High Ongar: Wheatsheaf Pub Demolition

The public house formerly known as The Wheatsheaf, for some while derelict, is currently being demolished. This photograph taken just after 7.00am today.

High Ongar: War Memorial

The names of those on the War Memorial outside St Mary’s Church, High Ongar, have not, to my knowledge, been published before online.  This transcription is produced 100 years to the day since Britain entered the Great War.

On the front face:

To our / glorious dead / 1914 – 1918

And below:

1939 -1945

On the south face is recorded:

Pte. J E Argent,  R. W. Kent Regt.  

Pte. S J Bush,  Essex Regt.  

Sergt. J Crane, D.S.M.,  R.M.Fus.  

Pte. H Clark,  Essex Regt.  

Pte. L W Cook,  Essex Regt. 

 Cpl. T A Donovan,  Norfolk Regt.  

Sergt. A F Donovan,  Norfolk Regt.  

Pte. J Farr,  Essex Regt. 

L.Cpl. P Fincham,  Essex Regt. 

Pte. S S Fogg,  Duke C.L.I. 

Pioneer G A Hall,  R.E.  

Bombor. W King,  R.F.A.  

Pte. E Maynard,  Linc. Regt.  

Pte. H Maynard,  R.W. Kent Regt.  

Pte. Wal. Maynard,  Essex Regt.  

Pte Wm. Maynard,  Lab. Corps.  

Pte Com Owers, M.C. Corps  

Seaman H C Pearce,  Royal Navy

The names of the fallen of the First World War continue on the north face of the Memorial thus:

Pte. F L Pennington,  Essex Regt.   

Pioneer H W Phillips,  R.E.  

Sig. F T Ruscoe,  Essex Regt.  

Sergt. T F Smith,  West Rifles   

Pte. T A Saunders,  R. Sussex Regt.  

Pte. F Saunders,  Essex Regt.  

Pte. C Savill,  Bedf. Regt.  

Pte. J Savill,  Bedf. Regt.  

Pte. C Shepherd,  Essex Regt.   

Pte.. H H Sitch,  R.A.S.C. 

Pte. T Tadgell,  R.A.S.C.  

Pte. A H Thomas,  V & L Regt.  

Pte. H Wood,  Midsx. Rgt.  

Pte. C W Wright,  Essex Regt.  

Pte. F C Witham,  Essex Regt. 

Sergt. R G Wood,  R.E.  

L Cpl. C W Wye,  W V Regt.

Those who died in the Second World War are commemorated on the base of the Memorial.  On the south face:

A.C.2. H Bentley,  R.A.F.  

F/O S T Byer,  R.A.F.  

Pte J J Guyher,  Suffolk Regt. 

Sapper S R King,  R.E.  of Norton Mandeville parish  

Fl.Sgt. W W Hopper,  R.A.F.  

Cnr. S C Neville  R.A.

Then on the north face:

Major A McCorquodale,  Coldstream Guards   

W/O R W C Phillips,  R.A.F. V.R.  

Pte. F Radaian,  P/C Q.O. Regt.  

Fl.Sgt. J Smyth,  R.A.F. 

Cpl. R L Wright,  Pioneer Corps

High Ongar: Demolition of Farm Buildings at Nine Ashes Farm

Demolition of these farm buildings finished this week:
former dairy farm acquired for development
(Photographed 29 September 2011)

Kelvedon Hatch: The story of Monkey Joe

The Baptism of Monkey Joe (about 1860)

Written by John Maryon, 1897-1975.

I had heard of him since I began to know myself because he was a step uncle to my father and born about 10 years before him (1860) at the ‘Wheatsheaf” Nine Ashes.  I got to know him by sight in Brentwood up to about 1928, when I belive he died – in Billericay infirmary, or paupers end up.  A diminutive figure with a large mottled nose, and a squeaky little voice speaking in broad Essex dialect.  Such a dialect as you seldom hear now, 1970, having been eradicated by 46 years or so of BBC broadcasts and later TV.  Mores the pity as it had considerable humour about it, but to be fully appreciated, spoken with a long drawl, unsuitable for what little expression one has time to explore himself now.  Time is money and everything is calculated in terms of time.

I suppose Joe had a formal Christian baptism and this could be ascertained by a perusal of the church registers of High Ongar for that period.  But legend says, he had another and more boisterous one at the “Wheatsheaf” Nine Ashes.  This was done I gin, I understand, and undoubtedly the High Priest would have been Bob Amos – 1828-1917.  A sporting farmer, living hard by at Lorkins Farm, on Christian name terms with Jim Mace, and not a bad artist with his fists himself.  Could play a fair tune on a piana, or a strapping chorus girl from London, could he inveigle her down to his farm.  An excellent shot with a 12 bore was he, and muzzle loader before it.  He could mix in any company – high or low – with a strong preference for the latter.

This baptism would in modern parlance – be right up his street.  With him would be Dick Oliver a younger protégé of Bobs in the fist game, Choikey Brazier, Hookey Winger, Rhubarb Chandler, and other worthies.  They all earned a tough ill paid living in agriculture, and the taking of the products thereof to the Metropolis.  Especially hay for the teeming horse population there.  Also among them, would be also certainly be Lardie Farmer, a very kind person, but also of necessity rough and tough, and of most uncertain temper.  Always came in for a certain amount of teasing from the poverty striken community, but the teaser would find himself with bodily injuries, if he took things too far. 

So little Joe was christened in gin, and with this inestimable start, proceeded to grow.  He grew up in a rural environment, his father and my great grandfather being a jack of all trades such as thatching, sheep shearing, horse clipping and haybinding.  He was also the licensee of small country beerhouses and was landlord of three of these oasis – “The White Horse” burned down finally, after degenerating into a private residence on Paslow Common, the Wheatsheaf, and finally the Shepherd inn on Kelvedon Common.  Little Joe was to grow to manhood in the last named pub and by his appearance and cunning left his nickname “Monkey” as part of the unofficial title there: premises acquired viz – The Drum and Monkey.

Joe’s father was a poacher and the receiver and disposer of poached game.  He always obeyed the eleventh commandment, by never being caught at his pastime.  Little Joe’s mother, being as broad as she was long, became the Drum, of the Drum and Monkey.  She died of cancer on these premises.

JM

High Ongar: Rookery Cottages

Glass House

Rookery Cottages

“The Glass House at Blackmore.  Uncle Jim and family outside.  Otherwise Rookery Cottages.  Grandfather Maryon came here about 1871.  He fathered and reared 10 out of 15 children.”

High Ongar: James Maryon

James Maryon

“James Maryon born 1847. Brother of John of Glass House.  Gamekeeper at Forest Hall, Ongar."

High Ongar: John Maryon of Paslow Common

John Maryon

“Link with the past.  The enclosed photograph depicts a native of Paslow Wood Common, where he was born in 1825.  He kept the White Horse ale-house, which stood behind the Black Horse, also on the common and still existent.  It was a house of call for men engaging in transportation of hay by road to London for the teeming horse population there. Hay carters, notoriously turbulent, heavy of whip and fist, bought in the results of poaching forays to pay for beer and victuals along the road to the metropolis.

“This native enjoyed the common right to pasture graze a cow and a donkey, and, with the right to collect turf for fuel, would be nearly self-supporting.  He was also an expert pig slayer, could thatch anything, and shear an ‘owd sheep’ with the rest.  Needless to say, he was an expert and consummate poacher who knew full well where the ‘owd hare sits.’ He escaped conviction for this ‘offence’, but his son was shot in the legs while engaging in this pastime on Kelvedon Common and was laid up for six weeks.  He was later convicted at Ongar also, but his brother became, naturally, game-keeper at Forest Hall, Ongar.

“He survived down to 1907, when in the time of primroses he was photographed with me at Norton Mandeville – for he was my great-grandfather and his name was John Maryon.

“JOHN MARYON.  … Hornchurch.”

High Ongar: Inscription on Bell

Taken from 'An Anthology of Essex', edited by Charlotte Fell Smith, published in 1911.


Whilst thus we join in cheerful sound, May love and loyalty abound - 1775

BLACKMORE HISTORY NEWS - October 2011

Welcome to this month’s round-up of local history and heritage in and around Blackmore, Essex.  It’s little later than usual owing to the marvellous October heatwave which forced me away from the computer and out in the garden.

Changes in Ongar

A large building, which initially looked like a multi storey car park, is being built on the site of the former Ongar War Memorial Hospital.  The Ongar Health Centre will be completed soon with the anticipation that men from the Ongar district who fell in the First World War will be remembered with their names engraved on glass.  Meanwhile in the High Street itself HSBC bank closed its doors for the last time on 30 September 2011.  The media say it is another blow to the town which lost its connection to the Central Line back in 1994.

Under construction. Ongar Health Centre

Pubs For Sale

Two pubs in close proximity to one another are up for sale.  Kings Brasserie, formerly The Wheatsheaf, in Nine Ashes, High Ongar parish has recently gone on the market having been shut throughout the summer.  It has been trading under its new name for only about eighteen months.  The Bull, Blackmore, which has been closed for at least a year is also for sale. It is difficult to tell the fate of these pubs, and whether they will open again as going concerns.  Meanwhile in Blackmore End, near Wethersfield, the former pub bearing the same name, the Bull, has also closed and a controversial application has been made for conversion into a house.  Having two pubs in the county called The Bull, one at Blackmore and the other at Blackmore End several miles away, caused great confusion.  Having visited them both a few years ago the former landlords both told me how occasionally a small party turned up expecting their booking for Sunday lunch only to find they had rung the wrong establishment.  It’s sad also to note that the Dog and Partridge (many years ago called The Swan) in Kelvedon Hatch has also closed.

Kings Brasserie (The Wheatsheaf), King Street, High Ongar

Nine Ashes Farm, High Ongar

A planning application has been made to demolish derelict cattle sheds at Nine Ashes Farm and for a number of houses to be erected.  Until twenty years ago the farm kept cows for milking. Now the sight of a cow or sheep is extraordinarily rare in this part of the county.  When it comes to redundant buildings the whole question of preservation, or conservation or demolition has to be addressed.

Disused dairy farm barns, Nine Ashes Farm, High Ongar

Moreton Hanger

A former hanger from the North Weald airfield in the centre of Moreton village has finally been removed and the site to be allocated for house-building.  The fate of the rather tatty wooden structure is unknown but I learned a while ago that North Weald airfield as well as a new First World War museum on the site of an airfield at Stow Maries near Maldon was interested.  I hope that it has found a home.

Airfield Hanger (now demolished) at Moreton (photo taken 2007)

Treasures of the Essex Record Office

The Essex Record Office produces every year a series of short courses on a variety of topics, ranging from understanding parish registers, and house history through to understanding maps.  On 4 October I attended an afternoon session entitled ‘Treasures of the Essex Record Office’ in which the archivist had laid out around twenty documents which she thought were special.  She gave a short introductory talk on each item then allowed those attending time to view them.  Of course any selection like this has to be somewhat subjective, and there is no doubt that another member of staff would choose a different selection of twenty.  On display before our eyes was the oldest record held by the archive, dated 962; a household record of the Petre family; an original Parish Register commencing 1538; a plan of Epping workhouse; photographs by Spalding of Chelmsford; a record of aliens in the First World War; and, would you believe it, letters written to Revd Edward Henry Lisle Reeve by men of the parish serving on the Front during the First World War.  I have seen these whilst researching Reeve’s biography.

Gift Day at Stondon Massey

A display of books, letters and manuscripts of the Reeve family will be available to view for the first time in Stondon Massey on Saturday 15^th October.   The congregation of St Peter and St Paul Church, Stondon Massey have their Gift Day with the building open to visitors between 10.00am and 4.00pm.  Refreshments will be available.  Revd. Edward Henry Lisle Reeve died 75 years ago this year and was Rector of Stondon Massey from 1893 to 1935, succeeding his father, Edward James, who was Rector for 44 years from 1849.  The material was a generous gift of a distant descendent.  Among them are two commonplace books, one by Edward Reeve (1785 – 1867) written towards the end of his life at Ongar, and the other ‘Jottings’ (dating from 1881) by his grandson Edward Henry Lisle Reeve.  A trilogy of booklets will be available to coincide with the exhibition, entitled ‘After Dinner Anecdotes’, ‘Relatively Speaking’ and ‘Captain’s Reflections’, each priced £2.00 each and sold in aid of church funds.

Links

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

BLACKMORE HISTORY NEWS - August 2011

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

Books for Sale

‘William Byrd: Some Notes’ is just one of many titles now available from Megarry’s Antique and Tea Shop on The Green at Blackmore (open Wednesdays through to Sundays).  Judy, the owner, has given some space over to the sale of books in aid of church funds, which are £2.00 each.  Megarry’s is a traditional antique shop which has tea and cake available for those who wish to stay a while.  The owner has been awarded the top (five star) rating for food preparation and hygiene from the local authority.  Books available also include, in an ever changing selection:  ‘A Short History of Blackmore’, ‘The Bell Tower at Blackmore’ and the Church Guide Book.  ‘Hatched, Matched and Despatched’, which tells the story of Blackmore’s parish registers (BMD) is out of print but the text is available online.  A completely new edition will be written in due course.  For more information on Megarry’s follow this link: http://www.teashopblackmore.co.uk/essex_antiques.htm

Reeve trilogy

Fascinating material has been received of the life and times of family during the early nineteenth century.  Two commonplace books, one by Edward Reeve (1785 – 1867) written towards the end of his life at Ongar, and the other ‘Jottings’ (dating from 1881) by his grandson Edward Henry Lisle Reeve – Rector of Stondon Massey between 1893 and 1935 – are being edited and transcribed into three booklets which will go on sale this autumn.  The project is well under way.

Blackmore Area Local History

The site continues to grow thanks to correspondence with people interested in local history and family heritage.  Keeping up with postings is always a challenge given other commitment but hopefully many answers can be found by visitors.

Primarily the website (http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk ) covers the parishes of Blackmore, Stondon Massey, Ingatestone and Fryerning but with coverage of neighbouring parishes too: Highwood and Writtle, Norton Mandeville, Willingale, High Ongar, Doddinghurst, Shenfield and Mountnessing.

The blog covers a wider area but is more focussed on those villages listed above.  Follow these links to see what is available parish by parish:

Blackmore http://www.blackmorehistory.blogspot.com/search/label/Blackmore

Stondon Massey http://www.blackmorehistory.blogspot.com/search/label/Stondon%20Massey

Ingatestone http://www.blackmorehistory.blogspot.com/search/label/Ingatestone

Fryerning  http://www.blackmorehistory.blogspot.com/search/label/Fryerning

Writtle http://www.blackmorehistory.blogspot.com/search?q=writtle

Highwood  http://www.blackmorehistory.blogspot.com/search?q=highwood

Norton Mandeville (which includes Norton Heath) http://www.blackmorehistory.blogspot.com/search?q=Norton

Willingale (which includes the ancient parishes of Willingale Doe and Willingale Spain) http://www.blackmorehistory.blogspot.com/search/label/Willingale

High Ongar   http://www.blackmorehistory.blogspot.com/search/label/High%20Ongar

Doddinghurst   http://www.blackmorehistory.blogspot.com/search/label/Doddinghurst

Shenfield   http://www.blackmorehistory.blogspot.com/search/label/Shenfield

Mountnessing  http://www.blackmorehistory.blogspot.com/search/label/Mountnessing

Links

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

Blackmore: Monumental Inscriptions

Received 16 March 2011

Hi Andrew, I am still plugging away at my family tree of the Norris. I have found out with the help of my cousin via the Essex Record Office there are quite a few more relations baptised, married and buried in St Laurence Blackmore as well as St Mary the Virgin High Ongar. I wonder if there is a document anywhere where the details of who and where are buried in the Churchyard. I am proposing sometime this year when I come down from Suffolk to visit the churches to see if I can find any graves of my ancestors as I love to try and put a photo on my family tree site. Can you give me any help or point me in the right direction.

Regards

Linda Windley

Replied 18 March 2011

The Essex Society for Family History carried out a survey of Blackmore churchyard in 1997 with plan, inscriptions and location of graves. The results are available to view at the Essex Record Office: reference ERO T/Z 151/109. I could not find on SEAX reference to a survey of the churchyard at High Ongar.

Best wishes

Andrew

Blackmore: Walter Ovel

Received: 11 February 2011

To whoever it may concern, Blackmore Area Local History

I have recently been researching my wife's family history and among her ancestors is WALTER OVEL, born and baptised in Blackmore in 1884. He was wounded in the Gallipoli campaign of the First World War in 1915 and died later that year. His gravestone is in Egypt's Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Memorial Cemetery and he was posthumously awarded three war medals.

I have noted that his name appears on your website among those Blackmore men who died in the Great War - yet for some reason his name is missing from the village war memorial. Are you able to provide any information on why his sacrifice is not recognised?

Walter Ovel is my wife's great uncle - the brother of her grandfather David Knight Ovel.

I look forward to hearing from you. Many thanks,

Colin Newman

Replied: 12 February 2011

Hello Colin

Thank you for your E mail. No doubt you have seen the tribute page to Walter Ovel on the website : http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/ww1_walter_ovel.html . I will add the fact of the posthumous issue of medals to the page.

This suggests that Walter, although born in Blackmore, was not a resident of the parish by the conclusion of the First World War. Our research suggests that he could have moved away as early as three years old. I have not followed up to see whether he is on the village memorial at South Weald, his suggested place of residence.

Regards

Andrew

Received: 12 February 2011

Hi Andrew,

Many thanks for your prompt reply. First I have to say what an amazing website you have created, devoted to the history and people of Blackmore. Its range and depth of information is incredible and impressive, and I found it fascinating to browse and read.

Yes, I have certainly seen - and printed out - your tribute page on Walter Ovel. I learned some new facts from that, especially that he had served and been wounded in Gallipoli, and that his death was caused by disease four months later. It has also come to light that his mother died in the last quarter of 1915, and I am told there is a strong possibility her untimely death at the age of 63 would have been caused or hastened by the shock of her soldier son's death.

Re Walter's war medals: I know little of military etiquette so I have assumed because he died in 1915 and his record shows he was awarded three medals - the Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal - that these would have been awarded posthumously rather than during his service. (see attachment). The medals are already listed on your tribute page, by the way, under Service Details.

From my research the 1891 census shows Walter, then an eight-year-old scholar, and his family living in King Street, in the Bobbingworth district of High Ongar, about two miles from Blackmore. Certainly his next-born brother David - my wife's grandfather - came into the world in 1886 in High Ongar. [I wonder whether the fact they were a farming family was the reason for their relocations in this area]. By 1901 Walter and his brother Frederick were "servants" employed as cowmen on Passlow Hall farm, High Ongar. Three years later he had enlisted in the Army.

Obviously Walter was not a "resident" of Blackmore by the end of WW1 because he had died in 1915, which leads me to ask what are the requirements for a name to be engraved on the village memorial? Should he have lived in Blackmore for a specific period of time, or perhaps he should have lived in the village when WW1 began?

I have been unable to find Walter's name on either the High Ongar war memorial or Bobbingworth's memorial.

Regards,

Colin

Replied: 13 February 2011

Colin

Thank you for your kind comments about the website and blog. I will add your findings to the tribute page in due course.

Paslow Hall Farm is actually in King Street, High Ongar. It seems that Walter moved away from the area in 1904. (I think that Bobbingworth was a registration district in the 1901 census).

I suspect that your family moved from farm to farm. My notes suggest that William Ovell, Walter’s elder brother, was baptised at Blackmore on 5^th September 1875; Abraham John Ovel was baptised at High Ongar on 5^th March 1882, and Walter himself, at Blackmore on 14^th September 1884. His date of birth is recorded as 2^nd April 1884.

The placing of war memorials on village greens and in churches was not coordinated nationally but locally, and the names therefore inscribed must have been agreed locally. These were a place’s outpouring of grief and recognition of sacrifice. During our Great War research we found names duplicated on memorials of neighbouring parishes. There must also be a number of omissions. Is Walter remembered at his place of residence – allegedly South Weald? At Blackmore we find those engraved have clear residential links with the village at the conclusion of the war. People who have moved away have not been included on the final list.

There is something I could add about war memorials. The Blackmore example includes the names of those who served and survived the war. It includes three Ovels who must be more distant relations to Walter. The Parish Council are custodians of the memorial. Recently I came across an item in the Chelmsford Diocesan Chronicle in which the Bishop of Chelmsford was giving a reasonably clear instruction to clergy that memorials inside churches should contain only the names of those who died.

If you find him please let me know.

Regards

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

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

BLACKMORE HISTORY NEWS - June 2010

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

Listed Building to be bought for £1

Blackmore, Hook End and Wyatts Green Parish Council are about to purchase a listed building for just £1. The telephone box which stands outside the Post Office has been declared redundant by BT and will have its equipment removed. It is a traditional K6 variety designed about 1935 by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott and has been accorded Grade II listed status, probably because of its location. Parish Councils across the land are being asked to “Adopt a Red Telephone Kiosk” rather than see them disappear from our streetscape. We reported on a similar situation at Stondon Massey in January 2009. The Council “agreed that the kiosk located in Blackmore Village would be purchased, at a nominal fee of £1 but the kiosk in Wyatts Green should be removed by BT.” A photograph of the telephone box to be preserved was published in ‘Blackmore Area Local History News’ in December 2009. Photographed this month is the ill-fated kiosk at Wyatts Green.

Listed Buildings

‘British Listed Buildings’ appears to be newly-published on the website. The pages are arranged parish by parish.
Ingatestone & Fryerning: http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/england/essex/ingatestone+and+fryerning
This includes Howletts Hall (Grade II listed) on the Chelmsford Road which is commonly regarded as being in Blackmore but, as I found when investigating an Ernest Knight of neighbouring Ganders Hall, is actually just over the parish boundary.
An overview of Essex parishes can be found by taking the following link: http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/england/essex
This means links for ‘Blackmore Area Local History’ parishes are:
Blackmore: http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/england/essex/blackmore
Doddinghurst: http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/england/essex/doddinghurst
High Ongar: http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/england/essex/high+ongar
Mountnessing: http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/england/essex/mountnessing
Norton Mandeville: not listed
Shenfield: not listed
Stondon Massey: http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/england/essex/stondon+massey
Willingale: http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/england/essex/willingale
Writtle: http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/england/essex/writtle

Cooperative at Blackmore

Chelmsford Star Coop took over the Nisa store in the centre of Blackmore village on 20 April 2010.

Roman Discovery at Harlow

A Roman brick kiln has been discovered by workers building at new playground at Prentice Place, Potter Street, Harlow. The place name is a bit of a giveaway. For more information see: http://www.harlowherald.co.uk/content/hlwherald/news/story.aspx?brand=HLHOnline&category=NewsHarlow&tBrand=HertsCambsOnline&tCategory=newslatestHLH&itemid=WEED29%20Apr%202010%2009%3A15%3A30%3A293

War Memorial Research Project Group

The work of this Group to identify all the names carved on Blackmore’s War Memorial has been completed and online publication is now under way. If you have any information on those who died or survived from Blackmore and the surrounding area from the First World War we would be very pleased to hear from you.

Supporting ‘Help For Heroes’

Lyndon March, whose family originally hail from Ingatestone, and Connor Mayes (otherwise referred to as ‘The Dynamic Duo’) are a couple of teenagers who will be taking part in a 350 mile sponsored bicycle ride from London to Paris in support of ‘Help For Heroes’. You can follow and support their fund raising efforts on http://connormayes.blogspot.com/2010/04/blackmore-area-local-history-essex-home.html. They tell me that for every £10 they raise Virgin Giving will be donating a further £2.95 towards their target of £3,000. I am delighted to lend my support to them and their cause. Come on lads!!!

Family Histories

New online:
Adams family, of Doddinghurst, Blackmore and Brentwood: http://www.lintywhite.com/adams.html
Memories of the Buttle family at Stondon Massey are shared on ‘Francis Frith’: http://www.francisfrith.com/stondon-massey/memories/my-time-spent-in-stondon-massey_140471/

Links

A countryside walk taking ramblers on a circular route via Norton Mandeville and Blackmore has been published online at http://mediafiles.thedms.co.uk/Publication/EE-Ess/cms/pdf/9%20Countryside%20Walks%20in%20Brentwood%20-%20Blackmore%20&%20Norton%20Mandeville.pdf

A new website for the churches of Greensted, Stanford Rivers, Stapleford Tawney and Theydon Mount has been published: http://highcountry.org.uk/

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

Blackmore: War Memorial Project (11)

Research into the names of those who fell in the Great War associated with Blackmore has reached the conclusion of its main phase. Of the 45 listed there were three names which warranted further research. It can now be confirmed that Herbert Larke was never a Blackmore resident but his parents moved to the village after the First World War in 1923/24. We will commemorate him as an individual associated with Blackmore because the Commonwealth War Graves Commission records his parents as Blackmore residents. Ernest Samuel Knight has been traced successfully to Blackmore, albeit that he actually lived over the parish boundary in Fryerning. His story will be told soon on this blog. The third, Frank Leslie Stokes Oliver, despite a claim of Blackmoor birth appears to have no connection with the village. Our complete list reads as follows:

Date Died / Name / Rank / Notes
28-Aug-14. Walter Brazier. Stoker.
08-Sep-14. Frederick Garnham. Private. Highwood commemoration
23-Sep-14. Bertie Millbank. Private
14-May-15. Gerald Wellesley Pigott. Sec. Lieut.
17-May-15. Frederick Root. Private. Highwood commemoration
28-Jun-15. Alfred George Ellis. Private
08-Aug-15. Walter Ovel. Private
02-Apr-16. Walter Malyon. Private. Kelvedon Hatch commemoration
16-Aug-16. Herbert Charles Game. Private
16-Aug-16. William Edward Rudling. Private
22-Sep-16. John Crane. Sergeant. High Ongar commemoration
27-Sep-16. Ernest Charles Martin. Private
30-Sep-16. Ian A Miller. Sec. Lieut.
14-Oct-16. Bertie Cowling. Private. Kelvedon Hatch commemoration
15-Oct-16. Herbert Game. Sergeant
23-Oct-16. Arthur John Nash. Private
05-Nov-16. James Gosling. Private
13-Nov-16. John King. Private. Kelvedon Hatch commemoration
19-Jan-17. Edwin Alexander. A/B
16-Apr-17. Wallace King. Bombardier. High Ongar commemoration
28-Apr-17. Harry Riglin. Private
28-Apr-17. James Roast. Private
08-May-17. Alfred Godding. Bombardier
05-Jun-17. Alfred Wheal. Private
27-Jun-17. Ernest Albert Maynard. Lance Corporal
31-Jul-17. George William Wright. Private. High Ongar commemoration
10-Oct-17. Albert Edward Barker. Private
06-Nov-17. Herbert James Brown. Lieutenant
02-Jan-18. Ernest Samuel Knight. Private
20-Jan-18. George William White. Private
21-Mar-18. Herbert Larke. Private
18-Sep-18. Charles Root. Private. Highwood commemoration
26-Sep-18. Charles Speller. Private
14-Oct-18. Joseph Thomas. Private
21-Oct-18. Herbert Miller. Private
24-Oct-18. David Sutton. Private
25-Oct-18. Charles Wash. Driver
02-Nov-18. Frank Leslie Stokes Oliver. Private. No local trace
05-Nov-18. William Willis White. Private
12-Nov-18. William Wilsher Fixter. Private
24-Nov-18. Edward Sutton. Gunner
05-Jun-19. Walter Herbert Wash. A/B
02-Jul-19. William Henry Scudder. A/Mech
1921. Frank James Monk. Corporal. Survivor
1923. Jacob Wiltshire. Private. Survivor

We are continuing to look for information about any of the above and, in particular, any photographs. If you are a relative we would be very pleased to hear from you and add your story.

Blackmore: War Memorial Project (10)

Thirty seven new pages have been added to the main website which will, in due course, contain details of individual men who gave their lives in the First World War. 31 pages are those who have clear Blackmore connections. A further three each are associated with High Ongar and Highwood. The Blackmore World War One page (http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/blackmorewwone.html) is being changed to create an index to accommodate the new pages. The list of those recorded on Blackmore’s War Memorial who returned from War has been updated (http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/blackmorewwonesurvivors.html). In addition the Highwood War Memorial has been transcribed (http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/writtle.html) and a photograph of the High Ongar War Memorial with those names commemorated added (http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/high_ongar.html).

Although the War Memorial does not record any names of those from the Second World War, a webpage has been created and updated relating to this conflict (http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/blackmore_ww2.html). Sixty five years after the close of WW2 we remember those who died and those who served too.

Finally a new webpage has been created with photographs relating to Blackmore and the First World War. Go to the ‘Great War Gallery’ page (http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/great_war_gallery.html). We are on the lookout for more photographs. Do send them in with your stories.

Blackmore: War Memorial Project (4)

The group has been researching the names of 125 men either commemorated on the Blackmore War Memorial as those who died or those who survived the First World War, or those who gave their lives who may be associated with the Essex village in some way or another. At the last meeting five names were established as not having a connection with Blackmore. These are:

- Bertie Cowling, who has a strong association with Navestock and Kelvedon Hatch;
- Fred Garnham, who although his residency was given as Blackmore is more associated with Stondon Massey then Highwood and Roxwell;
- John King, connected with Kelvedon Hatch;
- Walter Malyon, who has a connection with Kelvedon Hatch and South Weald; and
- George William Wright, who although has a residency given as Blackmore (and previously thought to be a Blackmore man) was, in fact, living near Rookery Farm just over the Blackmore boundary in High Ongar.

Fred Garnham is already honoured on the website and G W Wright's place will be changed to High Ongar once publication nears completion. The Kelvedon Hatch men will be remembered on this blog.

High Ongar: Norris Family

Received
12 February 2010

Hi my name is Linda and I am researching my family history.

Through my husband’s family we have quite a connection with Blackmore. My husband’s grandfather Arthur Norris lived in Blackmore and Nine Ashes for a lot of his life. He used to have horses and used to cart goods for a living. I note from the 1910 Electoral Roll that his father George Norris is listed. My mother-in-law was born there: her name was Florence Mary Norris. It is fascinating to know about the voting rules at that time. If you have anything more of interest concerning my family I would love to hear from you. We do have some pictures somewhere of Arthur with his horses. His two sons Fred and Jim worked on farms in the area.

Kind regards
Linda Windley


Replied
15 February 2010

Hello Linda

Norris is a familiar family name in this area, particularly associated with farming. The only entry in the Burial Register, held in the Church Safe, is for an Arthur Henry Norris. I note that the 1881 census has various Norris’ born or living in Blackmore but none are recorded after the turn of the twentieth century apart from George in the 1910 and 1918 electoral register. Norris is not a name that appears on the War memorial either as the fallen of the Great War or the list of those who served. Do I presume your family was in a reserved occupation?

I should mention that Nine Ashes is in the parish of High Ongar and I have not looked up any records for that parish for my response.

If you have a picture of Arthur and his horses which I could use on the website I would delighted to receive a copy. Either way, I trust you are happy to include your message and response on the site.

Regards

Andrew

Received
15 February 2010

Hi Andrew

Lovely to hear from you. The Arthur Henry Norris if he died in 1973 is I think the brother of my mother-in-law he was known as Jim and he worked on a farm I think it was in Nine Ashes for the Marriage family. I think near a road junction. His wife was Louie. Opposite the farm at this junction Arthur Norris my husbands grandfather lived and it was sold in the early 1970s and a new house built there I can’t remember the name but I can remember helping my mother and father in law to clear it out. Arthur’s other son Fred worked for the Coop Farm. I believe my sister in law has some photos of Arthur with his horses as she carried on his passion for them in her life and owned horses for a number of years before her favourite one died aged over 30.

My husband’s Grandfather Arthur Norris lived in Nine Ashes up until the early 1970's and he at one time also owned a couple of properties. I believe one of which I think was called Rose Cottage. He is buried at High Ongar church with his wife Amelia Eliza, her maiden name was Jordan and the family originated from Doddinghurst and Kelvedon Hatch.

My mother in law Florence lived in Nine Ashes until her marriage in late 1930s.

With regard to the wartime I do not have any knowledge of that but as my husband’s grandfather carted goods I believe at some stage he used to go to London he might well have been in that category. I will try and obtain a copy of the photo and forward it to you.

Thank you for taking an interest.

Regards Linda