Messing 1848 Whites Directory
MESSING is a pleasant village on an elevated site, 3 miles E. by N. of Kelvedon, and 8 miles S.W. by W. of Colchester. Its parish contains 758 souls and 2496A. 3R. 21P. of land, extending three miles southward to Tiptree Heath, which is mostly in Great Braxted parish, and where a fair and races are held on the 25th July. There is also a fair for toys, &c. , in the village, on the first Tuesday in July. The surface of the parish lies high, and the soil is generally a light loam, and well cultivated, except about 20A. of heath. Earl Verulam is lord of the manor, but Hill House (now unoccupied) belongs to the Rev. Robt. Eden, of Leigh ; and several smaller owners have estates here, both free and copyhold, the latter subject to arbitrary fines.
In old records, the manor is variously written Messinges, Mescinge, &c. , signifying either the large or the cow’s meadow. The manor house,
which was pulled down manyyears ago, was sometimes called Bay- nard’s Castle, from its having been a castellated residence of the Bay- nard family, from whom it passed to the Luckyns, and from them to the Grimstons, together with the small manor of Harberts, and also Bourchier’s Hall, now a farm house, on the south side of the church. The present lord of the manor is now the head of the Grimston family.
The CHURCH (All Saints, ) was appropriated to Colne Priory, and is now a handsome structure, being enlarged and beautified in 1840- 1, by subscription, and a grant from the Incorporated Society. The latter was given on condition that 340 free sittings should be provided. A new tower and north and south transepts were erected, and the interior was fitted up with new seats, &c. The chancel is paved with black and white marble, and the east window is enriched with beautiful stained glass, representing Faith, Hope, and Charity ; and what are called ” works of mercy,” such as feeding the hungry, cloth- ing the naked, &c. This elegant ornament is said to have been givenby Sir Cphr. or Chas. Chibborne. In a recess, in the north wall, is a carved woodfigure of a knight, said to represent Sir William de Messing, the founder of the church. The vicarage, valued in K.B. at £8, and in 1831 at £334, is in the patronage of Earl Verulam, and incumbency of the Rev. Thos. Henderson, M.A., who has a neat modern residence and 31A. of glebe. Earl Verulam is also impropriator of the rectory. The vicarial tithes were commuted in 1839 for £418 per annum. Here is a National School, and the poor have four Almshouses, given by the Chibborne family, and enlarged by the parish as a workhouse, in 1799. Hanameel Chibborne left two yearly rent-charges out of three farms, now belonging to Earl Verulam, viz. , 40s. for the poor, and 40s. for the vicar, for preaching two sermons.
Beckwith Thomas, policeman
Chaplin John, vict. King’s Head
Everard Thomas, auctioneer, &c
Fitch Thos. butcher & vict. Queen’s Head.
Foreman Mrs Hannah
Green George, baker, &c
Harvey James, Post Office
Henderson Rev. Thomas, M.A. vicar, rural dean, & preby. of St. Paul’s
Little Mr Nathaniel
Mead William, carpenter and builder
Moss John, seed grower
Polley William Thomas, saddler, &c
Rush Henry Hayward and Son, brewers and maltsters
Sargeant Mrs. & Pegram Miss, school
Thorn Samuel, bricklayer & parish clerk
Wadmore Rev. Henry R. curate
BEER HOUSES.
Dring John – Brewers Arms
Halls James Heath
South Samuel
BLACKSMITHS.
Dowsett William
May John
FARMERS.
Ardlie William
Cowlen Thomas
Johnson Abm.
Lone Isaac
Moore George, (agent to Earl Verulam) Lodge.
Moore Samuel, & Eley Thomas, Bourchier’s Hill.
Porter John and Samuel
Potter Daniel
Poulton Jas. Park
Rush Henry H.
Sach Elizabeth
Sadler William
Sadler William jun.
PLUMBERS, &c.
Busfield Robert
Sargeant Henry
SHOEMAKERS.
Cooper John, jun.
Richardson William
South George
SHOPKEEPERS.
Denny Charles
Good William
Wass Jno. Heath
Wright William do.
POST from Kelvedon, daily
CARRIER, William Sach, to Colchester, Wed. & Sat.