Ingatestone: Somme Commemoration

The events of the first day of the Battle of the Somme were remembered at 8am today with a simple service by the War Memorial to mark the centenary.  Gordon J W Francis, a Private in the Royal Fusiliers died on 1 July 1916 and is remembered on the Memorial. He was born in 1891 and lived at 21 High Street, now the butchers. He was a carpenter and married Lillian in 1907. He had two children.  He was a bell-ringer and is remembered also on the War Memorial in Chelmsford Cathedral and, specifically today, in the ringing on muffled bells at the church he attended.  An ordinary man - like the nearly 20000 who were killed 100 years ago to the day.

'The Wonderful World of Disney: Collecting Classical Antiquity': a Lecture at Ingatestone on 20 March 2015

The Essex Society for Archaeology & History

Presents

The Morant Lecture 2015

The subject of this year’s lecture is

The Wonderful World of Disney

John Disney (1779-1857) was a Barrister and Archaeologist and son of Rector John Disney. John Disney inherited his father’s antiquities, upon his death and continued to add to the collection. In 1850 Disney donated most of the sculptures to the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. John Disney established the Chair of Archaeology.  The Disney family lived at the Hyde in Ingatestone and their monument is in Fryerning churchyard.

Presented by

Professor David Gill

Professor David Gill is a Professor of Archaeological Heritage and Director of Heritage Futures at the University Campus Suffolk.

On Friday 20th March 2015 at 7.30 pm

Venue: St Edmund & St Mary’s Church, Ingatestone

Members £5.00 in advance, Non-members and on the door £6.00. Booking required For refreshments PLEASE contact                 Dr Graham Gould on 02085561423, email drgegould@aol.com

Ingatestone: Pathe Film of Chase Hotel Swimming Pool

Here is some footage I have never seen before.  The Chase Hotel and swimming pool was demolished in the 1960s to make way for housing.  The Brentwood Gazette report includes some film shot in the 1930s: http://www.brentwoodgazette.co.uk/Old-1930s-footage-shows-Ingatestone-Lido-heyday/story-25877905-detail/story.html 

Mill Green Ware is no April Fools Joke

I have lived a lifetime in the Ingatestone area but had never heard of Mill Green Ware.  So when I saw a booklet within a pile of ephemera my immediate thought was that this could not be true, or there must be another Mill Green.  But it is. 

Mill Green Ware dates from the late thirteenth and the first half of the fourteenth century, was fired in kilns around the Ingatestone area and supplied to London.  According to the article – an offprint form the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society (LAMAS) – the pottery was dated by reference to tree-ring dating the timbers from the wharfs along the River Thames where it was landed.  These revetments changed position every thirty to fifty years thus making it possible for archaeologists to track the frequency of pottery types as well as their age.

Having been involved in a tree-ring dating project ten years ago I found this fascinating.

Examples of Mill Green Ware can be found on the Museum of London website: http://archive.museumoflondon.org.uk/ceramics/pages/subcategory.asp?subcat_id=702&subcat_name=Mill+Green+ware

The article is entitled ‘A Dated Type Series of London Medieval Pottery. Part One; Mill Green Ware’ by J E Pearce, A G Vince & R White with C M Cunningham, and was published in 1982. 

It appears in Volume 33 of the Transactions of the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society and may be downloaded free of charge from their website: http://www.lamas.org.uk/archives/transactions/volume33.html

Ingatestone: Foreman Family

Received: 27 August 2013

Just spent a lovely half hour reading about Ingatestone and Shenfield on your website.

Stephen Foreman who was baptised at Shenfield and lived at Wood Barns, Ingatestone for many years, and died there in 1887 was the brother of my 3* great grandmother (who lived in Great Baddow). Stephen and his wife Eliza (Windley) were witnesses at my 3* great grandparents’ wedding. Great to put more than just the facts to the story. There appear to be many Foremans in the Essex and Suffolk area over the years, so plenty more searching to keep me busy.

Deirdre (Cardiff)

Replied: 27 August 2013

Thank you. I’ll add your comment to the blog.

Regards

Andrew

Book Review: Byrd, by Kerry McCarthy

Book Review: Byrd, by Kerry McCarthy (Oxford University Press, 2013)

An eagerly anticipated biography of Essex composer William Byrd (c.1540-1623) has just been published by Oxford University Press in their ‘The Master Musicians’ series – Byrd, by American musicologist Kerry McCarthy.   Naturally it brings together all the latest thinking on the composer’s enigmatic life as a Catholic living in Elizabethan England at a time of persecution. Recent discoveries of the composer include the books he owned – some being tirades against Papists – and his age: he was 58 or thereabouts in 1598, so did not die at the age of eighty as previously (i.e. before the 1990s) thought.

The book presents, for me, a fresh emphasis on Byrd’s religious beliefs suggesting a gradual sympathy and conversion to Catholicism.  He married a Catholic, and as an artist was appalled by the treatment of Jesuits such as Robert Campion so as to be moved to write a lament.  We read again of the protection he received from Queen Elizabeth I through her personal intervention into a case brought before Byrd of non-attendance at his parish church before his move to Stondon Massey, perhaps in January 1595.  But it was the Stondon Massey years, in semi-retirement from the Chapel Royal, where he advanced further his Catholic beliefs through the writing of Latin set text for the clandestine Catholic worship of his friends, for example the powerful Petre family of Ingatestone Hall.

Andrew Smith

Ingatestone and The Great Essex Road (1): Contents and Illustrations listing

‘Ingatestone and The Great Essex Road’ by E E Wilde (with four chapters on the early history by Mrs Archibald Christy) was published in 1913.  Even though it is now a hundred years old, the book contains a wide range of items of historical interest, as a copy of the Contents and Illustrations pages show.

CONTENTS

PART I

A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF INGATESTONE AND FRYERNING

BY MRS. ARCHIBALD CHRISTY

CHAPTER I. BEFORE THE SAXONS … 3

 II. THE MONTFICHETS … 10

 III. THE KNIGHTS HOSPITALLERS AND OTHERS … 20

IV. GINGATTESTONE MONASTERY … 30

PART II. THE PARISHES

BY E. E. WILDE

CHAPTER I. THE CHURCHES AND WORSHIP • 49

 II. FRYERNING CHURCH . • 61

 III. INGATESTONE CHURCH • 71

 IV. THE FONTS . . • 84

 V. BELLS AND BELL-FOUNDING • 98

 VI. BRASSES AT FRYERNING . 107

 VII. FRYERNING RECTORS, 1195-1687 110

 VIII. RECTOR D'OYLEY AND HIS PARISHIONERS • 136

 IX. FRYERNING RECTORS, 1733-1913 . • 146

 X. INGATESTONE RECTORS, 1370-1913 . • 164

 XI. THE REGISTERS . . . • 193

 XII. INSCRIPTIONS ON MONUMENTS AND TOMBSTONES • 205

 XIII. OTHER CHURCHES . 221

 XIV. CHARITIES . 225

 XV. SIR WILLIAM PETRE 229

 XVI. THE PETRE FAMILY 237

 XVII. PETRE MONUMENTS 251

 XVIII. DANIEL SUTTON AND INOCULATION   260

 XIX. SUTTON, HIS HOUSES AND HIS FAMILY  271

 XX. HOUSES . . . 278

 XXI. INNS AND TRADE TOKENS  320

XXII. NATURE . 335

 XXIII. DIALECT WORDS  345

xii  CONTENTS

PART III. THE GREAT EAST ROAD

CHAPTER I.  EARLY DAYS . . 349

 II. TUDOR AND STUART DAYS   360

 III.  As OTHERS SEE US .  368

 IV. TWO QUEENS AND A PRIZE FIGHT  376

 V. PASSERS BY . 389

PART IV. PAST ANDI FUTURE

CHAPTER I. YESTERDAY . • 399

II. TO-MORROW . 406

APPENDIX

A. EXTRACTS FROM CHARTERS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS • 409

B. FRYERNING CHURCH RESTORATION ACCOUNTS • 412

C. LISTS OF RECTORS, PRIESTS, AND MINISTERS . • 413

D. EXTRACTS FROM RECTOR HAWDEN'S WILL. RECTOR RALPH'S BOOKS .. • 416

E. NOTES ON REGISTERS, BY THE REV. O. W. TANCOCK, AND EXTRACTS FROM INGATESTONE REGISTERS • 418

F. CHARITIES . 454

G. FRYERNING FIELD-NAMES • 463

H. FRYERNING VESTRY ACCOUNTS * . .468

I. EXTRACTS FROM FRYERNING MANOR COURT ROLLS * AND ARCHDEACON'S BOOKS 471

K. A. E. I. O. U. . 475

L. NAMES OF PARISHES AND HOUSES FOUND IN OLD MAPS, DEEDS, AND BOOKS 475

M. NOTES ON INGATESTONE CHURCH PLATE, BY THE REV. W. J. PRESSEY • 477

INDEX OF NAMES • 478

SUBJECT INDEX . • 487

* We only had access to these after the book was in the hands of the Printer. See Preface.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

I am indebted to several friends for many of the pictures, and to them I tender my sincere thanks.

1. Sir William Petre, from Holbein's painting at Thorndon Hall. Donald Macbeth. Frontistiece

2. Seal of Barking Abbey   11

3. Ingatestone Church, showing entrance to Rood-loft E. E. W.   53

4. Fryerning Church . , Mr. E. H. N. Wilde. 61

5. Fryerning Church. Interior “ 65

6. Fryerning Church Plate" 70

7. Ingatestone Church . . E. E.W. 71

8. Ingatestone Church. Nave with hour-glass 74

9. Fryerning Font. Sun, Moon, and Stars . 84

10. “ Tree of Jesse .. 84

11. “ Vine . . 91

12. “ Cross and Crown . 91

13. Abbess Roding Font. The Eight Stars . 93

14. “ The Four Planets in Earth's shadow 93

15. “ Vine 93

16. Little Laver Font. The Seven Planets and Lilies 94

17. “ Vine and Rose and Hortus Inclusus 94

18.. Blackmore Church . . . . . . 103

19. Blackmore. Tomb of Thomas and Margaret Smyth (d. 1594) Miss G. A.Jones 103

20. Fryerning Church. Berners Brass . . Mr. Miller Christy 107

21. “,(Fragments)  107

22. Fryerning Register. Rector's and Churchwardens' signatures Mr. E.H.N. Wilde 193

23. lngatestone Register . . . . E. E. W. 203

24. Fryerning Churchyard, with Disney Tomb 205

25. lngatestone Church. Petre Monument . 205

26. Ginge Petre Hospital . . Mr. E. H. N. Wilde 225

27. Sir William Petre's Tomb in Ingatestone Church 229

28. lngatestone Hall . E. E. W. 236

29. Sir William Petre 251

30. Dame Anne Petre Mr. E. H. N. Wilde 252

31. Lord Petre's Monument in Ingatestone Church Vestry E. E. W .  253

32. Daniel Sutton (from a Pastel Drawing)  Arthur V Elsden  271

33. Fryerning Hall. Oak Room .  E.E.W.  279

34. “ Oak Bedroom . . “  280

35.  “ Linen-fold Panelling  Miss N M Wood  281

36.  “ Oak Moulding and Panelling  “ 281

37. Fryerning-Hall. From garden . Mrs Rankin   282

38. Burrins Pond, Furze Hall . .E.E.W.  282

39. Furze Halll . . . Mr E. H. N. Wilde   287

40. Dutch Fire-back. Ingatestone Grange    Mr J P T Foster  289

41. Huskards . . Mrs Rankin  290

42. Fryerning Parish Room . . “ 290

43. Thomas Hollis (from a painting made in by Rome by R. Wilson) .  .E.E.W.  293

 44. Thomas Brand Hollis (from a drawing by Pozzi)   Donald Macbeth  294

45. Ingatestone Hall   E.E.W.  299

46. “ Facing the Lime-Walk  “ 303

47. “ Entrance Gate . “  304

48. “ Old Barn “ 305

49. Old Mill Green House (from an old sand picture in the possession of Mr. Clift)  E.E.W.  308

50. St. Leonards .  Mr R Miller  313

51. Potter's Row Farm, Mill Green .   E.E.W.  317

52. Seventeenth-century Mantelpiece, with Eighteenth-century Hot-Air Stove, Eagle Inn .  “ 327

53. Eighteenth-century Stove, “  327

54. “  327

55. Ingatestone High Street (from an old print) Mr. E. H. N. Wilde 329

56. Ingatestone Tradesmen's Tokens (seventeenth century) Donald Macbeth  333

57. Hall Mark on Fryerning Paten Mr. E. H. N. Wilde   333

58. Great Oak and Fryeming Hall E. E. W.  336

59. Old Cottages, Beggar Hill  “  349

60. Fryerning Fair . . . Mrs. Rankin  362

61. Will Kempec and Tom Slye . Miss N. M. Wood   362

62. Ingatestone, from Churchyard E. E. W.  370

63. Ingatestone Street, with Bell Inn . . “ 370

64. Old Cottages in Ingatestone Street, formerly Poor House Miss D. Rock   399

65. Joseph Poole, clerk, and William Asher, sexton, Ingatestone (from old photograph) Fred Spalding & Sons, Chelmsford  400

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS   XV

MAPS AND PLANS

I. Map of Ingatestone and Fryerning 

2. Plan of Hide Hall in 1731 (from an old plan in the possession of Mr Norton Disney)  Mr. Donald Salter 299

3. Map of Eastern Counties River Basins (by kind permission of Dr. H R Mill and the British Rainfall Organization) . 339

4. Map of Afternoon Storms of June 24, 1897 Mr. Donald Salter  344

5. Ogilvy’s Road Map, c. 1722 . . . . E. E. W. 368

6. Map of Essex, by Thomas Kitchen (from England illustrated, 1764)    at end.

Essex Inscriptions in Suffolk Churchyards

Essex Review

Extract from No. 139. Volume XXXV (July 1926)

Essex Inscriptions in Suffolk Churchyards

By Charles Partridge, M.A., F.S.A.

“The following, arranged chronologically, are extracted from about 10700 monumental inscriptions and lists of surnames copied in Suffolk churchyards during 1824-1846 by the Rev J W Darby, and lately indexed by me. His manuscript is in Ipswich Central Library.

“5. (Fressingfield).  Eliz. wid. of John Shepherd late V. of this par. eldest da. of Tho. Arrowsmith, V. of N. Weald, Essex. 15 Aug 1727 aged 58.

“20.  (Stutton)  Alex. Peter Allan esq. late of Mill Green House, [Ingatestone,] co. Essex, 25 Aug 1800 aged 72; Mrs Eliz. A. 17 Feb 1805 aged 69.”

Essex 1927: Ingatestone

"Ingatestone and The Great Essex Road - with Fryerning"

On the 'Feast of Epiphany, 1913' E E Wilde sat down and wrote the Preface to her book on the history of the parish where she lived: 'Ingatestone and The Great Essex Road - with Fryerning'.  

" ... When first I came to this country place it seemed to me there was little if any history connected with it, but it was not long before I changed my mind.  First, the countless Roman bricks built into Fryerning Church walls met my eye Sunday after Sunday; then, wandering into Ingatestone Church, Sir William Petre's monument spoke loudly of Tudor days; and next, more slowly but perhaps more insistently, was borne upon me the part that our road had played in English history; and always there remained the old Fryerning font, with its astronomical problem.  Partly for my own amusement, partly for that of a dear old friend who stayed with me at the time, I began to piece together various historic facts that had touched our village, some of which I used for a paper read at our small Historical Society at Blackmore, and intended writing a short sketch of the parish, as I found many people were interested in my idea."

This 488-page book, now celebrating its centenary, is a very interesting and recommended read.  An outline and pictures from the book will appear on this blog during 2013.

BLACKMORE HISTORY NEWS: September / October 2012

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

Essex Society for Archaeology and History

One of the County’s oldest societies turns 160 this year.  Founded in 1852 in Colchester the Essex Archaeological Society, as it was originally known continues to this day arranging excursions / visits for its members and producing annually its Transactions, titled ‘Essex Archaeology and History’.  In April 2012 the 1^st volume of the Fourth Series was published (cover illustrated).  Articles of very local interest include ‘Roman Billericay: excavations by the Billericay Archaeological and Historical Society, 1970-1977’ (by M Medlycot et al) and ‘Revd. John Howard Marsden: rector of Great Oakley and first Disney professor of archaeology at Cambridge University’ (by Michael Leach) – the Disney referred to here was John Disney of The Hyde, Ingatestone, during the mid-nineteenth century.  To buy a copy of the 384 page publication, go to http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/esah.html .

For information about the Society itself and membership – we are always looking for new members – go to the website: http://www.essex.ac.uk/history/esah/

The Essex Society for Archaeology and History has a number of surplus books for sale, which are not required for accession to the Society’s Library hosted at Essex University or are duplicates of items already held.  As a member I am hosting on this sister website a book sale on http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/esah.html.

Why am I a member?  As an amateur enthusiast it is good to meet like-minded people who are professional or keen historians, archaeologists, researchers etc.  I have found membership very interesting indeed.  The Society’s objectives are:

-          To promote and encourage the study of the archaeology and history of the historic county of Essex.

-          In furtherance of the above, to publish the results of such studies in its journal and to disseminate information on matters relating to archaeology and history in Essex through appropriate media.

-          To organise conferences, lectures and visits for the benefit of members of the Society and interested members of the public; to educate the wider community in the archaeological heritage of Essex; to co-operate with other bodies on matters of common interest and concern

-          To provide library facilities for Society members and approved members of the public.

Blackmore Village Website

Blackmore Village Website (BVW) has had a major revamp and re-launch under a new author – under a new domain name.  The site (http://www.blackmorevillage.com/p/home.html ) went live on 28 August.  At the core is a copy of the old website but with a blog attached and a promise of Facebook and twitter links.  Of interest to local historians is the ‘History page’ (http://www.blackmorevillage.com/p/history.html ) which make reference to the sister website to this blog, Blackmore Area Local History (http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/ ), referring to it as “an absolute must”.

Deal Tree Medical Centre

The former Doddinghurst Surgery closed its doors on 17 August, moving across the road that weekend to newly built premises at Deal Tree Corner on the Blackmore Road by Hook End.  The building lies just within Doddinghurst parish adjacent to the boundaries of Blackmore and Stondon Massey.

‘Demolished’ Victorian Letter Box

When I passed Ship Road in West Hanningfield on 1 September 2012 I noticed a pile of bricks surrounded by red and white tape.  Clearly some mishap had happened with the Victorian Letter Box. http://blackmorehistory.blogspot.co.uk/2008/12/west-hanningfield-victorian-post-box-3.html

Links

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

Chelmsford: Annals of England

Annales of England – John Stow

The following are extracts from a book published in 1605, the year of John Stow’s death.  The book is introduced as “A BRIEFE DESCRIPTION OF ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, WALES AND CORNWALL”, set out in chronological order and running to 1437 pages, abruptly ending in July 1605.

Page 1169

“1582

John Paine executed at Chelmeford

John Paine priest, being indicted of high treason for words by him spoken to one Eliot, was attained and condemned at Chelmesford on the last of March, and was there executed on the second day of Aprill.”

Transcribed with acknowledgement to the Essex Society for Archaeology and History.

Ingatestone: Annals of England

Annales of England – John Stow

The following are extracts from a book published in 1605, the year of John Stow’s death.  The book is introduced as “A BRIEFE DESCRIPTION OF ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, WALES AND CORNWALL”, set out in chronological order and running to 1437 pages, abruptly ending in July 1605.

Page 1135

“1572

Sir William Peter deceased.

The thirteenth of January deceased William Peter knight, who for his judgement and pregnant wit, had bene Secretary and of privy counsell to foure kings and queenes of this realme, and seven times lord ambassador abroad in foraine lands: he augmented Exeter colledge in Oxford with lands to the paine of an hundred pound by yeare: and also builded ten almes houses in the parish of Ingerstone for twenty poore people, ten within the house, and ten without the house, having every one two pence the day, a winter gowne, and two loade of wood, and among them feeding for six kine winter and sommer, and a chaplaine to say them service daily.”

Page 1166

“1581

Mice devour the grasse at Danesey.

About Hallowtide last past, in the marshes of the Danesey Hundred in a place called Southminster in the countie of Essex, a strange thing hapned: there sodainlie appeared an infinite multitude of mice, which overwhelmed the whole earth in the said marshes, did sheare and gnaw the grasse by the rootes, spoyling and tainting the same with their verimous teeth, in such sort, that the cattell which grazed thereon were smitten with a murerine, and died thereof, which vermine by policie of man could not be destroyed, till, at the last it came to passe that there flocked together all about the same marshes, such a number of owles as all the shire was not able to yield: whereby the marsh-holders were shortly delivered from the veration of the said mice.” 

Transcribed with acknowledgement to the Essex Society for Archaeology and History.

BLACKMORE HISTORY NEWS: July / August 2012

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

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

Willingale Bells

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

Successful History Event

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

Ingatestone stone dislodged

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

Olympic connection with Railway Museum

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

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

Local news connection with the Olympic Games

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

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


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

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

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

Epping and Ongar Railway brings visitors to Ongar

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

William Byrd

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

Essex Record Office celebrates Heritage Weekend

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

Writtle Calling

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

Essex Voices

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

Brentwood & Shenfield history

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

 War Memorial unveiled at Ongar Medical Centre

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

Doddinghurst War Memorial

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Commonplace Book of Edward Reeve

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

Chelmsford City

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

Blackmore Church photos

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

In brief

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

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

Links

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

Ingatestone: Book of Common Prayer

Book of Common Prayer Anniversary

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

Samuel Pepys, a Londoner, wrote in his diary:

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

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

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

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

Abbey Hatch: Mr Knightsly

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

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

Great Baddow: Mr Christopher Wragge

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

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

Barnston: John Beadle, M.A.

Belchamp (Walter): Mr Dearsley

Belchamp (Otten): Mr Thomas

Bentley: Mr Thomas Beard

Boreham: Mr John Oates

Boxted: Mr Lax, also Mr Carr

Braintree: Mr John Argor, Camb. Univ

Steeple Bumpstead: Mr Edmund Symmes

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

Great Burstead: Mr Samuel Bridges

Chelmsford: Mr Mark Mott

Chickney: Mr Archer

Childerditch: Mr Harris

Chrishall (Little): Mr James Willet

Clavering: Mr John Moore, Peter-house, Camb

Coggeshall: Mr John Sams

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

Colchester, St Peter’s: Mr Edward Warren

Colne Engaine: Mr John Clarke

Copford: Mr Robert Thompson

Cranham: Mr John Yardley

Danbury: Mr John Man

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

High Easter: Mr Martin Holbitch

Eastwood: Mr Phillogers Sacheverel, Ox Univ

Felsted: Mr Nathaniel Ranew, Eman. Col. Camb

Feering: Mr Constable

Finchingfield: Mr Hugh Glover, Eman. Col. Camb

Fingringhoe: Mr Gregg

Fordham: John Bulkley, M.A.

Gestingthorp: Mr Davis

Hawkwell: Mr John Church

Halstead: Mr Wlliam Sparrow, Camb. Univ

Hamstead (West): Mr Green

Hanningfield S: Mr Cardinal

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

Hempstead: Mr Thomas Ellis

Henham: Mr Samuel Ely

Hedingham (Castle): Mr John Smith

Henny (Little): Mr Samuel Crossman

Hockley: Mr Farnworth

Hallingbury (Little): Mr Waters

Hornchurch: Mr Wells

Ingatestone: John Willis, M.A.

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

Laver (Magdalen): Mr Harvey

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

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

Leighs (Little): Mr John Benson

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

Lindsell: Mr Clark

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

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

Nazing: Mr John Brown, Eman. Col. Oxon

Nevendon: Mr Davis Fowles

Norton: Mr Hubbard

Notley: Mr Sparrowhawk

Oakley: Mr John Hubbard

Oakley (near Stansted): Mr Lucas

Ockendon (South): Mr Barnaby

Ongar (Chipping): Mr John Lorkin

Panfield: Mr George Purchas

Parndon (Great): Mr Bastwick

Pattiswick: Mr Ralph Hile

Pebmarsh: Me Blakeley

Pentlow: Mr Henry Esday

Prittlewell: Thomas Peck, M.A.

Radwinter: Mr George Moxon

Rayleigh: Abraham Caley, B.D.

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

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

Rivenhall: Mr George Lisle

Roothing: Mr John Wood

Roothing (White): Mr Sandford

Sandon: Mr Samuel Smith

Shalford: Mr Giles Firman, Camb. Univ

Shelley: Mr Zackery Finch

Shenfield: Mr George Bound

Shoebury: Mr Watson

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

Springfield: John Reeve, M.A.

Stambourne: Mr Henry Havers, Kath. Hall, Camb

Stanford Rivers: Mr Matthew Ellistone

Stansted: Mr Robert Abbott

Stapleford (Abbots): Mr Lewis Calandrine

Stapleford (Tawney): Mr Ward

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

Stisted: Mr Thomas Clark

Stock: Mr Martin Sympson

Stow Mary’s: Mr James Maulden

Tey (Much or Great): Mr Green

Tey (Marks): Mr Richard Rand

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

Thaxted: Mr James Parker

Thoyden Mount: Mr Francis Chandler

Toppesfield: Mr John Overhead

Upminster: Mr Hawkes

Wakering: Mr Christopher Scott

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

Wanstead: Leonard Hoar, M.D.

Warley (Little): Mr Powel

West Ham: Mr Walton

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

White Colne: Mr John Bigley

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

Witham: Mr Thomas Ludgutter

Weeley: Mr Dowel

Yeldham (Great): Mr Robert Chadsly.

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

BLACKMORE HISTORY NEWS: June 2012

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

Diamond Jubilee

“The County of Essex” celebrated “the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II” with a Choral Evensong at Chelmsford Cathedral on Sunday 27 May.  The Bishop of Chelmsford in his address referred to the Queen’s life of devotion and of her service to our nation.  2012 is a defining year in our history – Diamond Jubilee, Olympics and Paralympic Games in London and Essex.  It’s a time to celebrate and give thanks.

Golden Jubilee

Was it over that Golden Jubilee weekend ten years’ ago that Concorde flew low over The Green at Blackmore on its way to Buckingham Palace?  2002 – seems very recent.

Silver Jubilee

I am old enough to remember Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee 35 years ago.  Monday 6 June 1977 was a drizzly day in Ingatestone.  There was a great family picnic at Seymour Field and the distribution of Silver Jubilee Crowns (coins) to all children.  The following day there was an interdenominational service, but our family stayed at home to watch the national Thanksgiving Service on television.

Anniversaries

Hylands Park

Hylands Park, Chelmsford, is really worth a visit over this summer – synonymous with the V Festivals of course.  The house began restoration 25 years ago in 1987.

One hundred years ago, on 26 June 1912, the park made national news when there was a society wedding at Widford Church.  The bridegroom was Mr Claude Grahame-White, an early aviator.  His bride was Miss Dorothy Taylor from New York.  It was a lavish affair with a fete held in the grounds of the house, with the groom giving demonstration flights in his aeroplane.  These were the early days of aviation, with ‘planes looking no more than motorised prams with wings.  Many of his friends flew in for the event.  (For more read Stephen Foreman’s book, ‘Hylands’.)

(More on Hylands: http://www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/Trudie-shocked-mistress-mansion-naked-bath/story-16106180-detail/story.html)

Anniversaries

Epping and Ongar Railway

A steam-powered locomotive returned for the first time in 45 years (1957) to the stretch of railway line previously occupied by London Transport.  The ‘Epping and Ongar Railway’, a preservation line, had a grand opening last weekend (24 – 27 May 2012) creating much media interest.  (See report http://thelocaltalk.net/eppingforest/2012/05/22/surprise-guest-at-epping-ongar-railway/ and follow link to Railway’s website http://eorailway.co.uk/).

Anniversaries

Ongar United Reformed Church

Founded 350 years ago as an Independent Chapel when Church of England clergy became obliged to use the new 1662 Book of Common Prayer of be deprived of their living (i.e. sacked).  The church building is Victorian.

Anniversaries

Ingatestone United Reformed Church

The church celebrates its bi-centenary of foundation with a special service at the end of June and two history days over the weekend of 14 and 15 July.  Congregationalists have met in Ingatestone before 1812 but it was the building of the first chapel on the present site which is the focus of thanks and celebration.

Book

The Diamond Queen

Andrew Marr’s book ‘The Diamond Queen’ (Macmillan, 2011), a more detailed account than the recent television series, is subtitled ‘Elizabeth II and her people’.  It charts the history of the monarchy from George V to the present, and includes, inevitably, a parallel political history of the nation; Churchill, an Essex MP being the Queen’s first of twelve Prime Ministers.  During the First World War the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha family restyled themselves as the Windsors, a rather English, if invented, name.  The book refers to: “The Bishop of Chelmsford [Rt Rev John Edwin Watts-Ditchfield], an influential figure, had told [Lord] Stamfordham [the King’s private secretary] that ‘the stability of the throne would be strengthened if the Prince of Wales married an English lady … she must be intelligent and above all full of sympathy’.”  The constant evolving of monarchy is a thread which Andrew Marr follows, drawing comparison with the Duke of York’s marriage to Elizabeth Bowes Lyon and Prince William to Catherine Middleton.

Links

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