High Country History Group

Anne Padfield delivered the first talk to the High Country History Group. The talk was held in the Parish Room, St Mary’s Church, Stapleford Tawney, on Thursday 24th February. The talk presented an illustrated tour of a large selection of local buildings having historic features or connections. The buildings were mainly drawn from the High Country area. Several recurring themes accompanied Anne on her tour.

The re-use of buildings formed one theme. Ivy covered, Ivy Cottage, in Greensted Green, now a domestic building, was originally a small, local school. The building that houses the Piggott Brother’s business was the local Workhouse, serving several neighbouring parishes. A smithy has been incorporated into Cutlers Forge Cottage. Public houses have been converted into domestic buildings. Re-use or development of a building was often accompanied by the extension of the building, the present fabric then dating from two or three distinct periods. Clear indications of such modification can often be discerned in variations in the level of the roof; for example, The Talbot, previously the “The Talbot Inn”. In the case of the “The Woodman”, it is the domestic building that has been converted into a pub.

Clues to the previous style and age of the house can still be evident in present, visible features. Clues from internal features include blackened roof timbers, associating the building with an original hall house construction, where the smoke from a central fire drifted through a hole in the roof. There are good examples in the area at “The Woodman” and Clements Farm, Toft Hill. Internal features illustrated included bread ovens; for example, in Mole Trap Cottages and Little Timbers, Mount End.

The slope of the tiled roof on “The Woodman” is steep and the construction of the roof has been strengthened at a later date. This suggests that the roof was likely to have been thatched originally. The orientation of the joists in the same building further indicates an early date for its construction. The vestiges of mullioned windows can be seen in several buildings in the area, dating the buildings to before 1560–70 when mullions gave way to the use of glass.

Among easily visible external features, chimneys, the size of which often displayed the wealth of the owner, were frequently illustrated in the talk. There are good examples of large chimney groups in Ongar, High Ongar and at Lawns Farm, Stanford Rivers, where the chimneys are imposing. On closer inspection, it can be seen that some chimneys have been either rebuilt or reduced in height at some point during their life. Sometimes clues have occasionally been obscured, for example, much later brick cladding of the exterior of Does Farm, Stanford Rivers.

Other houses referred to included Great and Little Tawney Hall, the latter being Anne’s own house. The tour had commenced with St Andrew’s Church, Greensted. The church was much restored in the middle of the 19th century, because of the partial decay of the oak timbers. However, remarkably, it is the only survival of an English log church. Anne finished her talk at Hill Hall. Following its use as a women’s prison, and a disastrous fire in 1969, the building has recently been restored by English Heritage. It is notable architecturally in its very early incorporation of certain classical features by the enlightened owner, Sir Thomas Smith, a real Renaissance man, in the mid 16th century.

Anne Padfield’s talk demonstrated very clearly her knowledge, feeling, and enthusiasm for village building. Anne displayed a scholarly approach to its history and its evidence. Above all, the talk encouraged the wider appreciation of the subject. The audience, totalling 45, will be persuaded to look on this visible, often familiar evidence with new eyes.

The Lavers History Group have published a collection of photographs and postcards of High Laver, Little Laver and Magdalen Laver. Including the front cover, there are 55 illustrations.

The views mostly depict buildings, but there are also farming scenes, school groups and memorable local residents. Some interesting pairs of photographs, some pre-war, show houses before and after their restoration.

There is an amusing scene of a lady, wearing hat and very long dress, cycling through the watersplash at Hull Green Corner, Little Laver.

Inside the cover is reproduced the programme of “An Olde English Village Fete”, held on Saturday, June 2nd 1945. The period is evident from attractions including boxing by the RAF and refreshments with the caution:
“owing to food rationing difficulties, please partake of ONE tea only”.

On the back cover there is a map showing the siting of the illustrations. This is a worthwhile, well-produced item of great interest to the Lavers and surrounding areas.

Copies are available from Patrick Streeter at £2.50 each.

This book is subtitled Chapels and Meeting Houses in the County of Essex, including Outer London.

The book contains four directories of such buildings, those still standing and those demolished but not replaced, for both present-day Essex and the London boroughs which used to be part of Essex.

It is well illustrated with eight pages in colour. The commentary, although light, is informative and up-to-date.

The Congregational Chapel that existed in Stanford Rivers, and was demolished in 1927, is listed.

Profits from the sale of the book will go to the Historic Chapels Trust.

The group is currently in a “chicken and egg” situation: rules are being written, but a team is needed to progress both rules and activities.

Volunteers were invited following the December issue of the High Country Community Magazine and the initial meeting of the Group.

This team is referred to as the Acting Committee, consisting of:

Rob Brooks
Kevin Dowsett
Keith Farrow
Shirley Fisher (Secretary)
Patrick Griggs
Martyn Lockwood (Newsletter Editor)
Anne Padfield
Yvonne Woollerson (Treasurer)

It is expected that a properly elected committee will be formed in due course.

On 1st January 1900, celebration of the new century in London was muted due to the Boer War. British forces were under pressure and resources were stretched.

In Stanford Rivers, however, planning for the Jubilee had begun earlier. A public meeting was held in March 1898 to decide how to commemorate the event.

A local paper reported:

A lively debate took place, led by Mr. Mugleston of Littlebury Hall, who described parish issues and proposed various commemorative ideas:

A hospital
A parish nurse
A reading room
A school bell
A fountain in the school yard

Eventually, it was agreed:

A school bell should be installed
Tea should be provided for both adults and children

However, disagreement followed. A later private meeting reversed the decision:

The bell was replaced with a fountain
Meat was to be distributed to the elderly

The local press humorously reported widespread discontent:

Black flags were displayed on Jubilee Day
This was not disloyalty, but dissatisfaction with the modest celebrations

Further disputes arose over funding:

Mr. Mugleston claimed the project lacked funds
Concerns were raised about using school funds

“Old Nat Wilson” countered:

The school water supply was inadequate
A fountain was more beneficial than a bell
Suggested additional community benefits such as food and prizes

Mr. Mugleston opposed:

Objected to using school funds
Questioned financial fairness

Despite disagreements, the fountain was eventually built.

The Fountain
Opened by Lady Cunliffe Smith
Located in front of Stanford Rivers parishioners
Built by Messrs F. N. Noble and Sons
Architect: Mr. F. Rowntree of Glasgow
Cost: £90

The fountain still remains today, though the school no longer exists. Local residents have successfully opposed its removal.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Thursday 13 April – 8.00 pm

Toot Hill Village Hall
“A Policeman’s Lot” – Policing in Victorian Essex
Illustrated talk by Martyn Lockwood

Wednesday 24 May – 10.30 am

(Meet at Little Tawney Hall)
A Historical Walk Around Tawney and Mount
Led by Anne Padfield

Sunday 25 June – 2.30 pm

(Meet at Repentance Cottage, Greensted)
An Introduction to Hedgerow Dating
Short practical walk led by Anne Brooks

Sunday 11 June

Essex History Fayre
Cressing Temple, near Braintree

Horse stealing was a serious rural crime.

In 1885, the Chief Constable of Essex, William Pointz, recorded an incident in Ongar:

A man rode into Ongar late at night on a horse with:

Only a halter
No saddle or bridle

He was stopped twice:

First by an Inspector
Then by a Constable

Both allowed him to pass after questioning.

The next morning, the horse was reported stolen.

The Chief Constable criticised both officers, noting:

The suspicious circumstances
The prevalence of horse theft
Failure to verify the man’s story

The cost of the failed investigation was £1.17s.9d.

He ruled:

Two-thirds of the cost to be paid by the Inspector
One-third by the Constable