Kelly’s Directory 1912 (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 there in 1213; it is a widely scattered parish, on the London road, 3 miles south-west from Ongar station on the branch of the Great Eastern railway, 7 south-east from Epping; 7 from Brentwood, and 19 from London, in the Western division of the county, Ongar hundred, petty sessional division and union, Brentwood county court district, and in the Ongar rural deanery, 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 a brass also 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: the church has 300 sittings.

Parish Registers and Living

The register dates from the year 1538.

The living is a rectory, net yearly value £500, with 52 acres of glebe and residence, in the gift of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and held since 1901 by the Rev. John Ishmael Thomas B.A. of St. David’s College, Lampeter.

Here is a Congregational chapel, erected in 1829 with 150 sittings.

Ongar Union Workhouse and Charity

The Ongar union workhouse is in this parish.

A charity of £400 left by Mary Rayner in 1871 is invested in India 3 per Cents. and the interest is annually distributed in clothing to the poor of the parish.

Landowners, Agriculture and Population

The principal landowners are Lady Cunliffe Smith, of Suttons, Stapleford Tawney, who is lady of the manor, Major George Edward Capel Cure, of Ettington, Warw., 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 4,405 acres of land and 9 of water; rateable value, £5,216; the population in 1901 was 908, including 120 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 Judd.

Post Office: Mrs. Elizabeth Richardson, sub-postmistress. Letters from Ongar arrive at 6.55 & 11.25a.m.; dispatched at 10.5a.m. & 6p.m.; Sundays, arrive 6.55a.m.; dispatched 4.40p.m. Ongar is the nearest money order & telegraph office, 2½ miles distant.

Wall Letter Box, on the Drill house: cleared at 8.30a.m. and 6p.m., Sundays at 10.5a.m.

Ongar Union Workhouse

Chipping Ongar Union Workhouse, Rev. J. I. Thomas B.A., chaplain; Geoffrey Remington Wilson M.B., B.C., medical officer; John Underwood, master; Mrs. E.E. Underwood, matron.

Public Elementary School

Public Elementary School (mixed), built in 1850, for 220 children; average attendance, 140; George A. Howgate, master.

This school is under the control of the Essex Education (Ongar District) Advisory Sub-Committee, Arnold Richardson, Ongar, clerk.

Railway and Police

Railway Station, Blake Hall: Alfred Drage, station mast.

County Police: Charles Arnold, constable.

Stanford Rivers

Marked * letters through Romford.

• *Freeman Dudley, Manor house
• Holton Francis William Parke, Stanford house
• Johnstone Misses, Cesslands
• Thomas Rev. John Ishmael B.A. (rector), Rectory

Commercial

• Bingley Ranolph D. & Percival H farmers, Stanford Rivers hall
• Freeman John S. farmer & cattle dealer, Traceys, Lawns, Wayletts & Murrells farms (letters though Stapleford Tawney, Romford)
• *Green Chas. Wm. White Bear hotel
• Hollingsworth Herbt. S. shopkeeper
• *Johnstone William I. land steward to Sir Drummond Cunliffe Smith bart. Wayletts
• Moore Fras. Chas. Holly Tree laundry
• Mugleston Jsph. frmr. Littlebury hall
• Palmer Ellen (Mrs.), farmer, Bridge & Stewart’s farms
• *Rowe W. Fdk. beer retlr. & carpntr
• Seymour Arthur Edward, shopkeeper
• *Tucker Henry, farmer
• *Tyrell Robert Watkinson, blacksmith
• *Waltham Richd. frmr., Mitchell’s frm
• *White Ellen (Miss), frmr, Berwick frm
• *Wright Daniel, head keeper to Sir Cunliffe Smith

Toot Hill

• Edgar Thomas, Stewart’s farm
• Lockyer George Henry, Doe’s farm

Commercial

• Campbell John M. farmer, Wheats fm
• Crouch James, farmer, Freeman’s frm
• Garrett Frank H. boot maker
• Kerr James, farmer, Ongar Park hall
• Millbank Charles Alfred, farmer, Burrows & Clark’s farms
• Millbank Harry, farmer, Weald’s & Coleman’s farms
• Millbank William Appleby, farmer, Widow’s farm
• Mitchell William, farmer, Manor frm
• Owers Emma (Mrs.), Green Man P.H.
• Pledge George, farmer, Blake’s farm
• Sawkins George, grocer & baker
• Welsh Frederick Joseph, beer retailer