Widdington Whites Directory in 1863
WIDDINGTON, an ancient village, 5 miles S. of Saffron-Walden, and 2 miles S.E. of Newport Station, has in its parish 409 souls, and 2006A. 1R. 32P. ofland, mostly freehold, and partly copy-hold, subject to arbitrary fines. It is near the source of the river Cam or Granta, and is in two manors. That of Widdington Hall belongs to Sir Francis Vincent, Bart. , and was held by Robert Gernon at Domesday Survey. The manor of Prior’s Hall was given at an early period to an alien priory, from which it was taken by Edward III., who gave it to William Wickham, Bishop of Winchester. The latter bestowed it on New College, Oxford, founded by him, and to which it still belongs.
The Church (Virgin Mary), a small plain building, was partly rebuilt in the sixteenth century.
The ancient tower fell down some years ago, and a small wooden turret supplies its place above the west end, which has been rebuilt of brick. In the chancel wall, two slender pillars, with ornamented bases and capitals, support a semicircular arch, with a Saxon moulding. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £25, and in 1831 at £512, is in the patronage of Major Court, and incumbency of the Rev. J. C. L. Court, who has a commodious brick residence, and about 40A. of glebe. The tithes were commuted in 1840 for £570 per annum. Post from Bishop’s Stortford.
Bailey Jonas, gardener & beerhouse – Black Horse
Brown John, tailor
Court Rev. J. C. L. rector
Holgate Joseph shoemaker. & shopkeeper
Knight George, vict. Fleur de Lis
Martin Mary, shopkeeper
Reed William, carpenter, parish clerk and beerhouse – William the Conqueror
Reynolds Mrs Ann, schoolmistress
Salmon Edward, shopkeeper
Thurgood Joseph, carpenter
Wright James, boot and shoemaker
FARMERS.
BarnardGeorge, Birds
Hayden William, Newlands
Newport William, Prior’s Hall
Perry William & miller, Widdington Hall
Perry _ , Swain’s Hall
Smith John, Wallgroves
Townsend Richard, Rays