BENFLEET (SOUTH) is a large and pleasant village, on the north side of the creek called Hadleigh Ray, opposite Canvey Island, 4 miles W. of Leigh. It has a Station on the railway from London to Southend, and a small fair for toys on the 24th of August. The bay and creeks in its vicinity are celebrated for oysters. Its parish contains 516 inhabitants and 3056 acres of land, including a large portion of Canvey Island, to which there is a causeway, fordable at low water. In the ninth century, this parish was a fre- quent landing-place of the Danes, one of whom, Hælsten, built a castle or fortification here, in which he used to lay up his plunder, under the guard of a numerous garrison; but in 894, it was taken and destroyed by King Alfred, who took Hælsten’s wife andhis two sons prisoners, with all the booty. Alfred also destroyed most of the Danish ships, and took the rest to London. Before the Con- quest, part of this parish belonged to Barking Abbey, but it was seized by William the Conquerer, and given to Westminster Abbey.
The Dean and Chapter of Westminster are lords and owners of” the Manor of the Abbey,” and also impropriators of the rectory ; but the manor of South Benfleet belongs to J. W. P. Watlington, Esq. , and agreat part of the parish belongs to other proprietors. The Church (St. Mary) is a stately structure in the Norman and Early English styles, withanave, side aisles, chancel, and a stone tower, containing five bells, and crowned by a lofty wooden spire. The fine timber porch, of the time of Henry VII. , has recently been restored. The vicarage, valued in K.B. at £16. 5s. 5d., and now at £287, is in the patronage of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster, and incumbency of the Rev. T. J. Henderson M.A.
POST OFFICE at Simeon Daines’ . Letters from Rayleigh via Ingatestone.
Andrews Chas. smith & victualler, Anchor
Barnes William, farmer, Kent’s Hill
Blakeley James, wheelwright, &c.
Blakeley Edw. Turner, shoemaker
Brewer James, butcher
Brewitt Henry, shoemaker and parish clerk
Brewitt Benjamin Ellis, baker, &c.
Brown Joseph, farmer, Reed’s hill
Carter Richard, shoemaker
Cheesman James, barge owner
Clark William, farmer; house Rawreth
Daines Charles, Crown Beerhouse
Daines Thomas, carpenter
Daines Simeon, carpenter, Post Office
Green William Isaac, engineer
Henderson Rev. Thomas Julius, M.A. vicar
Howard Israel, corn merchant and barge owner
Howard William, corn merchant and barge owner
Kemp Henry George, farmer Kernot Mrs Lavina, grocer, &c.
Kersey Thomas, farmer
Key Edward, barge builder
Madgett Rt. coal dealer & victualler, Hoy
Nash Mr Daniel
Potter Mrs
Potter Geo. W. butcher, baker, &c.
Scott Frederick, grocer and draper
Smith Mrs J.
Talbot Abm. farmer
Thomas William, farmer
Walker Mrs Hester, Hadleigh House
Wise Graham, station master
Wiseman Elijah, sail maker
Wood MrsMaria, farmer
TRAINS to London, Southend, &c.
Bus to Rayleigh twice a day
CARRIER to Chelmsford