Foulness Island 1848 Whites directory
FOULNESS ISLAND, from 6 to 11 miles E.N.E. of Rochford, forms a parish of 674 souls, and about 6000 acres of land, jutting to a point in the ocean, on the south side of the estuary of the river Crouch, and cut off from the main land by the river Broomhill, and the creeks encompassing the small islands of Potton, New England, &c. , on the south. It averages about 4 miles in length and breadth, and contains the scattered houses and farms called Cotes- end, North and East Wick, East and West Shelverd, Prestwold, &c. On the east, it is bounded by the sea, and on the west, by the river Broomhill, which separates it from Wallasea Island. It has still some large tracts of saltings, which are not embanked from the sea. The village is near the Broomhill river or creek, and has a fair, for toys, &c. , on July 10th. The manor belonged to Suene, the Saxon, and afterwards to the Burgh, Rochford, Bohun, Bullen, Rich, and other families. It passed from the late Earl of Winchelsea to his son, George Finch, Esq. , of Rutlandshire, the present owner. Asmall chapel was founded near the centre of the island, in the twelfth century; but it had no resident priest till a chantry was founded by Joane, Countess of Hereford, about 1380, for a priest to perform all offices for the inhabitants, who, on account of the overflowing of the tides, were frequently prevented from attending divine service. The glebe was then settled, and the priest was to have all the tithes, oblations, &c. , formerly paid to adjacent parishes. On the dissolution of chantries, the chapel was made a rectory, which is valued in K.B.at £15, and is now worth about £300 per annum. George Finch, Esq., is patron, and the Rev. Samuel Neale Dalton, M.A., is the rector. The present Church (Virgin Mary, &c. ,) stands on the site of the old chapel, and is a small plain structure. The poor have the dividends of £105, new 3½ per cent. Annuities, purchased with £100 left by the Rev. Thomas Elwood, in 1815. Fuller says, that in 1648, an army of mice, nesting in ant-hills, shaved off the grass of the island to the bare roots, ” which withering to dung, was infectious to cattle ; but in March fol- lowing, numbers of owls flew hither, and destroyed them. ” Daniel, Earl of Nottingham improved the rectory, by annexing to it the great tithes of Braintree. Letters are received via Rochford.
Ballanger Ambrose,vict. George & Dragon
Cudmore John, linen draper, &c.
Dalton Rev. Samuel Neale, M.A., rector
Guiver John, vict. King’s Head
Potton Charles, beer seller
Thornton James, backsmith
Threadgold James, beer seller
FARMERS.
Allen Charles
Allen George
Allen Philip
Allen Stephen
Ballanger Jtn.
Harvey Charles
Page Jno. & Chas.
Parsons John
Patmore Philip
Pattison Fisher
Potton Elijah
Potton Samuel
Stebbing Thomas
Thornton James
Vachell Harvey