St Osyth 1848 Whites Directory
ST. OSYTH, celebrated for the splendid remains of its Priory, is a large village, picturesquely seated on opposite acclivities, divided by a brook, which, after turning a mill wheel, falls into a navigable creek from Brightlingsea, about 2 miles from the sea and the estuary of the Colne, 11 miles S.E. of Colchester, and 14 miles S.W. of Harwich.
Its parish is one of the three largest in the county, having 1677 souls, and 8433 acres of land, including many scattered farm houses, &c., and extending southward to St. Osyth Point, which juts into the ocean at the mouth of the river Colne, near St. Osyth Marsh, where there are three strong circular martello towers and a fort, now occupied by a detachment of the coast-guard. The land rises high from the marshes, and on the creek, near the village, are two commodious wharfs , where vessels of large burthen receive and deliver their cargoes. A small creek runs between the point and the marshes.
The soil in the latter is heavy, but rich, and in the higher grounds a light fertile loam, suitable for the growth of turnips, corn, garden seeds, flowers, &c., prevails. W. F. Nassau, Esq. , of St. Osyth Priory, is lord of the manor and impropriator of the tithes of the whole parish. He also owns about 6049 acres of the soil, including his park (300A. ) and 2 heaths, containing about 60 acres ; and the rest belongs to several smaller owners. A fair for toys, pleasure, &c. , is held in the village on Holy Thursday. The parish, anciently called Cice, or Chich , derives its present name from St. Osyth, daughter of Redoald, King of East Anglia, and virgin-wife to Sighere, a Christian King of the East Saxons. She was born at Quarendon, in Buckinghamshire, and, according to the monkish legends, made a vow of virginity at an early age, but was compelled by her father to marry. The marriage, however, was never consummated ; for, in the absence of her husband , she assumed the veil ; and having afterwards obtained his consent to the fulfilment of her vow, she retired to Chich, and founded a Church and Nunnery. This establishment was plundered and destroyed by the Danes, under Inguar and Hubba ; and the royal foundress herself beheaded near an adjacent fountain. Her remains were first interred before the door of her church, but afterwards removed to Aylesbury, where many miracles are fabled to have been wrought through her intercession . After the Danes had obtained regal domination in England, Chich St. Osyth was given by King Canute to Earl Godwin, the celebrated Earl of Kent, who granted it to Christ Church, Canterbury; yet at the time of the Domesday Survey, it belonged to the See of London. About the year 1118, Richard de Belmeis, Bishop of London, established a Priory for Austin Canons, on the supposed site of the nunnery erected by St. Osyth, to whom, in conjunction with St. Peter and St. Paul, the new foundation was dedi- cated. The possessions of this Priory were greatly increased by dif- ferent benefactors ; and at the period of the Dissolution, its revenues, according to Speed, were valued at £758. 5s. 8d. per annum. A prior, an abbot, and eighteen canons were then supported on the foundation ; and from its having two heads, it is called in some records an Abbey and in others a Priory. Its site, and various manors belonging to it, were soon afterwards granted to Thomas Lord Cromwell, on whose attainder they reverted to the crown. Edward the Sixth regranted Chich St. Osyth, and other manors, to Thomas Lord Darcy.
Elizabeth, eldest daughter of the last Lord Darcy, married Sir Thomas Savage, afterwards Earl Rivers and Viscount Colchester, whose family continued possessors till the beginning of the eighteenth century, when these estates were bequeathed, by the Hon. Richard Savage, to Bessy, his natural daughter, who married Frederic Zuleistein de Nassau, Earl of Rochford. The extensive and beautiful remains of the PRIORY, with extensive modern erections, are now the seat of W. F. Nassau, Esq. , of the family of the fourth Earl of Rochford, who died without issue, in 1781, and whose grandfather, by marriage, acquired the estate of the Lords Darcy of Chich.
The extensive quadrangle of the Priory is almost entire, but some of the buildings are of modern date, and others have been considerably altered. On the north side is the large and handsome mansion, built of red brick, with stone dressings, in the modern style. On one side of the quadrangle is a range of old buildings in the Tudor style, and having several sharp-pointed gables, and an octagonal observatory rising from the centre, and commanding a most extensive prospect of sea and land. The old house was mostly built by Thomas Darcy, who resided here and was created Baron Darcy of Chich, in 1551. On the death of his grandson, the third lord, in 1639, the title became extinct, and the Priory became the seat of Earl Rivers, from whose family it passed, in the early part of last century, to the Nassau family, who are descended from a natural grandson of the Prince of Orange.
The most interesting portion of the ancient buildings is the grand tower gateway, through which is the principal entrance, on the south side of the quadrangle, flanked by two towers, each like the centre of three lofty stories, embattled, and composed of flint and hewn stone. The front of this mag- nificent building is covered with rich tracery, niches, and other ornaments.
The offices and stables, which form the east and west sides of the court, have marks of great antiquity. To the east are three towers, one larger and loftier than the rest, and commanding extensive prospects. Among the ivy-mantled ruins in the gardens is a pier, with a Latin inscription, expressing the pristine grandeur of the Priory, which is now enclosed in a beautiful Park of 300 acres of rising ground, between the two creeks which unite at Brightlingsea, about two miles to the west.
The CHURCH, dedicated, like the Priory, to St. Osyth, St. Peter, and St. Paul, stands on the declivity south of the Park, and is a large and stately building, having a nave and lofty north and south aisles, a chancel, with a north aisle or chapel, and a large square tower, containing six bells. In the chancel are several defaced monuments, belonging to the Darcy family, and one of them is in memory of Thomas Lord Darcy, who had several distinguished employments under Henry VIII. and Edward VI. Bishop Belmeis, the founder of the Priory, was interred in this church, in 1127, by desire of the canons. The benefice is a donative, valued at only £100 per annum, in the patronage of W. F. Nassau, Esq. , and incumbency of the Rev. F. A. Sterky, M.A., who has two small livings in Yorkshire. It is exempt from episcopal jurisdiction, and the patron is also impropriator of the tithes and owner of three-fourths of the parish. A yearly rent-charge of £2. 12s. for six poor widows is paid out of a field of 104. in the farm of St. Clere’s ; and the poor parishioners have 5A. of land, let for £7. 10s. , and seven tenements occupied rent-free, but the donors are unknown.
ST. OSYTH DIRECTORY.
POST OFFICE at the Red Lion. Letters despatched by Great Bentley foot post, at 4 afternoon.
Archer (John) and Groat (Samuel,) wharfingers and millers
Blyth Frederick, gent. and Mrs N. Clark John, brazier and gunsmith
Cook Mr Martin
Chaplin Mrs
Crampin Henry, schoolmaster
Dean James & Fisher Thos. gents.
Dwyer Misses Maria and Fanny Fisher James, hair dresser, &c
Franklin James, carrier
Hardy Mrs. National School
Harvey John, police constable
Jay George R. land steward, Priory
Joy Jacob, plumber, painter, &c
Law Mr A.
Lilly James, hosier, &c
Minter Ruth, carrier
Nassau William Frederick Esq., John, Esq., and Mrs Cath. St. Osyth Priory
Newcomb James, grocer and draper
Norman Rev. John, M.A. curate
Norman Henry, veterinary surgeon
Pilbrow Thomas, coal & lime merchant
Pyman William, coal and corn merchant and wharfinger
Gilders John, corn merchant, maltster, and brewer
Stevens Charles, coast guard boatman, Stone Point Tower
Thompson Peter, coal merchant, maltster, ship owner, &c
Trimmell Mrs Fanny
Wilson Henry Rycroft, grocer, draper, and agent to Phoenix Fire Office
INNS AND TAVERNS.
Flag Inn, Abraham Bush
King’s Arms, Ireland Graham
Red Lion, James Norman, Post Office
White Hart, Charles Warren
FARMERS.
Baker Benjamin, Duchess Farm
Blyth William Wilson, Park Farm
Blyth Carrington Wilson
Carter Abraham
Frost George
Cheveley Richard Dodson, Warren
Cole Edward, Earls Hall
Cooper Thomas, Hampton Wick
Dean Samuel, St. Clere’s Hall
Ferris Henry, Frowick Hall
Gardner George
Glandfield James, St. Osyth Wick
Gray John, Folly Farm
Hempson John, Willow Wick
Jaggard Benjamin, Cock’s Farm
Knight George, Braziers
Laws Henry, Wigborough Wick
Matson William, Black House Wick
Matthews William
Potter John
Simpson William C.
Salmon Robert
Skipper Elizabeth, Wire Hall
Thompson John Amos, Well Wick
Thompson Peter. Hill House
Vallance Frederick, Dolts & Mases
BAKERS .
Graham Maria
King George
Last William
BLACKSMITHS.
Hamby John
Wells Jonathan
BRICKLAYERS .
Page Joseph, beerhouse
Peggs William
BUTCHERS .
Nicholson Isaac
Norman James jun.
CARPENTERS .
Bowden George
Demaid James
Graham Ireland
Watsham James
GARDENERS.
Clark William
Cook James
Dunnett James
Dunnett William
MILLINERS.
Buckingham M.
Coe Eliza
Eade Mrs H.
Nicholson Eliz.
Skipper Maria
SADDLERS .
Blowers Edward
Humphrey Fdk.
SHOEMAKERS.
Dunnett William (& parish clerk)
Sealey George
Sealey John
Watsham William
SHOPKEEPERS
Coe William
Cook James
Gilders William
Newcomb James
Page Joseph
Sealey George
Wilson Henry R.
SURGEONS .
Latten Robert
Welham Robert
TAILORS.
Carter Abraham
Cook Martin
WHEELWRIGHTS .
Burgess Benj .
Sloughgrove Sarah and John
CARRIERS
To Colchester, Tues, Thur. & Sat.
Franklin James
Minter Ruth