BLACKMORE HISTORY NEWS: July / August 2012

Memories of the Olympics: Tower Bridge (4 August 2012)

Welcome to this month’s round-up of local history and heritage in and around Blackmore, Essex.   … and welcome to our new look page layout thanks for the Blogger!

Willingale Bells

Six bells rang out for the first time on 27 May 2012, the day when the newly augmented peal was dedicated.  See http://www.willingalebells.org/newsletters/WoiW_May_2012_extended_v1.pdf

Successful History Event

Ingatestone United Reformed Church, in association with the local Historical Society, hosted a history event linked with its 200^th anniversary on 14 & 15 July.  On display were a number of old village photographs and other memorabilia.  The event was the official launch of an e-book written by Chris Harvey to commemorate the anniversary.  A large number of people attended.

Ingatestone stone dislodged

One of the ancient ice-age stones on the corner of Fryerning Lane, which gives the village its name, was dislodged when a delivery lorry collided with it on 21 July 2012.  The stone awaits resetting. See http://www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/Historic-Ingatestone-rock-knocked-road-lorry/story-16560850-detail/story.html

Olympic connection with Railway Museum

The East Anglian Railway Museum, at Chappel and Wakes Colne, can claim two links with the Olympic Games.  One of their steam engines, currently on loan to the Churnet Valley Railway, was built at the Temple Field works site in Stratford in 1924.  Temple Fields made way for the Olympic Park beside the Liverpool Street London railway line.  The other link is that Blur, the Indie Band, performed their first gig at the Museum back in 1989. Blur, now re-formed, was one of the artists involved in the Closing Ceremony of the Games on 12 August inasmuch that their song ‘Parklife’ was included as a quirky cover version. (They performed 'live' at the Mayor of London's gig at Hyde Park that evening.)

The museum itself tells the story of the railways in the local area.  Its collection includes the two Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) which were used on the Stour Valley Line until the 1980s.  signal boxes rescued from local lines are also preserved.  The Museum is the current resting place for a three-car electric train (Class 306 017) which was in service from London Liverpool Street to Shenfield and Chelmsford from 1949 to 1980 (see http://blackmorehistory.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=class+306).  There is a relatively new exhibition space.  Worth a visit.  See http://www.earm.co.uk/

Local news connection with the Olympic Games

The Red Arrows flew over the Olympic Park about 45 minutes before the opening ceremony on 27 July.  We heard the roar of them over the houses in Blackmore on their return journey.  They had long gone by the time we had raced into the garden.

Earlier that day a family went to Blackmore Church to ring the church bells, and participate in Martin Creed's project 'Work No. 1197'.  Across that country at 8.12am that day everyone was encouraged to ring bells as loud and fast as possible for three minutes.  Welcome to Britain everyone!


Followers of tennis may remember a young lad giving Andy Murray a congratulatory hug after winning a gold medal.  The 11 year old Henry Caplan comes from Blackmore. (see http://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2012-08-06/cool-essex-boys-verdict-on-gold-hold/)

The Olympic flame was in our area on 6 & 7 July.  See http://www.brentwoodweeklynews.co.uk/news/9804316.Olympic_flame_will_never_be_forgotten__residents_say/

The London 2012 Olympics was a triumph both in its organisation and the success of the athletes.  It was a hugely memorable Festival for those who were lucky enough to get tickets and enjoy the site afterwards.  Local people were among the 70000 Games Makers who made the whole event so pleasurable for spectators. 

Epping and Ongar Railway brings visitors to Ongar

Trade in Ongar and North Weald has increased thanks to an influx of tourists coming to the newly opened Epping and Ongar Railway. The attraction is running an old London bus (christened the 339 route) from Harlow to North Weald on event days. See http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/9819390.ONGAR_NORTH_WEALD__Modern_day_railway_gold_rush_for_high_street_traders/

William Byrd

Stondon Massey Church has a copy of the original Will of William Byrd, composer, in which he expresses a wish to be buried in the churchyard of the Parish where he lived.  The congregation will be welcoming The Cardinall’s Musick to two concerts at the church on 2 September. The event is a sell-out.  Separately another website has published the Will: http://theoryofmusic.wordpress.com/2012/07/28/the-will-of-william-byrd-modern-english-version/.  For more information on William Byrd visit http://williambyrdfestival.blogspot.co.uk/

Essex Record Office celebrates Heritage Weekend

The county’s archive resource is throwing open its doors for a special event on Saturday 8 September to mark Heritage Weekend.  Their keynote speaker is family history expert Nick Barratt, radio and ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ fame.  Any information I glean will be posted on the website.  For more, and to see Nick Barratt in aeries of videos, go to http://www.familyhistoryshow.net/essex-record-office-discovery-day

Writtle Calling

To celebrate the 90^th anniversary of 2MT, Britain’s first radio station, enthusiasts are mounting  recreation series of broadcasts starting 11 September.  For more go to http://www.writtlecalling.co.uk/pr3.pdf

Essex Voices

A Great Dunmow based history website: Essex Voices, is a resource of note.  Here is an illustration of how Queen Mary was confused with Mary Queen of Scots, the Catholic, executed at Fotheringhay: http://www.essexvoicespast.com/history-howlers-mary-i/.  Go to the ‘home page’ to find the latest entries: http://www.essexvoicespast.com/

Brentwood & Shenfield history

‘Changes over a century’ is well worth a look: http://www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/Changes-century-leave-mark-today/story-16751829-detail/story.html

 War Memorial unveiled at Ongar Medical Centre

A ceremony to unveil a War Memorial at the new Ongar Medical Centre was held on 10 May 2012.  It contains the names of those who died from the local area, predominantly during the First World War.  It replaces the War Memorial which existed in the former building, the War Memorial Hospital, which occupied this site.  A separate post will feature this event.

Doddinghurst War Memorial

A War Memorial tablet to those who died in the First World War at Doddinghurst is sited in All Saints Church.  (see http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/doddinghurstwwone.html)

I have now completed the work to provide a tribute page online for all of those named.  New pages are available on ‘Blackmore Area Local History’ for:

Arthur Benton - http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/ww1_arthur_benton.html

Harry Benton - http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/ww1_harry_benton.html

George Everett - http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/ww1_george_everett.html

Arthur Hammond - http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/ww1_arthur_hammond.html

George Hammond - http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/ww1_george_hammond.html

St George Swaine Showers - http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/ww1_swaine_showers.html

Pages have already been set up for Herbert Miller, Gerald Wellesley Pigott, James Roast and Harry Riglin because their names also appear on the War Memorial at Blackmore.

Commonplace Book of Edward Reeve

The complete series of posts can be viewed by following this link: http://blackmorehistory.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Commonplace%20Book

Chelmsford City

The county town now has official City status, conferred by HM Queen Elizabeth II in celebration of the Diamond Jubilee.

Blackmore Church photos

Some interesting photographs of St Laurence Church Blackmore have appeared, taken by a visitor on a Teas In The Tower day: http://toomanyphotos.wordpress.com/2012/07/20/blackmore-church/

In brief

Ingatestone WW2 airmen’s lives remembered: http://www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/Airmen-s-lives-remembered/story-16355291-detail/story.html

Still for sale – The Bull, Blackmore: http://www.flickr.com/photos/barryslemmings/7189872671/

Links

For an extensive list of links to other sites go to: http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/externallinks.html  

Ingatestone: Book of Common Prayer

Book of Common Prayer Anniversary

Up and down the country, the Church of England still holds services using the Book of Common Prayer – sometimes referred to as ‘1662 service’.  In some quarters its words are regarded as central to the liturgy.  But it was an Act of Parliament which ordained its use, effective from St Bartholomew’s Day (24 August) 1662.

Samuel Pepys, a Londoner, wrote in his diary:

“August 17^th. (Lord’s Day).  Up very early, this being the last Sunday that the Presbyterians are to preach, unless they read the Common Prayer and renounce the Covenant, and so I had mind to hear Dr Bates’s farewell sermon, and walked to St Dunstan’s, where, it not being seven o’clock yet, the doors were not open; and so I went and walked an hour in the Temple-garden … . At eight o’clock I went, and crowded in at the back door among others, the church being half-full almost before any doors were open publicly; which is the first time that I have done so these many years since I used to go with my father and mother; and so got into the gallery, beside the pulpit, and heard very well.”

This must have been the last Sunday when John Willis preached in Ingatestone.  Following ejection “he did not move any great distance, but established a conventicle at Brentwood, in conjunction with Thomas Gibson, who had been ejected from Little Baddow.  There they had a licence for a ‘Presbyterian meeting house’ in 1672, and Rector Willis probably remained there until his death in 1679” (EE Wilde, Ingatestone & The Essex Great Road (1913) p176). This was the formation of what became the Congregational Church (more recently Brentwood United Reformed Church).

D W Coller, wrote about the events of 1662 in his book ‘The People’s History of Essex’ (1861)

“Then came the Act of Uniformity, which banished all strange doctrine from the pulpit and restored the liturgy in its completeness; and 2,000 of the clergy, many of them in Essex, with a sincerity which astonished the kingdom, abandoned their snug vicarages and comfortable rectory-houses, and went forth, voluntarily embracing a life of hardship and poverty rather than accept the articles of subscription which were tendered to them as the condition of retaining their cures.  The following is a list of the ejected clergy in this county: it shows at once the extent of the suffering, and the parishes which had been under pastors whose teaching had been most hostile to the system of the Church:

Abbey Hatch: Mr Knightsly

Alphamstone: Mr Samuel Brinsley, St John’s Col. Camb

Arkesden: Richard Pepps. M.A., Eman. Col. Camb

Great Baddow: Mr Christopher Wragge

Little Baddow: Thomas Gilson, M.A., Eman. Col. Camb

Barking: Benjamin Way M.A., Oriel Col. Oxon

Barnston: John Beadle, M.A.

Belchamp (Walter): Mr Dearsley

Belchamp (Otten): Mr Thomas

Bentley: Mr Thomas Beard

Boreham: Mr John Oates

Boxted: Mr Lax, also Mr Carr

Braintree: Mr John Argor, Camb. Univ

Steeple Bumpstead: Mr Edmund Symmes

Birdbrook: Issac Grandorge, M.A., St John’s Col. Camb

Great Burstead: Mr Samuel Bridges

Chelmsford: Mr Mark Mott

Chickney: Mr Archer

Childerditch: Mr Harris

Chrishall (Little): Mr James Willet

Clavering: Mr John Moore, Peter-house, Camb

Coggeshall: Mr John Sams

Colchester, St Andrews: Owen Stockton, M.A., Christ’s Col. Camb

Colchester, St Peter’s: Mr Edward Warren

Colne Engaine: Mr John Clarke

Copford: Mr Robert Thompson

Cranham: Mr John Yardley

Danbury: Mr John Man

Dedham: Matt Newcomen, M.A., St John’s Col. Camb

High Easter: Mr Martin Holbitch

Eastwood: Mr Phillogers Sacheverel, Ox Univ

Felsted: Mr Nathaniel Ranew, Eman. Col. Camb

Feering: Mr Constable

Finchingfield: Mr Hugh Glover, Eman. Col. Camb

Fingringhoe: Mr Gregg

Fordham: John Bulkley, M.A.

Gestingthorp: Mr Davis

Hawkwell: Mr John Church

Halstead: Mr Wlliam Sparrow, Camb. Univ

Hamstead (West): Mr Green

Hanningfield S: Mr Cardinal

Hatfield Broad Oak: John Warren M.A., Ox. Univ

Hempstead: Mr Thomas Ellis

Henham: Mr Samuel Ely

Hedingham (Castle): Mr John Smith

Henny (Little): Mr Samuel Crossman

Hockley: Mr Farnworth

Hallingbury (Little): Mr Waters

Hornchurch: Mr Wells

Ingatestone: John Willis, M.A.

Inworth: Mr Robert Dodd, Ox Univ, also Mr Jenkins

Laver (Magdalen): Mr Harvey

Laver (High): Mr Samuel Borfet, King’s Col. Camb

Laver (Little): Edward Whiston, M.A., Trin. Col. Camb

Leighs (Little): Mr John Benson

Leyton (Low): Phllip Anderton, M.A., Eman. Col. Camb

Lindsell: Mr Clark

Maldon: Thomas Horrockes, M.A., St John’s Col. Camb

Moreton: Edmund Calamay, M.A., Sydney Col. Camb

Nazing: Mr John Brown, Eman. Col. Oxon

Nevendon: Mr Davis Fowles

Norton: Mr Hubbard

Notley: Mr Sparrowhawk

Oakley: Mr John Hubbard

Oakley (near Stansted): Mr Lucas

Ockendon (South): Mr Barnaby

Ongar (Chipping): Mr John Lorkin

Panfield: Mr George Purchas

Parndon (Great): Mr Bastwick

Pattiswick: Mr Ralph Hile

Pebmarsh: Me Blakeley

Pentlow: Mr Henry Esday

Prittlewell: Thomas Peck, M.A.

Radwinter: Mr George Moxon

Rayleigh: Abraham Caley, B.D.

Rettendon: William Clopton, M.A., Eman. Col. Camb

Ridgewell: Daniel Ray, M.A., St John’s Col. Camb

Rivenhall: Mr George Lisle

Roothing: Mr John Wood

Roothing (White): Mr Sandford

Sandon: Mr Samuel Smith

Shalford: Mr Giles Firman, Camb. Univ

Shelley: Mr Zackery Finch

Shenfield: Mr George Bound

Shoebury: Mr Watson

Southchurch: William Ruthband, M.A., Ox. Univ

Springfield: John Reeve, M.A.

Stambourne: Mr Henry Havers, Kath. Hall, Camb

Stanford Rivers: Mr Matthew Ellistone

Stansted: Mr Robert Abbott

Stapleford (Abbots): Mr Lewis Calandrine

Stapleford (Tawney): Mr Ward

Stebbing: Samuel Bantoft, B.D., Jesus Col. Camb

Stisted: Mr Thomas Clark

Stock: Mr Martin Sympson

Stow Mary’s: Mr James Maulden

Tey (Much or Great): Mr Green

Tey (Marks): Mr Richard Rand

Terling: John Stalham, M.A., Ox. Univ

Thaxted: Mr James Parker

Thoyden Mount: Mr Francis Chandler

Toppesfield: Mr John Overhead

Upminster: Mr Hawkes

Wakering: Mr Christopher Scott

Waltham (Little): John Harrison, M.A.

Wanstead: Leonard Hoar, M.D.

Warley (Little): Mr Powel

West Ham: Mr Walton

Wethersfield: John Cole, M.A., Jesus Col. Camb.

White Colne: Mr John Bigley

Wickham Bishops: Mr Robert Billio, Trin. Col. Camb

Witham: Mr Thomas Ludgutter

Weeley: Mr Dowel

Yeldham (Great): Mr Robert Chadsly.

“It appears to have been feared that these nonconformist exiles would in many instances carry their congregations from the parish altars, and leave the churches desolate.  An act was therefore passed prohibiting separate congregations, and forbidding any dissenting teacher to come within five miles of any place at which he had preached.  Dissent prevailed in the county, nevertheless, and to a great extent, - so hard is it to coerce the conscience by human law; and though these restrictions, with occasional modifications, were continued for a century afterwards, conventicles, as they were called, were set up in secure and secret places, precautions being taken to elude the watchful constable and the lurking informer.  An illustration of this existed up to about a year ago in the old chapel in Baddow-lane, Chelmsford.  A sliding panel was to be seen in the wall at the back of the pulpit.  The tradition is, that the original building was a solitary barn, and through this loop-hole, the minister and the people who dared to worship God in what the law called an illegal manner, had a ready means to escape to the wood, which then skirted the rear of the building, and extended to Galleywood Common to the river, while the soldiers employed to hunt the fugitives were thundering the bolted door.”