Margaretting: Old Font Cover

Essex Review

Extract from No. 123. Volume XXXI (July 1922)

Margaretting.  An Old Font and Its Cover

By the Rev W J Pressey

After an absence of rather more than half a century, the font cover belonging to the church of Margaretting has been returned, and may now be seen occupying the position for which it was originally intended.

A tradition that it had found its way to the neighbouring church of Buttsbury seemed to be borne out by the statement on page 208 of the Essex volume of the Little Guides series (Methuen) … .

In the case of the Margaretting font cover more than mere tradition was forthcoming to assist in proving its rightful ownership, for in the excellent engraving of the font which appears in Buckler’s Essex Churches, it is shewn with its cover, which is of rather an exceptional type.  Needless to say the authorities at Buttsbury recognised the claim and gave every facility for due return of the cover to its font at Margaretting.

Postcard Collection: Great Warley

These two postcards of Great Warley Church were written on 23 & 24 December 1907. In the first W. enquires of his young lady, "Do you remember the walk to this church?" and in the second, "I hope this card will reach you Bank Holiday morning and that you will have a most enjoyable day". Clearly no post was delivered on Christmas Day but the service resumed on Boxing Day.

Great Waltham: Ford End Church

St John The Evangelist Church, Ford End was built by Chancellor in 1871. In 1985 its polygonal apse was being demolished. Work was still in progress when I visited and photographed the building on 16 August that year.

Stondon Massey: Church Roof Appeal

Rising prices mean that the small congregation at Stondon Massey church is faced with a £5,000 shortfall following completion of essential work to retile the nave roof.

Roofing Contractors have advised that the heating oil used to fire the new tiles and the price of the imported lead has been the main reason why costs have risen since the indicative estimate given last year. More work to the roof structure also proved necessary once the old tiles were stripped off.

The Norman Grade I listed church of St Peter and St Paul has stood on the “stone hill” on the outskirts of Stondon Massey village since about 1130. It has long been associated with the Elizabethan composer, William Byrd, an ardent Catholic who lived in Stondon Massey for the last thirty years of his life, dying on 4 July 1623. Although he probably never crossed the threshold to receive an Anglican communion, inevitably his body was laid to rest in the churchyard, as requested in his last Will and Testament. Byrd’s memorial, unveiled nearly 100 years ago, is on the nave wall. We have the Edwardian Rector of the village, Revd. Reeve, to thank for his bringing to local and national recognition this great composer, who is now remembered at the annual William Byrd Memorial Concert held at the church by the Stondon Singers (to be held 6 July 2010 at 8pm).

Re-roofing the nave will ensure that the small country church is watertight for generations to come. The present Rector, Revd. Toni Smith, is appealing for funds to bridge the gap.

It is our turn to remember and protect this legacy and honour those who have worshipped in this little church over many centuries, through both bad times as well as good.

£5,000 is urgently needed.

Do help if you are able, as have the many generations who have gone before us. Do come and see for yourself. The church is open for services and on the 2nd Sunday in the month until September from 2.30 to 4.30pm.

Donations would be welcomed. Please send cheques payable to St Peter & St Paul Church PCC to Blackmore Vicarage, Church Street, Blackmore, Ingatestone, Essex. CM4 0RN.

Thank You.

BLACKMORE HISTORY NEWS - May 2009

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

Churches Open To Visitors: Summer 2009

The Priory Church of St Laurence, Blackmore
(From 3 May to 4 October)
Sundays, Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays
2.30 – 4.30pm
Teas In The Tower on the 1st Sunday in the month

St Peter & St Paul, Stondon Massey
Sunday 10 May, Sunday 14 June, Sunday 12 July, Sunday 9 August, Sunday 13 September
2.30 – 4.30pm
Teas served

All Saints’, Doddinghurst
Sunday 21 June, Sunday 19 July, Sunday 16 August, Sunday 20 September.
2.30 – 4.30pm
Strawberry Cream Teas on 19 July

Revd. Canon Ivy Crawford leaves Blackmore for pastures new

Revd. Canon Ivy Crawford, Vicar of Blackmore and Rector of Stondon Massey, left the village on 19th April to take up a new role in the Chelmsford Diocese and as priest in charge of five parishes near Little Easton. Canon Ivy was Blackmore’s first women priest – being one of the earliest ordained in the Church of England – and served the parish in a ministry spanning almost 14 years. In a farewell address at a Service before a packed congregation she said, “I have been privileged to share with so many families in their joys and pain. I have been blessed in seeing so many people come closer to God, and grow in their relationship with him.”

Harlow. Sculpture Town

Harlow’s internationally important sculptures in the urban landscape are being promoted in a new tourist campaign from this month with brown signs declaring ‘Harlow. Sculpture Town’.

Brentwood Was Revolting

A new book, ‘A Summer of Blood’ by Daniel Jones, has just been published according to the History Times website.

“The Peasants’ Revolt of the summer of 1381, led by the mysterious Wat Tyler and the visionary preacher John Ball, was one of the bloodiest events in British history. To finance an unyielding war with France, a reckless and oppressive tax was imposed upon the English lower orders. Ravaged by war, plague and tyranny, England’s villagers rose against their masters for the first time in history. Initial resistance in the Essex village of Brentwood swiftly inspired the desire for revenge in other communities. The outcome of their brave and tragic rising changed England forever.”

For more information go to: http://www.historytimes.com/history-books/book-reviews/five-new-releases-to-look-out-for

Essex Way

Having walked the entire Essex Way over five consecutive days in 1997, I was interested to see Richard Jackson, an artist (and blogger), has begun his own record of the walk from Epping to Harwich via Ongar, Willingale through to Good Easter. For more visit: http://essexway.blogspot.com/.

Ingatestone Hall gatehouse

An unusual and excellent picture taken of the Tudor gatehouse at Ingatestone Hall and one taken from the Lime Walk of the house, both taken by ‘chris37111’ appears on ‘Flicker’. Follow link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/chris37111/3447670758/ and http://www.flickr.com/photos/chris37111/3444354461/

Norton Mandeville Church

This month's photo is of All Saints', Norton Mandeville. Barry Slemmings entry on ‘Flicker’ contains a history and photograph of the interior of Norton Mandeville Church. Follow this link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/barryslemmings/3461306462/in/photostream/. The whole set of pictures can be accessed by following http://www.flickr.com/photos/barryslemmings/sets/72057594132610691/

Suckling’s Memorials of Essex

As promised last month, part of this work (dated 1845) will be serialised on this blog starting next week.

Links

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

Ingatestone: View From The Church Tower

It is 22 years since I went up the church tower at Ingatestone but when someone at last August’s Flower Festival asked whether anyone would want to go to the top to help with the bungee jumping teddy bears I volunteered without a moment’s hesitation. Between teddy bears bungee jumping and going down a death slide from the 60 feet high tower I took a number of photos. Some will be published on the Ingatestone webpage of http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/ingatestone.html

Fryerning: View From The Church Tower

Taken in 1990 when the village opened its gardens to the public. I took the rare opportunity to ascend the tower of St Mary’s Church, Fryerning. For more, go to http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/fryerning.html

Shellow Bowells: Church Now House Near Willingale

A recent visitor to the blackmorehistory site typed ‘church now house near Willingale’. The place he was looking for was Shellow Bowells (pronounced ‘bowls’) which is a small hamlet to the north of Willingale. Its church, once dedicated to St Peter, “was rebuilt in brick in 1754” (according to the Little Guide. Essex. 1909) but was deconsecrated and is now a house. For a picture of the building follow the link to History House: http://www.historyhouse.co.uk/essexs07.html

Blackmore: Local History Books Available

Over recent years I have written a number of booklets.
All are sold in aid of church funds.
Available from the Priory Church of St Laurence, Blackmore.
Selected copies available from:
Megarry’s Antique Shop, The Green and,
St Peter & St Paul Church, Stondon Massey.
Price £1.50 each.
Please enquire if you would like items sent by post.


Blackmore: A Short History. The 40-page book contains an extended version of the ‘Through Changing Scenes’ script. This was a performance of the history of Blackmore (Essex) in words and music.

Stondon Massey. A Short History. Two volumes (£3). 88 pages. The text features the work of Revd. Reeve (1858 – 1936), one-time Rector of Stondon Massey and amateur local historian. New chapters bring the village story up to date.

William Byrd. Some Notes. 20 pages. The booklet draws on various sources to tell the life and work of this great Elizabethan composer.

Revd. E.H.L. Reeve: Chronicler Of The Great War. A contemporary record of Stondon Massey (Essex) and its neighbourhood: 1914 - 1918. 64 pages. Reeve wrote notes for a parish history of Stondon Massey through to 1929. In this previously unpublished work, he chronicles life in this neighbourhood during the First World War.

The Bell Tower At Blackmore. 32 pages. This gives a layman’s guide to this magnificent structure as well as the work undertaken to ascertain the date of its construction.

Hatched, Matched & Despatched. 20 pages. A brief survey of Blackmore’s Baptism, Marriage and Burial Registers since the first surviving entry in 1602. Text can now be found on http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk

A Guide To The Priory Church of St Laurence, Blackmore. Our church guide book.

Black Thursday: The Essex Storm of 1897. 20 pages. The story of the Midsummer hail-storm which devastated this part of Essex.

Blackmore Remembers. 20 pages. A collection of notes about the First World War and of those who gave their lives.

Stondon Massey Remembers. 20 pages. A collection of notes about the First World War and of those who gave their lives.

Other books in the Series

The Priory Church of St Laurence, Blackmore
A Complete History:
Part 1: From Domesday to Dissolution. 1086 to 1540
Part 2: The Parish Church and the People. 1540 to 1720
Part 3: Georgian Blackmore. 1720 to 1837
Part 4: Victorian and Edwardian Blackmore. 1837 to 1922
Part 5: Recent Times. 1922 to 2007

The Smyth Family at Blackmore

Life as an Essex Agricultural Labourer: 1840 to 1920 *

A Population Study: Blackmore. 1841 to 1901 **

* To be published January 2009
** Planned work

Ingatestone: Treble Bell

The Treble Bell inside the brick tower of St Mary and St Edmund Church Ingatestone was cast in 1923. It bears the inscription “In Memoriam 1914 – 1918”.

BLACKMORE HISTORY NEWS - September 2008

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

Manufactured History

Some residents in Blackmore were agog to see new stocks erected on the village green over the past few weeks (see photo). Clearly this is not a new anti-social behaviour measure so why replace the old ones? Local people can be reassured that ancient stocks have not been swept away. The truth is that these new ones – with locks! – are replacing those put there about 30 years ago. These are merely a decorative embellishment to the surroundings and not anything of historical importance. It’s fake or manufactured heritage.

School still for sale

The former school, which went up for sale in January 2008, remains unsold. Someone must want this historic property!

On The Buses

From today, 1 September, Imperial is taking over the 261 bus route between Blackmore and Brentwood from Clintona. Imperial has the 32 route from Chelmsford to Ongar via the village. I note this for the record.

Church Faces Bill For Woodpecker Damage

Urgent work is necessary to repair damage caused by woodpeckers to Blackmore’s famous bell tower (pictured at top of blog). A recent five-yearly inspection of the church fabric tells the Parochial Church Council (PCC) that this work needs to be done. The PCC, whose responsibility it is to commission the work, is considering the repair of the worst weatherboards and replacement of missing shingles (wooden tiles) to the spire. Work was last carried out in autumn 2002, again due to woodpecker damage.

Church Weddings

I include this news item from ‘Church Matters’ the magazine of the parish churches of Blackmore and Stondon Massey because it may be of interest to family historians.

Thousands of couples dreaming of a wedding will find more churches to choose, from 1 October 2008 – the day when the new ‘Church of England Marriage Measure’ comes into effect.

The ‘Marriage Measure’, which has recently completed its parliamentary process, has made it possible for the Bishops to issue guidance to clergy on how the new rules will work. Existing marriage law, dating from 1949, established the right for a couple to marry in the Church of England in the parish church where one or both of them live, whether they are baptised or not, and whether they were churchgoers or not. To marry in any other parish other than the one in which they live requires a special licence or six months regular attendance followed by entry on the local Church Electoral Roll.

The new law, initiated by the Church of England and now approved by Parliament, will add to this right of residency, making it just as easy for couples to marry in a church where they have a family or other special connection, even if they don’t live there.

The General Synod decided that the existing laws were too restrictive in what has become a far more mobile society and took the initiative to change them last July. Synod wanted churches all over England to be free to celebrate more weddings and thereby support more marriages.

The changes will mean an engaged couple are welcome to be married in church in a parish if just one of these applies:

- one of them was baptised or prepared for confirmation in the parish;

- one of them has ever lived in the parish for six months or more;

- one of them has at any time regularly attended public worship in the parish church for six months or more;

- one of their parents has lived in the parish for six months or more in their child’s lifetime;

- one of their parents has regularly attended public worship at the parish church for six months or more in their child’s lifetime;

- their parents or grandparents were married in the parish church.


Vaughan Williams Anniversary

In addition to my item on this site (‘Vaughan Williams and Essex’, 2.8.08), Sylvia Kent, has also written an article about Ralph Vaughan Williams’ connection with this part of Essex. Sylvia Kent – mentioned last month – writes a history and lifestyle blog, says that RVW is her favourite composer. (Mine too.) Follow this link:
http://sylviakent.blogspot.com/2008/08/my-favourite-composer.html

Tony Kendall, ‘The Essex Man’, released a fabulous album telling the story of Vaughan Williams’ visit to Ingrave and the surrounding area. The CD is called "A Bicycle Ride with Vaughan Williams". Read more about him here.
http://www.filk.co.uk/chingford/tonykendall/index.html

Finally, an item from ‘Socialist Worker’ which refers to Vaughan Williams’ service as an ambulance driver in the First World War; his music and his life-long political aspirations.
http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=15814


5 September 1958 – the storm

It has been a particularly nondescript August weather-wise this year with much rain. (The corn harvest is three weeks later this year than usual, the field on the boundary of the village being cut on 27 August). But it is nothing compared to fifty years ago in this area. This was the great storm of Friday 5 September 1958 when a month’s rainfall came down in one evening. It had been a wet summer and the ground was already sodden, my father tells me. Farmers (again) were later than usual getting in the harvest and after work that day the sky turned grey; there was an enormous display of sheet lightning; the clouds opened and a deluge of rain fell. Rivers very quickly burst their banks. Within the space of 2 hours, 2500 flashes of lighting had lit up the skies and, in Chelmsford, 70mm (2¾ inches) of rain fell [Source: Currie et al. The Essex Weather Book p96]

Events in nearby Billericay are recalled in the following link. “… A resident of Australia who lived in Billericay in the late 1950s … remembers the great storm of 5/6 September 1958. This was one of those 'once in a century' freak weather events. I don't know how much rain fell, but my correspondent notes that he discovered next morning 'that our road had been gouged up by the rain water and there were people talking about how the lake [in Lake Meadows Park] had overflowed threatening to flood us.
http://members.tripod.com/~WynGrant/Billericay.html

R Roberts writes “That night, September 5th, 1958 is one I will never forget. There was tremendous lightning and heavy rain before I got on the train at Liverpool Street station for Southend; it was standing room only. We went slowly past several stations and at Ilford we stopped and stayed all night as the line was flooded much of the way to Southend.

“There had been 3.27 inches of rain recorded at Wickford in 90 minutes! I finally arrived at Rochford at 6am, to be met by my father, who said the water was nearly up to the platform at the height of the storm!”
http://www.stosyth.gov.uk/default.asp?calltype=sep04countrymatters

Finally, a website telling of a hail stone which fell that night in Horsham, Sussex, weighing 191g. It was the heaviest hailstone recorded in Britain. There is also an extract from ‘The Times’.
“Chaos on roads and railways, land slips, severe flooding and damage by lightning were caused by storms which broke over southern England last night. … The South bore the brunt of storm. … Southend-on-Sea was cut off by rail from London. Floodwater swamped across a bridge at Pitsea, 10 miles west of Southend, stopping all trains in both directions. On the Liverpool Street line the electric service was stopped because of swirling waters across the line at Brentwood. … blockages of the Eastern Region line at Brentwood, which was flooded, and Chelmsford, where there was a landslide, became total blockages and no trains ran between London and Colchester direct. Early to-day the region called in the Army to provide transport for hundreds of stranded passengers.”
http://www.ukweatherworld.co.uk/forum/forums/printer-friendly.asp?tid=24432&mid=

I would be glad to hear from anyone who remembers that Friday night.


Weather in Willingale Doe

Search engines do funny things. This link has looked at the index of Blackmore Area Local History and found the words ‘weather’ and ‘Willingale’ to assume that the item about the Ongar Union Workhouse is about that. Well, hailstones damaged the windows in the storm of 24 June 1897 but, other than that, it is a tenuous link. http://united-kingdom.relocate-anyplace.selfip.com/relocate/United%20Kingdom/Essex/Willingale%20Doe


Heritage Weekend

Brentwood Borough Council has issued a leaflet giving details of Heritage Open Day events. The following places therefore in our local area are open to celebrate the nation’s Heritage Weekend:
All Saints Church, Hutton. Thursday 11 September & Friday 12 September, 2-5pm; Saturday 13 September, all day (but there may be a wedding); Sunday 14 September, service times and 2.30 – 4.30pm
All Saints Church, East Horndon. Sat 13 Sep, 10am – 6pm; Sun 14 Sep, 11am – 5pm
Brentwood Museum. Sat 13 Sep & Sun 14 Sep, 2.30 – 4.30pm
Brentwood Roman Catholic Cathedral. Thu 11 Sep, 10am – 4pm; Fri 12 Sep, 12pm – 4pm; Sat 13 Sep, 3pm – 5pm; Sun 14 Sep, 2.30pm – 5pm
Brentwood School. Sat 13 Sep, half hour guided tour at 11am only
Christ Church, Warley. Sat 13 Sep, 10am – 4pm; Sun 14 Sep; 12pm – 4pm
St Thomas’ Church, Navestock. Sat 13 Sep, 11am – 3pm
St Peter’s ‘Church, South Weald. Sun 14 Sep, 2pm – 5pm
Priory Church of St Laurence, Blackmore. Thu 11 Sep, 2.00pm – 4.30pm; Fri 12 Sep, 1.00pm – 4.00pm; Sat 13 Sep, 10am - 4pm; Sun 14 Sep, 2.30pm – 4.30pm
St George The Martyr Church, Ongar Road, Brentwood. Thu 11 Sep & Fri 12 Sep, 10am – 12noon; Sat 13 Sep, 10am – 5pm; Sun 14 Sep, 12pm – 5pm
St Mary The Virgin Church, Great Warley. Sat 13 Sep, & Sun 14 Sep, 12noon – 4pm
St Thomas A Becket Chapel Ruins, Brentwood. Sat 13 Sep, 10.30am – 3.30pm. Conservation work explained
Warley Place (once belonged to Ellen Willmott, Victorian gardener). Sat 13 Sep & Sun 14 Sep, 10am to 5pm. Tours at 11am, 1pm, 3pm.


House history

One of the objectives of Blackmore Area Local History is to encourage others to research their surroundings, and not be frightened to visit archives such as the Essex Record Office. This month, Ruth has written to me to ask whether a place known as ‘The Old School House’ was ever a school. The property stood where the entrance to Meadow Rise now is off of Blackmore Road (previously named Brentwood Road). Tying up schoolmasters and schoolmistresses who lived in the village through the ages with the schools in which they taught is proving a challenge.

As a more general point, it might be possible to investigate the history of your house in Blackmore, Stondon and the surrounding area at the Essex Record Office. Chris Harvey’s website for Great Baddow contains a link to a presentation given to their Historical Society. I include details and the link below.

“How to dig into the past of your house: “House History in Essex” by Allen Buckroyd & Gloria Harris. (based on a leaflet produced by Essex Records Office) Presentation given at the Great Baddow Historical Society on Friday, 29 September 2006. Please note the Powerpoint download file size is 7.7MB”.
http://www.greatbaddowonline.co.uk/030706gbhhistory/071006gbhpresentations/


Stondon Church photo

I include this simply because it is an excellent photograph showing the Roman tiles on the west end of St Peter & St Paul Church, Stondon Massey (Essex). http://www.flickr.com/photos/chelmsfordblue/2388518314/


Great War commemoration

Our commemoration of the First World War continues on this site with more contemporary entries from Revd. Reeve of Stondon Massey and the ‘Friday Feature’, covering a topic in more detail. Beginning this month we dedicate a day to one of the lives of those who fell in the war and who are (mostly) remembered on War Memorials: (Stondon Massey will be featured on Mondays and Blackmore from Tuesdays through to Fridays.)

I am especially keen to create a reasonably comprehensive site containing memories and links with World War One in the local area so will be happy to publish any stories for posterity, either on the blog or the new website.


Blackmore History. co. uk

Blackmore Area Local History has a website in test. There are now two pages completed. Firstly, an index of peoples’ names in Blackmore cribbed from various primary sources (original documents) and secondary sources (books etc). Follow this link:
http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/historyindex.html
Then there is a complete transcript of the Blackmore Electoral Register for 1910. Predating the First World War, and universal suffrage, one can recognise the family names of those who served. Follow this link:
http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/1910roll.html

Blackmore: Petrie Connection?

One of the stained glass windows in the Priory Church of St Laurence Blackmore commemorates a victim of the First World War. His name is Herbert John Brown, who I think might be related to the Vicar at the time, Revd. Walter Layton Petrie. I had an E mail from Keith Doree, a descendent of WLP, so thought I would ask. Unfortunately we are not much further forward. Does anyone know the answer to solve this mystery?


7 June 2008

Hello.

Thanks very much for posting a picture of The Rev. W. Layton Petrie.

The Rev. W. Layton Petrie was my great-great-great uncle. He was the son of Charles Adolphus Petrie (1814-1893) and Ann Elizabeth Lea (1815-1907). My Great-great grandmother Lavinia Elizabeth Petrie was his elder sister. Lavinia married John Hunt Doree.

W. Layton Petrie and his wife Amelia "Minnie" Soames had a son, Stanley Layton Petrie, who was also a minister. He was vicar of Holy Trinity Parish Church, Stockton on Tees, having left the parish of St. Barnabas, Hendon, in 1929.

I don't know if Stanley had any descendants.

Regards,
Keith Doree
Sydney, Australia


8 June 2008
Response

Hello Keith.

Nice to hear from you. It's good to hear from a descendant of W Layton Petrie. I am a church member at the place where your gt-gt-gt-uncle was Vicar for 34 years so have found him, through reading minutes of meetings etc, to be an interesting character. He was hugely energetic in the restoration of his two churches at Blackmore (Essex) and nearby Norton Mandeville. (No doubt you have seen the more recent posting of a photograph taken at Blackmore Vicarage in 1902. Presumably his wife, Amelia, is sitting to his left).

During the period 1900-1920 nearly all the windows in St Laurence, Blackmore, were stained. One is a war memorial window specifically in memory of Herbert James Brown. The text on the window reads:

"I have not found so great faith in Israel.
"In memory of Herbert James Brown Lieut. Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
Killed in action in Palestine Nov. 6th 1917. Given by his widow".

I found out that Herbert Brown was not a Blackmore resident but husband of a Grace E Petrie (formerly Brown) of St Barnabas Vicarage, Sunderland.

I conclude that she is related to WLP. Could you solve a problem and tell me whether this is the case please?

Regards
Andrew Smith

8 June 2008
Reply

Thanks for the reply. I had not seen a photo of my ggg uncle before, so it is terrific to see his memory and works live on. Thank you!

The Petrie family was a very interesting group. W. Layton was the youngest of 9 children, my gg grandmother being the eldest (18 years older than W. Layton). One of their siblings, Edward "Ted" Petrie was a publican and their sister Ellen "Nellie" was the wife of Rev. George C. Daw, the vicar of St. Mark's, Dalston. My gg grandmother was widowed very young and was a linen draper. She 2nd married an assistant of hers, John Doree, who was 5 years younger than she. They had 5 children, one who was named after Lavinia's first husband.

I don't find a Grace E. Petrie on the tree, although I will dig a bit deeper. I will continue to check and let you know what I find.

I am not sure who Stanley Layton Petrie's wife was. I will see if it was Grace.

I am travelling to London next week and will see my cousin who has a photo album with many Petrie’s included-- I will look for your Grace.

All best wishes,
Keith Doree


9 June 2008
Reply

Keith. Many thanks. Look forward to hearing from you.

I looked at the window this morning while in church. The left hand side is as written but the right hand side has a different commemoration.

"Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me.
"To the memory of Rowland Richard and Clara Rebecca Pratt. Given by their three children."

Any relation?
Andrew

10 June 2008
Response

Another puzzle, Andrew! I will see what I can find, but no immediate connection that I can see.

Regards,
Keith


15 August 2008
Further response

Hello, Andrew!
Well, it already seems a long time ago that I was in London. Had a wonderful time.

I haven't found a connection, but I can give you more information about the Pratt family.

Rowland Richard Pratt was born in Navestock, Essex, in 1848. His wife, Clara (nee Patmore) was born in Takeley, Essex about 1855.

Rowland was the son of Charles & Charlotte Pratt.

Clara was the daughter of William & Phoebe Patmore.

Rowland & Clara's three children were Clifford, Ethel & Grace.

I will let you know if I find anything else, but there doesn't seem to be a link to the Petrie family at the present time.

Hope you are well.
All best wishes,
Keith

Blackmore: Jericho Priory

Many visitors to the church are intrigued by the house behind the wall known as Jericho Priory. Whilst some know that this was the birthplace of Henry Fitzroy (1519 – 1536), King Henry VIII’s bastard son, others are then disappointed to learn that the building subsequently was reconstructed. Revd. Philip Morant, one of Essex’s earliest historians in print (1768) suggested that, “This is reported to have been one of K. Henry the Eighths Houses of Pleasure; and disguised by the name of Jericho. So that when this lascivious Prince had a mind to be lost in the embraces of his courtesans, the cant word among his courtiers, was, that He was gone to Jericho. Here was born his natural son, by Elizabeth Tailbois, daughter of Sir John Blount” [Morant. p57]. It is highly unlikely that Henry Fitzroy was conceived in Blackmore, as some locals would like to claim. What is more probable was that Elizabeth Blount, later married to Gilbert Tailbois, was sent for a period of confinement to Blackmore Priory when clearly seen in Court she was with child. Blackmore Priory in 1518 was a small, quiet, Augustinian Priory which nine years later was suppressed by Wolsey having only four Canons in residence. The Nave of the former Priory still exists as the Nave of the Church. The remainder was pulled down by the Smyth family around 1540 – 1543 after acquisition of the site. The footprint of the Priory foundations is now in the garden of the private house, referred to as ‘Jerico’ in the will of John Smith, dated 1543. The family built Smyth Hall, to the south of Wenlocks Lane, and were present in Blackmore for five generations until 1721. Smyth Hall was also known as Blackmore Manor. Morant says that the site of the Priory was sold by Thomas Smyth about 1714 to a ship builder, Jacob Acworth. William Holman (1719), from whose manuscript work Morant drew material, wrote, “The manor of the priory of Blackmore lyes by the Church and be called Jericho most of it is pulled down & new built under the foundations … they dug up bones & found a coffin of lead about a yard away full of … bones. Jacob Ackworth of London Kgt a Shipwright bought the Estate of Mr Smith about 7 years ago” [ERO T/P 195/9 #20 f10]. Holman adds that Ackworth was “knighted at Portsmouth August 30 1722 by Kg George [IV]”. Down the years the house has had various names: Manor of the Priory of Blackmore (or Blakemore), Jericho Priory, Jericho and, Blackmore House. Architectural historian, Nikolaus Pevsner in the first edition of ‘Buildings of England – Essex’ (1954) referred to the building as Blackmore House. In the latest edition, updated by James Bettley (2007), it is referred to as Jericho Priory, giving it a date of c1715-20, perhaps a little later, and adding to Pevsner’s commentary, “On the garden front deep plaster coving fills the recess between the tower arches” [Bettley/Pevsner. p142]. Pevsner though thought the building akin to the mid-sixteenth rather than the early eighteenth century, giving Syon House near London and Ince Castle in Cornwall as examples. David Coller in ‘The People’s History of Essex’ (1861) adds that the house subsequently underwent “many changes, improvements and enlargements, to adapt it to modern requirements. Sir Jacob Ackworth, who purchased it, at the beginning of the last [eighteenth] century … made many additions to it; and in the course of the works a small lead coffin, about a yard in length, and filled with bones was exhumed. Other memorials of the past have occasionally been turned up on this spot; but, save for the church near, not a stone or other fragment of the Priory now remains. Even the foundations have gone. We recollect some forty years ago [c1821] observing a stone which appeared to have been taken from the old ruins, upon which an inscription was still half legible, used as a door-step for a house in the neighbourhood. The shrubberies and lawns of Blackmore House have long since extended, and flower-beds have been planted, and kitchen gardens flourish in luxuriance over the very spots where the friars feasted and monks prayed” [Coller. p221]. The stream that feeds the moat around Jericho House is nicknamed the Jordan. The proximity of the garden to the church appears to have been a problem. In 1817, the Archdeacon of Essex made a Visitation to inspect the church building. A catalogue of failure is recorded [ERO. D/AE/V36. Vol I. f95]: Remove the Earth and Rubbish from the Church and Chancel where necessary as much as may. The Tiling is getting very indifferent and must from time to time be repaired and at such times new Lathed. Weather boarding and shingling wants painting. Shingling wants repair. Underpinning of Tower wants repair. West end Wall of Tower wants a whole colour. Remove the Ivy from the South wall. Grub up the Fig and other Trees on South side and stop the Eaves. Same side window frames so[uth] side want repair and paint. Fruit Trees East End of Chancel must be taken down and the Wall repaired and well secured. NE Buttress wants repair and a Pipe placed to take off the Water. Remove the Gutters from eaves on South side unless the drain is properly attended and kept clean by Mr Preston. Solution of Vitriol. Vestry must be repaired with White Brick. Owing to the general bad state and conditions of the Church the Archdeacon did not make any Order but deferred doing so until he had considered the same more fully. The margin note states: The Chancel pavement of this Church as green as a Pasture Field and the Church the most cold wet and comfortless of any in the Archdeaconry there being only two loop hole windows on south. Earlier (1766), Revd Thomas Smith described Blackmore as “a small village con[sis]ts about 50 families”, having “about 80 houses” in 1790 and “about 100 families – about 500 souls” by 1810, with “three families of note, Mr Crickett, Mr Waller of Fingrith & Mr Fearths of Jericho House” [Guildhall Manuscripts ms9558. Diocesan Book 1766 – 1811]. White’s Directory (1848) states that W.T Longbourne, gent, occupied the Priory, and Kelly’s Directory (1856) confirms the name as William Thomas Longbourne. Coller says that in 1861, “the manor of Blackmore, and that of Fingrith … belong to James Parker Esq.” [Coller p222]. About this time Jericho came under the ownership of Edgar Disney. It formed part of a more substantial estate covering Copyhold Farm, High House, Hardings Common Farm on Paslow Common and Burgess. This was a total of 255 acres in Blackmore and 207 acres in High Ongar. The assignment of the lease of the Jericho Priory Farm estate in 1872 referred to the vendor’s obligation to leave “all hay, corn, and straw in ricks, bins or on the threshing floors” [ERO D/Dw T73]. In the north aisle of the church are two memorials recalling Edgar Disney:

Sacred to the memory of Edgar Disney of The Hyde Ingatestone Essex and of Jericho Blackmore Esquire Born 22nd December 1810 Died 8th December 1881 He that believeth in the Son hath everlasting life, he that believeth not the Son shall not see life St John chap iii, ver. xxxvi Also: This tablet is erected by the Rev W Callendar Vicar of Black more in grateful recognition of the kindly munificence of Edgar Disney Esq of the Hyde Ingate stone to whose generosity (independently of various donations from Parishioners and others) the successful restoration of the Church of St Lawrence is mainly due 1878 The churchyard was enlarged in 1885, through a gift of land by “Edgar John Disney of Jericho House … Lieutenant Colonel of the 3rd Battalion Essex Regiment” [HALS. DSA 1/15/3 f395]. Presumably this was the son of the above. E J Disney was churchwarden in 1885. Thomas Reed Hull was certainly living at Jericho in 1885. His family resided there for some while. He gave land for a churchyard extension in 1899 [ERO D/C/C50/2]. Thomas Reed Hull, of The Priory Blackmore, was buried on 4 February 1915. The final record appears in 1927 when James Henry Hull, again, gave land for a churchyard extension but reserving exclusive right of a portion, but it was never used [ERO D/C/C78/2]. He was the Vicar’s Warden in 1926. The Minutes of the Annual Parochial Church Meeting for 1940 record that, “Lady Reckitt also offered the gardens of Jericho Priory to augment in any way Church funds, either by way of a small charge for admission on Sunday evenings, or to hold a Sale of Work” [ERO A10631]. The house was used during the war for military purposes. On the social side, in the 1960s the Church held an annual Garden Fete and a Flower Festival. The Rose Garden at Jericho Priory was also used “by kind permission of Mr & Mrs E B Marriage”. The Marriage family were owners of Jericho Priory until the late 1970s. Andrew Smith Bibliography Bettley & Pevsner. The Buildings of England. Essex (2007) Coller. The People’s History of Essex (1861) Morant. The History and Antiquities of the County of Essex. Volume I (1768) Essex Record Office Guildhall Library Manuscripts Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies

Blackmore: Durrant's Handbook For Essex (1887)

The following is taken from ‘Durrant’s Handbook For Essex’ (Durrant & Co., Chelmsford, 1887).

Black’more. A. 2576; P. 571. Vicarage, value £83. 4 m. E. from Ongar, and 4½ N.W. From Ingatestone.

This once-important place is now a quiet village. Jericho House, adjoining the churchyard, though much altered and modernised, was once a secret resort of Henry VIII. Here, in June 1491*, was horn his natural son, Henry Fitzroy, afterwards Earl of Nottingham, Duke of Richmond and Somerset, &c., &c, who died in 1536. On the occasional disappearances of the king from court, it was the common saying among the courtiers that he had “gone to Jericho”, whence that still common phrase. The brook, which runs near the house, is still sometimes called the Jordan. Here, in the reign of Henry II., Sir John de Sandford founded a Priory for Augustine monks. It was always a small establishment, not a vestige of it now remains, except a portion of the Church (St Lawrence), now parochial. The W. end of the original church is still intact. It is of massive Norman work. The W. door is very bold, though plain; over it are two wide and round headed Norman windows, and above them again is a circular window. On to this the present edifice has been built. The curious pagoda-like tower contains 5 bells. It is of timber, like that at Margaretting, and is perhaps by the same skilful architect, as that church belonged to Blackmore Priory. The nave and chancel are of equal height and width; and, with their aisles, have one common roof. The building is of moderate size, but light, and of good proportions. It seems to be of the 14th cent. (Perp.). The first arch on each side next the W. end is a plain heavy Norman one. Over each is a splayed window, perhaps once part of a clerestory, but now looking into the aisles merely. Probably the massive Norman work at the W. end was preserved to serve as the foundation of a stone tower, which funds did not permit of, and a cheaper timber one was afterwards substituted. The aisle-arches on each side are similar, but the columns on the S. are octagonal, and those on the N. clustered, all having plainly moulded capitals. In the S. aisle are no windows**, probably because the cloisters originally abutted thereon. In the N. aisle are some 2-light windows with flat labels. The E. window is small, with Perp. (16th cent.) tracery. The roof is of oak, with painted human portraits, the arms of France and England, quarterly, and other shields. Parts of the aisles are divided off in a very unusual manner by transverse walls, forming chapels. In the chancel is a very ancient and well worn stone: “To the memory of the just Prior, Thomas de Veer.” There are many inscriptions to the Smyth family, including that to Thomas, who died in 1594, and with his wife reposes on a fine altar-tomb. The Register dates from 1602.

* Henry Fitzroy was born in 1519.
** In 1877, three windows were inserted in the south aisle, i.e. ten years before publication of this piece.

Essex: Book Review - Buildings of England

Those interested in local architectural history have keenly been anticipating the completely revised edition of Nikolaus Pevsner’s volume by James Bettley. Now available, at 939 pages, it is over twice the size of the previous edition despite the subsequent ‘disappearance’ of part of the county – Barking, Romford, West Ham etc – into London. It’s a colossal achievement, five years’ work, well written, and completely updated to reflect latest research, covering the New Towns and omitting the buildings that are no longer with us.

To see how accurate it is, I checked my local parish. It includes Pevsner’s famous line on the bell tower slightly amended: “Blackmore possesses one of the most impressive, if not the most impressive, of all English bell towers, built (according to tree-ring dating) in 1400” (p.141). The dedication of the church is properly stated (“St Laurence” not “St Lawrence) and Blackmore House, properly titled Jericho Priory which since 1954 “deserves detailed investigation” (p.89 previous edition) has now been accorded such an entry.

Inevitably there are some updates required to the work even on release: the Community Hospital at Brentwood (p.174) has recently been demolished; the north doorway of St Peter & St Paul, Stondon Massey (p.754) is no longer blocked but forms the entrance to a new toilet facility; the Harlow Study Centre closed a matter of just months ago at St Andrew’s Netteswellbury (p.460) with documents transferred to the town’s Museum. Such changes naturally reflect our changing use of buildings. Writing a volume such as this must be like painting the Forth Road Bridge, if you will excuse the analogy.

There are 123 lovely new colour pictures replacing the black and white ones of the 1954 edition. Unfortunately the inside of the Blackmore bell tower is omitted but locals are compensated by a drawing of the framework of Stondon’s belfry (p.26), being a representative example of the county’s craftsmanship. It’s not a cheap book (on Amazon, £23.99) but a wonderful reference and update to the original.

Andrew Smith