The Essex Review: An Illustrated Quarterly Record Of Everything Of Permanent Interest In The County

The Essex Review ran for 258 issues, 66 volumes, from 1892 to 1957. The Essex Society for Archaeology and History, of which the High Country History Group is a member, has decided to publish as many issues of ‘The Essex Review’ as it can online for the first time. Also to be published online will be the original indexes, the text of which can be found from Internet search engines.

There are three general indices to the Essex Review as follows:

1. Vol. 1 (1892) to the end of Vol. XXXVI (1927), edited and published by Benham in 1930 – original copies are very scarce, but there was one in the Local Studies Section of Colchester Central Library.

2. Vol. XXXVII (1928) to Vol. LXI (1952) – compiled by Kenneth Walker and published by Benham in 1953.

3. Vol. LXII (1953) to Vol. LXVI (1957) – compiled by Kenneth Walker and printed in April 1967.

These indexes are very rare, but the key to locating items in the thousands of pages of ‘The Essex Review’. In sorting copies for digitisation I came across an advertisement regarding the pending publication of the ‘New General Index 1928-1950’. In June 1950 it was indicated that work would proceed subject to there being sufficient subscribers. The cost of each copy would be ten guineas (£10.50).

The project, which Andrew Smith as Honorary Archivist of the Society is leading, involves the sending of old books to a firm for digitisation. Subscribing members of the Society will receive copies of the files for download immediately as they become available. In due course the files will be uploaded onto the Society’s website: www.esah1852.org.uk

This is a major release of books owned by the Society.

Digitisation also provides an opportunity to reproduce articles relating to the four parishes covered by the Group: Greensted, Stanford Rivers, Stapleford Tawney, Theydon Mount.

Starting this quarter is a new series: ‘References to our High Country parishes in past Essex journals’.

References to our High Country parishes in past Essex journals -
Greensted, Stanford Rivers, Stapleford Tawney, Theydon Mount

The Essex Review Indexes, 1930, 1953, 1967.

GREENSTED (near Ongar): church, i. 64; church restoration, 139; 189; church, 191; 230; ii. 250; registers, 267; old stained glass note, G F Barlow, iii. 135; Drawings by Wykeham Chancellor, ib; vi. 115; Rev. F Rose, vicar, vii. 138; wooden church, viii. 40; registers, 203; xii. 47; xiii. 158; xvi. 6; church, xviii, 7-9; testamentary directions, re. Greensted Hall, xix. 102-3; stained glass from church, xxii. 45; Greensted Church by A V Phillips, xxii. 141-2; King Edmund the Martyr, 142; timber-work of church, xxxv. 26, 27; timber church, xxxviii, 166; xlvi, 153; The Picture of St. Edmund at Greenstead Church, by Sir W G Benham, xlvii, 78-82; St Edmund, 79; Church, 80; 167-8; early clergy, l. 239; li. 60, 213; lii. 43; lx. 4, 25; church, lxii, (245)15; (246)11; church, 38; lxiii. 218.

STANFORD RIVERS: i. 68; Chrysom Child brass, 1492, vii. 46; Grevile Arms (brass), 47; Issac Taylor at, 105, 107, 112; registers, x. 38; 93; xi. 103; xiii. 60, 158; Livingstone at Independent Chapel, xxii. 90; Bell-house, xxvii. 46; Toot Hill windmill, xxxvi. 99; parish registers, xxxvii. 8; xxxviii. 41; Churchwardens’ Accounts, by H Smith, xli. 198-9; xliii. 136; scratch-dial, xliv. 135; surplice, xlv, 89; 99; Church history reviewed, xlvi. 128; 153; xlvii. 10, 80, 135, 136, 137, 188-9; xlviii, 90, 192; Issac Taylor, xlix. 151; li. 107, 108; lii. 44; early clergy, liii. 97-8; 116; liv. 123; lv. 99, 167; lvi. 51, 80, 101; lvii. 66, 171; church, lxii. (245)16; 48; church, (246)40; (248)19n; vagrants certificate, 20; lxiv. 183; (258)67.

STAPLEFORD TAWNEY: ii. 267; registers, x. 39; bell broken, xv. 46; Overseer’s Book of, xx. 49; notes on Overseer’s Book 1723-1823, by C B Sworder, 111; xlvi. 27, 153; xlvii. 12; li. 107, 198, 217; liii. 29, 63; early clergy, 99; liv. 123, 165; lv. 96; lvi. 87; church, lxii. (245)16; Scott family, 44-51, (246)47, 48, 50, 51, 53, (247)38, (248)40; church, (246)40; (258)67.

THEYDON MOUNT: “Its Lords, rectors, registers, etc.,” by Howard Burke and Rev L N Prance, i. 120; ii. 250, 267; v. 155; Hill Hall, vi. 192; registers, x. 41; visitation, 1611, xv. 46; church robbed, 47; church marks (terrier, 1621), xxxiii, 165; Queen Mary visits Hill Hall, 1926, xxxv. 224; brick church, xxxviii. 170-1; xlvi. 153; xlviii. 93; li. 217; early clergy, liv. 35-6, lx. 25; Hill Hall Clock, 182; lxi. 72, church, lxii. (245)16; Hill Hall, 28; 48; church, (246)40; lxiv. 207.

Greensted

The Essex Review Volume 1. 1892.

Church Restoration

GREENSTED, ONGAR.- The fir roof of this ancient and highly interesting church, which was constructed about fifty years ago, was recently found to be in a very serious state of decay in consequence of the defective mode of tiling. A subscription, was liberally started by William Hewitt, Esq., one of the churchwardens, who is now residing at the Hall, and a new oak roof has just been completed. As there was no trace or remains of any former roof, and as there was no record or drawing in existence, and as the presumption was that the architect of the former restoration adhered, certainly in the main, to the old construction, the architect of the new work considered it better to adhere strictly to this construction rather than introduce any new features. At the former restoration a brick buttress had been built against the timber work of the north wall; it was found upon examination that it had settled away, and was not in any way assisting in the maintenance of the fabric. This has been removed, and the whole of the north wall, composed of half oak trees placed upright against each other, is now seen in its entirety.

The Essex Review Volume 1. 1892.

High Sheriffs of Essex

1889: Sir William Bowyer – Smijth, Bart., of Hill Hall, Theydon Mount.

Stanford Rivers

The Essex Review Volume 2. 1893

Obituaries

Josiah Gilbert, the artist and author, died at his residence at Marden Ash, Ongar, on August 15th. Here he had resided for many years, and was well-known and highly respected; in his Memorials of Afrs. Gilbert, formerly Ann Taylor, his mother, we read, “ but, perhaps, the removal of her eldest son from London to the country was even more interesting to her, for it was to Ongar that he came. Near the 1 three-wants-way,’ where visitors for the old Peaked Farm used to leave the coach, and which, marked by an ash tree in the middle, was named Marden Ash, stood a house well bowered in trees. There he made his home, and it became a favourite haunt of hers for many years. Nor was the cause of the removal less interesting to her, since it was the association of her son with her brother Isaac, in the artistic management of his remarkable invention for applying mechanism to the delicate and complex processes of line-engraving.” An important link with the Taylors of Ongar is now snapped. Mr. Gilbert’s grandfather, the Rev. Isaac Taylor, was pastor of the Congregational Church at Ongar for over seventeen years; his uncle, the famous Isaac Taylor, lived at Stanford Rivers, near Ongar, for many years. It was in the little chapel there that David Livingstone tried to preach his first sermon - in vain; and the Children's Hymns, and the poems of his aunt and mother, Jane and Ann Taylor, have delighted many. Josiah Gilbert was senior deacon and chief supporter of the Congregational Church at Ongar for considerably over thirty years; he was a liberal supporter of many other local institutions, and will be much missed in that neighbourhood. One year he was chairman of the Essex Congregational Union. He was joint author of The Dolomite Mountains, and later of Cadore, or Titian’s Country. More recently he wrote his History of Landscape Painting. When he died he had reached the ripe age of seventy-eight; his remains were removed to his native Nottingham for burial, the Rev. T. Chisholm, late pastor of the Ongar Chapel, officiating.

Greensted

The Essex Review Volume 4. 1895.

Notes and Queries
The London and Bury St. Edmund’s Road - Riding to the meet nearly twenty years ago, at or near Dunmow, an old friend of my father’s, long since dead, told me that the original road from London to Bury ran through Ongar and Dunmow. What evidence is there of this beyond the fact of St. Edmund’s body having rested one night at Greensted and one at Stapleford Abbots ? I admit this is pretty strong for that period, before the Conquest, and I know the road from about High Roothing Street to well above Dunmow is in parts at all events known as Suffolk Way. When, therefore, did this road give way to that through Chelmsford and Braintree ? That it did many years ago is evident from the following. In Moll’s British Atlas (1753) the road is shown in the Essex map through Ongar, High Roothing, Dunmow, Thaxted, and up to Clare, and also the road through “Braintry” and Halstead. When I turn up, however, the map of Suffolk I find no road whatever from Clare to Bury, only one from Sudbury to Bury. Then several road books (Ogilvy, 1804, Paterson, 1785 and 1822, and Cary, 1802), give the road between Ongar and Dunmow as Moreton, Matching Green, and Hatfield; while Owen (1796 and 1827) adds: “There is another road to Dunmow through the ridings four or five miles nearer, but being a bye-road is very bad.” When did this Suffolk Way give place to the road through Braintree? and when did this “ bye-road ” through the ridings ” give place to one through Hatfield ? The “bye-road” appears to have been the one in use in Moll’s time between Ongar and Dunmow, but even then was not the main road to Bury.

C. H. F. CHRISTIE, Ongar.

Theydon Mount

The Essex Review Volume 5. 1896.

Folk-Lore in Essex and Herts. (Extract)

I find in Morant's Essex that at Great Yeldham a house near the church was anciently appropriated and used for dressing a dinner for poor folk when married, and had all utensil s and furniture convenient for that purpose; this house has since been converted into a school. At Matching, near Harlow, a house close to the churchyard was designed for the entertainment of poor folk on their wedding-day; it seems to be very ancient, but ruinous. At Therfield, as at Braughing, there was till lately a set of kitchen furniture lent to the poor at weddings. Mr. Glasscock tells us that a "Church House" existed at Stortford, probably used in a similar manner. In The famous history of Sir Billy of Billericay, published in or about 1687, I found an account of such a wedding festivity of that date.

“Now in most parts of Essex (where this wedding was kept) it is a common custom when poor people marry to make a kind of dog hanging, or money gathering, which they call a wedding dinner; to which they invite tag and rag, all that will come ; where after dinner, upon the summons of the tiddler, who setteth forth his voice like a town crier, a table being set forth, and the bride set simpering at the upper end of it; the bridegroom standing by within a white sheet overthrown his shoulders, as if he did penance for the folly he had committed that day whilst the people invited to it, like the soldiers of a country train band, march up to the bride, present their money and wheel about. After this offering is over, there is a pair of gloves laid on the table, most monstrously bedecked about with ribbons, which by way of auction is set to sale, at who gives most, and he whose lot it is for to have them, shall withal have a kiss of the bride.”

Such a pair of gloves, bedaubed with ribbon, hang from the ceiling of the church at Theydon Mount.

U. B. CHISENHALE-MARSH.

The Essex Review Volume 8. 1899.

Obituary. Colonel Samuel Ruggles-Brice. (Extract)

On May 4th, 1847, Mr. Samuel Ruggles-Brise married Marianne Weyland, fourth and youngest daughter of Sir Edward Bowyer-Smyth, of Hill Hall, Theydon Mount, who survives him, with their family of eleven sons and daughters. The eldest son, Mr. A. W. Ruggles-Brise, who has lately resided with his parents at Spains Hall [Finchingfield], and as ‘ the young squire ’ has become very popular among his tenants and neighbours, in whose welfare he takes a practical and personal interest, is well-known throughout the county in connection with church and political matters. Mr. Evelyn Ruggles-Brise, C.B., the second son, is chairman of Her Majesty’s Prison Commissioners. The hearty and joyous golden wedding celebration of the late Colonel and his esteemed wife are still within the memory of many.

[Footnote: TV chef Jamie Oliver recently purchased Spains Hall following the death of member of the Ruggles-Brice family]

Stapleford Tawney

The Essex Review Volume 15, 1906

Some Ancient Charities

Jane Luther bequeathed a sum of 5s. annually, to be paid to the clerk of the parish, for weeding the gravel path from the high road to the church-porch at Stapleford Tawney

William Chapman Waller

Theydon Mount

The Essex Review Volume 15. 1906.

Visitation 1611. (Extract)

gard. lbm.: that they want a strong cheste or box for the almes for the poore.
George Mott warden. For deteyning a chest in his custody belonging to the church alleged that the chest was broken open when their church was robde, and that it was cast broken into a field.

[Additional note: 1611 was a bad year for Theydon Mount Church – it burnt down.]

Stapleford Tawney

The Essex Review Volume 20, 1911

Notes and Queries

Stapleford Tawney. - Notes on the Overseers’ Book of Accounts for the years 1723-1823. In the year 1723, Edward Luther was Rector of this Parish and signed the book at the Vestry as such. E. Smyth, of Hill Hall, also signed. At this vestry meeting a document was drawn up and signed by those present. This stated that whereas Thomas Luther, late of Suttons in the parish of Stapleford Tany (sic) in the County of Essex, Esqre., deceased, did in and by his last will and testament in writing, duly executed, bearing date the thirtieth day of July, one thousand seven hundred and eighteen, give and devise the sum of five pounds per annum to the poor of the parish of Stapleford Tany . for ever and charged several lands ... in the said parish with the payment thereof. Now know ye that we, the Churchwardens, etc., in vestry assembled ... on Monday the eleventh day of April, one thousand seven hundred and twenty-six. In consideration that Jane Luther, of Suttons aforesaid, widow, the mother of the said Thomas Luther, deceased, having promised to give four pounds per annum towards the school to be sett up in the said parish of Stapleford Tany, for the instructing the poor children of the said parish ... Doe hereby agree and consent as much as in us lyes that the ffive pounds per annum so devised unto the poor of Stapleford Tanj aforesaid, in and by the said Thomas Luther, be applyed and paid annually for ever hereafter to some honest schoolmaster or mistress that shall hereafter reside in the said parish of Stapleford Tany, and instruct the children of such poor persons that are or hereafter shall be, chargeable or likely to become chargeable to the parish aforesaid, in Reading, writing and Accounts, and also in learning them the Church Catechism and bringing them up in the Religion of the Church of England, which said schoolmaster or mistress after the death of the said Jane Luther, to be chosen by the proprietors of the several mansion houses hereinafter named : that is to say the proprietors of the mansion houses called Suttons, Miles, Tany Hall and Bells ; and the Rector of the said parish for the time being, etc.
Signed E. Smyth Mary Haddon
Wm. Nicholson Charles Haddon.
P Parkes Rector Hen. Mott Junr.
his
David X Trevice. mark.

Charles B Sworder. Epping

Greensted

Transactions of the Essex Archaeological Society Volume 18. 1927

Appointment to Essex Benefices of Commissioners to the Great Seal, 1649-1654 (Extract)

ADD. MS. 36792 at the British Museum contains a list of appointments to benefices and ecclesiastical preferments throughout the country by the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal of England (Bulstrode Whitelocke, esquire, Serjeant-at-Law; Richard Keeble, esquire, Serjeant-at-Law; and John Lisle, esquire) from October, 1649, to March, 1653-4. This is especially important, as other records fail just for this period. Bishops' Certificates and entries in the Lords' Journals break off at the end of January, 1649; the certificates of the Triers do not begin till April, 1654.

It is regularly stated how the benefice is void, by whom the minister is recommended (by parishioners, or by members of Parliament, sometimes named, e.g. Sir Henry Mildmay or Sir William Masham; or by various divines, sometimes named), and by what right the Commissioners appoint. …

In a number of cases the minister appointed had been already for some years in the sequestration, but was now legally appointed to the benefice on the death (or cession) of the sequestered minister. This was the case at Aldham, Little Burstead, Danbury, Hadstock, Purleigh; also Debden. … The entry suggests a similar case at Chadwell, where, however, there seems no other evidence for a sequestration. There was clearly some mistake about Witham, as the sequestered vicar, Francis Wright, survived the Restoration. I have noted a few cases of past or future Essex incumbents:

ST. ALPHAGE, LONDON. 15 December, 1650. Andrew Harward, B.D. Formerly of Greensted by Ongar. The records of the Plundered Ministers Committee show that he also held Tring, in Hertfordshire; was turned out from there by the Earl of Manchester, but allowed to keep Greensted; articles against him there were finally dismissed on the ground they were only the old charges. He, however, resigned Greensted in 1646 ; in 1647, parishioners of Tring petitioned for his restoration there, alleging that the Earl of Manchester bad allowed him his choice of the two parishes, and he had now resigned the other. (Add. MS. 15,669, 161, etc ; 15,670, 15, 89, 143 ; 15,671, 168, 7 July, 1647)

Revd. H. H. Smith

Transactions of the Essex Archaeological Society Volume 18. 1927

Winter Meeting at Colchester

By kind permission of the Mayor (Councillor C. C. Smallwood), an evening meeting was held at the Town Hall, Colchester, on Wednesday, 26 January, when Mr. Wykeham Chancellor, M.A., F.R.I.B.A., gave a lantern lecture on "Some Essex Churches" to an appreciative audience. The churches of St. Peter-on -the-Wall, at Bradwell-on-Sea, Greensted-by-Ongar, and Langford, were among those dealt with; reference was also made to the six Essex churches with round towers, Mr. Chancellor expressing an opinion that these towers were generally earlier than the dates assigned to them by the Hist. Monuments Commission. A cordial vote of thanks was accorded the lecturer on the motion of Mr. Duncan Clark, A.R.I.B.A., seconded by Mr. A. W. Frost.

At the close, the Mayor apologised for his unavoidably late arrival, which had prevented him from taking the chair as he had hoped to do; and in a few well -chosen words of welcome alluded to the close connection there had always been between the Society and Colchester, its birth-place, the Museum being a further bond of union between them. The Hon. Secretary then thanked the Mayor for his support, and for the use of the-Grand Jury Room; thanks were also rendered to Mr. Vernon Marshall for helping with the lantern. Fourteen new members were elected.

Greensted and Theydon Mount

Transactions of the Essex Archaeological Society Volume 19. 1927

Quarterly Meeting and Excursion. Thursday, 7 July 1927. Writtle, Greensted and Theydon Mount

Although rain fell heavily early in the afternoon, a fair amount of sunshine favoured this excursion, which was attended by upwards of 250 members and friends.

Motor-coaches left Chelmsford Station at 11a.m., and proceeded to Writtle church where the party was welcomed by the Vicar, Rev. J. H. Upton. The building, which is spacious and dignified, dates from about 1230, but very little work of this period remains, and its later architectural history is somewhat involved.

Greensted church was next visited. This primitive little sanctuary is the sole surviving example in this country of a preconquest timber church of a type which must have been common at the period. 'There is every probability' according to the Hist. Mon. Commission, that the nave 'is the chapel built in 1013 to receive the remains of St. Edmund on their journey from London to Suffolk, and though drastically restored, this almost unique survival of a building of split oak logs of so early a date must always render it a structure of extreme interest.' With a population of only 86, the burden of upkeep falls heavily on so small a parish, and under the present rector, the Rev. R. W. Doyle, visitors are asked to pay a fee of 6d. per head. As the Hon. Secretary objected on principle to a fixed charge, he was kindly allowed to invite members to contribute a voluntary offering instead. Over 5l. 10s. was raised in this way, and the rector has since written to express his warm thanks 'for this very kind and generous contribution towards the upkeep and repair of the church.'

Luncheon was afterwards partaken of in the grounds of the adjoining Hall, by kind permission of Mr. and Mrs. Howel Price, who, although away from home, had made detailed arrangements for the reception of their visitors. At a subsequent meeting 21 new members were elected ; the Hon. Secretary also spoke at some length about the rules regulating Excursions, and emphasised the fact that owing to the continued growth of the Society it would be absolutely necessary in the future for all such Rules to be strictly
adhered to (see p. 69) .

A hearty vote of thanks having been accorded Mr. and Mrs. Price, the party left for Theydon Mount church, which stands, embowered in trees, within the park of Hill Hall. This church is said to have been struck by lightning in 1611, and was completely rebuilt by Sir William Smyth between the years 1611 and 1614. It is an 'unusually complete example of the period, with mixed Gothic and Classic detail,' and contains a remarkable series of alabaster monuments, with effigies, to the Smyth family. The earliest of these tombs commemorates Sir Thomas Smyth, 1577, who was Secretary of State to Edward VI. and Queen Elizabeth, four times Ambassador to the Court of France, Chancellor of the Garter, Provost of Eton, etc., etc. He was born at Saffron Walden. On the north side of the nave, immediately in front of the combined pulpit and reading desk, is a pew, with 'Parish Officers' Pew' inscribed on the door; at the N. W. and S.W. angles are brass standards surmounted by a mitre and a crown respectively. It presumably dates from 1837, when the church was repaired, and a west gallery (now removed) erected for the use of the Hill Hall servants and musicians.

Hanging from the nave roof are two eighteenth century maidens' garlands, fragile relics of an old-time custom:

To her sweet memory flow'ry garlands strung
On her now empty seat aloft were hung .-GAY.

An account of these garlands, or crowns, one of which has a glove, or gloves, hanging inside, will be found in The Essex Naturalist, vol. vi ., pp. 99 and 105.

On leaving, members made their way to Hill Hall, where they were received by Sir Robert A. Hudson, G.B.E., and Lady Hudson, G.B.E., and, after listening to a description of the building, entertained to tea in a marquee erected on the lawn . This house is beautifully situated, in one of the most picturesque parts of the county, and, to quote our early historian Holman, has 'a very fair and delightful prospect all ways.' Parties were subsequently conducted over the ground floor by the host and hostess .

Hill Hall is said to have been built by Sir Thomas Smyth, who died in 1577, and the main quadrangle was probably set out at this period. Additions were made in the seventeenth century, and early in the eighteenth century the east front was rebuilt and the upper part of the north front remodelled. In the great hall there is an original fireplace of brick, and on it are painted the quartered arms of Srnyth and Charnock - the latter arms referring to Sir Thomas' mother, Agnes Charnock; these quarterings are repeated, and in one instance they impale those of Wilford, Sir Thomas having married as his second wife Philippa, daughter of John Wilford, and widow of Sir John Hampden, with whom he acquired Hill Hall. In the pediment is a bust thought to be of Sir Thomas Smyth, a contemporary portrait of whom, said to be by Holbein, hangs on the opposite wall; another portrait, attributed to Titian, is to be seen in the library. The eighteenth century Chinese wallpapers, with their soft colourings, are also an attractive feature, though, with one or two exceptions, they did not originally belong to the house, but were collected and introduced some years ago by Mrs. Charles Hunter. A set of three tapestries now hanging in the music room and in the great hall, and which were only purchased a week or so prior to the Society's visit, are also noteworthy. They were woven in Brussels, circa 1680, by H. Reydams, and all bear his signature and the Brussels mark. For a very long time they were at Coombe Abbey, Warwickshire, the property of Lord Craven's family. It is remarkable that this house should have remained in possession of the descendants of Sir Thomas Smyth's brother until 1925, when it was purchased by Sir Robert Hudson Lieut.-Col. Sir Alfred John Bowyer-Smyth, the 13th baronet, only died recently (4 August). An earlier member of the family is referred to in the Domestic State Papers of 1624, in a 'letter to Lord Denny, Sir Fras. Barrington, and Sir Thos. Fanshaw, requiring them to examine Sir Wm. Smithe, jun., and others, touching a riotous assembly of armed men, held near the house of his father, Sir Wm. Smithe, of Hill Hall, Essex, either to destroy the King's game, or execute some other unlawful action; the offenders are to be bound over to appear when the King directs.'

Illustrated articles on Hill Hall, by Mr. H. Avray Tipping, appeared in Country Life, 5, 12, and 19 May, 1917, but this house, with its memories of a notable statesman and scholar, and one, moreover, who is among the greatest of our Essex worthies, deserves a separate monograph.

Canon Galpin was able to throw light on the history of the bell which stands in an oak frame on the western lawn, where it was placed to serve as a fire-bell. It was formerly the clock-bell of Hatfield Broad Oak church, and was purchased by the late Mr. Charles Hunter about 25 years ago. It is scheduled in Church Bells of Essex under Hatfield, and bears the following inscription :

'PATRICK & OSBORN OF LONDON FOUNDERS 1783.'

Although Sir Robert Hudson· was convalescing after a serious illness, both he and Lady Hudson did not spare themselves to make the visit a delight, and on the motion of the President a hearty vote of thanks was accorded them for their kindly welcome and
hospitality.

It should be added that all the buildings visited were described by that constant friend of the Society, Mr. Wykeham Chancellor, F.R.l.B.A.

The following note has been contributed by the Rev. J. F. Williams, M.A.:

SlR THOMAS SMITH AT CAMBRIDGE.
It was as one of the leaders of the revival of learning at Cambridge University that Sir Thomas Smith first came to the front. He was a Fellow of Queens' College from 1530 to 1547; was chosen Public Orator to the University in 1538; and appointed the first Regius Professor of Civil Law in 1540. He removed from Cambridge in 1547 on becoming Provost of Eton College, and Dean of Carlisle, but left behind him a great reputation. "His oratory and learning intermixed," says Strype, quoting from contemporary sources, "was so admirable and beyond the common strain, that Queens' College carried away the glory for eloquence from all the colleges besides, and was rendered so famous by this her scholar, that it had like to have changed her name from Queens' to Smith's College."

Towards the end of his life, on 2 December, 1573, he made over to his old college a rent-charge of 12l. 7s. 4d. from the manor of Overston , Northants ., for the purpose of founding two readerships and two scholarships in arithmetic and geometry. The original deed of gift is still preserved in the college treasury, and some of the conditions laid down by him are interesting and worth quoting.

lt is his intention '"dailie within the said colledge during the ordynarie tearmes … to have lectures red: one lecture to be red openly of the science of Arithmetique , first the vulgare and, that ended , the more exquisyte now comonly called Algebra; the which, once red thorough, to begin againe at the comen Arithmetique, and from thence to Algebra, and so to returne allwaies, to thentent that all that will make profession of the arte:; liberall , and especially the scholers of the said colledge, shuld be experte in that science which maie trulie be called the founchtcon and begynning of all Philosophie and humain science."

The reader in arithmetic is to have 3l. per annum. ln addition 4l. per annum is to be set aside for '"one reader of the elements of Geometrie of Euclide, which is the next gate of all Philosophie, without which no man can understand eyther Aristotle or Plato, as maie well appeare to him that shall reade eyther of thos authors or both. The said Lecture of Geometrie to be likewise red openly at such lyke usuall termes and tymes ech daie within the said colledge. The which two lectures are not to be red of the reader as of a Preacher out of a pulpit, but per radium et eruditum pulverum as it is said, that ys with a pen on paper or tables, or a sticke or compasse in sand or dust, to make demonstracon, that his scholers maie both understand the reader, and also do yt themselves and so profytt."

It is further covenanted that no scholars shall proceed B.A. "before that they be well expert in the partes of Arithmetique, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and extraction of rootes, as well of whole numbers as of fractions"; and no one is to proceed M. A. " before he haith red and do understand the first six bookes of Euclyde."

As the two scholars were to have a yearly stipend of 2l. 3s. 8d. each, 11l. 7s . 4d of the benefaction was thus accounted for, leaving a balance of 1l. This was “to be emploied at one or two daies in the yeare to amend the cheare of the fellowes and scholers, in such one daie or two as it shall please them, at the assignacon of the presydent or his vicegerent," and to this day on 2 December (the date of the agreement) “Tom Smith's Feast" is duly held in the college hall.

By his will dated 18 February, 1576-7, Sir Thomas Smith bequeathed to Queens' College his Latin and Greek books, together with a great globe of his own making. In connection with this bequest the following items occur in the college account books under date September, 1577:

Given to Vaughan for his charges going to Hill-hall on the colledg business … iiijs vd
To Mr. Smythe and to Sir Smythe for ther charges going to Hill-hall fetching home of the colledg books … xixs vjd
For the carter's dinner which brought home the colledg bookes … xijd

Greensted

Essex Archaeological News (Essex Archaeological Society)
No. 49. Winter 1974.

Essex Book List (extract)

Britain before the Norman Conquest 871 to 1066AD. Ordnance Survey Map (two sheets) and text. This completes the coverage of the first thousand years of British history in the Christian era. Greensted is stated to be the only one among all the 400 odd churches existing today which show greater of lesser evidence of pre-Conquest construction, which shows any surviving wooden structure above ground. A strong red line emphasises the Thames Lea boundary of the Danelaw. Of comparatively few Essex places mapped there are Shoebury and Benfleet, two out of the only thirteen Danish campaign forts known; Colchester, Harwich, Thaxted and West Bergholt – findspots of Scandinavian objects; and Witham and Maldon, two out of only eleven forts built by Edward the Elder.

Margaret Jones

Essex Archaeology and History Volume 10. 1978.
Excavation of Belgic and Romano-British farm with Middle Saxon cemetery and churches at Nazeingbury, Essex. 1975-76 (short extract)

… at Greensted, Essex, the staves are stout halved tree trunks set in a continuous line and mortised into a sill beam set on or into the ground (Smart Lethieullier described this arrangement and had elevations drawn in 1748; VCH, Essex, IV, 61) thus the staves themselves, through a wall plate, would take the roofload. The church at Greensted was possibly built c. 1013 (RCHM, 11, 112) although the church leaflet recently on sale gives a dendrochronological date of AD 845.

P J Huggins

Essex Archaeological News (Essex Archaeological Society)
No. 86. Spring 1984.

News Item

The booklet section of the 1983 Church Guide Competition run by the British Association for Local History has been won by Greensted-juxta-Ongar church, out of a total of 753 entries for the booklet and leaflet sections combined. The church members who show visitors round the church wrote the booklet; and received their prize of £125 from the Archbishop of Canterbury in October.

Stanford Rivers

Newsletter of the Essex Society for Archaeology and History
No. 138. Summer 2002.

Sexual Discrimination and the 1638 Visitation

It is clear that the ecclesiastical visitation, made to each church in the archdeaconry of Essex in 1638, was intended to ensure conformity to the doctrines favoured by Charles I and Laud. The following injunction is written at the beginning of the visitation book:

I pray you, sett down in the latter end of evry order that the congregation bare both in service and sermon tyme, that the people stand up at the creed and the gospelI and that all people come up to kneele at the rayle to receive the Communion and the minister shall publish the order in church”.

In this context “bare” means to remove one’s hat, certainly nothing more radical! Puritans, especially the extreme fringe represented by the Quakers, refused on principle to doff their hats in church, or indeed in the presence of any authority. Puritans were accustomed to receiving the sacrament standing, often in the body of the church where the communion table would be placed in defiance of Laudian doctrine.

The entry for Stanford Rivers starts by issuing instructions for the proper arrangement of the communion table and altar rails, and suggest that the rail at that time ran round three, or, possibly, all four, sides of the altar. Chancel and nave were to be provided with ceilings (so presumably both were still open to the rafters) and various books were to be provided (including the Book of Homilies, a collection of “model” sermons). The church lacked a table of the degrees of marriage (a painted board listing the relatives you were not allowed to marry), a font cover (usually lockable, as there were concerns about the possible theft of holy water) and a hood for the minister. Both the chancel and nave were already pewed, as there are instructions that some of the higher pews were to be reduced to the level of the rest. Similar instructions are to be found in the visitation records of most of the neighbouring churches but there was one which appears to be unique to Stanford Rivers:
“the churchwardens to place the parishioners, the men on one side of the church, the women on the other, the better sort next unto the chancel and the rest according to their quaiiitye".

Segregation by social class was, of course, entirely normal and it was customary to allocate the pews that were near the chancel to the better houses. It is easy to forget that seventeenth century society was highly hierarchical and that the position of the occupant’s pew was a visible demonstration of his or her social position. There was even a visible hierarchy amongst the servants, who stood by the pew door of their master or mistress. Transgressions of the traditional seating arrangements led to bitter and vituperative disputes in the church courts. By the eighteenth century the normal arrangement in parish churches was for particular pews to be allocated to particular properties, so that everyone from one household sat together, though segregation by sex continued to be common in nonconformist chapels.

Though segregation of men and women was commonly practised in the early Christian church, it was steadily abandoned in the face of social pressures and the desire for household pews by the 17th century, in spite of opposition by some divines who wrote of the “promiscuity” of allowing the sexes to mix in church. What was being insisted on at Stanford Rivers was an attempt by Laudian divines to return to the practices of the earlier church, even though they were swimming against the inexorable social pressures for families to sit together. Why was there an attempt to segregate the congregation in Stanford Rivers?

The rector at this time was John Mainwaring who was ultra loyalist to the establishment. In 1627 (before he came to this parish) he had asserted that the king was not bound to observe the laws of the realm, that the authority of Parliament was not necessary for raising taxes and that those who refused to pay what the king demanded (with or without Parliamentary sanction) offended against the laws of God. He was summoned to appear before the House of Lords, fined £1000, imprisoned during the pleasure of the House and suspended from the ministry for 3 years. Instructions were given that his printed sermons were to be burnt. Charles I’s response was to prorogue Parliament (which annulled this sentence) and to present him to the well endowed living of Stanford Rivers. This action provoked a tart and ominous comment from Oliver Cromwell. “Mainwaring, so justly accused for his sermons by this House, was preferred to a rich living. If these are the steps to church preferment, what may we not expect?" it seems very probable that Mainwaring would have supported anything in line with strict Laudian doctrine in his parish. Perhaps the church authority hoped that, by establishing segregation in Stanford Rivers, a precedent could be established which could be used to persuade adjoining parishes to conform. If this was the plan, it was to be thwarted by Laud’s imminent downfall, and the social pressures of the time would have regained the upper hand in Stanford Rivers.

Greensted

Newsletter of the Essex Society for Archaeology and History
No. 141. Autumn 2003.

Medieval Church Dedications in Essex (extract)

Local saints are poorly represented. St Edmund, the king of East Anglia martyred by the Danes at Hoxne in 870, has only two Essex dedications. Even Greensted juxta Ongar, where his body is said to have lain overnight on its way to Bury St Edmunds, is dedicated to another saint. St Ethelbert, king of the East Angles, murdered in 794, also has two. However it is possible that St Ethelbert of Kent (died 616) was intended, as his cult was promoted by St Paul’s cathedral. The few saints with closer Essex connections, St Cedd, St Osyth and St Aylott, had no mediaeval dedications in the county. The reasons for Essex not honouring its own - or, indeed, how the choice of dedicatory saint was originally made - are undocumented and likely to remain obscure, though the mother cathedral of St Paul's probably had a strong influence in the later Middle Ages. Much work remains to be done on this fascinating and complicated subject.