High Country History Group

The Queen is patron to 42 church livings in right of her Duchy of Lancaster.¹

St Margaret's church at Stanford Rivers is under the patronage of the Duchy.

The right to appoint a church living is known as an advowson. The Duchy's advowsons date from the time when the Duchy owned manors and lands in every county. Many manors were sold by monarchs to raise money - for example, by Charles I during the Civil War - but the advowsons were retained. They are mainly posts for parish priests.

The livings are located in the northern, middle and eastemn parts of the country, although, curiously, none actually fall within the County Palatine of Lancaster.

The preliminary administration of new appointments is dealt with by the Chaplain of the Queen's Chapel of the Savoy². Candidates are interviewed, and recommendations by the relevant Bishop are taken into account. Guidance is also taken from the local PCC to ensure that the nature and wishes of the parish are established. A recommendation is made to the Chancellor and, following this approval, the new incumbent is appointed and a ceremonial presentation made.

Ecclesiastical historian, Soames was the son of Nathaniel Soames, shoemaker, of Ludgate Street, London. He was educated at St Paul's School, and at Wadham College, Oxford, where he matriculated on 21 February 1803, and graduated BA in 1807, and MA in 1809.

He became deacon in 1808 and was ordained by the bishop of London in 1809. He held the post of assistant to the high-master of St Paul's School from 1809 to 1814. In 1812 he was made rector of Shelley, and in 1821 rector of the neighbouring parish of Little Laver. From 1831 to 1839 he was vicar of Brent with Furneaux Pelham, Hertfordshire.

In 1839 he became rector of Stapleford Tawney with Theydon Mount, Essex, where he lived, apparently with his sister, until his death. He was Bampton lecturer in 1830, and was appointed chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral by Bishop Blomfield in 1842.

He died on 21 October 1860 at Stapleford Tawney.

He wrote a number of books but he concentrated his labour and learning on English ecclesiastical history in Anglo-Saxon times and in the sixteenth century.

Having covered in the previous two articles Churchwardens Presentments to the Bishop of London, 1750 to 1842, for the High Country parishes, I now add some supplementary information from these, and other returns.

On a separate schedule to the Churchwardens Presentment in 1753 is a list of clergy and churchwardens for all parishes³. The serving clergy were:

Greensted: John Harris. Rector
Stanford Rivers. Nathaniel Lancaster DD. Rector
Stapleford Tawney John Lloyd. Rector
Theydon Mount. Stewart Sparkes. Rector

The Bishops Act Book 1775 to 1792⁴ records:

[1775 Stanford Rivers]. September 2. Richard Beadon Clerk BD was admitted and instituted by the said Bishop to the Rectory of Stanford Rivers in the County of Essex and Diocese of London, void by the Death of Nathaniel Lancaster DD the last Incumbent upon the presentation of his most sacred Majesty King George the Third, Patron thereof by Full Right, by Virtue of his Dutchy of Lancaster, as is attested.

In 1822⁵ the serving clergy were:

Greensted: Wm Hamilton Warren. Rector
Stanford Rivers.E C Dowdeswell DD. resides Rector
Stapleford Tawney with Theydon Mount
Richard Smyth Rector
Wm St Andrew Vincent Curate

In addition to William Laundy, Sir Wm Smyth Bart is also recorded as a Churchwarden at Theydon Mount.

Episcopal Visitation returns for four-yearly intervals between 1826 and 1842° record that Dr Edward Christopher Dowdeswell, Rector of Stanford Rivers was served by a Curate: Craven Ord (in 1830), Richard Thomas (1834), Richard Harris (1838) and Gilbert Alder (1842). The List of Parishes Incumbent Rate & Churchwardens 1810⁷ shows WW Warren as his Curate.

Stapleford Tawney and Theydon Mount operated as a single benefice with Richard Smyth as Rector (1810, 1826, 1830, 1834), then Edward Smyth MA (1838) and Henry Scamer MA (1842). Serving as Curates were William Vincent (1826), John Jenkyn (1830), Edward Smyth and Francis Gregory (1834), William Bond (1838). The entry for 1842 is blank. Both churches had their own churchwardens.

A Richard Smyth was appointed incumbent at Stapleford Tawney and Theydon Mount as early as 1780. I am uncertain whether this was the same person. The following information is taken from the Bishops Act Book 1775 to 1792³.

[1780] Rectory of Stapleford Tawney w Theydon Mount Resigned March 29h Samuel Smith Clerk DD Rector of the Rectory and Parish Church of Stapleford Tawney with Theydon Mount Annexed in the County of Essex and Diocese of London by his Proctor Thomas Haytor Clerk MA Resigned into the Hands of the Lord Bishop of London the said Rectory and Parish Church which Resignation the said Lord Bishop accepted and declared the said Rectory Void and to be void of the person of the said Samuel Smith to all intents & purposes in Law and Decreed Notice of the Avoidance to be given to the Patron thereof.

[1780] May 22d Richard Smyth Clerk was admitted and instituted to the Rectory of Stapleford Tawney with Theydon Mount Annexed in the County of Essex and Diocese of London Vacant by the Resignation of Samuel Smith Clk the last Incumbent upon the presentation of Sir William Smyth of Hill Hall in the said County Past the true and undoubted Patron thereof in full right as asserted.

Rob Brooks' 'survey' of Victorian letter boxes included one at the former Drill House pub at Stanford Rivers. At one time the box included the word "4 - Repentance".

A letter from D S Rixon of Theydon Bois in the September 1962 edition of the 'Essex Countryside' magazine, mentions that he was told by the landlord at the time that "the four fields around the inn were called Repentance Fields and there is also a cottage nearby called Repentance Cottage".

In the book, 'Essex Curiosities' (Spur, 1973), Derek Johnson referred to the pub as being in the hamlet of Repentance, an area where "wrongdoers worked the fields as a penance instead of going to prison". Its inn sign at the time portrayed "one of the penitents at work".

Mr Rixon also tells this story in his letter adding, "This is very interesting, and, should like to know if it is true".

Well folks, is it true or should we be forgiven for following another tall story?

With the retirement in February of the current Rector, the Rev Roger Wilkinson, it was interesting to note the following entry from the 1901 Census:

The Rectory

Times are certainly changing!

Looking around second-hand bookshops is something that I enjoy very much. Recently I came across a copy of "Everybody's Pepys" (1927), an abridged version of the diary. It is illustrated by E. H. Shepard, better known for drawing 'Winnie the Pooh'. For £2 it proved a very interesting read.

Samuel Pepys wrote his famous diary in London between 1660 (aged 27) and 1669. He was a senior civil servant. It was written in shorthand and never intended for publication. Pepys expresses personal opinions about individuals, the quality of sermons and his eye for women. We learn also of the Plays he attended, the plate he purchased and the food he ate, not to mention the quantity of drink consumed.

The diary contains important eye-witness accounts of the Restoration of the Monarchy (1660), the Plague (1665) and Great Fire of London (1666).

There is also mention of places in Essex. For example, "This day comes news from Harwich that the Dutch fleete are all in sight ... "(21 June 1667). In another, "I went home with Sir G Smith to dinner sending for one of my barrels of oysters, which was good, though come from Colchester where the plague hath been so much" (24 November 1665).

Pepys stayed in Epping overnight (27/ 28 February 1660) having accompanied his brother to Cambridge University. He wrote:

" ... and so that night, the road being pretty good but the weather rainy, to Epping, where we sat and played a game at cards, and after supper, and some merry talk with a plain bold maid of the house, we went to bed.

"Up in the morning, and had some red herrings to our breakfast, while my boot-heel was a-mending; by the same token the boy left the hole as big as it was before. Then to horse, and for London through the forest".

From the Times Newspaper Sept 24, 1891

To the Editor of The Times

Sir, Greensted Church near Ongar, the only church in England with a Saxon wooden nave (1030), well known to antiquarians, needs repairing. In the neighbourhood we have received the greater portion of the money required, but we still need £50. Will you kindly let me appeal to your readers for help?

The smallest sums will be gratefully received by William Howlett, Esq., Greensted Hall, churchwarden: Messrs Sparrow, bankers, Ongar; or by myself.

Yours faithfully,
FREDERICK ROSE, Rector
Greensted Rectory, Ongar, Sept. 19.

From the Times Newspaper Sept 19, 1840

The town and neighbourhood of Chipping Ongar were on Wednesday afternoon about half past 1, visited by an awful tempest. The electric fluid, followed by a tremendous crash, entered the roof of a malting occupied by Mr. Fordham, corn-factor, which, with the house at the south end, occupied by Mr. Reynolds, cooper, embraced a considerable frontage of the High-street. The interior of the malting, in which straw and wood were stowed, was soon in flames, which rapidly extended to a detached granary towards the north, and the Red Lion Inn, occupied by Mr. Sturdy, towards the south. A small engine kept in the town was soon at work, and by the exertions of the inhabitants the flames were prevented extending to a row of houses occupied by Mr. E. Carter, butcher, and others near the granary. It was, however, considered necessary to pull down parts of the Lion Inn and outbuildings, to stay the progress of the raging element. The malting which was the property of Mr. Abraham Offin, of Hutton, cottage and granary, were wholly destroyed, and the Lion Inn and malt-kiln much injured; the whole of the furniture and stock in trade at the Inn (amongst which was a hogshead of gin), were removed to the opposite houses, but considerable damage was done by breaking of the furniture, bottles, &c. The constabulary force stationed in the town and vicinity, aided by a party of the Epping force and firemen, who accompanied the Epping subscription engine, under the direction of Superintendent McInnes, rendered great service and encountered considerable risk of personal injury. Mr. Forster, plumber, and several other persons received injuries by the falling of timber, &c., but not of a dangerous nature. The property destroyed and injured was chiefly insured in the Notwithstanding this awful visitation, it is consolatory to reflect that no lives were lost.

Whilst Mr. McInnes was superintending the ruins in the evening, some diabolical villain threw a brickbat at him, and it struck his hat with violence, but he escaped personal injury

- Essex Herald.

Royal Exchange office.

Coroners' records can make fascinating if macabre reading. Two Elizabethan examples from Stapleford Tawney can be found in the Essex Record Office [T/A 428/1/89 and T/A 428/1/112].

On 20h May 1593, a coroner's jury enquired into the death of Thomas Waylett. In one long breathless sentence the clerk records "that on 13'h May the said Waylett was there [in Stapleford Tawney] driving a cart with three horses and a gelding when he stopped the cart and a wheel struck a mound of earth and by this one side was raised and the wood fell off onto the said Waylett and crushed him, whereby he died on 17th May following." The parish registers show that he was buried the day he died.

The coroner's enquiry continues, "The wood worth 2/8d remained in the hands of John Waylett and the cart worth 8/8d in the hands of Joan Luter of Stapleford aforesaid, widow [Joan Luther of Suttons Manor]." Why did they need to record the value and whereabouts of the wood and cart? The answer lies in the curious law of deodand. It was believed that any object or animal which contributed to someone's death somehow shared in the guilt. The object or its value in money was forfeited to the crown, which applied it to charitable use. Deodands were not formally abolished until 1846.

The jury's verdict on the death was "By misfortune".

Seven years later in 1600 there was an even more grisly case - the death of Joan, wife of William Bone, tiler, of Stapleford Tawney. "On 16h December between 8 and 9 in the morning, the said Joan being in the house of George Sherbolt there [in Stapleford Tawney], went out of the house to a wood called Highfield Springe and with a knife worth 2d cut her throat, giving herself a mortal wound 2" deep and 3" wide of which she died instantly." The verdict was "Felo de se", or suicide.

Whatever possessed her to do such a terrible thing? Why was she in George Sherbolt's house and not her own home? The parish registers give few clues. Joan and William had been married for 14 years but no children are recorded. George Sherbolt (usually spelt Shadbolt) had married only 4 years before and already had two children, with another on the way at the time of Joan's death. Perhaps Joan worked in some way for this young growing family. Whatever her situation, she went out that December morning to "Highfield Spring". A spring is an Essex name for a small wood, either in a plantation or a strip along a field boundary. The name High Field appears on an 18th century map of Little Tawney Hall land and has a strip of woodland down one side. The 1837 Tithe Map identifies the wood as High Field Spring. It is still there, by the brook behind Howfields and Brookmead Cottages, but is now known as Well Eaves.

There is no record of Joan's burial in the church registers. Suicide was a crime until quite recently and, like other criminals, suicides were not given a Christian burial. Perhaps poor Joan Bone was buried in the wood where she died.

The state of local roads has always given rise to problems. The first attempt to improve the maintenance of roads through legislation dates from 1555⁹. In that year the office of surveyor of the highways was created through an Act of Parliament. Local Justices of the Peace were required to appoint a surveyor each year at Easter and men of the parish were then required to contribute labour and materials towards the restoration of the highways. There were two categories of contribution; broadly, landowners were to supply one cart with oxen, horses etc. and two men four times a year; individual householders and labourers were to provide their own labour also on those days. Defaulters were to be penalised. The labour that was legally required was known as 'statute labour' - it was hardly a passing fad since the law relating to 'statute labour' continued until 1835-36.

In operation, it was clear that this simple division of the supplied effort was only crudely means-tested, in current terminology, and hence was judged to be unfair. A further Highways Act of 1576 extended the labour qualification rules of the earlier Act in the interest of correcting the imbalance. The poor state of the roads continued and this system of maintenance was found wanting.

An alternative scheme was to charge the users of the road. The revenue that was then raised was used to directly maintain the road. The first turnpike¹ was set up in 1663 under the Turnpike Act, and covered a 15 mile stretch of the Great North Road from Wadesmill to Royston. This must have been regarded as experimental in some sense, since it was not until 1696 that a second turnpike was instigated. Thereafter turnpikes were introduced with increasing frequency until by 1750 most major routes had been covered in this manner. The most active period for the formation of turnpike trusts was the period between 1751 and 1772.

A succession of acts followed from the first Turnpike Act. Some of these were required to set up individual Turnpike Trusts, but some attempted to directly restrict the damage done to the road by the traffic. This objective was followed using a number of strategies; limiting the number of horses in draught to six, except up a hill, this number being subsequently reduced to five; requiring 'fellies'¹² typically to be more than nine inches in width; prohibiting the use of horses at length, rather than in pairs; limiting the breadth of a cart, by limiting the width at the wheelbase. These acts allowed full rein to invention; 'bevelled' wheels, which were even more damaging to a road surface, were used to confound the restriction on the width of the fellies; axle-trees were bent, when the wheels were not perpendicular so that a cart could be wider than the width of the wheels at base.

The Act of Parliament, which created the Epping Highway Trust, came into force on the first Monday in May in 1769. The Act specified the repair of "the road from the north part of Harlow Bush Common, in the parish of Harlow to Woodford, in the County of Essex". The Act sought to provide for the incorporation of earlier relevant legislation into the new Act, and was to continue for twenty-one years. Many local Justices of the Peace, appointed to be trustees, are listed in the body of the Act. The qualification of the trustees and their conduct is clearly defined.

The trustees were empowered both to retain existing turnpikes and tollhouses and to construct new ones. The tolls were precisely calculated; in detail they were to be determined as follows:

"For every coach, chariot, chaise or calash¹³, drawn by one pair of horses, mares, geldings, or mules, six pence; and drawn by four horses, mares, geldings, or mules, nine pence; and drawn by six horses, mares, geldings, or mules, one shilling.

For every chaise drawn by one horse, mare, gelding, or mule, three pence;

For every cart drawn by one horse, mare, gelding, or mule, or ass, if a-breast, eight pence; and drawn by more than one horse, mare, gelding, or mule, or ass, at length, six pence;

For every cart drawn by three or more horses, mares, geldings, mules, or asses, nine pence;

Fore every wagon or wain, one shilling;

For every horse, mare, gelding, or mule, or ass, laden or unladen, and not drawing, one penny;

For oxen or neat cattle, ten pence per score; and so in proportion for a greater or less number;

For sheep, calves, and swine, five pence per score; and so in proportion for a greater or less number."

It may be concluded from the above toll listing that a scale had been drawn up where a toll was closely proportionate to the damage done to the highway. Failure to pay a toll would result in the seizing of animals, goods and chattels, with subsequent sale, if the toll is unpaid after four days; any over-recovery of the toll would be refunded, less any costs incurred! Tolls would only be paid once in any day.

The Act was well and comprehensively drafted, but it was not the first such act, of course. Several clauses in the Act refer to reprehensible practices to avoid payment. Such practices include forgery of toll tickets, the taking away or subsequent addition of horses etc. in order to reduce the toll. Assaulting or obstructing the collectors in the levying of the tol! was to be punished by a fine of five pounds over and above any other costs. Other provisions made by the act include permitting the trustees to raise credit against future toll revenues; allowing extraction of gravel and making safe the resulting gravel pit; empowering surveyors to top and lop trees; allowing the building of causeways, bridges and temporary roads; consenting to the undertaking of statute work by persons within the parishes through which the highway passes; levying fines for the defacing of milestones (for which the penalty was two pounds for each incident, with "a moiety" going to any informer).

At a meeting of the Trustees on June 19, 1786, a petition was received from the inhabitants of North Weald Basset "praying the trustees to extend the powers of the said Act [of 1769] and carry the Epping turnpike road through their parish, and so towards Chelmsford ... " At a subsequent meeting the Trustees resolved unanimously to proceed with the request, but apparently the state of the road was likely to result in burdensome maintenance. Accordingly, the Trustees requested the renewal of the Epping Turnpike Act "upon proper terms and conditions" but it was not intended to extend the road past the Four-wants-way in Shelley. However, when intentions were known, the Trustees of Essex Roads made no objections to creating a new turnpike road from Epping through to Chelmsford.

The cost of the new road was anticipated to be high and the provision to make higher tolls was requested. The parish of Writtle was absolved from paying tolls for just the journey into Chelmsford provided that the parish of Writtle maintained the road in good order at parish expense; no toll between Writtle and Chelmsford was to be levied. With other objections satisfied the turnpike was set up. The progressive and piecemeal straightening of the A414 road between North Weald and Chelmsford has masked the original course of the turnpike, which served its purpose for more than 200 years.

By 1829, the number of such trusts had reached over 1,000 and 22,000 miles of road were covered within Britain. Approximately 7,000 gates provided the opportunity to pay a toll. The last turnpike trust was created in 1836 on a short length of road in Hastings.

It may be said that problems associated with the maintenance of roads in the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries have close and interesting parallels with the present. Road congestion, rather than maintenance, now provides the motivation for road pricing. The London congestion charge, with its exemptions, and the introduction of motorway tolls are close echoes of the turnpike system.

As might be expected turnpikes were not popular. Turnpikes offered the opportunity for considerable lawlessness!¹⁴ These varied from simply disputing charges and ignoring turnpike gates, to violence towards toll collectors and the vandalism of turnpike gates. Occasionally, the turnpike was the scene of riots. Sometimes soldiers confronted rioters with force.

Following riots at Ledbury, armed rioters and townsmen faced each other. The Riot Act was read but the townsmen had already taken two prisoners and a gunfight took place with the aim of freeing them; the result was that one rioter died. The prisoners were duly brought to trial. Benjamin records the result of the trial:

"On Friday, 8th of April, two of the rioters were hanged at Worcester, and a party of soldiers attended the execution, as the turnpike levellers had been very tumultuous at the trial; but no further disturbance took place, Another rioter was hanged at Tyburn.

In the account it is stated that he was cut down by the executioner as usual, but as the coffin was being fastened he thrust back the lid. The executioner would have hanged him again, but the mob prevented it, and carried him to a house and gave him a glass of wine, when he died immediately from haemorrhage."

Perhaps it was false economy to buy wine by the glass!

At a Film Convention in London last October an amateur B&W film was shown which particularly fascinated me. The titles, which were hand written on a blackboard, read: -

"O.N.A. Sound News - Sound But Not Audible". "Talking Picture of Mr Burdett Filmed at Ongar'. " and Edited by W.N. Rest"

The Film opens with a smartly gentleman dressed in a dark suit with waistcoat white shirt and bow tie. opens the front door of a cottage and waves to the audience. He is quite a distinctive looking person wearing rimmed glasses with a moustache and pointed beard, which is mostly grey, aged fifty or so. The cottage is a two storey white weather boarded structure with a tiled roof: there is porch canopy over the front door (possibly dating from the 1700s). He waves to the camera turns to the left and walks a few steps to a gate, which he opens. As he closes the gate he lights up a cigarette and takes a puff, he walks to the left flank of the cottage and sits down.

Mr Burdett then starts a monologue to the Camera: - "Good Evening Everyone -No I am not Bernard Shaw, but I am quite as good as you all know me as a film star. I am infinitely his superior. (Mr Bernard Shaw appeared in early Movietone Sound Newsreels). If this reel is not much of a success that is not my fault! The only extraordinary thing is that you can see or hear me at all! Therein lies my superb artistry. Usually Bill doesn't know anything about this business. He's over there now just turning a handle or something. As a matter of fact that is about all he does, he puts the film work out and that's that! So when the idea of making a talkie leaked through a crack in his skull, he immediately started as usual searching for his victim ... All Mr Burdett the very one! So here I am having been exposed, inversed recorded synchronized and all sorts of I's. What I am supposed to talk about I don't quite know and I cannot see whether you are listening to me or not. for one thing you are all sitting in the dark and though I hear that someone is talking at the back there. But this machine makes such a creaking noise that I can't hear distinctly. Now Stop rattling those chairs and listen to me will you!"

The End.

What is remarkable about this amateur sound film is that it was taken in the 1930's. The sound had been recorded on a 78 record without any sync link to the clockwork 9.5mm Cine Camera. It has only recently been discovered and using a computer the sound has now been synced with the picture. I am fortunate to have this unique gem on DVD. I became fascinated on finding out who was this witty gentleman and where in Ongar was this pioneering amateur film made?

On asking lifelong residents of Ongar, I was soon able to establish that Mr Burdett was Choirmaster & Organist at St Martins Church in the 1930's & 40's. and died in the 1940's. Charles kellam when shown the film confirmed that this was indeed Mr Burdett. He recalls that in the 1930@s when he was a young lad he used to pump the organ on Sundays, for which he was paid sixpences Rod Wingar was also in the choir. Charles recalls that Mr Burdett used to walk across the fields from his home in Greensted to St. Martin's church, a distance of about two miles. He lived at what is now New House Farm and Brook Cottage (not where the film was shot).

From a visit to the Essex Records Office I was able to ascertain that he was born in 1882 in West Ham. The 1901 Census records him as living in West Ham with his parents and two younger brothers; aged 19 his occupation is listed as a Teacher. The St. Martins Church. Chipping Ongar Parochial Church Council Minutes from 1932 onwards record his active participation in the running of the Church as both Organist & Choirmaster. In 1932 he had agreed to a reduction from £50pa to £40pa to help the Church, as it was £20 overdrawn on a Budget of £230! The final payment made to him was on the 10h April 1944.

Following a hunch, I knew that The Ongar Millennium History Society were recording the details of the graves in the Town Cemetery, I phoned Felicity Barnes and she was able to tell me that he was indeed buried in Ongar behind the Chapel, near the fence. I was able to find his grave. Below a Cross the plinth reads: -

"In constant memory of my dearly loved husband
Edgar Spencer Burdett who fell asleep May 3rd 1944
well done thou good and faithful servant".

I still have not discovered where the film was taken, or who was William N. Rest? I am gradually finding out more and more about Mr Burdett who died just before I was born. He had a daughter I have a picture of him with Annie Barker who was an Ongar School Teacher.

Visitor's to St Mary's Church, Chigwell Row will notice as they walk through the entrance from the car park a Commonwealth War Grave in the churchyard. Not uncommon, but this one is special as it commemorates a soldier who won the Victoria Cross"S.

In 1880, aged 20, Thomas Edwards decided to join the Army and attested for service at York, joining the 6th Brigade for his training and general service. However, in August 1881 he was transferred to the 1st Battalion, The Royal Highlanders (The Black Watch). The majority of his military service, which totalled about 12 years, was spent with this regiment, the first six or seven years spent in Egypt and the Sudan.

Edwards was soon involved in the Egyptian campaigns that were to take place from 1882-89. These various campaigns revolved around a particular individual known as the Mahdi who saw himself as the living reincarnation of the Prophet Mohammed. His rebellion which sought to remove the Sudan from Egyptian rule had already resulted in the defeat and massacre of at least three Egyptian expeditionary forces as they sought to advance up the Nile to capture the Mahdi and put down the rebellion.

The Battle of Tamaai involved both units of the British Army and the Navy who were attempting to move in support of the Egyptians. This battle again saw the enormous fanaticism of the Mahdi's Dervishes pitched against the disciplined but heavily out-numbered British and Egyptian troops. Edwards was part of a naval gun team responsible for carrying the gun's ammunition on mules and defending the team. As the battle developed the Dervishes threatened to overrun some of the guns and Edwards' gun in particular became seperated from the main part of the British force. Several of his gun team were killed, including the naval officer in charge - but Edwards took charge of events, succeeded in saving the gun, the mules and the ammunition, whilst returning what remained of the naval gun team to safety despite bing wounded several times. His conspicuous gallantry was registered by the award of the Victoria Cross two months later on 21 May 1884.

[ London Gazette, 21 May 1884 ], Mahdi Rebellion, Tamaai, Sudan, 13 March 1884, Private Thomas Edwards, 1st Bn, The Royal Highlanders ( The Black Watch ).

"For the conspicuous bravery displayed by him in defence of one of the guns of the Naval Brigade at the battle of Tamaai on 13th March 1884. This man ( who was attached to the Naval Brigade as Mule Driver ) was beside the gun with Lieutenant Almack RN, and a blue jacket. Both the latter were killed and Edwards, after bayoneting two Arabs, and himself receiving a wound with a spear, rejoined the ranks with his mules and subsequently did good service in remaining by his gun throughout the action."

Thomas Edwards continued to serve in Egypt for two more years and then moved with The Black Watch back to Malta and then to the United Kingdom, where he was transferred to the reserve in 1892 as being of 'good' character. He remained a private throughout his service career.

After leaving the Army, Edwards married and had two children, a son and daughter, He moved from York to Essex late in life and lived in the village of Woodford Bridge. He died on the 27th March 1952, aged 91, and is registered has having been buried in the churchyard of St. Mary's at Chigwell, since the church at Woodford Bridge had no graveyard. Why he should have been buried in an unmarked grave is a mystery. Since the exact location of Thomas Edwards' grave within the churchyard of St. Mary's is not known, the Rector selected a prime site close to the entrance of the church where everyone arriving or departing would pass by and admire the memorial stone.

Epping Forest District Museum has joined forces with Theatre Resource on an exciting new project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

About the project

Great Stony in Chipping Ongar is home to Theatre Resource, an arts organisation specialising in working with disabled people and other socially-excluded groups.

The building dates back to 1908. It was built as part of a 'Cottage Homes' site by the Hackney Board of Guardians and many local people still know the school as 'Hackney Homes'. In 1939 the site became a residential school for children with learning disabilities. The school closed in 1994.

Over the next six months, Theatre Resource and Epping Forest District Museum will be recording the history of the building, collecting memories and photographs and running a series of arts events. The project will result in an exhibition opening at Great Stony in 2007 before touring to other venues across the Eastern Region.

Can you help?

We are looking for people who worked, lived or were associated with Great Stony School or 'Hackney Homes'. If you have memories of the school or any other information that might be of use, please let us know.

We are also looking for photographs and memorabilia to use in the upcoming exhibition. If you would like to contribute, or if you would prefer any photographs not to be included, please let us know.

22 February 2007
'The History of Auctions'
Tim Turner

22 March 2007
'Tommy'
The British Soldier on the Western Front 1914-1918
Professor Richard Holmes

7.30pm - St Mary's Church, High Ongar
(see separate flyer)

29 March 2007
Annual General Meeting

26th April 2007
'Smuggling Along the Essex Coast'
Dan Johnson

Following the successful trip to Waterloo last year several members are going on Graeme Cooper's trip

Passchendale to the Somme
(The lifestyles, the privations, the men the women. The Great War sacrifices at Ypres, Fromelles, Monchey Le Preux, Mansel Copse, Mametz Wood and others.)

27th - 30h July.