DODDINGHURST, a pleasant but straggling village and parish, at the north-west extremity of this hundred, and in Ongar Union, is from 3 to 4 miles N. by W. of Brentwood, and 5 miles W. of Ingatestone. It contains about 400 souls, and 1892 acres of land, including Fox Hatch, and giving rise to one of the sources of the river Wid. In the Confessor’s reign it belonged to Aluric, and at the Norman Survey to Robert, son of Corbutio. It is now in two manors, viz.:-Doddinghurst Hall, held by Captain Brown; and Doddinghurst Place, or Kensingtons, held by Colonel Fane; but a great part of the soil belongs to other proprietors.
In 1259, an estate here was held of the honor of Rayleigh, by the service of three arrow-heads, feathered with eagles’ feathers, and bound round with gold. The peculiar jurisdiction called Doddinghurst List extends into this and several other parishes, as noticed with South Weald. The soil is generally a fruitful loam, and the surface picturesquely undulated.
The Church (All Saints) is an ancient building, which was restored in 1852. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £10. 3s. 9d. , and in 1831 at £557, is in the patronage of the Exors. of the late Wm. Manbey, Esq. , and incumbency of the Rev. Wm. Manbey, M.A., who has a good residence. The School is a neat building, erected in 1854. The poor have a yearly rent-charge of £4, left by Mrs. Henrys and Thos. Glasscock, out of an estate belonging to the Manbey family. They have also the interest of £60, given by the Dawtrey Family, about the middle of the eighteenth century;
and of £30, given by Hannah Luther and other donors. The Poor’s Land, 5A. , was purchased in 1715, with £50 poor’s money, and is now let for £7.
Post via Ingatestone.
Charge Mary, victualler, Swan
Charge Walter, smith & wheelwright
Fitch James, shoemaker & shopkeeper
Goodwin Edward, beerhouse
Kent Frederick, auctioneer & estate and insurance agent, Glover’s Farm
Manbey Rev. William, M.A. rector
Mead Misses Jane & Keziah
Shotter Neale, baker and grocer
Smith Wm. grocer
Mr James
FARMERS.
Baker Bramston, Hall
Bloomfield John
Bloomfield Wm.
Day Henry
Lagden Hy.Park
Lagden William
Littlechild John
Littlechild Sarah
Mason John, and parish clerk
Miles Alfred. Swallows’ Cross
Stokes James Webb