Wenden Lofts 1848 Whites directory

Wenden Lofts 1848 Whites directory

WENDEN LOFTS, or Wenden Loughts, a small hilly parish, 5 miles W. of Saffron Walden, and 3 miles from Littlebury and Wenden Railway Stations, has only 72 inhabitants, and 779 acres of land, rising boldly on the north side of a tributary stream of the river Cam or Granta. It was held by the Le Hout family in the reign of Henry III. , and from them derived its distinguishing appellation of Loughts, or Le Houts, now corrupted to Lofts. John Hope Wilkes, Esq. , is lord of the manor, and has a pleasant seat here called Lofts Hall, a fine old mansion, encompassed by a well-wooded lawn, and formerly the residence of the Meade family. Duddenhoe Grange, on the north side of the parish, was held by Tilty Abbey in the 15th century, and afterwards by the Brandon, Paulet, Bonfoy, Hatchet, and Forbes families.
The Church (St. Dunston,) is a handsome structure of black flint and stone, standing near the hall, and lately rebuilt by J. H. Wilkes, Esq. It has an embattled tower and four bells. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £9 10s. 10d. , and in 1831 at £474, with that of Elmdon annexed to it, is in the patronage of J. H. Wilkes, Esq. , and incumbency of the Rev. Robert Fiske, M.A., of Elmdon. The tithes were commuted in 1824, chiefly for allotments of land. The poor parishioners have 13s. a year from Martin’s Charity. (See Chrishall. )

Hamshar Robert, corn miller
Hayden Thos. farmer, Pond St
Rolfe James, farmer and maltster, Hope Farm
Pilgrim Joseph, farmer, Duddenhoe Grange
Waters William, parish clerk
Wilkes John H. Esq. Lofts Hall