Received
15 November 2010
Hello Andrew,
I’ve had an email today from a descendant of the Crickitt family of Blackmore hoping for information about Charles Alexander Crickitt of Smyths Hall who was head of the first bank in Chelmsford. She is particularly hoping to find a portrait. We only have information about the bank. Have you come across the family in your research? She has already tried the Essex Record Office.
Kind Regards
Dot Bedenham
Replied
15 November 2010
Hello Dot,
Yes I have come across the Crickitt family during the course of my research. Unfortunately I do not have a picture of the individual, but your correspondent may be interested in the following information.
The population of Blackmore grew during the latter half of the eighteenth century. In 1766, Blackmore was “a small village con[sis]ts about 50 families”, having “about 80 houses” in 1790 and “about 100 families – about 500 souls” by 1810, with “three families of note, Mr Crickett, Mr Waller of Fingrith & Mr Fearths of Jericho House” [source: Guildhall Manuscripts ms9558. Diocesan Book 1766 – 1811]. The 1811 census records a population of 620.
The minutes record the proposal to create a side chapel in place of the Mausoleum. This entailed the removal and burial of three coffins in the churchyard, - The last of which, according to the Vicar, Revd. W L Petrie (1898) was placed there in 1868 - belonging to the Crickitt family, and the rebuilding of part of the north wall of the aisle.
For “posterity”, the minutes of ‘The Vicar, Churchwarden and Synodsmen of S Lawrence Blackmore Meeting (1893 to 1965)’ record:
Monday Novr 26 1900
The following are the inscriptions of the Coffins of the members of the Crickitt family
Sarah Alexander Crickitt
Died 28th August 1819
Aged 49 Years
Charles Alexander Crickitt Esq
Died 16th Jan 1803
Aged 65 years
Late Member for Ipswich
Mrs Sarah Crickitt
Died 29 July 1828
Aged 84 years
Harriett Alexander Crickitt
Died Nov 15 1868
Aged 78 Years
Copy of a letter received from Mr Crickitt respecting the Vault in the Church
Rozelle
Lansdown Road
Cheltenham
15 July 1900
Dear Sir
I quite agree with you that it would be much better that the coffins of my relatives should be placed below the floor of the Church instead of above it for sanitary reasons not regarded in past days …
Rob E Crickitt
According to genealogical notes (dated 1908) [ERO T/G 82/1], the Crickitt family “were bankers at Ipswich, Colchester, Chelmsford and Maldon. They started the Old Bank, Ipswich in 1798. They represented Ipswich in Parliament for 50 years. They owned several manors, among them Smyth Hall Blackmore, pulled down by Miss H Crickitt, it was an old Elizabethan Hall”.
Inside the Priory Church of St Laurence Blackmore there are memorials bearing the following inscriptions:
On the wall in the Vestry there are two memorials:
To the memory of
Charles Alexander Crickitt
of Smyths Hall Esquire
many years one of the
Representatives of Parliament
of the Borough of Ipswich
who died the 16th Jany 1803
aged 65 years
also to the memory of
Sarah the widow of
Charles Alexander Crickitt Esq
who departed this life
the 29 day of July 1828
aged 84 years
In memory of
Harriet Alexander Crickitt
the last surviving child
of the late
Charles Alexander Crickitt Esq M.P.
formerly of
Smyths Hall in this parish
she died
the 16th of November 1868
Aged 79.
The Crickitt family vault occupied the corner of the church which became a Lady Chapel and later, in 1988, the Vestry.
The Crickett family held the advowson of the church from 1775 to 1887.
Regards
Andrew
Friday, 31 December 2010
Friday, 24 December 2010
Margaretting: Christmas Eve at the 'Red Lion'
One theme keeps recurring: “Ah, but we had more fun in the old days” and it is a theme whose truth is very difficult to assess from reminiscence. Did the people get more enjoyment from the amusements they created for themselves, or is the fun transfigured by the warm glow of the past. There is no doubt in the mind of Mrs. Poole of “The Red Lion,” Margaretting, Essex, when she says:
Of course, things are not what they used to be. Specially Christmas, these days. We used to be able to supply everybody with anything they wanted, in the way of a bit of Christmas cheer. But not now, I’m afraid. They all used to come in, happy and excited, on Christmas Eve, all laden up with parcels and baskets full of good things. You could feel the excitement in the very atmosphere, and see it on their faces as plain as a pikestaff. And half of ‘em would forget their stuff before the evening was over, and on Christmas morning the bar would be littered with chickens and ducks and turkeys and goodness knows what else. And then they’d have to call back to collect their Christmas dinners. Mind you, I always did think it was a dodge, so they could get a quick one in early. Oh, but it was lovely in those days. I hope it won’t be too long before they come back. Roast pork, sides of beef, turkeys, chicken, sausages - real sausages, I mean - and all the rest of it. Pigs’ trotters, now. You never see ‘em about at all now. Anybody’d think pigs don’t have legs nowadays, you never see them in the shops.
Extract from ‘Country Magazine. Book of the B.B.C. Programme’ compiled and edited by Francis Dillon. (Odhams Press, London, c1950).
Of course, things are not what they used to be. Specially Christmas, these days. We used to be able to supply everybody with anything they wanted, in the way of a bit of Christmas cheer. But not now, I’m afraid. They all used to come in, happy and excited, on Christmas Eve, all laden up with parcels and baskets full of good things. You could feel the excitement in the very atmosphere, and see it on their faces as plain as a pikestaff. And half of ‘em would forget their stuff before the evening was over, and on Christmas morning the bar would be littered with chickens and ducks and turkeys and goodness knows what else. And then they’d have to call back to collect their Christmas dinners. Mind you, I always did think it was a dodge, so they could get a quick one in early. Oh, but it was lovely in those days. I hope it won’t be too long before they come back. Roast pork, sides of beef, turkeys, chicken, sausages - real sausages, I mean - and all the rest of it. Pigs’ trotters, now. You never see ‘em about at all now. Anybody’d think pigs don’t have legs nowadays, you never see them in the shops.
Extract from ‘Country Magazine. Book of the B.B.C. Programme’ compiled and edited by Francis Dillon. (Odhams Press, London, c1950).
Friday, 17 December 2010
Blackmore: Disney family
The Disney memorial inside St Edmund & St Mary Church, Ingatestone.
In the Priory Church of St Laurence, Blackmore, on the north wall is a memorial to Edgar Disney (1810 – 1881). It reads:
Sacred
to the memory of
Edgar Disney
of The Hyde
Ingatestone Essex
and of
Jericho Blackmore Esquire
Born 22nd December 1810
Died 8th December 1881
He that believeth in the Son hath
everlasting life, he that believeth
not the Son shall not see life
St John chap iii, ver. xxxvi
Below is a brass plaque:
This tablet
is erected by the Rev W Callendar Vicar of Black
more in grateful recognition of
the kindly munificence of Edgar Disney Esq of the Hyde Ingate
stone to whose generosity (independently of various donations from Parishioners
and others) the successful restoration of the Church of
St Lawrence is mainly due 1878
In Blackmore’s church records we find that the churchyard was enlarged in 1885, through a gift of land by “Edgar John Disney of Jericho House … Lieutenant Colonel of the 3rd Battalion Essex Regiment” [Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies. DSA 1/15/3 f395]. E J Disney was also churchwarden in 1885.
I suspect that the father lived at the family home - The Hyde, Ingatestone - and the son at Jericho, and it was he who caused the memorial to be erected. We know that at the time The Hyde was full of antiquities assembled on grand tours mainly by a Thomas Brand Hollis, a single man who died in 1804 and left his entire estate to his friend the Rev. Dr. John Disney, a Fellow of the Society of Antiquities and a Doctor of Divinity. His son, Edgar’s father, also a John, continued to collect works in Italy and catalogued the entire collection in 1846. Most of the sculptures were given to the fledgling Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge in 1850, presumably to make house room, and to this day the core of the museum’s collection is referred to as the ‘Disney marbles’. After Edgar’s death in 1881 the remainder of the collection was sold at auction by Christies.
Readers may be interested to know that there is an identical memorial at Ingatestone (see photograph). Recorders of the Brentwood & District Decorative and Fine Arts Society (NADFAS) have just finished a five year project researching the entire fixtures and fittings of St Edmund and St Mary Church. In an item in ‘The Journal’ (September 2010) specific mention is made of the Edgar Disney memorial which “displays the heraldic ‘quarterings’ of 23 different families”. Two guided tours of the church were given recently by Graham Brereton, the leader of the recording group.
There is another, but different, memorial to the Disney family at Fryerning Church. The family are buried in a large vault to the north side of St Mary’s Church.
The Disney family originated from the village of Norton Disney in Lincolnshire. Walt, the cartoonist, must be a distant relation but to suggest direct linage is, to be frank, a Mickey Mouse story.
Bibliography:
Thomas Brand Hollis and the Disneys of Ingatestone, written by Graham Brereton.
Sacred
to the memory of
Edgar Disney
of The Hyde
Ingatestone Essex
and of
Jericho Blackmore Esquire
Born 22nd December 1810
Died 8th December 1881
He that believeth in the Son hath
everlasting life, he that believeth
not the Son shall not see life
St John chap iii, ver. xxxvi
Below is a brass plaque:
This tablet
is erected by the Rev W Callendar Vicar of Black
more in grateful recognition of
the kindly munificence of Edgar Disney Esq of the Hyde Ingate
stone to whose generosity (independently of various donations from Parishioners
and others) the successful restoration of the Church of
St Lawrence is mainly due 1878
In Blackmore’s church records we find that the churchyard was enlarged in 1885, through a gift of land by “Edgar John Disney of Jericho House … Lieutenant Colonel of the 3rd Battalion Essex Regiment” [Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies. DSA 1/15/3 f395]. E J Disney was also churchwarden in 1885.
I suspect that the father lived at the family home - The Hyde, Ingatestone - and the son at Jericho, and it was he who caused the memorial to be erected. We know that at the time The Hyde was full of antiquities assembled on grand tours mainly by a Thomas Brand Hollis, a single man who died in 1804 and left his entire estate to his friend the Rev. Dr. John Disney, a Fellow of the Society of Antiquities and a Doctor of Divinity. His son, Edgar’s father, also a John, continued to collect works in Italy and catalogued the entire collection in 1846. Most of the sculptures were given to the fledgling Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge in 1850, presumably to make house room, and to this day the core of the museum’s collection is referred to as the ‘Disney marbles’. After Edgar’s death in 1881 the remainder of the collection was sold at auction by Christies.
Readers may be interested to know that there is an identical memorial at Ingatestone (see photograph). Recorders of the Brentwood & District Decorative and Fine Arts Society (NADFAS) have just finished a five year project researching the entire fixtures and fittings of St Edmund and St Mary Church. In an item in ‘The Journal’ (September 2010) specific mention is made of the Edgar Disney memorial which “displays the heraldic ‘quarterings’ of 23 different families”. Two guided tours of the church were given recently by Graham Brereton, the leader of the recording group.
There is another, but different, memorial to the Disney family at Fryerning Church. The family are buried in a large vault to the north side of St Mary’s Church.
The Disney family originated from the village of Norton Disney in Lincolnshire. Walt, the cartoonist, must be a distant relation but to suggest direct linage is, to be frank, a Mickey Mouse story.
Bibliography:
Thomas Brand Hollis and the Disneys of Ingatestone, written by Graham Brereton.
Friday, 10 December 2010
Blackmore: the place-name Swallows Cross
Received
9 October 2010
Marjorie wrote:
I am trying to find information about how SWALLOWS CROSS got its name for my father.
Information I've found so far, indicates that the area might have once belonged to a FRANCES and ANN SWALLOW (their names are mentioned in archives dated 1657 and 1768 and possibly named after them and may also have been part of THOBY PRIORY ESTATE.
I have enjoyed reading your pages very much...thank you
Replied
6 November 2010
Whilst waiting for some documents to arrive from the store at the Essex Record Office I took a look at P H Reaney’s ‘The Place Names of Essex’ (Cambridge, 1935).
The entry reads:
Swallows Cross, Blackmore
“Swallows Cross is Swallow Cross c.1702 Bramston”.
“Bramston (penes Essex Archaeological Society, Colchester)”.
Andrew
9 October 2010
Marjorie wrote:
I am trying to find information about how SWALLOWS CROSS got its name for my father.
Information I've found so far, indicates that the area might have once belonged to a FRANCES and ANN SWALLOW (their names are mentioned in archives dated 1657 and 1768 and possibly named after them and may also have been part of THOBY PRIORY ESTATE.
I have enjoyed reading your pages very much...thank you
Replied
6 November 2010
Whilst waiting for some documents to arrive from the store at the Essex Record Office I took a look at P H Reaney’s ‘The Place Names of Essex’ (Cambridge, 1935).
The entry reads:
Swallows Cross, Blackmore
“Swallows Cross is Swallow Cross c.1702 Bramston”.
“Bramston (penes Essex Archaeological Society, Colchester)”.
Andrew
Friday, 3 December 2010
Highwood: Ernest Stock
Received
7 November 2010
Is it possible to check the register for the burial of Ernest Stock for 8th Dec. 1911 age 9. He was killed in an accident outside Highwood School on Dec 4th and the whole school stood in the playground on the 8th and sang a hymn as the cortege passed by. Despite searching all likely burial places we have had no success.
David Taylor. (Highwood History writer for the Parish Magazine and Writtle Archives)
Replied
8 November 2010
David
I have checked the Blackmore Burial Register for surname and entry. Ernest Stock is not recorded.
Best wishes in your search.
Andrew
Received
8 November 2010
Thank you for your prompt help Andrew. I will persevere.
David
Replied
9 November 2010
David
Such an event could have been reported in the Essex Chronicle - microfilm copies of which are available to view in Chelmsford Library. There may be an account of he child's death, funeral and, perhaps, inquest.
Andrew
7 November 2010
Is it possible to check the register for the burial of Ernest Stock for 8th Dec. 1911 age 9. He was killed in an accident outside Highwood School on Dec 4th and the whole school stood in the playground on the 8th and sang a hymn as the cortege passed by. Despite searching all likely burial places we have had no success.
David Taylor. (Highwood History writer for the Parish Magazine and Writtle Archives)
Replied
8 November 2010
David
I have checked the Blackmore Burial Register for surname and entry. Ernest Stock is not recorded.
Best wishes in your search.
Andrew
Received
8 November 2010
Thank you for your prompt help Andrew. I will persevere.
David
Replied
9 November 2010
David
Such an event could have been reported in the Essex Chronicle - microfilm copies of which are available to view in Chelmsford Library. There may be an account of he child's death, funeral and, perhaps, inquest.
Andrew
Thursday, 2 December 2010
Stondon Massey: William Byrd Festival mentioned in Classic fm magazine
The new look Classic fm magazine is running a series on the Great Composers. The latest edition (January 2011) was issued today (2 December) and features, coincidentally, William Byrd in a six-page article about his life and music.About two months' ago I was approached to provide some photographs of the church, which I duly did, and mentioned that the 'William Byrd Festival' is being held at St Peter & St Paul Church, Stondon Massey, Essex, on the 7th and 8th May 2011 (since extended to the following weekend).
The article mentions the Festival, includes one of the photographs and invites people to 'visit the memorial tablet' inside the church. The church itself is usually locked so if you wish to make a special visit, to avoid disappointment, please book first.
It's great that the Editor has kindly included the event in the internationally circulated magazine which has many thousands of readers, and for the county of Essex to be mentioned.
The magazine is the Christmas edition and has two cover mounted free CDs of seasonal music, one featuring Harry Christophers directing The Sixteen - more Byrd connoisseurs.
For more information on the church visit http://www.stlaurenceblackmore.org.uk/ (covering the parishes of Blackmore and Stondon) and for the latest on Stondon's 'William Byrd Festival' go to http://www.williambyrdfestival.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, 1 December 2010
BLACKMORE HISTORY NEWS - December 2010
Welcome to this month’s round-up of local history and heritage in and around Blackmore, Essex.Disney Family of Blackmore and Ingatestone
The bicentenary of the birth of Edgar Disney is remembered on the blog this month. Edgar lived at Jericho Priory, but his father John lived at The Hyde in Ingatestone. He gave a large number of sculptures to the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, which I visited recently to see what is still known as the ‘Disney marbles’. The gallery (Room 21), containing items from Roman and Greek times, has recently been refurbished with the story retold. The museum entry is free – though a suggested donation of at least £3 is welcome – and is an interesting way to spend a dull winter day. Another highlight of our afternoon visit – we must go back – was the slipware pottery made in the Harlow area of Essex, presumably around Potter Street.
Blackmore Area Local History
Today marks the third anniversary of this online project, which has grown significantly over the past year thanks to continued research as well as correspondence from its readers. There are now 109 pages on the main website, double that of last year, and over 500 entries on this blog.
Plans for the website for the next year include:
- posting all the correspondence and photographs I have received from former pupils who were at The Gatehouse School and The Hyde during the 1940s and 1950s (the same property as the Disney family a century earlier).
- creating a series of pages called ‘Blackmore. The Library Collection’ which will feature photographs I received from a collector who had a display in the former Blackmore local library back in the 1980s. This is outstanding from the last twelve months
- commemorating those recorded on the Doddinghurst and Stondon Massey War memorials with new pages
The blog will continue to focus on local history news and feedback from readers. I am not planning new online projects for publication next year – although I wrote this twelve months ago and immediately became involved with others on the Blackmore War Memorial project.
‘Offline’ I am researching the life of Rev Edward Henry Lisle Reeve, Rector of Stondon Massey (Essex) from 1893 to 1935. Reeve died unmarried but his half-brother had descendants with a surname Hawkins. Is there anyone out there related to this interesting Anglican clergyman and gentleman? The only way to find out is to post an entry on the blog! There is also May’s William Byrd Festival which I am promoting.
The purpose of ‘Blackmore Area Local History’ is to share knowledge of local heritage. Thanks for visiting the sites. Enjoy, and keep posting comments!
Ongar War Memorial Hospital demolished
Work has now gone ahead to demolish the old Ongar War Memorial Hospital which closed in 2009.
Chelmsford: St John’s Hospital closes
St John’s Hospital, in Chelmsford - where countless local babies were born – closed its doors for the last time on 19 November. For more read: http://www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/news/End-era/article-2906715-detail/article.html
Willingale Churches
Willingale is, of course, unique to Essex in that two churches share the same churchyard. A new item has appeared on the internet thanks to a churchaholic. Read Stepney Robarts blog entry: http://stepneyrobarts.blogspot.com/2010/11/willingale-essex.html
The busy blogger has also been to:
Bobbingworth: http://stepneyrobarts.blogspot.com/2010/11/bobbingworth-essex.html
Fyfield: http://stepneyrobarts.blogspot.com/2010/11/fyfield-essex.html
High Laver: http://stepneyrobarts.blogspot.com/2010/11/high-laver-essex.html
High Ongar: http://stepneyrobarts.blogspot.com/2010/11/high-ongar-essex.html
Roxwell: http://stepneyrobarts.blogspot.com/2010/11/roxwell-essex.html
Shelley: http://stepneyrobarts.blogspot.com/2010/11/shelley-essex.html
If you are interested in Arthur Mee, of ‘King’s England’ fame, there is an interesting biography. http://stepneyrobarts.blogspot.com/2010/10/arthur-mee.html
It’s fair to sum up that the writer does not like Victorian churches or Victorian restorations at all. I enjoyed surfing this site.
Stanford Rivers Parish Register
Kathryn Lake commemorates ‘Church Record Sunday’ (I never knew it existed) with an item about parish registers and about Stanford Rivers specifically. Read on http://www.looking4ancestors.com/2010/11/church-record-sunday-peeking-at-parish.html
William Byrd Festival
The ‘William Byrd Festival’ will be held at St Peter & St Paul Church, Stondon Massey, on 7, 8, 14 & 15 May 2011. For the latest information visit http://www.williambyrdfestival.blogspot.com/.
A Folk Song A Day
Don’t forget the marvellous site http://www.afolksongaday.com/
Links
For an extensive list of links to other sites go to: http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/externallinks.html
Friday, 26 November 2010
Roxwell: The place-name Radley Green
Received
14 October 2010
I have been tracing my family tree and a distant relative has tonight suggested that we may have associations with a Radley farm in the area. Radley Green clearly suggests some link with our family. Have you any information about why Radley Green was so named and if there is any advice you can give regarding further research. We may well be requesting a special rate at The Cuckoo should we need to visit!
Replied
6 November 2010
Whilst waiting for some documents to arrive from the store at the Essex Record Office I took a look at P H Reaney’s ‘The Place Names of Essex’ (Cambridge, 1935).
The entry reads:
Radley Green, Roxwell.
“Radley Green is Redwellmore 1246 Takeley. Radwell(e) 1274 RH (p) 1297. For, (-grene, ende) 1316 Takeley Radley Green 1768 M. This looks like ‘the red spring or stream’ (v. wielle) but there is nothing red, as we understand it, about the site”.
M is Morant, Hist of Essex 2 vols 1768.
RH is Rotuli Hundredorum 2 vols 1812-18.
I could add that Blackmore’s water supply was once said to “come off of iron” so perhaps we are talking about a rust colour?
My visit to The Cuckoo is overdue!!
Andrew
14 October 2010
I have been tracing my family tree and a distant relative has tonight suggested that we may have associations with a Radley farm in the area. Radley Green clearly suggests some link with our family. Have you any information about why Radley Green was so named and if there is any advice you can give regarding further research. We may well be requesting a special rate at The Cuckoo should we need to visit!
Replied
6 November 2010
Whilst waiting for some documents to arrive from the store at the Essex Record Office I took a look at P H Reaney’s ‘The Place Names of Essex’ (Cambridge, 1935).
The entry reads:
Radley Green, Roxwell.
“Radley Green is Redwellmore 1246 Takeley. Radwell(e) 1274 RH (p) 1297. For, (-grene, ende) 1316 Takeley Radley Green 1768 M. This looks like ‘the red spring or stream’ (v. wielle) but there is nothing red, as we understand it, about the site”.
M is Morant, Hist of Essex 2 vols 1768.
RH is Rotuli Hundredorum 2 vols 1812-18.
I could add that Blackmore’s water supply was once said to “come off of iron” so perhaps we are talking about a rust colour?
My visit to The Cuckoo is overdue!!
Andrew
Friday, 19 November 2010
Blackmore: Who Built the War Memorial?
Received
16 November 2010
Hi. My daughter needs to find out for her homework who originally built the Blackmore war memorial. I hope you can help ...
Many thanks
Donna
Replied
16 November 2010
Hello Donna
Blackmore’s War Memorial was built in 1920 by public subscription and on dedication, on 7 November that year, passed to the Parish Council for custody. It was rededicated on Remembrance Sunday, 14 November, 2010 following a clean and re-engraving of the names. For more information on those inscribed go to http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk and follow the link ‘Great War’.
Regards
Andrew
16 November 2010
Hi. My daughter needs to find out for her homework who originally built the Blackmore war memorial. I hope you can help ...
Many thanks
Donna
Replied
16 November 2010
Hello Donna
Blackmore’s War Memorial was built in 1920 by public subscription and on dedication, on 7 November that year, passed to the Parish Council for custody. It was rededicated on Remembrance Sunday, 14 November, 2010 following a clean and re-engraving of the names. For more information on those inscribed go to http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk and follow the link ‘Great War’.
Regards
Andrew
Sunday, 14 November 2010
Blackmore: Remembrance Sunday and Rededication of War Memorial
A Service was held at the War Memorial today to remember those who had given their lives in the First World War and all subsequent conflicts. It also marked the day of the rededication of the War Memorial and the time-honoured observance of "two minutes' silence". The Service was conducted by Revd. Toni Smith, Vicar of Blackmore.
The following are extracts from the Order of Service:
"There have been many people and organisations involved in the refurbishment of this memorial stone, and our thanks go to them all.
"We, the people of Blackmore and surrounding communities, now have a true war memorial as we re-dedicate it this day.
"Long may it help preserve the memory of those valient soldiers, who selflessly gave their lives for our freedom. Let it be a reminder to us and future generations that our way of life and independence was brought about through their sacrifice.
"We are here today to remember, we are here today to pray for, and to commit ourselves to the cause of peace and justice throughout the world. Lord in Your Mercy ...
"Hear our prayer".
After the last post, played by members of the Fullwell Brass Band; two minutes silence; and, The Reveille, representatives from within the local community and other members of the public came forward to lay wreaths and offer other symbols of remembrance and hope. "We rest on Thee, our Shield and our Defender!" was sung to the tune Finlandia. There followed closing prayers and the blessing.
A Prayer of Dedication
"On this Remembrance Sunday we come, O Lord, in gratitude for all who endured pain that we might know joy, for all who suffered imprisonment that we might know freedon. Turn our deep feeling now into determination, and our determination into deed, that as men and women died for peace, we may live for peace for the sake of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen".
Saturday, 13 November 2010
Friday, 12 November 2010
Thursday, 11 November 2010
Wednesday, 10 November 2010
Tuesday, 9 November 2010
Monday, 8 November 2010
Blackmore: Battle of The Somme
Written by Bruno Giordan.On 1st July 1916, supported by a French attack to the south, thirteen divisions of Commonwealth forces launched an offensive. Despite a preliminary bombardment lasting seven days, the German defences were barely touched and the attack met unexpectedly fierce resistance. Losses were catastrophic and with only minimal advances on the southern flank, the initial attack was a failure. In the following weeks, huge resources of manpower and equipment were deployed in an attempt to make some progress. However, the German army resisted tenaciously, and repeated attacks and counter attacks meant a major battle for every village, copse and farmhouse gained. Three months later, at the end of September, Thiepval was finally captured. The original objective had been to take the village on the first day. Not the first, but perhaps one of the clearest examples of "lions led by donkeys".
William Edward Rudling was baptised on 27th April 1879 at St Michael’s Church, Thorpe-le-Soken, son of William Rudling, painter, and Sarah. The 1901 census lists him as grocer’s assistant living in Church Street with John Martin and family, over the shop that is now Longbeam Cottage. He enlisted as private in the Suffolk Regiment 2nd Battalion, and died on 16th August 1916, aged 38. There is no record that he married.
Herbert Game was the son of Charles Game and Martha, born, like his parents, in Cockfield, Suffolk. In 1911 the family had been living in Blackmore for around eight years. Charles’ job was labourer, and Herbert’s is shown as “Cow Boy”. He volunteered as private in the East Surrey Regiment 9th Battalion, and first saw service in France in August 1915. He was killed in action on the same day as William Rudling, 16th August 1916, aged 25.
Ernest Martin was born in Blackmore in 1880, the son of Charles Martin of Great Baddow, the proprietor of steam thrashing machines, and his wife Emma. In 1901 they lived on the Green, near the pond. He enlisted as private in the Essex Regiment 11th Battalion, and was wounded in June 1915. He returned to duty, but died on 27th September 1916, age 36. He has no known grave.
Arthur John Nash was baptised 6th August 1882 at High Ongar. He was the son of John Henry and Eliza Nash. The father’s occupation is blank, which suggests his death, and this is confirmed by the marriage in 1884 of Eliza to William Chumbley of Blackmore. Arthur enlisted as Private in the Essex Regiment 2nd Battalion, and was killed in action, a little after the capture of Thiepval, on 23rd October 1916, age 34.
All are commemorated on the Theipval memorial.
Sunday, 7 November 2010
Blackmore: War Memorial Recarved
Blackmore’s ninety year old War Memorial has recently been cleaned and re-engraved with the names of those who enlisted for King and Country during the First World War. In total there are 102 names recorded: 21 who died, plus a further 81 who served. The work was commissioned by the Parish Council, who is custodian of this edifice.The War Memorial, which stands on The Green, was dedicated on 7th November 1920, four days before the second Anniversary of the Armistice when people would have gathered and paused for two minutes to remember. The Essex County Chronicle reported: “The unveiling of the war memorial took place on Sunday afternoon, a very large number of people being present. The ceremony began with the singing of “O God Our Help In Ages Past” followed by the lesson read by the Vicar (the Revd. W L Petrie) and prayers by Pastor Francis. At the request of Mr Edmund Marriage, Lieut. Col. Gibbons D.S.O. then unveiled the memorial congratulating Blackmore for having sent 103 men out of a population of 600. He mentioned that one in every five had paid the supreme sacrifice – Mr J H Hull then asked Mr E Marriage as Chairman of the Parish Council, to accept custody of the memorial. The names of the fallen are inscribed on the front face, and on the other faces the names of the men from the village who served are inscribed” [Essex County Chronicle. 12th November 1920].
The work was undertaken because the names carved had weathered over time and become difficult to read. The Parish Council did not however have a workable transcription so a small group of local historians got together and worked on a project to investigate the lives of those commemorated, and to decipher the faded letters ‘C’ and ‘G’ in particular. Was the person remembered Charles or George?
The war casualties turned out to be relatively easy to identify, because many of the names are also included on a window in the village church. Also, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission has a lot of information on casualties, published on a website. As we looked at a number of sources we discovered the names of other men, not listed, who were said to be associated with Blackmore but died during the Great War, as it was known then. The Military Genealogy website gave a number of names of individuals who were either born in Blackmore, Essex or were resident in Blackmore, not to mention Blackmoor and other misspellings of the parish name. After discounting Blackmore End, which is near Wethersfield in Essex, we had compiled a list of 45 men, not 21, who had fallen. The task was to verify whether these had a Blackmore connection. With the survivors listed, this was to be a family history research project on an epic scale with a list approaching 125 names.
We decided early in the project to advise the Parish Council that the War Memorial should be faithfully re-carved and that names should not be added: we would not tinker with history.
Researching the survivors presented a more difficult problem, but we still found a surprising number of useful sources of information. The 1911 census told us who was living in the village just before the outbreak of war. In 1918, for the first time all men could vote, so that told us who was living in the village at the end of the war. Then there are records of the medals that were awarded to all in the Army at the end of the conflict, which confirm which regiment people fought in.
The early release of the 1911 census proved a godsend to our work. Personal possession of Blackmore’s 1910 Electoral Register proved useful too as did the 1918 roll available online. Many absent voters listed revealed the identity of some of the survivors, and sadly positive identification of one of the victims, Albert Edward Barker, as landlord of The Bull public house who had been killed a year earlier. We made several visits to the excellent Essex Record Office, making lists of Blackmore male baptisms and marriages, looking at the Sunday School Admissions Register, and numerous other documents including the Ongar and District War Memorial Hospital Roll of Honour, which we realised was the frequent source of errors in names of the fallen. The Vicar and churchwardens generously allowed us to make a transcript of the Burial Register dating after 1893, kept in the church safe and not housed in any archive anywhere. We ‘enlisted’ the help of the Essex branch of the Western Front Association and made regular contact with the curator at the recently reopened Essex Regiment Museum in Chelmsford. Above all we used the existing ‘Blackmore Area Local History’ website and partner blog to update the world on progress and encourage descendents to contact us – which they did in large numbers offering all kinds of useful information, and photographs of the people. We were able to share our work and help others fill in their family stories, which is always a pleasure to do. At the time of writing we have positively identified all but one name: S Ball.
War Memorials were, of course, erected because loved ones were either lost or buried in some foreign field. Very often the names inscribed are those who lived in the parish at the time. It came as no surprise to us to find names of those not remembered who were born in Blackmore but had moved away or were resident for only a short time in the village. These epitaphs are by no means then a definitive list of those who died in the Great War since there are errors of omission as well as commission. We find, for example, four names of the twenty-one commemorated also listed on the Doddinghurst War Memorial tablet inside All Saints’ Church.
The result of our work is now published online (http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/ ) with work well in progress to reproduce a copy as a book running to around 150 pages for future reference by the Parish Council and researchers visiting the Essex Record Office. These will form a permanent record and the meagre contribution of our generation to their remembrance.
“We will remember them”.
Friday, 5 November 2010
Blackmore: The Old Manor House
Received
18 October 2010
Dear Andrew,
Hello. I am currently researching my house (The Old Manor House, Church Street) and was wondering if you could help me or point me in the right direction. I am researching it for a university history assignment. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you,
Sarah
Replied
19 October 2010
Hello Sarah
Thank you for your E mail. The Essex Record Office has a leaflet about researching house history so they would be the first port of call. Their archivists are extremely useful in giving advice.
Being a property of some note it might be mentioned in the various census returns from 1841 to 1911. The ERO has free access to Ancestry.
It might be a listed building, so check online.
Finally James Bettley in his 2007 update of 'The Buildings of England: Essex' describes the Old Manor house in Church Street as "early C19 gault brick three-bay to front at right angles to the street, the end wall brick with pedimented gable".
Happy researching. Do let me know please how you get on.
Regards
Andrew
18 October 2010
Dear Andrew,
Hello. I am currently researching my house (The Old Manor House, Church Street) and was wondering if you could help me or point me in the right direction. I am researching it for a university history assignment. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you,
Sarah
Replied
19 October 2010
Hello Sarah
Thank you for your E mail. The Essex Record Office has a leaflet about researching house history so they would be the first port of call. Their archivists are extremely useful in giving advice.
Being a property of some note it might be mentioned in the various census returns from 1841 to 1911. The ERO has free access to Ancestry.
It might be a listed building, so check online.
Finally James Bettley in his 2007 update of 'The Buildings of England: Essex' describes the Old Manor house in Church Street as "early C19 gault brick three-bay to front at right angles to the street, the end wall brick with pedimented gable".
Happy researching. Do let me know please how you get on.
Regards
Andrew
Monday, 1 November 2010
BLACKMORE HISTORY NEWS - November 2010
Welcome to this month’s round-up of local history and heritage in and around Blackmore, Essex.Blackmore War Memorial
Blackmore War Memorial has been cleaned and re-carved, with minor errors amended last week. The Rededication will be on Remembrance Sunday, 14 November, starting at 10.50am, to include the time-honoured ‘two minutes’ silence’ at the eleventh hour.
William Byrd Festival
The ‘William Byrd Festival’ will be held at St Peter & St Paul Church, Stondon Massey, in May 2011. For the latest information visit http://www.williambyrdfestival.blogspot.com/.
On the same theme, Cardinall’s Musick under the direction of Andrew Carwood has won the Gramophone Record of the Year and Best Early Music recoding for their 13th CD in the series, of Byrd’s complete works in Latin: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6951HD20101006?pageNumber=1
Also, the ‘Classic fm Magazine’ will be featuring William Byrd in their January 2011 edition.
In Court
History House includes a page on court appearances for Stondon Massey. Follow this link: http://www.historyhouse.co.uk/placeS/essexs32v.html
A Folk Song A Day
Don’t forget the marvellous site http://www.afolksongaday.com/
Links
For an extensive list of links to other sites go to: http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/externallinks.html
Friday, 29 October 2010
Blackmore: Remembering ... George William White
Received
28 September 2010
Hello. I am one great grand-daughter of George William White who later in his life lived in Blackmore, living far from Essex in NW Wales but I have our own family information and plenty of easily recognisable census info together with birth, marriage and death certificates of GWW and the White family before and after him. I am only just into the WWI stuff so although there are some differences in the printouts I have from one source, I cannot yet sensibly comment but your family information about GWW is partly wrong.
He married Lucy Tull on 21st July 1888 in Islington (in fact, two younger brothers married two older sisters in 1888, the other pairing being Benjamin White with Louisa Tull later in 1888)....i.e. not Lucy Louisa Peacock in 1892!!
That mistake may well have led you up the garden path to not getting the correct Census information in 1901 and in 1911: please see below.
1901 Census:
George W. White, Lucy White, Benjamin WM (my grandfather), Louisa M, and Lucy MM White were in Enfield at 40 Palace Gardens. GWW had been in the RMLI in some of the 1890s down near Plymouth but by 1901 was back to being a clerk again.
1911 Census: George William White, Lucy White, Louisa Mansfield, Lucy Margaret Mansfield White were at West Bank, Blackmore, Ingatestone, Essex. Lucy White's age is out by 10 years, even though GWW wrote that himself! She was 8 or so years older than George. My grandfather Benjamin W. Mansfield White was elsewhere by 1911, not with his birth family.
Also, the 1891 Census: I have found Lucy with baby Benjamin staying with Benjamin and Louisa (ex Tull) White in Islington at 25 Ferntown / Ferntower Road but have yet to identify the whereabouts of George William White (a very common name unfortunately) in 1891.
I am in the middle of looking up more about GWW in WW1. He was awarded three medals and the transcribed information which came with that said he had died in action in camp at the Battle of Imbros. Maybe the transcriber of that was wrong?
Hello. I have now looked at the website you quoted for the casualties of the Louvain and I see that GWW PLY/5884 was indeed on passage when he was killed along with the rest on board, torpedoed by a submarine....not on land in action in camp as stated on another website (a transcriber who perhaps made some deductions of his own to add to the other correct information he gave.....maybe the rest of GWW's RMLI battalion, i.e. most of them, were on land at Imbros.
Cheers. Freda
Replied
29 September 2010
Dear Freda
Many thanks. I will correct the information on the page as soon as I able. (Since amended on http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/ww1_george_white.html ).
You may be interested to know that the re-engraved War Memorial will be rededicated on Remembrance Sunday, 14 November (10.50am).
Andrew
Received
30 September 2010
Hello Andrew. Thank you for your email. Glad the information about GWW will soon all be correct on the site! I have passed on your email to one cousin who lives in Shenfield as she may be interested in the rededication of the re-engraved War memorial in Blackmore on 14th November. I shall no doubt be along with her myself sometime to have a look at it.
Cheers. Freda
28 September 2010
Hello. I am one great grand-daughter of George William White who later in his life lived in Blackmore, living far from Essex in NW Wales but I have our own family information and plenty of easily recognisable census info together with birth, marriage and death certificates of GWW and the White family before and after him. I am only just into the WWI stuff so although there are some differences in the printouts I have from one source, I cannot yet sensibly comment but your family information about GWW is partly wrong.
He married Lucy Tull on 21st July 1888 in Islington (in fact, two younger brothers married two older sisters in 1888, the other pairing being Benjamin White with Louisa Tull later in 1888)....i.e. not Lucy Louisa Peacock in 1892!!
That mistake may well have led you up the garden path to not getting the correct Census information in 1901 and in 1911: please see below.
1901 Census:
George W. White, Lucy White, Benjamin WM (my grandfather), Louisa M, and Lucy MM White were in Enfield at 40 Palace Gardens. GWW had been in the RMLI in some of the 1890s down near Plymouth but by 1901 was back to being a clerk again.
1911 Census: George William White, Lucy White, Louisa Mansfield, Lucy Margaret Mansfield White were at West Bank, Blackmore, Ingatestone, Essex. Lucy White's age is out by 10 years, even though GWW wrote that himself! She was 8 or so years older than George. My grandfather Benjamin W. Mansfield White was elsewhere by 1911, not with his birth family.
Also, the 1891 Census: I have found Lucy with baby Benjamin staying with Benjamin and Louisa (ex Tull) White in Islington at 25 Ferntown / Ferntower Road but have yet to identify the whereabouts of George William White (a very common name unfortunately) in 1891.
I am in the middle of looking up more about GWW in WW1. He was awarded three medals and the transcribed information which came with that said he had died in action in camp at the Battle of Imbros. Maybe the transcriber of that was wrong?
Hello. I have now looked at the website you quoted for the casualties of the Louvain and I see that GWW PLY/5884 was indeed on passage when he was killed along with the rest on board, torpedoed by a submarine....not on land in action in camp as stated on another website (a transcriber who perhaps made some deductions of his own to add to the other correct information he gave.....maybe the rest of GWW's RMLI battalion, i.e. most of them, were on land at Imbros.
Cheers. Freda
Replied
29 September 2010
Dear Freda
Many thanks. I will correct the information on the page as soon as I able. (Since amended on http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/ww1_george_white.html ).
You may be interested to know that the re-engraved War Memorial will be rededicated on Remembrance Sunday, 14 November (10.50am).
Andrew
Received
30 September 2010
Hello Andrew. Thank you for your email. Glad the information about GWW will soon all be correct on the site! I have passed on your email to one cousin who lives in Shenfield as she may be interested in the rededication of the re-engraved War memorial in Blackmore on 14th November. I shall no doubt be along with her myself sometime to have a look at it.
Cheers. Freda
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