Rochford 1848 Whites Directory
ROCHFORD, a small ancient market town and polling place, gives name to the Hundred and Union of Rochford, in which it holds a central situation, on the river Broomhill, crossed by two small bridges, 4 miles N. by W. of Southend, 17 miles S.E. of Chelmsford, and 40 miles E. by N. of London. Its parish contains 1722 inhabi- tants, and 1855 acres of land. The town is irregularly built, and the market house (not now used for that purpose,) is a wooden building, and bears the date of 1707. The market is held on Thursday, and here arefairs on Easter Tuesday and the Wednesday after Sept. 29th, for toys, pedlery, and tailors’ and glovers’ goods. The Union, and the large Workhouse, built here in 1837- 8. The County Court for this Hundred is held montbly, at the Old Ship Inn ; and Petty Sessions every alternate Thursday, at the King’s Head. Mr. Wm. Swaine is clerk to both courts, for which accommodation is about to be provided in a neat Public Building which will contain a large room for public meeting, exhibitions, con- certs, &c. At the Domesday Survey, Rochford was held by Suene, whose grandson, Robert of Essex, having forfeited his inheritance, this manor was bestowed by Henry II. on Guy Fitz-Eustace, who afterwards took the name of De Rocheford, from this estate. His grandson, Guy de Rochford, had the privilege of a market granted him for this town, by Henry III , as well as wreck at sea, tumbrel, and other privileges, which were afterwards certified under a quo warranto, in the reign of Edward I. His descendants held the manor till the failure of the heir general in 1340, and after that period it passed to the Bohun, Ormond, and other noble families. The Earl of Mornington is now owner of most of the parish, and lord of the manor, which was purchased by one of his ancestors, Sir Richard Child, of Viscount Bolingbroke, in 1712. A very singular custom connected with this manor is the holding of what is called the Lawless Court : its origin is uncertain ; but tradition represents it as arising from a conspiracy against the lord ofthe manor, projected during his absence, and over- heard by himself on his way home. As a punishment, he ordered that all the tenants on his manor should ever afterwards assemble at a certain hour of the night, on the same spot where the conspirators met, and do homage for their lands. The court is held in the open air, on King’s hill , on the midnight of the first Wednesday after Michaelmas Day, and all the business is transacted in whispers ; the minutes being made with a coal, in place of pen and ink. The steward opens the court in as low a voice as possible, yet those tenants who neglect to answer are fined, and every absentee forfeits double his rent for every hour’s absence. The time of assembling is from twelve till cock-crow. The parties previously meet at the King’s Head. Rochford Hall, the manor house, now held by Jas. Tabor, Esq., of Prittlewell, is an ancient and stately building, near the church, and is said to have been a residence of Anne Bulleyn. It had an extensive park, and was repaired about 30 years ago, after being long in a ruinous condition.
Doggett, or Doccet, a reputed manor in this parish, is also the property of the Earl of Mornington ; and about a mile west of the town is Grested Hall, a farm-house near the woods of Rayleigh and Noble’s Green. The town consists chiefly of four short streets, and was drained and otherwise improved some years ago. The Gas Works were constructed in 1845, by a company of proprietors, to whom Mr. George Wood is solicitor . The Church(St. Andrew,)is a large ancient fabric, consisting of a nave, aisles, chancel, and north chapel, with a lofty brick tower at the west end, said to have been erected by Lord Rich, but the arms of Boteler induce the belief that it was built by the Or- imond family. Probably it was repaired and heightened by Lord Rich. A gravestone, in the north aisle, bears the date 1386. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £20, and in 1831 at £600, is in the patronage of the Earl of Mornington, and incumbency of the Rev. Wm. Gardiner, M.A., who has a good resisdence, and 65A. of glebe. Here is a large Independent Chapel, belonging to a congregation formed in 1730 ; and the Wesleyans have a small place of worship in the town. The parish has a National School, and various charities for the poor.
The Almshouses, erected by Lord Rich, about the year 1600, comprise six old tenements, for the residence of poor people, placed there by the lord of the manor. They have no endowment, though Robert Lord Rich, by will, in 1617, directed his successor to settle upon them lands to the value of £60 per annum. In 1604, Thomas Joselyn left for the poor of Rochford 15A. of land, at Hockley, now let for £20, which is distributed in coals, together with £21. 11s., arising from about 14a. of land, near the town, given by unknown donors. On this land are two cottages and gardens, occupied rent- free by poor families.
ROCHFORD DIRECTORY.
POST OFFICE at Mr Thos. White’s . Letters despatched to London, via Ingatestone at 5 evening, and to Southend, &c. at 6 morning. Money Orders granted and paid.
Archer Rev Edward, M.A. curate
Arthy William A. bookseller, &c
Beard Thomas, carrier
Blanks William, gun maker, &c
Boosey James, nursery & seedsman
Boosey Samuel, farmer, Stroud green
Borham Alfred, farmer, Swains
Brady Mr Patrick
Carter Mrs E.
Bruce Samuel, millwright
Carter Charles ironmonger, upholsterer and agricultural implement dealer
Carter William, bricklayer and mason
Church John, manager, Gas Works
Coolbear Thomas, farmer
Comport and Gregson, solicitors
Comport Michael, solicitor and Union clerk and superintendent registrar
Francis William and Chas. maltsters ; house Hawkwell
Gardiner Rev. William, M.A. rector
Giles James, Esq. banker
Gregson William, solicitor
Hardcastle Joseph Alfred, brewer and spirit merchant, Stambridge
Haywood Rev. Thomas (Independent)
Hazel Thomas Newton, Excise officer
Howe Abraham, farmer
Jackson Edward Trotter, bank clerk
Jackson Wm. Hy. auctioneer, printer, &c. , Stamp office
Johnson Thomas, bricklayer
Kemp and Johnson, bricklayers
Keyes Frederick, clerk
Lancaster William turner & confectioner
Le Grys John, cabinet mkr. & turner
Low Algernon William, police supt. and inspector of weights & measures
Marsh David, sail maker
Marsh Thomas Hunt, gentleman
May Mr William
Monk Mrs Meeson W. T. farmer
Mills John, bookbinder
Morris James, farmer, Old Farm
Murrell Joseph, glover
Osborne Mr John
Popplewell John, agent to Essex Provident Society, and schoolmaster
Quy William, auctioneer, ironmonger and upholsterer
Rankin William Henry, corn miller, barge owner, coal merchant
Richmond James, principal coast officer
Salmon Thomas, wine & spirit merchant and high constable
Scott Thomas, bookseller & confectioner
Silversides Ralph, farmer
Starling Thomas, master of the Union Workhouse
Swaine Wm. solicitor, and clerk to magistrates and county court
Tabor Mr Samuel
Topsfield William, basket maker and parish clerk
Townsend Barnabas, potash manufacturer
Weston Henry, accountant
White Thomas, postmaster
Wood George, solicitor
Woodthorp Stephen Jones, farmer, Grested Hall
FIRE AND LIFE OFFICES.
Atlas, George Wood
Church of England, W. A. Arthy
Dissenters, Charles Carter
Essex Economic, Charles Kernot
Farmers, W. W. Gillingham
London Assurance, William Quy
Medical & Invalid, G. Marsh
Norwich Union, James Giles
Phoenix, A. Harrington
Royal Exchange, Thomas White
Sun, Thomas Salmon
INNS AND TAVERNS.
Crown, Peter Wright
Horse and Groom, William Sorrell
King’s Head, John Offord
Marlbro’ Head, Elizabeth, Piper
New Ship, Charles Bailey
Old Ship, Thomas Dennis
Vernon’s Head, William Garon
ACADEMIES. (* Boarding.)
Allen Mrs
*Brady Mrs B.
*Lamprell Mrs &
Miss, Eastwood
May Ann and E.
*Osborne Mrs.
Popplewell John, National School
Richardson Thomas
*Thorn Miss
BAKERS.
Appleton Henry
Clark William
Coe John
Harvey William
Ling Abraham
Smith Samuel
BEERHOUSES.
Brown William ( & currier)
Fisher Thomas
Howe Benjamin
BOOT & SHOEMAKERS
Blanks Henry
Brown William
Claydon William
Mann Henry
Newman John
Pryke James
Stewart Samuel
Turner George
White John
Wood Henry
BUTCHERS.
Cause Thomas
Stock Joseph
Thorn John
CARPENTERS
Allen John
Garrad Samuel
Mascall Mary
COOPERS .
Dennis Samuel
Livermore James, (and brewer)
Tedder James
DRUGGISTS.
Harrington Arthur
Kernot Charles
Raynham William, veterinary surgeon)
GROCERS.
Gillingham William White, (glass, &c. dealer and tallow chndler)
Gower William (and corn dealer)
McDurmid Thomas
Mills John
Ventris Nicholas
HAIR DRESSERS
Moss William
Smith John
LINEN & WOOLLEN DRAPERS
Marsh George
Miller Morton
Winterbon George
MILLINERS
Harridge Mrs
Johnson Mrs
McDurmid Mrs
Mann Emma
Scott Miss
Wilson Mary
PLUMBERS, GLAZRS. & PAINTERS
Asby Robert
Burgess George
Harvey Jonathan
SADDLERS .
Burrows George
Woods William
SMITHS AND FARRIERS
Beard George
Clark Isaac
Whittingham Joseph
SURGEONS.
Grabham John, M.D. (registrar)
Green John
Hodges Richard
TAILORS .
Aylett John
Boyden Benj .
Croxson Why.
Raymond John
WATCHMAKERS
Carter Charles
Gullock P H
Kemp George
WHEELWRIGHTS.
Freenen William
Watts Mrs.
CONVEYANCES.
COACH from Southend and the King’s Head, to meet the trains for London, Chelmsford, &c . at Brentwood Station, daily ; on Mon. Tues. and Thurs. at 6 morning ; and on Wed. Fri. and Sat. at 9 morning.
CARRIERS, Thomas & William Pease, from the Vernon’s Head, to London, Mon. Thu. and Fri. at 9 morning,
and Thomas Beard, to Chelmsford, from his house and King’s Head, Tuesday and Friday mornings.