Blackmore Area Local History: Stapleford Tawney

Showing posts with label Stapleford Tawney. Show all posts

Thursday, 13 June 2013

High Country History Group Launches New Blog

The High Country History Group, covering the small Essex parishes of Greensted, Stanford Rivers, Stapleford Tawney and Theydon Mount, has its own dedicated blog.

Blackmore Area Local History will be handing over coverage to this dedicated website. Andrew Smith is the new Secretary and author of the site.

Visit: www.highcountryhistorygroup.blogspot.co.uk

Friday, 25 May 2012

Area: "High Country History Group" Journal No. 42

The Quarterly Journal of the High Country History Group was issued to members in December 2011. It contains a number of items including:

- High Country. An extract from ‘The People’s History of Essex’ on Hill Hall and Stapleford Tawney (see http://blackmorehistory.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/theydon-mount-peoples-history-of-essex.html)

- Richard Thomas Dutton Budworth (Part 2)

- Coach Accident. 1832. Harlow

- Curates of St Margaret’s Stanford Rivers

- Crime Watch! Extracts from the Essex Standard

- Kelly’s Directory 1933 – Theydon Mount

- Fare Discrimination

- Book Review. Martyn Lockwood. Murder & Crime, Essex

- What The Papers Said!

- Sarah Fuller Flower Adams

For membership and further information go to http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/hchg.html

Wednesday, 1 February 2012

BLACKMORE HISTORY NEWS - February 2012

An interesting month on TV and radio:
'Great Expectations' filmed on Essex marshes
'Any Questions' on Radio 4 from the Ingatestone Anglo European School
'Songs of Praise' broadcast from Colchester
'Great British Railway Journeys: Series 3', Programmes 3 and 4: Michael Portillo visited Essex beginning at Layer Marney Tower, Maldon; Chelmsford - with a visit to Marriages flour mill; Blake Hall Station - on the former Central Line between Ongar and Epping; Little Tawney Hall - to discuss migration of farmers at the end of the nineteenth century; Southend Pier.
and a programme on Dr David Livingstone, without mention of Ongar where he trained to be a missionary, but of his exploration through Africa.

Friday, 25 November 2011

Theydon Mount: The Peoples' History of Essex (1861)

An extract from ‘The People’s History of Essex’ written by D.W. Coller, published in 1861.

Hill-Hall, the seat of Sir William Bowyer Smijth, Bart. – The third parish bearing the name Thoydon, with the distinctive title of Mount, is united with that of Stapleford Tawney; and high in its midst stands the noble seat of the ancient family of Smijth. After climbing the hill top on which the mansion is erected, we enter a long avenue on the northern side of the park. As we traverse it, and when we reach the tasteful pleasure grounds and terrace, we look forth on a beautiful forest scene, and realize the description, long since given that “Hill-hall, in point of elegance and prospect, may be reckoned inferior to very few houses in this county.” To the westward the finely-timbered park falls boldly into a deep wooded valley, beyond which the country gradually rises; and from this height we see its cultivated lands sprinkled over with farm-houses and villages, with the thick dark mass of the forest in the distance forming a back-ground to the rural landscape. On the south and other sides extend views of equal sylvan beauty, which compel us to admire the taste of those who, even before the time of the Norman – for this was one of the lordships of Suene – planted their manor-house on this commanding spot. The present hall id one of those fine massive old mansions which combine the solidity of the past with the elegancies of the present. It is a quadrangular building, with very thick and lofty walls, erected near the site of the ancient edifice, by the ancestor of the present possessor in 1548. On the north, the appearance of the structure, with its arched entrance and large massive door, leaves an impression of its original gloomy strength; but the eastern side is in the decorated Grecian style; and the southern or terrace front has been modernized and changed in character since the Elizabethan architect first raised the pile. On entering the mansion, the visitor will be struck by the beauty and proportions of the great hall, which is adorned by some fine paintings, and decorated with specimens of ancient armour and arms wielded in the hand-to-hand combat on the olden battle-fields of the country. Along one side runs a handsome gallery, and in traversing it we glance with interest the curious object which obstructs our path, very unlike anything belonging to the equestrians of the present time – the veritable saddle on which Queen Elizabeth rode while sojourning at Horham Hall [near Thaxted], which was formerly one of the seats of the Smijth family. The dining and drawing rooms, and the library, are large and lofty apartments; and upon their walls is the finest array of family portraits we have seen in the county. They form a pictorial history of the house of Smijth for the last three hundred years, mingled with paintings of royal and other personages with which it has been connected. Many are by the master-hands of their time. Amongst them are found portraits of Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth; Sit Thomas Smijth, the founder of the family, and the nephew to whom he left the estate; Charles I; the second Sir Thomas Smijth; Sir Edward Bowyer; the Black Prince; the present Lady Smijth (daughter of Sir Henry Meux); James I; James Smijth Esq. and his wife; Sir Edward Smijth and his Lady; Sir William Smijth, by Copley; Sir Edward Smijth, father of the present baronet; Joseph Windham, by Sir Godfrey Kneller; the Bishop of Salisbury, connected with the family in 1663; Sir Edward Smijth, by Sir Godfrey Kneller; Sir William Smijth (1777) by James Barry; and a host of others, interesting as specimens of art and curious as illustrating costumes of the different periods in which they were painted.

The family of Smijth is of great antiquity in the land. By some it is traced up to Edward the Black Prince, as descended from Sir Roger de Clarendon, his natural son. In Essex, however, it is of about three centuries standing. About 1480, the estate was in the Hampden family, under the title of Thoydon-at-the-Mount and Hill-hall. Sir John Hampden died in 1553, and his widow being jointured with this property, married Sir Thomas Smijth, knt., who bought the reversion of the estate, made it part of the family patrimony, and built the Hall. Sir Thomas, who was the son of John Smijth, Esq., of Saffron Walden, sheriff of Essex and Herts in the reign of Henry VIII, was one of the most celebrated statesmen and accomplished scholars of his day, and the author of several learned works, amongst them “the English Commonwealth”, which has been several times reprinted. He is described as a most excellent orator, mathematician, philosopher, and perfect in several of the modern languages. These qualities marked him out for public duties and distinctions. He was appointed secretary of state under Edward VI and Queen Elizabeth, was often employed in important foreign embassies and negotiations, and was made chancellor of the order of the garter. Essex, too, was anxious to do him local honour, and twice elected him one of its knights in parliament. He died in 1577, leaving his name honourably stamped on our political and literary history. His epitaph, on the sumptuous tomb in the little village church, which stands within the park, contains a record of him – the original being in Latin:-

“Sir Thomas Smijth, knight, lord of the manor, privy councillor and principal secretary of state to both King Edward VI and to Queen Elizabeth, and then ambassador to the greatest kings, chancellor of the noble order of the garter, colonel of Arda and Southern Clonebey, in Ireland, honoured eben when a youth with the highest title of the civil law, a most excellent orator, mathematician, and philosopher, very skilled in the Latin, Greek, Hebrew, French, and Italian languages, a friend of the honest and ingenious man, singularly good, serviceable to many, hurtful to none, averse to revenge. In short, remarkable for his wisdom, piety and integrity, and in every part of life, whether sick or well, prepared for death. When he had completed the 65^th year of his age, piously and sweetly slept in the Lord, at his seat of Mont-hall, on the 12^th day of August, in the year of our salvation, 1577. – The glory of a short life makes a man famous when buried in the bowels of the earth. My life was blameless; if after my death you hurt my fame (wretch) the Almighty will punish thee for so doing”.

The family have ever since held a high position in the county. Several of its members distinguished themselves as soldiers; and one of them, a youth of fifteen, won himself a reputation as a volunteer under Prince Rupert in the civil wars. The chancel of the church contains the monuments of many of them. Of Sir Thomas Smijth, the first baronet, we are told, in these funereal records, that:-

“He lived 66 years with great reputation for loyalty to his prince and conformity to the church of England in apostate times, and served his king and country in chiefest places of trust and credit in the county”.

The present owner of Hill Hall is the eleventh baronet, the title being conferred to the family in 1661; and bears the name Bowyer prefixed to that of Smijth, the surname and arms of that family, in consequence of an intermarriage long previously, having been assumed by royal licence in 1839.

In Stapleford Tawney is Suttons, the seat of Sir Charles C. Smith, Bart. It is a large and delightful mansion, the head of the manor which appears to have been cut off from the Hall, now belonging to Sir William Bowyer Smijth, but long the property of the De Tanys, a family in ancient times of high repute and large possessions in the county. Sir C. Cunliffe Smith is descended from John Smith, Esq., a London merchant, who was created a baronet in 1804, and having married, as his second wife, the daughter of Sir Ellis Cunliffe, the two names became united. The present occupant of Suttons, who has been the high sheriff of the county, is the third baronet. Tawney Common is a rugged-looking place – though now mostly enclosed – with a few scattered cottages. In the parish is a school-house, erected in 1745, by Jane Luther, who left 5s. to the parish clerk, and £2. 17s. 6d. each to this parish and Kelvedon Hatch, for distribution in bread, out of an estate at Little Warley. The poor have also the rent of four acres of land, left by an unknown donor; and a rent-charge of £5 left by Thomas Luther, in 1718.

Friday, 30 September 2011

Area: "High Country History Group" Journal No. 40

Journal No 40, quite a milestone for a rural historical society, was issued in June 2011. Topics covered included:

- Thomas Luther and Stapleford Tawney School

- Kellys Directory of Essex 1933 – Stapleford Tawney

- William Byrd, and the Authorised Version of the Bible (see http://williambyrdfestival.blogspot.com/2011/03/av-william-byrd-stondon-massey-and.html or http://blackmorehistory.blogspot.com/2011/04/stondon-massey-william-byrd-and.html )

- Successful Stondon Byrd Festival Gains International Reputation (see http://williambyrdfestival.blogspot.com/2011/05/william-byrd-festival-gains.html)

- The Rat and Sparrow Club

- Snippets from the Press (Greensted)

- West Essex Association for the Preservation of Game

- A table of Customary Dues and Fees

- William Frith Horner

- Ongar Union

- Memories of the Forties and Fifties Around Ongar.

- Chipping Ongar

Friday, 1 July 2011

BLACKMORE HISTORY NEWS - July 2011

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

St Christopher’s Church, Willingale. The Bells

The bells of St Christopher’s, Willingale (traditionally Willingale Doe) - see photograph - rang out for the last time on 25 June 2011 ahead of a project to restore the tower and augment the number of bells from four to six. The existing four bells – which date from 1610 to 1797 – with a “2^nd bell” cast in the early twentieth century from Prittlewell, left the village for Whitechapel Bell Foundry for retuning in early July. A fifth bell used for chiming only, which came from neighbouring Shellow Bowells, will be returned. A new bell will be cast to complete a ring of six. In the meantime work to construct a new bell frame will proceed. This will be placed lower in the tower to place less strain on the structure and create a better sound out of the louvre windows. The Victorian bell frame will remain in situ unused. Ringing will in future be performed from a new mezzanine floor placed in front of the west window and in full view of the congregation. The project is supported by a National Lottery Grant and funds raised locally and is expected to be completed in time for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. (More later this month)

St Andrew’s Church, Willingale

Villagers held an event at St Andrew’s Church, Willingale (traditionally Willingale Spain) on 11 June. The church is one of two in the same churchyard. Locals have started a Friends of St. Andrews Church group. A correspondent wrote, “The Churches Conservation Trust who owns one of the two churches we have in Willingale has just put a new roof on the chancel of St. Andrew's and we organised work parties to do a 'deep clean’. It took 14 of us the best part of 3 days!! It looks lovely now - and really cared for, so we decided it needed a Friends group to fund raise for CCT and one or two things to be done in the church”.

The ‘Tea and Tours event’ in St. Andrew's was a tremendous success. New displays for the church have been made and organisers busied themselves with preparing a tour script and baking the cakes!!!

Essex University Visit

The Annual General Meeting of the Essex Society for Archaeology and History was held on 18 June at Essex University. Members afterwards viewed the Albert Sloman Library which houses the large collection of books owned by the Society. Fascinating!

Bookshop

I enjoy looking around second-hand bookshops. One of my favourites is Castle Bookshop in Osborne Street, Colchester. On my most recent visit I picked up ‘Ingatestone and the Great Essex Road’ by E. E. Wilde (1913) at a very reasonable price.

King James Bible Celebrated

Churches across the county have been celebrating the 400tjh anniversary of publication of the Authorised Version of the Bible with marathon readings at Ingatestone and Brentwood, and a Flower Festival entitled ‘1611 and all that!” at Stapleford Tawney.

Garnham Descendants

Sharing local history and heritage is an objective of this site, so it was nice to meet a couple from the USA who had contacted blackmorehistory and were on holiday tracking down their family history through visits to local villages and the Essex Record Office’s extensive archives. They are descended from Frederick Garnham who was killed at the beginning of the First World War in the retreat from Mons. His story is told on www.blackmorehistory.co.uk .We spent a happy couple of hours comparing notes in Blackmore Tea Room.

Trooping of the Colour Flypast

The Battle of Britain Memorial flight and the Red Arrows came right over our house on their way to Buckingham Palace on 11 June.

Church Theft

Sadly there are those who thieve ancient items from churches, and disturb their structures. The internet is a great resource but is probably a showroom for these miscreants who steal things to order. I am always careful not to advertise some of the more moveable objects. A story I heard recently concerned a church in England – not in Essex – where in broad daylight workers turned up supposedly to repair the roof. They busied themselves for two days but it was only when a local historian wondered what was happening decided to contact the local minster to ask what work was being done that the truth was revealed. “Nothing”, the Reverend replied. The Police were called and turned up in the nick of time. The workers were almost ready to despatch their booty of lead.

Stondon Massey House

The long-time former Rectory at Stondon Massey, where the Reverends Reeve lived is up for sale. For more information on this Grade II listed property follow:

http://residentialsearch.savills.co.uk/content/assets/search/305927/HQBrochure . Offer price - £2,950,000: http://residentialsearch.savills.co.uk/property-detail/305927/list/property-for-sale/england/essex/chelmsford/cm99/0/0/1000000000/25.0/hi/gbp/2

Postcards

Our weekly sequence of Edwardian postcards is now complete except for those for Ingatestone and Fryerning. These will be placed on a web page on the main site sometime in the near future. Watch out for further information.

Links

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

Thursday, 2 September 2010

Area: "High Country History Group" Journal No 36

The Quarterly Journal of the High Country History Group has recently been issued to members. It contains a number of items about and beyond the local area including:

- An American Tragedy 1935. The story of two young women who took their lives by jumping from a ‘plane
- Essex Dialect and Accent. Part 1
- History Facts
- Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Jane Taylor, author of the nursery rhyme, and her family who lived at Ongar
- Whites Directory of Essex 1848 – Lambourne
- Fyffe Christie 1918 – 1979. A profile of the artist
- Church Chest at St Margaret’s Stanford Rivers
- Revd. Richard Cobden Earle, Rector of Stanford Rivers from 1934
- Cholera Outbreak at Thoydon

For membership and further information go to http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/hchg.html

Tuesday, 1 June 2010

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

Monday, 19 April 2010

Area: History House website

History House, subtitled ‘a dip into Essex history’ is the brainchild of Keldon, whose work on our local heritage is similar to the aims of ‘Blackmore Area Local History’. History House covers the whole of the county and is an enormous undertaking.

“History House seeks to provide free information on the history of Essex and to help you research your family history. The entire White's Directory of Essex 1848 has been transcribed and I am currently working on the Post Office Directory 1874. It is hoped that other directories will follow. History House is researched and written by Phil George (Keldon)”.

The following covers the ‘High Country History Group’ area.

Greensted: http://www.historyhouse.co.uk/placeG/essexg36.html

Stanford Rivers: http://www.historyhouse.co.uk/placeG/essexg36.html

Stapleford Tawney: http://www.historyhouse.co.uk/placeS/essexs26.html

Theydon Mount: http://www.historyhouse.co.uk/placeT/essext09.html

History House’s featured village is nearby Kelvedon Hatch: http://www.historyhouse.co.uk/kelvedonhatch/index.html

Wednesday, 14 April 2010

Area: Victoria County History - Ongar Hundred (2)

Saturday, 3 April 2010

Stapleford Tawney: Reredos

Reredos at Stapleford Tawney Church, Essex

Friday, 2 April 2010

Stapleford Tawney: Reredos

A picture for Good Friday.

Judas Iscariot's intentions are shown to the viewer of the mosaic of the 'Last Supper' by Salviati & Co (1883) which forms the reredos behind the altar at St Mary The Virgin, Stapleford Tawney.

Thursday, 1 April 2010

BLACKMORE HISTORY NEWS - April 2010

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

Aerial Photograph of Blackmore

This was a wonderful opportunity to take an aerial photograph of the village. See picture this month.

War Memorial Research Project Group

Work continues to identify and tell the stories of those from Blackmore who died and of those who survived the First World War. Some interesting contacts have been received from descendents.

Walk and Talks

The Essex Society for Archaeology and History visited Blackmore on 27 March to hear a presentation by me on the village’s history and its church. The occasion took the form of a walk around the historic green, highlighting points of interest, and a guided tour of the church and bell tower. Photographs, booklets and other items of interest were placed on a ‘show and tell’ table. A fellow local historian, Bruno Giordan, also made a large contribution to the afternoon’s proceedings. Members’ tea followed.

Two days’ previously I gave a 20-minute presentation at the AGM of the High Country History Group entitled ‘1911 and all that’ which covered family, local and social history derived from the recent census release. Other topics covered by speakers included the 1841 census in Greensted and the redundant church at Berners Roding. Cheese and wine concluded the evening. Spot the connection between the two events!

On the Wireless

At the beginning of the month Tim Wander was the speaker at the annual lecture given by the Chelmsford Museums. The audience – many of who were ex-employees of the great electronics firms which operated in the county town, and amateur radio fanatics – heard this Marconi man speak about the development of radio and of ‘Two Emma Tock’ Writtle. The month of March also saw the death of Dennis Rookard, a local and hospital radio presenter, whose specialist field was folk music. He produced a number of documentaries including one I came across on the web devoted to Capt. Eckersley’s pioneering antics in 1922. Go to: http://www.travelingsounds.com/Title.aspx?titleId=392

Grim Story: Death leap from aeroplane 75 years ago

The story of how two young women jumped to their deaths from a Hillman Airways ‘plane which took off from Stapleford Tawney aerodrome is recalled here: http://www.romfordrecorder.co.uk/content/havering/recorder/news/story.aspx?brand=RECOnline&category=newsRomford&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=newsromford&itemid=WeED26%20Feb%202010%2009%3A56%3A59%3A430

Greensted Church

An article from the Guardian series of newspapers: http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/5045265.ONGAR__Spotlight_on_Greensted_Church/

Oliver Cromwell

‘Oliver Cromwell’ is the only surving steam engine of the Britannia class of locomotives which operated in the days of British Rail along the main railway line through Ingatestone. The following item gives news of it being back in steam again in Norfolk. Go to: http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/content/eveningnews24/norwich-news/story.aspx?brand=ENOnline&category=News&tBrand=ENOnline&tCategory=xNews&itemid=NOED12%20Mar%202010%2007%3A46%3A26%3A453

New Flicker Pictures

Puddingstone by ancient church at Buttsbury, taken on 1 March 2010 by Peter Herring: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hornbeam/4397863540/
Man of Straw at Stapleford Tawney, taken on 17 February 2010 by Barry Slemmings: http://www.flickr.com/photos/barryslemmings/4373479245/
Writtle Village Sign, taken on 18 February 2010 by “terryjoyce2155”: http://www.flickr.com/photos/boxster986/4368507287/

Links

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

Friday, 18 September 2009

Area: "High Country History Group" Journal No 33

The Quarterly Journal of the High Country History Group has recently been issued to members. It contains a number of items about and beyond the local area including:

- The Rectors and Patrons of Stapleford Tawney & Theydon Mount
- The East End Maternity Hospital at Theydon Mount – Part 1
- The Suckling Papers – Greensted (previously published on this blog)
- Life as an Essex Agricultural Labourer: 1840 – 1920. Part 2 (the whole work is available in booklet form from the Priory Church of St Laurence, Blackmore, price £1.50)
- Greensted – The Truth (previously published on this blog)
- A Centurian
- Book Review: Essex and its Race For The Skies
- A Forced Marriage
- Daring Burglary and Attempt to Murder
- White’s Directory of Navestock
- The Essex Way

For membership and further information go to http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/hchg.html

Wednesday, 1 July 2009

BLACKMORE HISTORY NEWS - July 2009

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

High Country History Group

Blackmore Area Local History is pleased to promote the High Country History Group by launching a mini site devoted to the four small parishes of Greensted, Stanford Rivers, Stapleford Tawney and Theydon Mount to the west of Ongar, Essex. As with the main site, which launched pages covering ten neighbouring parishes to Blackmore in March this year, the site is set up to enable it to grow as more information and pictures are added. The Group, which publishes a Journal every quarter meets five times a year at Toot Hill Village Hall. The Winter Programme for 2009/10 will be announced soon. To see the new mini site go to: http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/hchg.html

Church Website Makeover

The Priory Church of St Laurence, Blackmore with St Peter & St Paul, Stondon Massey, has had a website for a few years but it is now undergoing a major update ahead of the formal search for a new Vicar / Rector for the parishes. The site includes a Gallery of pictures which may be of interest to our readers. A picture of the interior of Stondon Massey Church is shown above. Take a look: http://www.stlaurenceblackmore.co.uk/

Bariff’s Farm Mystery

Last month I mentioned Heather Tomkins’ enquiry about the location of Bariff's Farm, supposedly in Mountnessing. From further information received from Heather, stating that the farm was near Gooseberry Green and Mountnessing Grange, I suggested that the farm was, in fact in Billericay. Further conversations have established that Mountnessing parish stretched as far as Gooseberry Green, covering Little Cowbridge Farm, and Great Cowbridge Farm, the other side of the Shenfield to Southend railway line, certainly as late as 1912. Does anyone out there have any further information?

Essex Radio

Sorry to be nostalgic, but ‘Essex FM’ passed into radio history on 22 June. Its previous station name, ‘Essex Radio’ began broadcasting in 1981. Apart from local programmes at breakfast time and ‘drivetime’, all the output from the new sounding radio station, Heart, is being broadcast from London.

‘Longpier’ refers to the demise of Essex FM: “Of course the decision to rebrand is an effort to save money, and boost advertising revenue using a well known brand [Heart]. It'll probably work, but for those who really like their radio to be local, well I'm afraid you've just attended the funeral and buried the dead. RIP Essex FM.” See http://www.longpier.com/

For more on Essex Radio and Essex FM visit: http://www.petesipple.co.uk/essexradio.html and, for sound extracts, http://www.radioandtelly.co.uk/essexradioaudio.html

Charles Potiphar centenary

Ralph Vaughan Williams’ visit to Ingrave in 1903 is remembered this year with the death of Charles Potiphar, the labourer from Ingrave, who sang to the composer folk songs. On the internet I found a potted family tree for this man but wonder whether the descendents know of his fame and contribution to English music of the twentieth century. When I visited the site on 21 June, the date of his death (21.6.1909) was missing. http://www.piers-potiphar.co.uk/page140.html

The Essex Record Office has reference to Charles Potipher (or Potiphar) under the following reference: http://seax.essexcc.gov.uk//ViewCatalogue.asp?ID=182599

The Ralph Vaughan Williams Society has reference to a book specifically on the composer’s time in Essex: http://www.rvwsociety.com/albionbooks.html

Revd. Nathaniel Ward of Stondon Massey

‘A memoir of the Rev. Nathaniel Ward, A.M.’ by John Ward Dean has appeared on Google Books. For more, follow this link: http://books.google.com/books?id=0DEFAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA29&lpg=PA29&dq=stondon+massey&source=bl&ots=XTW00eDHrh&sig=OgfPHkOHDoPIiyQ7My_KWfheS0Q&hl=en

Classic Ingatestone Publication on Google Books

‘Ingatestone and the Great Essex Road with Fryerning’ by E E Wilde, dated 1913, is available to view on the Internet: http://books.google.com/books?id=NufA8a0ubeMC&pg=PA26&lpg=PA26&dq=fryerning&source=bl&ots=fvvjw804-N&sig=1rq8qzwyF0DOFT_32CcPN_xaU_s&hl=en

High Ongar War Memorial

‘Harlowirish’ has posted the following entry on ‘Flicker’. Go to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/harlowirish/2650362307/

RAF 46 Squadron

Those interested in the heroic deeds of airmen of Essex during the First World War and Second World War may be interested to read the potted history of No 46 Squadron RAF: http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/No._46_Squadron_RAF

Shellow Bowells

On the list: http://spyfoo.com/Term.aspx?t=1385491

Flicker Pictures

St John’s Green, Writtle: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuart166axe/3587421166/ and http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuart166axe/3587425982/

Links

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

Saturday, 25 April 2009

Area: "High Country History Group" Journal No 32

The Quarterly Journal of the High Country History Group has recently been issued to members. It contains a number of items about and beyond the local area including:

- Magic Lantern Show
- Sir Thomas Smith of Hill Hall
- Blessing the Geese
- Life as an Essex Agricultural Labourer: 1840 – 1920. Part 1 (the whole work is available in booklet form from the Priory Church of St Laurence, Blackmore, price £1.50)
- Piggott Brothers
- Henry Soames (1785 – 1860), Rector of Stapleford Tawney
- Epping Forest and the Founding of the Football Association
- White’s Directory 1848 – Chipping Ongar
- Rogationtide in Stondon Massey, 1909
- The death of Issac Taylor, 1865
- The Berkeley Family of Stanford Rivers

For membership and further information go to http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk

Friday, 3 April 2009

Stapleford Tawney: The Moletrap, Tawney Common

In the last twenty five years the pub has been extended and the outside loo brought inside as a consequence. It is a place of great charm. Good honest home-made pub food and a decent pint reasonably priced. Be warned though that the landlord does not take cheques or credit cards and a cash point is miles away.

‘Essex pubs’ lists the former licensees: http://londonpublichouse.com/essexpubs/StaplefordTawney/moletrap.shtml

Beer In The Evening reviews: http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/27/27637/Moletrap/Tawney_Common

Sunday, 1 February 2009

BLACKMORE HISTORY NEWS - February 2009

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

End of an era for local pub?

The Cuckoo, formerly The Thatcher’s Arms, Radley Green, closed last month, perhaps forever. Greene King, who took over the Ridleys chain of public houses in 2005 – and closed the Hartford End Brewery - is selling the place which in all probability will become a private house. It’s a shame that another lovely proper country pub has closed but a reflection of changing times. As someone who has never probably stepped inside a pub once said, “the sustainability of the public house is diminishing”. For a history of licensees at The Cuckoo follow to this link …
http://londonpublichouse.com/essexpubs/Roxwell/thatcher.shtml
... and memories of darts matches held there and in the local area.
http://www.patrickchaplin.com/Ingatestone.htm

The Campaign for Real Ale is doing their bit to support the local. In the Epping Guardian it cited three pubs in need of support: The Forresters Arms, High Ongar; the Sixteen String Jack over at Theydon Bois; and The Moletrap, Tawney Common, Stapleford Tawney. The latter is a good, honest, old-fashioned pub in the country serving excellent home-made food. It is really worth searching out, but be warned the landlord takes cash only (no cheques or credit cards). Follow link for more information on the CAMRA article: http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/4070651.DISTRICT__Pubs_fighting_back_against_crisis/

Perhaps a future item for the blog will be to cover some favourite locals, a photograph and a pint – all in the name of research of course!!

1911 Census

Local and family historians have no doubt been subscribing to http://www.1911census.co.uk/ hosted by ‘Find My Past’. The Essex census is available to view, as indeed are all counties in England to the south of Yorkshire. The census was taken on Sunday 2 April 1911. I have found new information about my family. Have you?

There is also a blog for the site giving information on the rollout of material, bugs in the system, and other information about the project. Go to: http://blog.1911census.co.uk/.

The BBC News item on the census release can be found here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7826521.stm

Music by William Byrd

A recording of music by William Byrd, written when he lived at Stondon Massey. Follow link: http://www.musicalcriticism.com/recordings/cd-byrd-hodie-0109.shtml

Folklore Relaunch

Sylvia Kent is a local writer. Her book ‘Folklore in Essex’ has been reprinted. For more information go to: http://sylviakent.blogspot.com/2009/01/folklore-of-essex.html

Caught on Camera

Mountnessing Windmill: http://www.flickr.com/photos/garysmith70/3086922807/

Walks – with a bit of history mentioned

A circular walk from High Ongar via Willingale (“Matt’s walks”): http://www.matfrygbr.co.uk/willingale_walk.html

Overview of Essex

Hutchybee makes a rather self-deprecating comment at the end of an essay in which he extols ‘The Joys of Es-sex’. It provides an overview to the county which some will find interesting. Follow the link to this discussion board: http://www.morningstarr.co.uk/forum/general-discussion/18360-joys-es-sex.html

Afternoon Teas In The Summer

Blackmore, High Beech and Stanford Rivers churches all feature on entry encouraging cyclists to come and savour tea and cake in the summer. Follow link: http://stibasa.blogspot.com/2009/01/bike-ride-and-afternoon-tea.html

Victorian Farm

Don’t miss this series going out on BBC Two. Very interesting.

Links

For an extensive list of links to other sites go to: www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/externallinks.html or look at the news entry for 1 January 2009.

Sunday, 2 November 2008

War Memorials Locally

Thursday, 31 July 2008

Area: "High Country History Group" Journal No 30

The Quarterly Journal of the High Country History Group has just been issued to members. It contains a number of items about and beyond the local area including:
- Stanford Rivers – Report on the Administration of the Poor Laws 1833
- Retrospect. W W Reed on Mountnessing (previously published on this blog)
- Shopping at Piggott Brothers & Co.
- Bye Laws for the Parish of Stapleford Tawney, by the School Attendance Committee of the Ongar Union
- Robinsons in Stanford Rivers
- Favourite Trees
- The Strange Case of the Rev. Thomas Lloyd of Theydon Garnon
- Line to be Electrified

For a copy of the High Country History Group Journal you need to be a member. This costs £6 per year (£9 for family). In addition a series of talks are held at Toot Hill Village Hall during the winter season (members £1, non members £2 – includes coffee and biscuits) a summer walk or visit is organised.

Forthcoming talks announced are:
23 October 2008. 8pm: The Essex Earthquake and The Great Essex Hailstorm. Anne Brooks & Andrew Smith.
27 November 2008. 8pm: Sutton Manor Explained. Anne Padfield

And in December, look out for ‘A Magic Lantern Evening’

For membership and further information contact this blog.