RUNWELL, a scattered village and parish on the north side of the vale of the Crouch, 4½ miles N.W. ofRayleigh, and 10 miles S.E. by S. of Chelmsford, contains 366 souls, and 2059A. OR. 31P. of land, chiefly a clayey loam, and extending in gentle slopes two miles north of the river, to which it adds a tributary stream. Thomas Kemble, Esq. , is lord of the manor, and owner of most of the soil, and has a pleasant seat here, called New Runwell Hall, the old hall being now a farm house. At the north end of the parish are some remains of an ancient manor house, called FLEMYNGS, which was a seat of the Flemyng family, in the 14th and 15th centuries, and was a very extensive mansion; but the chief part was pulled down many years ago, or destroyed by a fire, which is said to have demolished thirty rooms and a large chapel. Before this accident, it contained above 50 spacious apartments. It had an extensive park and a large warren. Fragments of coffins and human bones have frequently been thrown up by the plough, near the site of the chapel. From the Flemyngs, this estate passed to the Sulyards, who held it till 1540 ; and it afterwards passed to the Garney, Wright, Holt, and other families.
The Church (St. Mary) is a venerable fabric in the perpendicular style, consisting of a brick nave, chancel, and north aisle, and a stone tower, containing four bells, and crowned by a shingled spire. Part of the ancient wooden screen remains, and in the aisle is a mural monument, with the effigies of Eustace Sulyard and his wife, cut in brass. In the chancel is a grey marble monument, in memory of Edward Sulyard, the last of his family, who died in 1692. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £13, and in 1831, at £480, is in the patronage and incum- bency of the Rev. Thomas Knox, M.A. The glebe is about 20A., and the tithes were commuted in 1845, for £556 per annum. The Rectory House is a handsome new building, with tasteful pleasure grounds. The parish is mostly freehold, and a great part of it is occupied by the farmers of the surrounding parishes. Post via Ingatestone.
Carter Abraham, carpenter
Jenkins John, victualler, Quart Pot
FARMERS.
Bentley John
Brewitt John
Hilton Henry
Rayner Henry
Jones Walter
Kemble Thomas. Esq. New Runwell Hall
Cousins William & Samuel, Old Hall
Knox Rev. Thomas, M.A. rector
Slade Samuel, gardener
Tillbrooke Henry, thatcher
Wright Joseph, thatcher, & William, parish clerk.
Williams Joseph, Church end