High Country History Group

Eight members joined a small band of some 18 people on the three day tour organised and led by Graeme Cooper, who you will remember gave a fascinating talk to the group earlier in the year. We visited the battlefield sites at Ligny where the French fought the Prussians and also Quatre Bras where the French fought the Allied Army under Wellington. Both battles took place on the day before the decisive battle of Waterloo on the 18h June 1815.

To say that Graeme is an expert on this period of our history is probably to do him a disservice. He makes the subject come alive and to walk the battle field at Waterloo and to piece together how the battle developed from the English, French and Prussian viewpoints made for a fascinating and worthwhile visit.

Having read several books on Waterloo beforehand you get no real sense of what happened on the 17h and 18" June. To visit Hougoumont Farm, where 500 English soldiers died defending it from massed French attacks. To see the 'killing field' where the French Infantry were mown down and where the land is contaminated by lead from the musket balls fired during the battle; you begin to understand.

It is hoped to arrange another trip in 2007, this time to the First World War Battlefields.

Part II

In 1909 the Hill Hall estate was let to a Mr and Mrs Charles Hunter who entertained lavishly and had many artistic friends such as the portrait painter, Sir John Sargent¹. It was Sargent, who for a bet, painted at least one of the pillars in the Great Hall. These appear to be marble but are actually plaster. Sargent is better known for his famous painting of the Hunter's three beautiful daughters which now hangs in the Tate Gallery

Other visitors here during the Hunter's time included Rodin - the celebrate French sculptor, Percy Grainger - the composer, and Dame Ethel Smyth - Mrs Hunter's sister who was a composer and supporter of the suffragette movement (but no connection with the Smyths of Hill Hall). Although they were only tenants, the Hunters made a number of alterations to the house, particularly in the north west corner where until recently were the kitchens and the officer's quarters. Mr Hunter died in 1917 and is buried in the churchyard here

Eventually in 1925, when Mrs Hunter left, the Smyth's sold the house to the Hudsons. Sir Robert Hudson² had been a power behind the Liberal Party during its heyday under Gladstone, and Lady Hudson was the widow of Lord Northeliffe, so visitors to Hill Hall included many of the great political and literary figures of the time, including Lord Lee of Fareham, who gave his house Chequers, to the nation. Rudyard Kipling, and J. M. Barrie, the creator of Peter Pan. Lady Hudson had a flair for interior decorating and for gardening, interests which she shared with her life-long friend, Queen Mary, wife of King George V. On the 29t June 1926, Queen Mary came to Hill Hall, lunched in the dining room, planted a copper beech tree in the garden, and visited the church. The village school children formed a little guard of honour for her outside the church and cheered her when she left. Sir Robert Hudson died in 1927. There is a memorial to him in the church here, but in fact he was buried in Westminster Abbey of which he had been Treasurer for many years. Lady Hudson left here in 1931 when the house passed into the possession of Lord and Lady Edward Hay.

The Hays made a number of alterations to the house including putting in the ceiling in the library - previously this had been a music room, rising to the same height as the Great Hall, and had contained a large number of paintings of the Smyth family, including the two which were put back into the Great Hall again. The Hays also filled in the sunken garden made by Lady Hudson in memory of her husband. This garden, of which no trace now remains, ran the full length of the line of trees near the south east corner of the house. The Hays were here in 1929 at the outbreak of war and Lord Edward Hay was recalled to the forces as a Colonel in the Grenadier Guards. Soon after this, Lady Hay made herself a flat in the SW comer where the Governor's quarters are now,' and the rest of the house was at first used as a maternity home. This use was brought to an abrupt end in October 1940 when a German bomb dropped just outside the main gate. It failed to go off but was too dangerous to remove and had to be exploded on the spot causing some damage to the north wing of the house and breaking windows over a wide area. The house was subsequently used by the RAF and the Army, and as a POW camp. Nissen huts were put along each side of the drive where earlier there had been a stately avenue of elms

On 18h June 1944, when Lord Hay was reading the lesson at Morning Service in the guards Chapel at Wellington Barracks, a V1 flying bomb demolished the chapel, killing him and many others. He is buried in the churchyard. Finally in 1947 Hill Hall was sold to the Prison Commission. It is interesting to note that, in this way the Hill Hall estate returned once more to the Crown who had last held it in 1265.

After considerable renovation work, lasting 5 years, which included the removal of some enormous oak beams riddled with dry rot, the house welcomed on the 15th October 1952 its first Governor, Miss Wilson, and a pioneer party of 4 officers and 6 girls.

[This ends Vernon Harcourt's history of Hill Hall - however we should bring the story up to date.]

In 1969 whilst Hill Hall was still a Women's Open Prison' a disastrous fire broke out and the house was completely gutted. The building remained empty, suffering the ravages of time, the weather and vandalism until in 1980 it was taken into the care of the Environment Agency, which did some repairs but no restoration. In the 1987 storm the Great Hall chimney stack blew down, ringing alarm bells about the future of the house.

In 1993 English Heritage decided to take over responsibility and they found that the fire had not destroyed the main Tudor fabric of the building. £2 million were spent on the exterior of the building. reinstating roofs destroyed in the fire and the chimney stack and conserving the superb Elizabethan wall-paintings. In 1998 English Heritage decided to put the estate on the market and the house was converted into a number of apartments. A degree of public access to the grounds and courtyard of the main block and additionally to the Great Hall and the wall painting rooms was to be agreed with the purchaser.

Thus this brings us up to date on the history of Hill Hall.

The blue form had been in the 'pending pile' for some time. It advertised the service of the National Monuments Record (NMR)⁵ in providing a Local Studies Resources Pack. Having specificd a map reference or a description of an area of interest, then on receipt the NMR undertake to send:

• three aerial photographs, laser copied onto A3 size sheets of paper,
• an index of the listed buildings in the area of interest and
• full listings of the archacology in the area.

The service costs £15, including VAT.

The grid reference of our house, sent to the NMR, produced four (I got a bonus!) photographs. The photographs are dated:

• June 1947
• May 1956
• June 1969 and
• April 1979.

Those from 1956 and 1979 show Chipping Ongar and much of Greensted and Stanford Rivers; they have been taken from higher altitude than the other two photographs, which show greater detail from central Greensted. In spanning an interval of more than 30 years, the photographs illustrate the considerable detailed changes in the development of the landscape through both building and altered farming practices.

The photographs are of good quality, demonstrating an improved technique of aerial photography through the sequence. They are cloud free, this requirement usually determining the dates of the photography.

Also included with the photographs are the Listed Buildings Report for Chipping Ongar, Greensted and Stanford Rivers, and the Archive and Monuments Information England (AMIE) report for the same area. The latter report contains detailed information on buildings and archaeological remains; for example, Ongar Castle, the mill mound at Toot Hill and the landscaped park at Blake Hall.

Should you wish to use the service of the NMR, send your name and address, together with a 6 figure grid reference or a map with the centre of the area of interest highlighted. Any additional information to indicate the particular interest in the area should be added. The address of the service is:

Enquiry and Research Services
English Heritage
National Monumests Recors
Kemble Drive
Swindon SN2 2GZ
email nmrinfo@english-heritage.org.uk

Further information can be found on the website www.english-heritage.org.uk/nmr

In October 2005 I took a train ride from Ongar on the "newly-formed" Epping and Ongar Railway and, alighting at North Weald for the first time, stepped back into history. It was here that my great grandfather, John Dawes, son of a tradesman in Trumpington, Cambridgeshire, became a railway porter in 1877. This was only a few years after the branch line from Epping to Ongar had opened. John spent the remainder of his working life working on the railway - but that's a different story for another time.

The Eastern Counties Railway opened a line out of Shoreditch, from Stratford to Loughton in 1856, with the intention of reaching Epping. Later the company was taken over by the Great Eastern Railway (1862) who planned an extension to Ongar with ambitions to reach either Chelmsford or Great Dunmow.

The route opened in 1865, but the addition from Epping to Ongar remained only a branch line. When through trains ran from Liverpool Street, carriages were often left off at Epping. Had Ongar been the original objective, the line would have been easier to build up the Roding valley rather than over high ground. But Epping was a more attractive destination.

In 1935, the line became part of the London Transport Modernisation Plan and after the Second World War was "attached" to the Central Line. Tube trains began to operate as far as Epping in 1949 but it was to be a further eight years before the branch to Ongar was electrified. Push - pull steam trains worked the route. Never having high passenger numbers, its fate seems to have been doomed by a decision not to build an electricity sub-station at Blake Hall. This meant insufficient power so longer trains from the metropolis could not be used over the full distance. Passengers had to change at Epping. From then the branch was the only single-track section on the underground network, and at North Weald, the only place where there was a level crossing. With dwindling patronage the branch finally succumbed to closure on 30 September 1994, but not without several fights from rail users. Blake Hall Station, the most rural on the entire London Transport network, had closed some ten years before.

hLAKE HALL ATAT

The architecture of the line is not without interest. The stations - Ongar, Blake Hall, North Weald and Epping - are all of the same style. Blake Hall is the most decorative country station in red and white brick. North Weald is the same as its neighbour but plainer. Ongar is a modest terminus and Epping has additional building on the east side, or London-bound platform. Just outside Ongar, a viaduct spans Cripsey brook.

Whether there was, and remains, anything romantic about this branch is a matter individuals' will decide, but it forms part of my Essex roots. If the Eastern Countries Railway preferred Ongar as a destination to Epping, the High Country parishes would not have been so rural. Had the post war Abercrombie Plan for a new town at Ongar been approved - rather than Basildon - the line may have remained open today with fast electric trains to Chelmsford.

The Vestry

The Vestry (def.) - a room attached to the chancel of a church.

It was originally the room where parish meetings were held. Membership of the vestry comprised the Rector, churchwardens and leading parishioners, who were either co-opted (under a 'close" or 'select' vestry system) or elected ('open' vestry). In the C16th and C17th the vestry assumed many of the functions of the manor court by appointing the constable(s) as well as taking on new responsibilities for the poor by appointing overseers. In addition the vestry was responsible for the maintenance of the highways in the parish.

The vestry lost these responsibilities during the C19th and in 1894 the civil functions of parishes were transferred to parish councils and parish meetings.

The administration of poor relief during most of the 17th century was entrusted to the churchwardens and constables. Records of the overseers handling money appear first in 1670. During the 18th century the duties of the overseers became increasingly heavy as the cost of poor relief rose. Between 1724 and 1754 the average cost was about £130 a year. In 1754-64 it was over £180, in 1764-74 it was £260, in 1774-84 it was £360, in 1784-94 it was £440, and in 1794-1804 it rose to £840. The parish spent ten times as much in 1800-1 as in 1726-7. The poor rate levied between 1801 and 1817 was rarely below £1,000 in any year.

The two overseers acted independently and rendered separate accounts. When the balance of both accounts had been struck at the Easter vestry the surplus in the hands of the outgoing officers was shared between their successors. Each overseer apparently acted for a different 'end' of the parish, either Toot Hill or Hare Street (Little End).

The poor in the 18th century formed two classes. About two dozen received regular weekly doles, and the rest, varying in number with the season and the price of food, received casual aid. The recipients of the regular doles were enjoined by the orders of 1724 and 1732 to wear badges.

The decision to be build a workhouse was taken at a meeting of the Vestry on 27h April 1769-

Be it remembered, - At a public meeting of the inhabitants of the said Parish for the purpose hereafter mentioned, assembled upon due notice thereof given, it is now, to wit, on this 27h day of this instant, April in the year 1769 agreed and determined that a Workhouse shall be forthwith built for the employment and maintenance of the poor of the said Parish, and that it shall be erected upon that land near to the church which belongs to the Parish and is in the occupation of Mr. Matthew Playle of the said Parish, which said land is commonly called Press Garden.

Then it is agreed and determined that a Committee shall be chosen to take upon then the management of the said building and to agree with some builders or builder touching the same. And that the persons to be constituted to be of that committee shall be

Mr John Archer
Mr John Plumb
Mr Matthew Webb
Mr Samuel Playle, and
Mr Stephen Jones.

To the above agreement of the inhabitants of the said Parish do hereby set their hands, the day and year above written.

Nathaniel Lancaster - Rector
Samuel Playle and Matthew Webb, churchwardens
Thomas Watkinson - Overseer of the Poor
And 21 others.

The cost of the workhouse was £300 and it was agreed to borrow the money in order for the work to be undertaken. The money was borrowed from James Grove, Miller of Shonks Mill, Navestock.

Until the building of the workhouse the expedients of the previous century seem to have been adopted for the relief of the poor. Medical attention was perhaps new. In 1741 an account for medicine of £4 8s. was passed, and in 1746 there was payment of £4 4s., for medical services. Paupers' rents, and from 1764 the cost of their firing, were often paid and in many cases the money went to prominent vestrymen.

Ann agreement made on the 17h April in the year 1775 between the Parishioners of Stanford Rivers and Mr. Jn. Boodle of Chipping Ongar: that is to say that the said Mr. Jn. Boodle is to look after the Poor of the said Parish at Eight guineas a year as a Serjain and a Pottacary.

From 1770 payments for wool and spindles indicate that the inmates were engaged in spinning. From 1771 this work brought income; the weekly sums recorded were usually greatest in the winter.

1776 -28 Aug - 'received of Mr. Clapton for Workhouse Yarn £15.18.6d', and 6 Nov. 'received of Mr. Clapton for Workhouse Yarn £17.4.6d .*

This income later declined. Another source of income was the hiring of paupers' labour.

At this Vestry held on the 8h April 1774. Mr John Plum hath agreed with the Parishioners here assembled to take into his service James Dawkins, a Parish boy from and of the Workhouse to serve him to Michs next ensuring in consideration whereof the Parish have agreed to find and provide unto the sald James Dawkins sufficient cloathing and all wearing apparel for and during his service and also to pay and allow weekly and every week unto the said John Plum the sum of one shilling for and towards his maintenance, untill the said service is expired.

At this Vestry held on the &h April 1774. Mr Matthew Webb hath agreed with the Parishioners here assembled to take into his service Samuel Crawley, a Parish boy from and of the Workhouse to serve him to Michs next ensuring in consideration whereof the Parish have agreed to find and provide unto the said Samuel Crawley sufficient cloathing and all wearing apparel for and during his service and also to pay and allow weekly and every week unto the said Matthew Webb the sum of one shilling for and towards his maintenance, untill the said service is expired.

At a meeting of the Vestry on April 17th 1775 -

Ann agreement made between the Parishioners of Stanford Rivers and William Blackwell and his wife that is to say that the said William Blackwell and his wife has promised to take care of our Workhouse at £13.13s a year. If either party do disagree for to give six months notice.

In 1788 the following list shows the poor of the parish who were receiving money each week from the Vestry.

In 1790 Mr Stanes is shown as the Governor of the Workhouse.

In 1808 the Vestry sent one 'Rippingale Collar aged 14 years or thereabouts, a poor child of the Parish, Apprentice to Richard Graves of the Parish of Harlow. Cordwainer until he reaches the age of 21.' A sum of £10 was paid to Graves by the Overseers with a further sum of £10 paid in May 1808. This then removed any further responsibility for the boy falling on the parish. Graves had to ensure for his money:

"and shall and will during all the term aforesaid, find. provide, and allow unto the said Apprentice meet, competent, and sufficient Meat, Drink, Apparel, Lodging. Washing, and other things necessary and fit for an Apprentice."

From 1810 until 1815 regular statements of account between the governor of the workhouse and the parishioners were recorded. The overseers made monthly or fortnightly cash payments and supplied flour to the governor. He kept the paupers at an agreed rate for each person, and received extra for fuel, potatoes, and 'hair cutting. shaving, mops, brooms, thread, worsted, tape, oil &c.' In 1809 there were 12 beds in the workhouse and in 1830 there were 13.

In 1814 John Kay is shown as the Govemnor of the Workhouse. The minutes of the Vestry show that the accounts from Easter 1814 to Easter 1815 show that

to maintenance of 16 Paupers up to March 26 at 35.9d each = £150 .*

At a Vestry held on 20h December 1814, pursuant to notice for the purpose of considering of a Grant of Land in the front of the Workhouse from the Lord of the Manor to the Parish.

Resolved that the said Grant shall be accepted with our best thanks to George Petre Esq .. the Lord of the Manor for his attention to the wishes and accommodation of the Parish.

That the said Land shall be enclosed by drawing a line in a curve from the corner of the Workhouse Garden to the south west corner of Mr. Wilson's Mead according to the stakes put down this day.

That the best application of the said Land will be

1. to add to the Garden of the Workhouse.
2. to provide Gardens for the two Parish Houses.
3. it is proposed to erect a stable and shed thereon for the accommodation of the Parishioners on Sundays. This building not to be erected at the expense of the Parish but of Individuals subscribing; on condition that they and their successors in their farms have a preference in the use of the said Stable and Shed.

Present at the Vestry

E. Dowdswell Rector.

Henry Mott
Thomas Mansfield
Jonathan Stokes
William Noakes
Robert Shorborn
John Pavitt
George Hummerstone
Edward Rayner
John Kirby
William Drew
Edward Luck
William Phillips
Timothy Phillips.

By order of Vestry
John Osborne, Vestry Clerk.

By 1817 the workhouse was no longer being used for that purpose and the Vestry decided on October 2 1817 to dispose of the old workhouse:

At this Vestry the parishioners agreed with Samuel Martin to let to him Press Garden at the rent of Five Guineas per annum from Lady Day last past.

By virtue of an Act of Parliament of 1782, which allowed a number of parishes to combine into a group and have one large parish workhouse, Stanford Rivers agreed to combine with 9 other parishes® in 1831, and a new workhouse was built at Stanford Rivers.

With the building of the new workhouse the Vestry decided -

At a Public Vestry held in the parish Church of Stanford Rivers April 23d 1831 pursuant to notice. It was resolved - That the old workhouse belonging to this parish near the church yard and adjoining Stanford Rivers Hall be disposed of.

t. Crernsted. Shelley, Stapleford Abbotts,

That the property in question consisting of the Workhouse. Two Cottages and the Hoppett adjoining containing abour three Acres, having been valued by Mr. Jon. Lewis of Bobbing worth and Mr. Jon. Stokes of Stanford Rivers at the sum of Four Hundred Guineas.

That the same be offered to Mr. Thomas Wilson Esq .. of Highbury Place, at the said sum of Four Hundred Guineas ;- and on his refusal to become the purchaser that it be sold by Auction.

That Mr. Jonathan Lewis and Mr. Jonathan Stokes be requested to manage the sale of the property.

In 1834 the Ongar Union was formed, the new workhouse being taken over by the Union.

The Edict of Expulsion 1290 was promulgated by Edward I and banished all Jews from the Realm from the 1" August 1290. The Jews were offered the choice of death, forcible baptism or permanent exile from the Realm.⁷

The edict has never been repealed and is still officially on the Statute Books (although now the death penalty has been repealed).

Attempts were made by Sir Oswald Mosley to use the Edict to attack modern Anglo-Jewry. Sir Oswald suggested that Jews were not legally allowed to live in Britain, although the Edict actually referred only to the Jews living in England in 1290.

"A.D. 1611. That they want a strong cheste or box for the Alms of the poore. They have no such cheste in their church as mentioned in the Articles.

George Mott warden. For deteyning a chest in his custody belonging to the church - alleged that the chest was broken open when the church was robde and that it was cast broken into the field."

Here we probably see the identical chest which was broken open and cast into a field, for which Churchwarden George Mott was reprimanded for retaining in his own possession. Possibly he thought it useless for its original purpose; but he evidently had to restore it to the church under the Archdeacon' orders.

It is a sturdy. plain oaken chest, surrounded by two thin iron bands. The hasps hinged to these bands are an evident renewal in 1611, or soon after, to again secure the contents from theft; the middle lock was not restored, and still retains the evidence of sacrilege.

The chest was also mended by the addition of two pieces of cleft oak, one at each end; and possibly it was at the same time the money-slot was pierced through the lid.

What became of the chest is unknown.

"To the Reverend Mr John Ayliff of Stanford Rivers. The Reverend Mr John Nicholas of Theydon Garnon Park and Bull of Littlebury in the Parish of Stanford Rivers in the County of Esfex to every of them Thiss

Whereas in the late rebellion (viz.) in the Yeare of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and fifteen. It was absolutely necesfary for the security of the King's person and Government immediately to form the Militia Horse in this County to prevent Tumults ad Rebellions in this Kingdom - And whereas William Nicholson of Stapleford Tawney in this County of Essex Gent being only able to find one fourth part of our Militia horse - But did at the request of the Captain of the Militia Equip and send forth one Good Horse and Man with all accoutrements into the service. And whereas it was then ordered that the severall persons aforesaid should board and pay unto him the said William Nicholls the other three parts Equally betwixth them shard and shard alike which is not yet done by reason no order to adjorn them together has been Executed for that purpose. We therefore three of His Majesties Deputy Lieutenants within the said County do order and require you John Ayliffe, John Nicholas and ......... Bull to pay each of you unto the said William Nicholls one full forth part of all such sums charges and expenses he was put unto in Equipping and sending the said Militia Horse and Man into the said service by us hereby allowed in the Bill hereunto. And further that for the future the purpose aforesaid when and as often as required shall at theire Equall costs and Charges Equip and send forth on Militia Horse and Man unto the said service And they are herby adjoined together for that purpose accordingly and further this order shall be Entered with the Clerk of the Militias of the last meeting of the Deputy Licutenants in the book for that purpose Given under our Hands and Seals the Eleventh day of January in the Seventh Yeare of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord King George 1720."

This is a copy of the original order
Jos. Sparrow Ck to the Deputy Lieutenants.

The cost of the Horse and Man came to the grand total of £16.09.02.

An itemised account is attached to the Order and includes the following items:

• a pair of pistols and holsters €l.
• a pair of jack boots and spurs £1.5;
• a new hat with gold lace £15s.
• a Buff coat with plush cuffs £3

At a Public Vestry held in the Parish of Stanford Rivers March 27 1817 - Resolved:

That the Church Music consisting of a Bassoon and which was paid for by subscription is the property of the Parish and not the choir.'

At a Public Vestry held in the Parish of Stanford Rivers October 2nd 1817 - Resolved:

'The Parishioners also agreed to pay all persons who will destroy the Sparrows in this Parish in the following manner - for every dozen Sparrows four pence - and for every dozen eggs two pence - to be paid by applying to Mr. Jones. Churchwarden.'

Letter from Capel Cure High Sheriff of Essex, dated Blake Hall, Ongar, 21" December 1830.

I beg to acquaint your Lordship that there are many indications of a disposition to rise in the Hundred of Ongar and that it is in my opinion advisable that 25 or 30 cavalry should be stationed for a short time in the town of Ongar or at least within 10 or 12 miles as at Warley Barracks.

The Magistrates have during the last fortnight sworn in for special constables as many of the respectable labourers as they could depend upon but the Farmers one and all refuse to join.

I believe there is a very bad spirit in this District and have thought it my duty to apprise your Lordship of it.

Preparation

The first post-war Toothill Show took place on 31 July 1954. Early intentions of the show can be found recorded in the minutes of the meeting of the Flower Show Sub-Committee, Toothill Parish Room Committee held on 11 August 1953 at Cumley Road. The chairman of the meeting was Mr W. R. Holt, with Mssrs. Wood, Tucker and Murray also present. This sub-committee made a number of recommendations, the first of which was,

"1.That the proposed show be under the name of :-

The Toothill & District Flower and Vegetable Show."

The show would either be open to the parishes of Stanford Rivers, Greensted, Stapleford Tawney & Theydon Mount as far as the Fiddlers Hamlet or would be open to residents just within a five mile radius. The most suitable site was judged to be the Football Field, and Mr Millbank was to be approached; failing that a field at Freeman's Farm was thought to be appropriate. Sports, "which should not be of too serious a nature", and sideshows should be organised. Initial finance for the running of the show was to be raised from whist drives, donations and raffles.

Five additional members were to be co-opted onto the committee and Mssrs Fordham, Chesneau, King, Gladwell, Staines and Mayne were suggested nominations. Mr T. Cooper-Keeble was to be approached as secretary. The WI were to be "asked to cooperate with the women's section."

Mssrs. Fordham and Staines joined the next meeting, held on 26 August. Mr Holt took the chair. Both Mr King and Mr Cooper-Keeble had refused their invitations. The position of secretary was offered to Mr Banks of Fairview. It was confirmed that the show would be sited on the Football Field and a local darts tournament was to be organised to raise funds. Preparations continued through a succession of frequent, regular meetings with attendance for periods by Messrs Holt (chairman), Banks, Chambers, Fordham, Gladwell, Green, Licence, Mills, Spearman, Tucker, Warren, Wood. Mr Murray had formally resigned possibly because of his position on the room committee. The fundraising continued through the sale of football tickets, raising approximately £l per week, darts tournaments, and whist drives, bringing in about £3 per session.

Presidents and Vice-Presidents

At the meeting on 10 November, it was resolved to ask Mr Jack Millbank to become the President of the Show, maybe rewarding his generosity in making the field available. Numerous Vice-Presidents were to be invited (see Annex A).

Schedule of Exhibits

By 15 December, a schedule of exhibits had been prepared. Quite similar in character to the schedule of the present show, there were some small differences; two classes for apples and one for kidney potatoes are not included now and there is also no room today for a dish of cooked potatoes, then maybe a remnant of wartime catering: handwriting for a boy or girl is omitted today to be replaced by artwork on a computer; there is no place for children's knitting in 2006. An account of three pages, painstakingly detailing the variable purchase tax, itemised the toys bought for prizes in the children's classes.

A quotation for the printing of 500 copies of the schedule for £5.2s.6d had been received from Clarke and Co of Chelmsford. This was considered too expensive and it was resolved to produce "a single sheet handbill" in the same quantity for 25s. Income from advertising from local traders was expected to fill a second sheet.

Support and Sponsorship

The committee made overtures to various organisations for support and sponsorship. The initial request for a Banksian Medal from the Royal Horticultural Society was politely rebuffed since at that time Toothill was not affiliated to the Society. Woman's Own offered a bronze medal as an award for cooking, a diploma for well-specified handicrafts, and a diploma for outstanding exhibits.

The full weight of the financial implications of the show started to absorb the committee. Piggott Brothers & Co. Limited, then operating from their head office at 220-226, Bishopsgate, had quoted for a marquee, £24.10s.0d for one of 60ft x 30ft, and a length of 210ft of tables at £10.0s.0d. Piggott Brothers were then requested to reduce their total quote down to a more affordable £20. They did!

The Royal Insurance Company Limited sent to E. W. Banks, now a busy secretary, the completed insurance documents. The premium for the day of the show was £1.0s.0d, but reduced to just 17s after deduction of the 15% commission. However, the limit of the indemnity was just £2,500. Watney Combe Reid and Co. Limited donated £2.2s.0d and Ind Coope and Allsopp Limited agreed to the delivery of a 'Home Pack' of Double Diamond, containing twelve half pints of 'Double Diamond' bottled beer - heady days indeed! Not all initiatives and requests were rewarded. London Transport could not arrange for advertising in buses except under commercial conditions. The brewers Taylor Walker & Co Limited regretted that they could not be added to the "donation list". Essex County Constabulary declined to demonstrate Road Safety since they already had a standing commitment at Dovercourt on the day. Toothill WI declined the opportunity to provide tea "as it would not be possible to do this work to the satisfaction of all concerned". However, led by Mrs Edgeley, "the ladies of Stanford Rivers" promised "to take charge of the activity". The Stanford Rivers Hut Committee pledged the loan of about 70 cups and saucers, to which the Toothill Hut Committee added forty cups. Since breakages had to be paid for, the secretary, realising the full weight of this responsibility, was instructed to purchase 300 paper cups

Support outside of the committee may have been lukewarm. On 17 June a general meeting, open to the public, was attended by only four persons but all four volunteered to help on the day.

At the meeting of 5 July, stewarding duties were set down. These included the duties for both show, being the gate and car park responsibilities, and side-shows, housey-housey, roulette, roll-a-penny, coconuts (3 balls for 6d, 7 for Is - the traditional discount for quantity in force), a slide, bowling-for-a-pig, pony rides, catering, sports, organised by Mrs Roberts, tent arrangements and raffle. Leytonstone boy scouts would also be available! The services of the St John's Ambulance Brigade were obtained. 'Women's Own', 'Amateur Gardening' and 'The Smallholder' sent awards for disply on the winning exhibits. London Transport Executive confirmed the arrangements for an additional bus from Epping mid-afternoon in a letter dated the day before the show!

The Show

Unfavourable weather conditions in the previous Spring had made gardening "a difficult pastime". However, the show day was reported to be fine and there were 330 exhibits spread over 69 classes. Four more classes were added at the time of judging to cope with the large number of handicraft exhibits. The major prize-winners were:

The Special Trophy was presented by Mr A. B. C. Licence, now the President of the Show.

Twelve sports events were organised in great detail. Additional to the sprints for all ages were sack, wheelbarrow, three-legged, potato and obstacle races. In the light of the overall financial constraints, prize money seemed generous in running up to 10s to the victorious wheelbarrow team.

Aftermath

Audited accounts from the show make clear a loss of £24.11s.9d. but this was more than made up by donations from the president, vice-presidents and others. Additionally, whist drives, the football competition, rummage sale and darts competition contributed about £60. The result was an overall 'profit' of £72.17s10d.

Letters of thanks and congratulation arrived but the disposition of the 'profit' was disputed. On behalf of the Toothill Parish Room Committee, secretary Ronald Murray wrote to decline involvement in the organization of a future show. The 'profit' from the show was apparently accrued to this committee, who wished to be paid for the use of the hut and hut furniture, and for "undertaking to meet any losses incurred on the 1954 show". This resulted in the Hut Committee retaining £60 to be returned to the show should it go ahead the following year. It was perhaps strange that no agreement seemed to have been in place before the accounts were finalised.

One cup and two saucers were lost, the loss to be compensated by a payment of 2s.

The show did take place the following year, on 30 July 1955. This time there were 562 exhibits, up from 330. This time the show lost just £4.3s.3d. Donations and fund raising reduced slightly, perhaps hinting at a greater confidence in the show, and other incidentals generated a further ££63.14s.6d - the show then held almost £120 in reserves. Shortly after the show, the committee set about developing a clear, local identity for what was expected to become an annual event. The result was the Toothill & District Horticultural Society, now affiliated to the Royal Horticultural Society, to continue the work in organizing the show.

Reflections

More than fifty years after this first Show, the sums of money involved seem unavoidably quaint. Obtaining third party insurance for the day for less than one pound seems incredible even for that time.

There are small insights in the organization of the show that throw light on the structure of an earlier community. The number of vice-presidents, many of whom farmed in the district, suggests a closer involvement of the local 'interests' than today. With the reduction in the number of farms, and the use of contractors, the base of a farming community has shrunk. However, the show, although generally larger in all respects now, still broadly reflects the intentions of that first show.

In looking through the minutes and other records of the show organization, it is clear that considerable care was taken in meetings to record the business of the committee. Meetings are held frequently and minutes are clear and concise. Great care was taken in the financial accounting and the final accounts were audited. This painstaking approach ensured that the Toothill Show had arrived.

Annex A - Proposed Vice-Presidents

At the meting of 10 November, the list of proposed Vice Presidents included: Sir Drummond Spencer Smith*, Col Kinsman*, Mr John Pledge*, Mr Payne, Mr Wallis, Mr Tom Kerr*, Mr Grant*, Mr Cameron, Mr Pearl*, Mr Mills, Rev J. E. Ward*, Dr Tugendhat*, Mr Hinman*, Mr and Mrs Auchinvole+, Mrs Millbank* (who was willing to accept and to contribute one guinea ⁸), Mr and Mrs Leake, and Mr and Mrs Chandler*, of High Warren.

At the meeting one month later, Jack Millbank* had declined the position, but had agreed to become a Vice-President, and Col Kinsman was invited to replace him. Additional Vice-Presidents were suggested including Mr P. East", Miss J. Price, J. Freeland*, Mr J. Green", Capt T. Spencer Smith, Mr Ireland, Mr Macaulay*, Mr Neville Browning, Mr Ernest Fowler* and Mr Bentley. Mr W. Green* and Mr J. Kerr* appear to have been added. The total number of names in this list is around thirty. The show was intended to be inclusive! According to a preserved list, those who had accepted by about March 1954 are shown with an asterisk.

Subsequently Col Kinsman wrote to the committee to point out that his initials were wrongly stated on the schedule, and moreover the decorations for himself and Sir Drummond Smith had been omitted.

Domesday Book is one of the most famous historical records held by The National Archives. It was written over nine hundred years ago under the orders of King William the Conqueror. William wanted to know how much his kingdom was worth and how much taxation he could command. The result is a detailed survey of the land held by the king and his people,

As of the 4"h August Domesday Book, the oldest public record held at The National Archives, is brought into the 21st century through Domesday Online, the organisation's latest digitisation project.

Through this venture, The National Archives hopes people will take the opportunity to visit Domesday Book from the comfort of their own homes, and learn more about this iconic document.

The most exciting element of the project is that the public can now search the Book by name of town, city or village. For a small fee (£3.50) it is also possible to purchase a copy of the original page featuring the place name and a translation of the entry into modem English.

The website, provided by The National Archives' Documents Online service, also contains useful information about the history of this 920-year-old document. It was commissioned in 1085 by William I who conquered England after the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

In 2005 it was voted the nation's finest treasure, yet a recent survey revealed that less than 1% of the population have actually been to see the original in The National Archives' museum.

I am sure many of you, especially those who are members of National Trust will have heard of the Alfriston Clergy House, which incidentally was the first property to be purchased by the National Trust for £10 in 1896. However I am sure that many of you did not realize that there stood a Clergy House in the churchyard at Theydon Garnon.

It stood a few yards west of the church, and was known as the Priests' House. It was of two stories, the upper projecting on the east front with exposed joists and curved brackets. It was apparently built in the late 15th century. It is believed that the cottage was for the use of a non-resident priest in pre-Reformation days. Services at All Saints were conducted with the help of the monastic clergy at Waltham Abbey, and the visiting priest used to sleep in the cottage.

The Essex Review described the cottage as formerly a one storied building with particularly low ceilings, and probably had a thatched roof. A second storey being added later, the front of which was corbelled out and carried on to the ends of the beams and joists. The cottage front, facing the churchyard retained its old plaster covering, with diaper pattern and was in fair preservation. The ends and back were covered with tarred deal weather boarding. The roof was of steep pitch and covered with hand-made tiles, hung with pegs on rent oak laths, and was ceiled with plaster under the level of the beams. The casement windows were glazed with leaded lights but most of the glass was broken. At the back of the building was an aperture through which the monks doled out bread to pilgrims. The general fabric of the building was described as 'sound' and until a few years before ..... was occupied as a dwelling house

However at the time of the visit the house was descried as 'sadly needs renovation.' Unfortunately it was demolished at a later date and nothing remains of this piece of ecclesiastical history.

Sanders, Lizzie & Williamson, Gillian (editors), Littlebury; a parish history, (The History Group of the Parish of Littlebury Millenniun Society, 2005). 288 pp. £14.95

This local history includes Littlebury and the neighbouring hamlets of Littlebury Green and Catmere End, and parts of Audley End. It is a collection of around 95 illustrated short essays from contributors on historical topics within the parish, places, people and events. The essays, written by local contributors, follow a chronology spanning pre-history to the present. These are the bare bones

But this book is hugely more. The impact of the book is immediate, served as soon as the first pages are turned. The illustrations are plentiful, in colour whenever possible, and always chosen with purpose. Even white space has been used to give pages a breathing space, busy yet uncluttered. This is not a book to routinely source old postcards; instead the selection is always interesting and various; for example, from Monamy's beautiful 'First Eddystone Lighthouse' and Henry Winstanley to the photo' of a sliding sash window. Two columns are used throughout; subject text is contained within a main column, allowing notes and images to be added in a marginal column and the presentation is striking. The text is scholarly and well referenced, and the essays have been blended into an almost seamless whole. This is a book that measures well against the very best productions.

Still, this book is even more. It represents the spirit of the Littlebury. It is a magnificent witness to the efforts of numerous local people, archivists and historians. It is inappropriate to mention individuals, their efforts are clear, best just to repeat the book's modest, unassuming opening words: "The book is the result of many people coming together, using their varying skills and dipping into their most precious possession - time." If you ever buy a parish local history choose this one! [Rob Brooks]

N LVENTS

12 October 2006

'Guildhalls'
Anne Padfield

23 November 2006

'Smuggling along the Essex Coast'
Dan Johnson

22 February 2007

'The History of Auctions'
Tim Turner

29 March 2007

Annual General Meeting

(The talk for April 2007 is to be arranged.)