Steeple Bumpstead 1863 Whites directory
BUMPSTEAD (STEEPLE) is a large and pleasant village, with several good houses, on the banks of a tributary stream of the Stour, three miles S. of Haverhill, and six miles W.N.W. of Yeldham station. Its parish contains 1295 inhabitants and 3296A. 1R. 25P. of land, generally having a heavy fertile soil, well cultivated and highly productive both in grain and grass. The fine old pastures and dairy farms in this neighbourhood were formerly in high estimation for a large supply of excellent cheese, but most of them are now in tillage. Mrs. Ann Walton, of London, owns a great part of the parish, and is lady of the principal manors, formerly belonging to the Bendish family, who were seated at BOWER HALL, a large mansion, now occupied by the Rev. J. N. Pearson. MOYNES PARK, nearly a mile east of the church, is the beautiful seat of Geo. Gent, Esq. , and was anciently the residence of the Moyne family, whose heiress married William Gent, Esq. , in the reign of Henry VII. The principal front of the mansion is a noble specimen of the ornamented styles of domestic architecture ofthe time of Henry VIII. and Queen Elizabeth. The large projecting windows rise as high as the body of the building, assuming the form ofturrets ; and the numerous ornamental gables, with the antique clustered form of the chimneys, give the whole of this grand front avaried and pleasing appearance. This part of the building was erected in 1580, by Baron Thomas Gent, one of the barons of the exchequer, who died in 1593. A considerable part of the more ancient building has been preserved, and some of the offices behind the house are of great antiquity. Internally the apartments are spacious and lofty, and richly embellished with valuable paintings, among which are some fine family portraits. The park contains anabundance of fine forest trees, and commands extensive prospects.
Mr. Thomas Jarvis, Mr. John Willett, and several smaller owners have estates in this parish, partly copyhold, subject to certain fines. The Wanton, Blois, Gernon, and Latchley families formerly held estates in this parish, still bearing their names, and some of them having fine old houses, one of which (Latchleys) is still encompassed by a moat, and is supposed to have been used as a hunting box by King Stephen. The walls of one of its rooms are covered with ancient tapestry.
The Church (St. Mary) is an ancient stone fabric, in good repair, and has a handsome tower and five bells. In the interior are several handsome monuments belonging to the Bendish family. One is very elegant, and has a fine recumbent effigy of Sir Henry, the last male heir of the family. The vicarage, valued in K.B. at £15. 2s. 1d. , and in 1831 at £247, is in the patronage of the Lord Chancellor and incumbency of the Rev. Richard Fisher, B.A., who has a good old residence, and about 50A. of glebe. The tithes were commuted in 1839 – the vicarial for £40000, and the rectorial for £652. 2s. 5d. per annum. The latter are held by Mrs. Walton on lease from the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul’s. In the village is a neat Independent Chapel, erected in 1800, and enlarged in 1839. It has a school, which was erected in 1847. The National School was built in 1848, at the cost of £500. The old parish school was built in the reign of Elizabeth, and conveyed to trustees in 1592. It is endowed with £100 three per cent. Reduced Annuities, purchased in 1797 with moneygiven by several benefactors. The Town Land comprises 2A. 1R. 6P. , and is mentioned in the awards of the enclosure com- missioners in 1702. In 1859, the Misses Woolnough vested with the vicar several cottages, in trust, to apply the rents in reducing the price of coal for the poor parishioners. They yield a clear yearly income of about £20.
STEEPLE BUMPSTEAD.
POST OFFICE at Mr Josiah Chapman’s. Letters via Haverhill .
Barker Lucy, milliner, &c.
Bowyer Edward, butcher
Brown Alexander, surgeon
Chapman Josiah, stationer, &c.
Choat John and Clayden, cattle dealers
Cockle William, farm bailiff
Dare George, carrier to Braintree, &c.
Deed Mrs My. Ann, vict. Red Lion
Fisher Rev. Richard, B.A. vicar
Fitch Fredk. Chas. corn miller
Fitch Phoebe boarding school
Fitch Samuel, butcher
Gent George, Esq. Moynes Park
Gouldstone William, schoolmaster
Gunn John T. vict. Fox and Hounds
Hazelwood Giles, watchmaker, &c.
Hoy Charles Robert, basket maker
Hoy Edward, basket maker
Humphreys Charles, butcher
Legerton Mrs
Mascall Mrs
Pearson Rev. John Norman, Bower Hall
Playle Charles, plumber, &c.
Reynolds Robert, surgeon
Salmon John, hairdresser, &c .
Smith Thomas, brick & tile maker
Smith Miss, schoolmistress
Suckling Jas. rope and twine maker
Suckling John & William, saddlers
Willett Mr John, Clay House
Woolnough Misses Martha & Anna
FARMERS.
Baines Walter, Lower House
Beddall Josiah, Rylands
Brett William Porter, Cootes Farm
Coe Elijah, and corn miller
Coe Peter, Old Park
Colman George John, Garlands
Dare William (corn merchant ) Parsonage
Hodges Thomas, Old Hall
Jarvis John, Wakelings
Jarvis Thomas, Wildings
Nash Daniel, Upper House
Nice John, Broad Green
Pannell Daniel, Blois & Brick House
Smith Thomas, Smith’s Green
Viall King, Great Waltons ; h Stoke
Willett John, Yew Tree
Willett Samuel, Latchleys
BAKERS, &c.
Balls Stephen
Deeks Walter
Playle Charles
Turner John
BEERHOUSES
Garwood Susan
Smith Robert
Smoothy James
BLACKSMITHS .
Bunting George
Turner William
BRICKLAYERS.
Choat Joseph
Hitching Joseph
Ralling Robert
CARPENTERS
Barker George
Barker James
Humphrey William
GROCERS & DRAPERS
Newman Alf. Kg.
Nichols William W.
SHOEMAKERS.
Clarke Joseph
Humphrey Samuel
Kemp Alfred
Pannell Daniel
Salmon John
Smoothy Thomas
SHOPKEEPERS.
Clarke John
Cowell Daniel
Kemp James
TAILORS .
Gunn John T.
Gunn Alfred
Gunn Thomas
WHEELWRIGHTS.
Barker Denny
Humphrey William