Elmdon 1848 Whites Directory
ELMDON is a retired village, among the chalky hills at the north western extremity of the county, adjoining Cambridgeshire, 6 miles W. by N. of Saffron Walden, and 3 miles W. by S. of Chesterford Railway Station. Its parish contains 680 souls, and 3106 acres of land, extending southward to Duddenhoe-end and Pond street, 2 miles S. of the church. Eustace, Earl of Boulogne, held it at the Domesday Survey, and it afterwards passed to various owners, under the names of Elmdon, Leebury, Dagworths, Mounteneys, Pigots, &c. Elmdonbury, the chief manor, belongs to J. H. Wilkes, Esq., and was formerly held by the Dagworth, Mounteneys, Segrave, and Meade families. After the death of Sir Thomas Meade, in 1678, it was sold to J. Wilkes, Esq. A great part of the parish belongs to Admiral Gosselin, the Earl of Shannon, the Rev. W. F. Raymond, Sir Thos. W. White, and several smaller owners, mostly copyholders, subject to arbitrary fines.
The Church (St. Nicholas,) is a neat structure, with a nave, side aisles, chancel, and tower, the latter containing four bells.
The rectory was appropriated by Robert de Lucy to the monastery at Lesnes, in Kent, but was afterwards given to Cardinal Wolsey, on whose fall it fell to the Crown. Henry VIII. gave it to Sheen priory. Edward VI . granted it to T. Crawley, Esq. , and in 1739 it was purchased by an ancestor of J. H. Wilkes, Esq. , the present impropriator.
The vicarage is consolidated with the rectory of Wendon Lofts, as afterwards noticed, and the incumbent has a good residence here. The tithes were commuted for allotments of land at the enclosure in 1829. The National School was built in 1844. Thomas Crawley, in 1559 , left a yearly rent- harge of £14 out of the rectory of Elmdon, to be paid to a priest for teaching grammar and good manners to the children of this and neighbouring parishes. An allotment of 2R. 20p . was awarded to the school at the enclosure. The old school and master’s house were given many years ago by the parishioners. The latter is let for £3. The vicar is nominally appointed master, and applies the net income in supporting the Sunday School . The poor have £3. 18s. yearly from Martin’s Charity. (See Chrishall)
Aldrich Mrs. My. Ann, Rose Cottage
Baker James, vict. King’s Head
Cock Ann, schoolmistress
Fiske Rev. Robert, M.A. vicar of Elmdon and rector of Wendon Lofts
Monk Charles, baker and beerhouse
Nash Edward, shoemaker
Smoothy Abraham, vict. Wilkes Arms
Rowley Richard, schoolmaster
Syer James, straw hat maker
Tinworth George, butcher & carrier
Walton James, tailor and beerhouse
Waters William, parish clerk
FARMERS.
Barnard William
Brand My. Ann
Clark George
Dean Elizabeth
Farnham Thos. Duddenhoe- end
Hayden James
Hayden William
Jeffrey James
Letchfield Sus.
Mickley Charles, Leebury
Prime Jacob, Duddenhoe-end
Rolfe John, Elmdonbury
Wisbey George
Perry Rebecca
BLACKSMITHS
Brand John, jun.
Cane Sus. (and wheelwright)
GROCERS, &c.
Brand My. Ann
Crisp William (and cabinet maker)
Farnham William (& beerhouse)
CARRIER.
G. Tinworth, to London, Tues.
POST OFFICE at W. Crisp’s Letters desp. 5 evening via Saffron Walden