SHENFIELD is a large and pleasant village on the Chelmsford road, extending more than a mile eastward from Brentwood, of which town it may be considered a suburb. Its parish contains 1145 inhabitants, and 2397 acres of land, and within its limits is Brentwood Railway Station. The soil is generally a fertile loam, and the surface picturesquely undulated. At the Domesday Survey, the field Hall has been successively held by the Bohun, Woodstock, Stafford, Tyrell, and Lucas families, and now belongs to the Dowager Countess Cowper. John Lucas, Esq. , was created Baron Lucas, of Shenfield, in 1640, but the title became extinct in 1705.
The estate, called Fitzwalters, anciently belonged to a family of its own name, but is now the property of the Rev. C. G. G. Townsend.
Middleton Hall is the seat of Miss Tasker. Part of the parish belongs to smaller owners, and here are several neat residences, and four ladies’ boarding schools. The Church (Virgin Mary) is an antique structure, consisting of a nave and north aisle, a chancel and north chapel, and a tower crowned by a lofty wooden spire.
The rectory, valued in K.B. at £14.8s. 4d. , and in 1831 at £613, is in the patronage of the Dowager Countess Cowper, and incumbency of the Rev. Charles Isaac Yorke, who has a good residence and 74 acres of glebe. The tithes were commuted in 1838. The poor parishioners have £10 a-year, left by the late Joseph Tasker, and the dividends of £100 Three per Cent. Reduced Annuities, purchased with £50, left by Elizabeth Holmes in 1764; and £35, left by Joseph Babb in 1789. POST AND TRAINSfromBrentwood Station.
SHENFIELD DIRECTORY.
(Essex street and some other parts are included with Brentwood.)
Baker William, swine dealer, Common
Branfoot Miss
Doughty Mr James
Brett John Goodall, gentleman
Brown Joseph, blacksmith
Caldwell Mrs G. Laurel hill
Cook John, corn mert. Railway Villa
Dawson Mrs
Burn Mr William
Dunlop William, coffeehouse, Station
Forster William, gent. Ivy House
Giblin Richard, miller, Common
Heatley Charles John, gentleman
Howe Thos. Aspinwall, schoolmaster
Hunt Thomas, gent.
Hume Mrs
Ingleby Mr Rupert
Jackson Miss
Jennings Wm. Brentwood Station
Lavender Mark, gardener
Moss Mrs
Newman Mr Richard
Murrells John, clerk, Common
Newman Mr George, Common
Osborn George, pot and tile maker
Osborn William, swine dealer
Pace John, solicitor, Viola cottage
Porter Joseph, Esq. Shenfield Hall
Pryor Mr Clement William
Ralph Rev. Henry, M.A. curate
Ray Henry William, blacksmith
Ray James, beerhouse, Common
Reeve Mrs Ann and Miss Sarah
Robinson Wm. Esq. Shenfield Place
Tabrum Mr
Russell Frederick
Tasker Miss E. A. Middleton Hall
Taylor Nehemiah, and James and John, gentlemen
Watts William, beerhouse
Whitby William, butcher
White John, wheelwright & builder
Wingfield William, Esq.
Winterbon John, builder
Yorke Rev. Charles Isaac, rector
INNS AND TAVERNS.
Artichoke, Thomas Osborn
Eagle and Child, William Hughes
Essex Arms, Joseph Ball
Green Dragon, James Cook
ACADEMIES (BOARDING.)
Bargman Miss Ann, Shenfield House
Bartington Miss Eliz . Sus. Crown Hs.
Jackson Misses, Rose Bank
Kingdon Miss Ann, Shenfield Villa
Williams William, Common
Parish Schools , Miss Allen and Mrs Green
BAKERS, &c .
Giblin Rd. miller
Goodman Thos.
Welham Ch. Fdk. and miller
BOOT & SHOE Makers
Barker Wm. Ntn.
Boreham George
Wickwar Thos.
FARMERS.
Abrey Daniel
Barton Mrs M.
Cumbers John
Felgate John
Lagden Jeremiah
Stock Richard
Walker William Henry
Weal William
Worrin Mrs Mary
Worrin William
GROCERS, &c.
Boreham George
Curtis William
Ray Stn. beerhouse
Thompson Ann