell Francis, policeman
Page William Jeffries, baker, confectioner, and van owner
Penrose William Hy. Esq. Lower Park
Platten Mr Corder
Ray Robert, furniture broker
Ray Robert, jun. ironmonger, hairdresser, stationer, &c.
Rawdon Rev. William Fredk. M.A. curate of Ardleigh, &c.
Richards William Rolph, gent. Birchwood
Rivers John, miller’s foreman
Roberts Jas. M’Kenzie, architect, &c.
Rodwell James Medows, land agent, &c. Westgate House
Saunders Mrs Hannah, druggist
Saunders Nathaniel,builder,&c.
Sparling Chas. Peter, seedgrower,&c.
Taylor Rev. George, D.C.L. lecturer and rector
True Rev. John (Independent)
Whislay Samuel, tinner & ironmonger
INNS AND TAVERNS.
Anchor, Robert Smith
Compasses, John Hicks Symonds
Gun, Samuel Askew
Lamb, Samuel Osborne
Marlborough Head, Mary White
Rose & Crown, Arthur Geo. Saunders
Sun Inn, Henry Edgar
SCHOOLS.
Cole Thomas (day school)
Death Miss Jane (boarding)
English Free School, William Wardell Johnson
Free Grammar School, Rev. Gerald T. Lermit, M.A. head master ; Rev. Thomas Auden, M.A., Rev. Wm. F. Rawdon, M.A. assistant masters; and James C. Clough, English master
National, Kezia M. Jordan
Infant, Mary Burrell
BAKERS, &c.
Bird William
Double Joseph sen.
Page William Jeffries, and registrar
Snell William
Watson Benj. and insurance agent
BEERHOUSES.
Death Abel
Gordon Elizabeth
Moor John
Snell William, brewer
Watson Abm. brewer
BLACKSMITHS.
Cross William
Hunt Christopher
Lee William
Osborne Samuel Saunders
Pettit Robert
Watson James
Wood Thomas
BOOT AND SHOEMAKERS.
Buss James
Halbrow John
Marratt George
Rapley Richard
Sherman William
Turner Thomas
Windell James
Windell J. jun.
BRICKLAYERS.
Howell Hugh Chas
Saunders Nathl.
BRICKMAKERS.
Baker William
Saunders Nathaniel
Wengrove J.& pot
BUTCHERS.
Bird William, pork
Double Joseph, jun. pork
Ham William
Mayhew George
CARPENTERS, &c.
Barber John
Howell Hugh C.
Saunders Nathaniel
Smith Robert
White Alexander
FARMERS (*are Cattle Dealers.)
Bacon William
Baker William
Baynes George
*Blyth William
Dunnett William Herbert
Dynes William
Felgate William
Felgate Samuel
*Fenner John
Freeborn William & Horace, Jupes
Freeman John
Manning Charles
Mason C. Pound
Mason Pp. Hall
Moss Peter
*Osborne John
*Page William
Parsons William, and maltster
Patten Frederick
Saunders Nathaniel, Hallfield House
Sparling Chas. P.
Turner John
MILLINERS.
Rapley Mrs E.
Saunders Harriet
PLUMBERS, GLAZIERS, & PAINTERS.
Howard Nathaniel
Rice Joseph
SADDLERS, &c.
Shoobridge Geo.
Souter George
SHOPKEEPERS. Grocers & Drapers.
(See Bakers also.)
Barber William
Booth Sarah, and tallow chandler
Bruce Thomas
Daniell Thomas
Paddle William
Scott William,and draper and worsted manufacturer
Sharp Hannah
Wright William
TAILORS.
Barker John
White David
WHEELWRIGHTS.
Lee William & coach builder
Osborne Joseph
White Alexander
POST from Colchester
CARRIERS.
John Folkard to Colchester, Wed and Saturday
W. J. Page’s Van to Ardleigh Station at 8,15 a.m.