Kelly’s Directory 1890 (Part 2): Stanford Rivers

Stanford Rivers

STANFORD RIVERS is supposed to have derived from its name from a stony ford through the River Roding; the addition, “Rivers,” being derived from the family of that name who resided here in 1213: it is a widely-scattered parish, situated on the London road, 19 miles from London, 3 south-west from Ongar station and 7 south-east from Epping, in the Western division of the county, Ongar hundred, petty sessional division and union, Brentwood county court district, rural deanery of Lambourne, archdeaconry of Essex, and diocese of St. Albans.

St. Margaret’s Church

The church of St. Margaret id a plain building of stone, chiefly in the Norman style, consisting of chancel, nave, and a western tower of wood, with spire, and containing 2 bells.

In the south wall of the nave is a brass, with kneeling figure of a lady and six children and an inscription to “Anne Napper, late the wife of William Napper, gent. and daughter of William Shelton esq. ob. 1584”.

In the chancel is another brass, to “Catherine Mvlcaster, wife of Charles Mvlcaster”, to whom she was married 50 years, ob. 1609.

There is also a brass with the effigy to Thomas Greville, infant, ob. 1492, another to Thomas Barrow esq. ob. 1503; and figures of a man in armour and his wife, c. 1540.

The Petres were formerly large proprietors here, and there are many flat stones in the chancel inscribed to members of this family.

Several members of the Stuart family, Earls and Marquises of Bute, were buried here, but with the exception of two they have been removed to Roath in Glamorganshire.

Parish Registers and Living

The register dates from the year 1538.

The living is a rectory, net yearly value £560, with residence, in the gift of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and held since 1868 by the Rev. Robert Rolleston B.A. of University College, Oxford.

Here is a Congregational chapel.

Ongar Union Workhouse and Charity

The workhouse for Ongar union is situated here.

There is a charity of £400 left by Mary Rayner in 1871 to be invested in India 5 per Cents. and the interest is annually distributed to the poor of the parish in clothing.

Landowners, Agriculture and Population

The principal landowners are Sir C. C. Smith bart. K.C.M.G. M.A. Government House, Singapore, who is lord, Capt. George Edward Capel Cure, of 20 Eaton square, London S.W. and Thomas Wilson esq.

The soil is clay or heavy loam; subsoil, clay, gravel or sand. The chief crops are wheat, barley, beans &c.

The area is 4,402 acres of land and 12 of water; rateable value, £5,649; the population in 1881 was 975, including 135 officers and inmates in Ongar workhouse.

LITTLEBURY is 1 mile east from the church. TOOT HILL is 2 miles north-west.

Parish and Postal Services

Parish Clerk: James Woolmore.

Post Office: Mrs. Elizabeth Richardson, postmistress. Letters from Romford arrive at 8a.m.; delivered at 8.15a.m.; dispatched at 5.55p.m. Passingham Bridge (sic) is the nearest money order office, & Chipping Ongar the nearest telegraph office.

Post Office, Toot Hill: Frank Herbert Garrett, sub-postmaster. Letters arrive from Ongar at 7.15a.m.; dispatched at 5.30p.m. The nearest money & telegraph office is at Chipping Ongar.

Wall Letter Box, Toot Hill: cleared at 5.45p.m., sundays at 10 a.m.

Ongar Union Workhouse

Chipping Ongar Union Workhouse, Rev. Charles Albert Barnes, chaplain; Matthew Henry Gratton L.K.Q.C.P.trel, medical officer; Robert William Low, master; Mrs. Ellen Low, matron.

National School

National School (mixed), built in 1850, for 120 children; average attendance, 100; Henry Newmarsh, master; Mrs. Jane Newmarsh, mistress.

Residents

• Barnes Rev. Charles Albert (chaplain to the Ongar Union), Stanford house
• Barnett, Col. Charles, St. John
• Duff Thomas W., Traceys
• Palmer Mrs., Stanford house
• Rolleston Rev. Robert B.A., Rectory

Commercial

• Berry William, shopkeeper
• Brown Joseph, blacksmith
• Christy David, frmr, Stanford Rivers hall
• Duncan Margaret (Miss), farmer, Berwick farm
• Edwards Sarah (Mrs.), shopkeeper
• Freeman & Palmer, farmers, Toot Hill
• Freeman John, cattle dealer & farmer, Murrell’s farm
• Freeman John S. jun. farmer & cattle dealer, The Lawns & Traceys
• Hutchins William, hay carter
• Lane George, shopkeeper
• Lawrence Saml. farmer, Freeman’s frm
• McConnell Jas. farmer, Ongar Park hall
• Millbank Charles Alfred, farmer, Burrows & Clark’s farms, Toot Hill
• Millbank William Appleby, Widows farm, Toot Hill
• Mugleston Robt. B. farmer, Littlebury
• Mugleston William Henry, agent
• Murton Frederic, beer retailer
• Owers John, Green Man P.H. & baker, Toot Hill
• Palmer James, farmer, Bridge farm
• Piggott Mary Ann (Mrs.), beer retailer, Toot Hill
• Read William, shoe maker, Toot Hill
• Smith Peter, farmer, Steers & Does
• Staines Stephen, wheelwright, Toot Hill
• Surridge Dl. miller (wind), Toot Hill mill
• Surridge Hannah (Mrs.), farmer, Toot Hill
• Tanner Frederick, White Bear P.H
• Tucker James, Hay carter
• Waltham Richd, farmer, Mitchells farm
• Wilson William, shopkeeper