Markshall 1863 Whites Directory
MARKSHALL is a small parish, near the source of a rivulet two miles N. by W. of Coggeshall, containing only 42 inhabitants and 834A. 3R. 29P. of land, all (except the glebe) belonging to Mrs. Honywood, who resides at the HALL, a large and handsome mansion in the Tudor style, pleasantly situated in an extensive and well-wooded park, stocked with deer, and having beautiful gardens, &c. It had its name from the De Merc family, who also held Marks Tey and other manors in this county, and afterwards took the name of Merkeshall. At Domesday Survey, this manor was held by Hugh de Montfort, and it afterwards passed to the Bohuns; but, being forfeited in 1163, it was granted to the Merkeshall family, who had been tenants from the time of the Conquest, and resided here till 1562, when ” John Markeshall” sold the estate to John Cole, Esq. In 1581, it was purchased by Edward Deraugh, Esq. , whose grandson sold it, in 1605, to Robert Honywood, Esq. , of Charing, Kent.
The Hall, though it has now a modern appearance, retains a large portion of the ancient fabric, to which the present handsome front was added by Robert Honywood, Esq. Various more recent improvements, by his successors, have contributed to make it one of the most agreeable and elegant seats in the county. At the entrance over the porch are carved various quarterings of the family arms. In the dining-room is a fine portrait of Mrs. Mary Honywood, who died in 1620, aged 93, after seeing 367 persons lawfully descended from her, viz. : 16 of her own children, 114 grand children, 228 great grand children, and nine in the fourth generation. There is an elegant marble monument, with a kneeling effigy in memory of this venerable matron, in the CHURCH, (St. Margaret,) which is a modern octagonal brick building near the Hall, and was built by General Honywood. The altar- piece is a fine painting representing the taking down of our Saviour from the cross. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £14, and in 1831 at £158, is in the patronage of Mrs. Honywood, and in the incumbency of the Rev. Philip James Honywood, B.A., who has a neat modern residence with tasteful grounds, and 32A. of glebe
Rev. Honywood Pp Jas. B.A. rector
Hobbs Henry James, farmer
Honywood Mrs Frances Emma, Marks Hall
Quilter Elijah, farmer ; h Feering
Post from Coggeshall.