Ridgwell 1848 Whites Directory
RIDGWELL, or Redgwell, a pleasant village, built round a large green, on a commanding eminence near the sources of the river Colne, 4 miles S.W. by S. of Clare, and 12 miles N. of Braintree, has in its parish 753 souls, and 1663 acres of land, including several scattered houses, and the detached hamlet of Ridgwell Norton, more than 3 miles W.S.W. of the church. In the fourteenth century, Ridgwell had a weekly market on Tuesdays, and a fair on St. Lawrence’s day, but they have long been obsolete. The manor, with a great part of the soil, belongs to St. John’s College, Cambridge, for which it was purchased in 1521, by the Executors of the Countess of Richmond and Derby, the foundress of that extensive college. G. Nottidge, Esq. , T. S. Ewer, Esq. , and several smaller owners have estates in the parish, mostly free and partly copyhold. The latter are subject to certain fines. The farm called Three Chimneys, belongs to Queen’s College, Cambridge. The old farm-house called Causeway is surrounded by a moat. Essex Farm has been held by the Blendet, De Essex, Weld,
and Brock families. Hill Farm was anciently held by the Pannel family, and is now the residence of Mr. W. Gibbons. The Roman road from Colchester to Cambridge passed through the parish, and many Roman coins, tiles, tesseræ, and the remains of a villa, were discovered in 1794. A plan of the villa was published in the Archælogia. Traces of the Roman road were very distinct in 1790 in this and neighbouring parishes ; and in Sturmer is a large tumulus. Among the coins found at various periods in this neighbourhood, are several of Octacilia Severa, Nero, Vespasian, Domitian, Trajan, Carausius, Constantine the Great, and other emperors.
The Church ( St. Lawrence,) is a large and handsome stone fabric, with a nave, chancel, and north aisle, and a square embattled tower, containing six musical bells. The roof of the nave is leaded and richly carved, and on the south side is a large porch. There was a chapel on the north side, but it was taken down by order of the Bishop, in consequence of a dispute between the lord of the manor and the parishioners respecting the keeping it in repair. The wife of William de Munchency gave this church to hernunnery, at Waterbeach, in Cambridgeshire. At the dissolution, the rectory was given to Catherine Hall, Cambridge, to which it still belongs, together with the patronage of the discharged vicarage, valued in K.B. at £10, and in 1831 at £192, and now in the incumbency of the Rev. Francis Forster, M.A., who has a good residence, built in 1841, and 125 acres of glebe, partly purchased with £200 of Queen Anne’s Bounty, and £200 given by the patrons and the Revs. M. Cook and J. Johnson. The tithes were commuted in 1840, the rectorial for £420, and the vicarial for £136 per annum.
Here is an Independent Chapel, belonging to a congregation formed in 1662, under the ministry of the Rev. Daniel Ray, an ejected non conformist minister. Its burial ground was enlarged in 1848, and its Sunday school is attended by 100 children. Several small charities belonging to this parish are lost.
POST OFFICE at William Fitch’s. Letters received and desp. by Halstead & Haverhill mail gig
Allen George, blacksmith
Battram Henry, vict. King’s Head
Bridge Rev. Samuel, (Independent minister )
Brown Joseph, bricklayer
Bowman William painter, plumber, &c.
Forster Rev. Fras. M.A. Vicarage
Paul John, gent. Richmond Place
Ward Allen, wheelwright & blacksmith
Wood Mr John
FARMERS. ( * are Owners. )
Chaplin John, (Executors of, ) Three Chimneys
*Chaplin Joseph, New House
*Cock Joseph, Town Farm
Coppin Henry, West end
*Fitch William (& butcher, ) Town Farm
Fitch William jun.
Coldham William
*Gibbons William, Hill Farm
Giblin Charles, Ridgwell Hall
Sharp George, Essex Farm
Shelley Pp. (Exors. of, ) Norton
Smoothy Mrs. Causeway
Yeldam John, Norton
BAKERS.
Bartholomew James
Hughes John
Sore David
CARPENTERS.
Cole Thomas
Turner Jeremiah.
CORN MILLERS.
Sore Ezekiel
Chaplin William
SHOEMAKERS
Lilley Robert
Osborne Isaac
Smee David
SHOPKEEPERS
Bartrup William ( & parish clerk)
Hemstead Henry Kimmances
Newling John T., (&beerhouse)
STRAW BONNET MAKERS.
Clark Ann
Gunn Rebecca
Ward Caroline
TAILORS .
Bradnam Benj .
Gunn George
Smee Cyril