Ingatestone: Wilson family

Received: 19 January 2011

I am researching my family history & trying to discover where I can find information on Sarah Poole born c.1801 in Ingatestone, Father – William. I have found her in the later census in Ancestry but have not been able to find anything before her 1825 marriage in Tower Hamlets Middlesex. I have found a William in 1841 in a place called Doddinghurst. Not being from England I cannot figure out whether these 2 towns are close enough to consider this William as her Dad.

Sorry to bother you. Your Blog was the only spot so far I could find to communicate with someone.

Thank you

Lynda

Ontario Canada

Replied: 21 January 2011

Dear Lynda

Thanks for your E mail. As you will be aware, Britain has carried out a census every ten years from 1801 with the exception of 1941. All years from 1801 to 1911 are now available but 1801 to 1831 merely contains statistics not names. However, the Essex Record Office hold s the census enumerator’s book for Ingatestone parish for 1831 – an unusual preservation. Perhaps ERO D/DU 407/1 includes some of your relatives? William and Poole are common names around here, so care must be taken to assume that William in Doddinghurst is the same as your William. It is plausible, because Ingatestone and Doddinghurst are only five miles apart from one another. To give you an idea, both are bordered by Blackmore.

If ‘Doddinghurst William’ survived until 1851 then he may be recorded with place of birth. It’s a long shot. Alternatively check the burial register for Doddinghurst to see if he died in the intervening years.

I checked ‘Essex Ancestors’, the project in which the Essex Record Office is digitising parish registers. The archive is not as far as the period you require so the data you need is on microfiche in the search room in Chelmsford.

Tower Hamlets, now a London Borough bearing this name, is a district just over the ancient county border in Middlesex. Places like Poplar, Shoreditch and Whitechapel come to mind. The parish registers for these and other ‘villages’ are held, according to a book I have dated 2003, in the London Metropolitan Archives.

Hope this is of use. Happy researching!

Andrew

Received: 7 February 2011

Thank you

Lynda

Postcard Collection: Chelmsford

"Mountnessing Brentwood. Sept 3 07. Another card for your album showing the river Cann at Recreation Ground I should think. It is not very distinctive but yet is a pretty view. Love & c. W."

Postcard Collection: Chelmsford

The River Can runs through the centre of Chelmsford. This postcard, sent on 3 September 1907, clearly is of the town centre but its location today is not clear.

Postcard Collection: Chelmsford

St Mary's Church, Chelmsford, which later became the Cathedral. On 30 August 1907, W wrote: "Have taken taken a cousin of mine over this church. We cycled here via Writtle [from Mountnessing] where we inspected old church there. Weather is fine. Love W. Written standing".

Postcard Collection: Blackmore

The sending of postcards during the Edwardian era were the e-mail or twitter of their day. These are a huge source of interest to family and local historians. While sorting the effects of a relative, these were found which are mainly correspondence from her spinster's father and her mother while they were 'courting', to use that phrase. He lived in Mountnessing. She was a nurse in Wales.

This is a Fred Spalding postcard from the turn of the twentieth century of the Priory Church of St Laurence, Blackmore.

Area: "High Country History Group" Journal No. 37

This edition has been out for some while. The October 2010 edition includes:

- Essex Dialect and Accent, Part 2

- William Byrd Library (published on http://www.williambyrdfestival.blogspot.com)

- Blackmore War Memorial Recarved (covered extensively on this blog)

- Good Essex. A poem by G. Sarham (1947)

- Fred Cearns. From Plaistow to Passechndaele

- Pole, Rod or Perch?

- White's Directory of Essex 1848. Bobbingworth

- A History of Epping Drinking Fountain

- Executions at Springfield Gaol

Ingatestone: Poole Family

Received: 19 January 2011

I am researching my family history & trying to discover where I can find information on Sarah Poole born c.1801 in Ingatestone, Father – William. I have found her in the later census in Ancestry but have not been able to find anything before her 1825 marriage in Tower Hamlets Middlesex. I have found a William in 1841 in a place called Doddinghurst. Not being from England I cannot figure out whether these 2 towns are close enough to consider this William as her Dad.

Sorry to bother you your Blog was the only spot so far I could find to communicate with someone.

Thank you

Lynda

Ontario Canada

Replied: 21 January 2011

Dear Lynda

Thanks for your E mail. As you will be aware, Britain has carried out a census every ten years from 1801 with the exception of 1941. All years from 1801 to 1911 are now available but 1801 to 1831 merely contains statistics not names. However, the Essex Record Office hold s the census enumerator’s book for Ingatestone parish for 1831 – an unusual preservation. Perhaps ERO D/DU 407/1 includes some of your relatives? William and Poole are common names around here, so care must be taken to assume that William in Doddinghurst is the same as your William. It is plausible, because Ingatestone and Doddinghurst are only five miles apart from one another. To give you an idea, both are bordered by Blackmore.

If ‘Doddinghurst William’ survived until 1851 then he may be recorded with place of birth. It’s a long shot. Alternatively check the burial register for Doddinghurst to see if he died in the intervening years.

I checked ‘Essex Ancestors’, the project in which the Essex Record Office is digitising parish registers. The archive is not as far as the period you require so the data you need is on microfiche in the searchroom in Chelmsford.

Tower Hamlets, now a London Borough bearing this name, is a district just over the ancient county border in Middlesex. Places like Poplar, Shoreditch and Whitechapel come to mind. The parish registers for these and other ‘villages’ are held, according to a book I have dated 2003, in the London Metropolitan Archives.

Hope this is of use. Happy researching!

Andrew

BLACKMORE HISTORY NEWS - February 2011

Welcome to this month’s round-up of local history and heritage in and around Blackmore, Essex.

Postcard Collection

Over the coming weeks Blackmore Area Local History will be uploading copies of old postcards. One hundred years ago these were the e mail or twitter of their day. Fortunately the pictures on the front, as well as sometimes the comments made by the writer, can be very interesting to local and family historians. The card illustrated is of Nine Ashes Farm, technically in High Ongar parish. Last year the building was extensively renovated. For a while the infilling of the walls was removed to expose the timber framing, and I regret now not taking a photograph of the twisted hedgerow trees which were fashioned by skilful carpenters to create the Grade II listed sixteenth century, or before, building.

Flicker pictures

Fryerning Church: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cy-46nikon/5335919737/galleries/

Mountnessing Windmill: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21898360@N07/5375737609/

Ingatestone Secondary School remembered

The school which became the Anglo European School in 1973 is remembered by a local resident: http://www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/news/Gran-s-learning-computers/article-3085458-detail/article.html

West Horndon on Wikipedia

Go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Horndon?oldid=0

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

High Ongar: Parish Registers

Received

5 January 2011

Dear Sir:

I notice that you have the Registers for High Ongar, 1538-1623. I have a family that lived in that area during those years, and wonder how I can either have someone check to verify place and date or receive a photocopy of the events. I live in California. The LDS Church has filmed some of the records, but not the early years that are of interest to me. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated. If you have someone available to check the registers for me, I will provide the names and dates.

Sincerely,

Peggy Schulz

Replied

15 January 2011

Hello Peggy

Thank you for your E mail. The High Ongar registers of baptisms, marriages and burials are held at the Essex Record Office in Chelmsford. However early copies have been digitised and are available to view online. Follow this link: http://seax.essexcc.gov.uk/displayParishContents.asp?selAlphabet=H&selParish=7437&selChurch=7469

Andrew

Navestock: War Dead

Received

14 January 2011

Trying to trace a D J SHRODER think he is from WW1 could be a Sub Lt Derrick John RNVR with possible Navestock connections.

I am making an up to date role for the new Ongar Health Centre. If you have a complete list of WW1 and WW2 etc., from your area it would be helpful.

Thanks Derek.

Replied

14 January 2011

Many thanks for your E Mail, which I will publish on the blog.

I regret that Navestock is not my parish, or a WW1 topic I have investigated. According to Paul Rusiecki's recent book 'The Impact of Catastrophe' there is a war memorial tablet to 25 names inside the parish church. I believe that the church is usually open during daylight hours, so the inscription may be worth a look.

May I take this opportunity to congratulate you on your efforts to produce a new roll for the Ongar Health Centre. Readers of my blog will know of the demolition of the 1930s built Ongar War Memorial Hospital a few weeks ago which, I understand, had inside a list of over 300 war dead from Ongar and surrounding parishes. I have seen a roll for the hospital in the Essex Record Office but the passing of time between the close of the Great War in 1918 and the eventual construction of the Hospital meant that the list itself is riddled with errors, remedied only by diligent searching of census data and electoral roll records, to name but two sources.

With kind regards

Andrew

Ingatestone: Gatehouse School

Following the blog entry about George Sherrin (http://blackmorehistory.blogspot.com/search?q=sherrin), a number of responses have been received by former pupils of the Gatehouse School, which later moved to The Hyde ( http://blackmorehistory.blogspot.com/search?q=the+hyde), the former home of the Disney family (http://blackmorehistory.blogspot.com/search?q=disney). Their memories now appear on a separate page on the main website ( http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/gatehouse.html).

One correspondent, Alan Cristall, writes:

Received

4 January 2011

Hello Andrew

Thank you for putting me in touch with John Hutchins; we are now exchanging anecdotes about our time at the school.

I now have some questions for you which you will probably not be able to answer but here goes anyway.

What was the name of the house, occupied by the army during the war, which was immediately opposite the Gate House in Station Lane? Would it have been Ashleigh House – a name currently used on the new estate there?

Miss Christie was a well-known local character who ran the 1^st Ingatestone & Fryerning Scout Troop. She lived towards the top end of Fryerning Lane on the left; it may have been the last house. Is it possible to establish the name of the house?

Miss Christie moved to a cottage at Mill Green; the last road on the right before the green itself. The area is now more built up and her cottage, as I recall it, appears to have been rebuilt and is called St Giles – are you able to confirm this was the name of her cottage?

There is a building in the market place to the right as you face it and up a short dead-end on the right with a barn-type external door on the first floor. It can now be easily seen from the car park. As Scouts during the war we would store waste paper there. Do you know the original purpose of the building and has it got a name.?

Regards

Alan

Replied

5 January 2011

Alan

I’ll have a think about your tough questions. Failing that, and in addition, I will put them on the blog.

Regards

Andrew

Stondon Massey: Revd. Reeve's Nephew

I am currently writing a biography of the Edwardian gentleman clergyman, Revd. Edward Henry Lisle Reeve (http://blackmorehistory.blogspot.com/search/label/Reeve%20Revd%20EHL ) who was Rector of Stondon Massey from 1893 to 1935, a year before his death at the age of 78. He was a bachelor and lived with his spinster sisters at the Rectory.

I have established that his half brother, Francis Hawkins, married and had at least two sons. The eldest appears to be William Francis Spencer Hawkins (born 1896) in Richmond, Surrey, who was educated at Rugby School, according to the 1911 census. William's brother was Leonard (born 1899), Letters preserved at the Essex Record Office show war-time correspondence between Reeve and his nephews. He seems to have had a close relationship with William, who he accompanied to Waterloo Station in London to bid him farewell as he went off to War in 1915. William was one of two executors of Reeve's will.

I have done some searching of William's full name and find that a person by an identical name was married in 1933 to Eva Fitzgibbon at St George's Church, Hanover Square, London. Separately I find a person with identical name, born 1896 and died 1979, as Master of the Court of Chantry [Chancery] from 1933, becoming Chief Master in 1959, and honoured C.B. in 1968. He has two portraits in the National Portrait Gallery.

The question is whether this is the same person., and secondly whether there are any descendants of this gentleman around.

Please let me know.

Blackmore: Smyth Family in Virginia

Thomas Smyth (born 1605) and Arthur Smyth (born 1607) emigrated from Blackmore to Virginia. This letter picks up the story published last year on this blog. (see http://blackmorehistory.blogspot.com/search/label/Smyth%20family )

Received

16 November 2010

Andrew-

I hope this message finds you and your family well. My wife and I just returned from a weekend trip to Jamestown, Virginia and Williamsburg. We go a couple of times per year however, on this trip I made an effort to find and visit some early Smith sites. I have attached some photos for you just simply for interest in terms of "seeing" where the Smiths of Blakemore [Blackmore, Essex] landed.

Jamestown VA, as Arthur & Thomas Smyth would have seen it when they emigrated from England.

Arthur Smyth IV's house

Arthur Smith of course seems to have inherited the lion's share of his family's estate and was able before his death to acquire about 2000 acres of land on a beautiful peninsula overlooking the James River and Cypress Creek. We don't know for sure if he built a house there, but odds would be in favor. His great-grandson, Arthur Smith IV did indeed build a home here and named it "Windsor Castle" (I chuckled a bit at that!). It is at the end of a drive named "Jericho Rd." This Arthur donated much of his land for the formation of Smithfield, Va. The site is now a protected park and though the home is not open for tours, the grounds are open. We strolled around and also found the family graveyard. It is a large space but only contains 2 headstones. Many there believe that most if not all of his descendants are buried there. It is speculated that Arthur Smith, the immigrant is there as well.

We then took a tour of St. Luke's Church, only a few miles away from the Smyth estate. This church is absolutely beautiful. It was built in 1632 and it is believed that Arthur and his family worshipped there. It is our nation’s only surviving original Gothic building.

St Luke's Church

Graveyard, St Luke's Church

There remain so many unanswered and possibly unanswerable questions regarding Arthur and his brother Thomas as well as their brother-in-law and sister. What made this very prominent family leave the comforts of Blakemore to go to the remote ends of the Earth to a wilderness with Indians and disease? I wonder if since the family were obviously well connected to the crown that as Cromwell took over and loyalists were frowned upon, if they decided to get out of England? I suppose we may never know.

At any rate, I hope this is of some interest to you and as I have said in the past, I would very much enjoy someday a pilgrimage to Blakemore. Maybe in the coming year!

Best regards-

Scott Smith

Replied

16 November 2010

Many thanks, Scott, for your E mail and attachments. I will post them on the website soon.

Regards

Andrew

BLACKMORE HISTORY NEWS - January 2011

Welcome to this month’s round-up of local history and heritage in and around Blackmore, Essex.

Cull of Books

Just before Christmas I walked into Harlow Central Library only to find that the number of books on view in the ‘Local Studies’ section had been dramatically reduced by around two-thirds. There are now only two shelves on display and all of the reference books have disappeared, including the last ten years of the Essex Countryside, the Transactions of the Essex Society for Archaeology and History, plus Kelly’s Directory 1937, the series of Victoria County History, Morant’s Essex, to name but a mere few. Lovely old volumes are missing.

I asked the Librarian on duty what the policy is regarding the slimming down of the Local Studies section. He said that a cull of books was necessary to make for more space. When I replied that there was now acres of space in the Library he sought out his supervisor. He too confirmed that there had been a reduction in books on the floor to make way for more WiFi room and that the books are now in storage in a back room. I asked how people could access these to which the reply came that people looking for a specific book on the computer index can ask the Librarian on duty and it can be made available. A notice would be put up to that effect. I asked whether the Library still wanted the Transactions, for example. Yes, came the reply.

The problem with this approach is that a casual browser who nips into the Library will have no idea what is available. So he will not know how useful the Essex Journal is and perhaps consider taking out a subscription. Surely a Library is about browsing books and grabbing ones interest. It is about discovering new and interesting things. Apparently not, it seems.

As things stand, the town’s main library is half empty. If someone walks into a place and cannot readily find what he or she wants, he or she will give up and go without – especially if it is a matter of interest rather than being essential. So if you cannot find who the landlord or such-and-such a public house was in 1937 you would just give up.

This whole thing is a self-fulfilling prophesy. A large number of people have Internet access. I don’t want a Library to become a room of Internet users. If people cannot readily access the service they will stop using it. If people stop using the service, then the powers that be have justification in withdrawing or closing the service, thus saving money.

Does it matter? The fact that people access information in a different way – i.e. on the Internet (and thanks for visiting mine by the way) – means that the lending of books by libraries is in sharp decline. As a book lover I find that sad. But a lot of information is simply not available on the Internet. These books have their place in our society so why are they hidden away?

What do you think? Let me know,

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. Byrd and Tallis, his contemporary, is this month's illustration.

A Folk Song A Day

With the demise of specialist music programmes in the BBC East Midlands region this week – including ‘Folkwaves’, which I listened to on the I Player - 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

Blackmore: Crickett Family

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

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).

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.

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

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

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/