West Bergholt 1848 Whites Directory
BERGHOLT ( WEST) parish, from 3 to 4 miles W.N.W. of Colchester, on the north side of the vale of the Colne, has most of its houses scattered round a large heath or common, of 276 acres ; but all the rest of the parish is enclosed and well cultivated. It contains 822 inhabitants, and 2271 acres of land, skirted on three sides by the Colne and two of its tributary streams, and belonging at the Domesday survey to Roger Pictavensis, and Richard, son of Earl Gilbert.
It is in two manors, viz. , Bergholt Sackville, now belonging to John Round, Esq. , and Cook’s Hall, held by Mrs. Tyrrell, of Polstead, Suffolk ; but a great part of the soil belongs to W. S. Sadler, T. Daniell , R. and D. Bradbrook, and several smaller free and copyholders. Cook’s Hall was long a seat of the Cook, Montgomery, Abell, and other families , but is now a farm house. The noble family of Sack-ville held the other manor from the time of Henry I. till 1559. It afterwards passed to the Garroway, Dister, Denham, Grimston, and other families . In the neighbourhood is a circular entrenchment, which Stukeley regards as the site of the palace of Cunobeline, the British King.
The Church (St. Mary,) has a nave, chancel, and south aisle, supported by massive Norman pillars. At the west end is a wooden turret, crowned by a shingled spire. A chantry was founded here in 1331 by J. de Bures. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £10, and in 1831 at £463, is in the gift of W. F. Hobbs, Esq. , of Boxted, and incumbency of the Rev. Fdk. Sims, M.A., who has a good residence, commanding a fine view of the vale, which is here finely diversified with wood and water. The tithes were commuted in 1842 for about £600 per annum, and the glebe is 38A. 2R. 13P. In the parish is a Wesleyan and also a Primitive Methodist chapel. The poor parishioners have a share of Love’s Charity, as noticed with Aldham ; and the parish clerk has 3R. of land, given by an unknown donor.
Alston Lawson, baker
Clark William, policeman
Daniell Thomas, brewer, maltster,
brick maker, and coal merchant
Grimwood Spelan, shoemaker. & parish clerk
Harrington Jas. William bdg. academy
Roberts John, vict. White Hart
Sims Rev Frederick, M.A. Rectory
Smith Samuel, cooper
BEER HOUSES
Brown John
Fitch William – Appletree
Gray Thomas, brewer
Hempstead James – Treble Tile
Springett Robert
Whitehead Robert
BRICKLAYERS.
Atkinson James
Gibland William
BLACKSMITHS .
Pittock Bailey
Seaborn Jas. K.
BUTCHERS.
Byfield Thomas
Groves Jeremiah
Thorrington Samuel
CATTLE DEALERS.
Fenner John
Howard William
Seaborn Edward
CORN MILLERS.
Argent John Thompson
Springett Robert
FARMERS.
Argent J. T.
Beardwell Thomas
Bradbrook Daniel
Bradbrook Robert, Cook’s Hall
Daniell Thomas
Grant James ( & Fordham)
Gray Thomas
Lambert Jacob
Page Isaac
Ratcliff James, Highfield
Seaborn Edward
Thorrington Edward & James
Turner Joseph, Rookery
Ward John, Hall
Whitehead Robert
Wright Jno. Bales
SHOPKEEPERS.
Hudson Nicholas
Seaborn Edward
WHEELWRIGHTS, & Carpenters.
Ratcliff William
Seaborn Jas. K.
POSTMAN, William Fowler, from Colchester daily.