Henham Whites Directory in 1863
HENHAM is a pleasant village, on a bold eminence, about 2 miles N.E. of Elsenham Railway Station, and 5 miles W.S.W. of
Thaxted. It is sometimes called Henham-on-the-Hill, and its parish contains 911 souls, and 2958 acres of land, of which 157 souls, and 1190 acres, are in PLEDGDON hamlet, which is in Clavering Hundred, and distant 1½ mile N.E. of the church. The grounds of the whole parish are generally high, fertile, and well- wooded; and on the north side of it is Little Henham, near the chief source of the river Granta, or Cam. At Domesday Survey, the parish was held by Ralph Baynard, Eado Dapifer, and Geoffrey de Mandeville, and here are still three manors. Wm. Baxendale, Esq. , is lord of the manors of Henham Hall and the Parsonage, or Rectory ; and W. C. Smith, Esq., is lord of the manor of Pledgdon, or Plechedon Hall. Several small copyholders have estates here, subject to arbitrary fines.
The Church is a large Gothic structure, with amassive tower containing five bells and crowned by a lofty spire. The nave and aisles are separated from the chancel by a screen ; and the arches of the aisles are supported by massive clustered pillars. Richard Fitzgislebert gave two parts of the manor of Henham to Little Dunmow Priory; and his son, Walter, appropriated the rectory to the same monastery. At the dissolution, the rectory and advowson were granted to Robert Ratcliffe, Earl of Sussex, and they have since passed to the successive owners of Henham Hall- William Baxendale, Esq., being the present impropriator; but the vicarage, valued in K.B. at £17, and in 1831 at £350, is in the patronage and incumbency of the Rev. A. H. Bellman, who has the great tithes of Pledgdon hamlet. A farm of 62A. 3R. was bequeathed, some years ago, for the benefit of succeeding vicars. The tithes were commuted in 1840- the rectorial for £510, and the vicarial for £331 per annum. The Vicarage House is a
slated lath and plaster building. Here is an Independent Chapel, belonging to a congregation formed in 1806.
For clothing and apprenticing fees, the poor of Henham have about £25 yearly from Henry Smith’s Charity, as noticed with Braintree. In 1835, the Rev. George Henry Glynn gave a cottage and garden, in trust, that thevicar and churchwardens should distribute the rent in fuel to the poor attending the church ; and having redeemed the land-tax charged on the tithes of the hamlet of Pledgdon, to the amount of £6 a year, he gave that annual amount towards the support of the Sunday school. For distribution in bread at Christmas, the poor parishioners have the dividends of £130. 18s. 7d. three-per cent. consols, purchased with £100 left by Sus. Dorothy Dixon, in 1832. For clothing poor old maids and bachelors of Henham and Debden, John Measant, in 1644, gave a cottage, barn, and 6 acres of land, at Debden, now let for £12 a year.
HENHAM. (Marked * are in Pledgdon Hamlet.)
POST OFFICE at William Phipps’. Letters via Bishop’s Stortford.
Bellman Rev. Arthur Horatio, vicar
Billington Thomas, veterinary surgeon, Mount House
Bowtell William Henry, horsedealer and victualler, Crown
Burls Joseph, miller and baker
Chipperfield Henry, wheelwright
Dennison Kitty, schoolmistress
Heard Thomas, cooper & wheelwright
Little Benj, tailor and parish clerk
Little John, carpenter
Newman John, victualler, Cock
Orger George, butcher
FARMERS.
Bowtell William Henry
Bush George
Canning William, Old Mead
Collin George
Cowell Ebenezer
Houghton Joseph
Markwell Josa
Marshall Chas. Little Henham Hall
*Newport Thomas, Pledgdon Hall
Orger George
Parish George
Scruby Samuel
Titchmarsh Thos. horse dealer, &c.
Smith James, Henham Green
BEERHOUSES.
Coston Hannah
Dixon Philip – Bell
Francis Joseph
BOOT & SHOE MAKERS
Bush James
Francis Joseph
Holgate Thomas
Knight John
BLACKSMITHS .
Dixon James
Hayden James
SHOPKEEPERS.
*Coston Hannah
Dennison Peter
Phipps William