High Country History Group

Up and down the country, the Church of England still holds services using the Book of Common Prayer – sometimes referred to as ‘1662 service’. In some quarters its words are regarded as central to the liturgy. But it was an Act of Parliament which ordained its use, effective from St Bartholomew’s Day (24 August) 1662.

Samuel Pepys, a Londoner, wrote in his diary:

“August 17th. (Lord’s Day). Up very early, this being the last Sunday that the Presbyterians are to preach, unless they read the Common Prayer and renounce the Covenant, and so I had mind to hear Dr Bates’s farewell sermon, and walked to St Dunstan’s, where, it not being seven o’clock yet, the doors were not open; and so I went and walked an hour in the Temple-garden … . At eight o’clock I went, and crowded in at the back door among others, the church being half-full almost before any doors were open publicly; which is the first time that I have done so these many years since I used to go with my father and mother; and so got into the gallery, beside the pulpit, and heard very well.”

This must have been the last Sunday when John Willis preached in Ingatestone. Following ejection “he did not move any great distance, but established a conventicle at Brentwood, in conjunction with Thomas Gibson, who had been ejected from Little Baddow. There they had a licence for a ‘Presbyterian meeting house’ in 1672, and Rector Willis probably remained there until his death in 1679” (EE Wilde, Ingatestone & The Essex Great Road (1913) p176). This was the formation of what became the Congregational Church (more recently Brentwood United Reformed Church).

D W Coller, wrote about the events of 1662 in his book ‘The People’s History of Essex’ (1861)

“Then came the Act of Uniformity, which banished all strange doctrine from the pulpit and restored the liturgy in its completeness; and 2,000 of the clergy, many of them in Essex, with a sincerity which astonished the kingdom, abandoned their snug vicarages and comfortable rectory-houses, and went forth, voluntarily embracing a life of hardship and poverty rather than accept the articles of subscription which were tendered to them as the condition of retaining their cures. The following is a list of some of the ejected clergy in this county: it shows at once the extent of the suffering, and the parishes which had been under pastors whose teaching had been most hostile to the system of the Church:

Laver (Magdalen): Mr Harvey
Laver (High): Mr Samuel Borfet, King’s Col. Camb
Laver (Little): Edward Whiston, M.A., Trin. Col. Camb
Moreton: Edmund Calamay, M.A., Sydney Col. Camb
Ongar (Chipping): Mr John Lorkin
Shelley: Mr Zackery Finch
Stanford Rivers: Mr Matthew Ellistone
Stapleford (Abbots): Mr Lewis Calandrine
Stapleford (Tawney): Mr Ward
Thoyden Mount: Mr Francis Chandler

“It appears to have been feared that these nonconformist exiles would in many instances carry their congregations from the parish altars, and leave the churches desolate. An act was therefore passed prohibiting separate congregations, and forbidding any dissenting teacher to come within five miles of any place at which he had preached. Dissent prevailed in the county, nevertheless, and to a great extent, - so hard is it to coerce the conscience by human law; and though these restrictions, with occasional modifications, were continued for a century afterwards, conventicles, as they were called, were set up in secure and secret places, precautions being taken to elude the watchful constable and the lurking informer. An illustration of this existed up to about a year ago in the old chapel in Baddow-lane, Chelmsford. A sliding panel was to be seen in the wall at the back of the pulpit. The tradition is, that the original building was a solitary barn, and through this loop-hole, the minister and the people who dared to worship God in what the law called an illegal manner, had a ready means to escape to the wood, which then skirted the rear of the building, and extended to Galleywood Common to the river, while the soldiers employed to hunt the fugitives were thundering the bolted door.”

The following are extracts from a book published in 1605, the year of John Stow’s death. The book is introduced as “A BRIEFE DESCRIPTION OF ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, WALES AND CORNWALL”, set out in chronological order and running to 1437 pages, abruptly ending in July 1605.

Page 966
“1536
Henry, Duke of Richmond
The 22 of July, Henry Duke of Richmond and Somerset, earle of Nottingham, a bastard son of K. Henry, borne at Blakamore in Essex, of the lady Tailboise, that time called Elizabeth Blunt, died at St James, and was buried at Thetford in Norfolke.”

Page 1112
“1563
Tempest at London.
The 8 of July, in the morning, hapned a great tempest of lightning & thunder, wherethrough a woman and three kine were slaine in the Covent garden neere to Charing crosse. At the same time in Essex a man was torne to peeces as he was carrying hay, his barne being borne downe, and his hay brent: both stones and trees were rent in many places.”

Page 1115
“1565
Tempest at Chelmsford
The 16 of July, about nine of the clocke at night began a tempest of lightning and thunder, with showers of haile, which continued till three of the clock the next morning so terrible that at Chelmsford in Essex 500 acres of corne were destroyed, the glass windows on the east side of the tower, and the west & south sides of the church were beaten downe, with also the tiles of their houses, beside diverse barnes, chimneies, and the battlements of the church which were overthrown. The like harme was done in many other places, as at Leedes, Cranelnooke, Dover & c.”

Page 1135
“1572
Sir William Peter deceased.
The thirteenth of January deceased William Peter knight, who for his judgement and pregnant wit, had bene Secretary and of privy counsell to foure kings and queenes of this realme, and seven times lord ambassador abroad in foraine lands: he augmented Exeter colledge in Oxford with lands to the paine of an hundred pound by yeare: and also builded ten almes houses in the parish of Ingerstone for twenty poore people, ten within the house, and ten without the house, having every one two pence the day, a winter gowne, and two loade of wood, and among them feeding for six kine winter and sommer, and a chaplaine to say them service daily.”

Page 1166
“1581
Mice devour the grasse at Danesey.
About Hallowtide last past, in the marshes of the Danesey Hundred in a place called Southminster in the countie of Essex, a strange thing hapned: there sodainlie appeared an infinite multitude of mice, which overwhelmed the whole earth in the said marshes, did sheare and gnaw the grasse by the rootes, spoyling and tainting the same with their verimous teeth, in such sort, that the cattell which grazed thereon were smitten with a murerine, and died thereof, which vermine by policie of man could not be destroyed, till, at the last it came to passe that there flocked together all about the same marshes, such a number of owles as all the shire was not able to yield: whereby the marsh-holders were shortly delivered from the veration of the said mice.”

Page 1169
“1582
John Paine executed at Chelmeford
John Paine priest, being indicted of high treason for words by him spoken to one Eliot, was attained and condemned at Chelmesford on the last of March, and was there executed on the second day of Aprill.”

The cow is a mammal. It has six sides, right, left, an upper and below. At the back it has a tail, on which hangs a brush. With this it sends flies away so that they do not fall into the milk. The head is for the purpose of growing horns and so that the mouth can be somewhere. The horns are to butt with, and the mouth is to moo with. It is arranged for milking. When people milk, the milk comes and there is never an end to the supply. How the cow does I have not yet realized but it makes more and more.

The cow has a fine sense of smell, one can smell it far away. This is the reason for the fresh air in the country.

The man cow is called an ox. It is not a mamal. The cow dos not eat much but what it eats it eats twice so that it gets enough, When it is hungry it moos and when it says nothing it is because its inside is all full up with grass.

Village Honours its War Dead.

A tablet in the nave of St Margaret’s Church, Stanford Rivers, to those of the parish who “went and returned not” from the 1939-45 war was on Sunday unveiled by Sir Drummond Spencer-Smith, Bart, and dedicated by the Rector.

The tablet is under the 1914-18 war memorial and bear the following names: Frank B. Spinall, Robert D. Delaney, Theodora A.Metcalf, Victor G.Pledge, Victor Staines, William C. Whitbread.

At the same time a picture of “The Madonna and the Child,” presented by Sir Drummon Spencer-Smith was also unveiled and dedicated “in token of our reverence for the Queen of Mothers and the Holy Child she was chosen to bear, and in loving remembrance of mothers and children everywhere.”

The special service was conducted by the Rector, and Mrs Pearl was at the organ. Seats were reserved for relatives and friends, and the British Legion, both sections, attended. Their colours were presented by Mr. C. Sutton and Mrs. Cloughton.

In an address the Rector emphasised the deep meaning of the service and stressed the fact that in nature and history, in religion and life, sacrifice was central. Only as life was given could life result and grow in greater fullness. God was a giving God, and we were closest to God when we gave.

After the singing of the National Anthem, the Rector quoted some lines written by his friend, Thomas Moult:
“How beautiful they are.
How bright their eyes.
Their hands have grasped the key of Paradise;
They hold it out to us,
Our men, our sons….
To us the lonely ones.”

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Essex Chronicle 2nd January 1942

CANTEEN DESTROYED - On Monday evening Ongar Fire Brigade were called to an outbreak at Messrs. Piggott Bros. factory at Stanford Rivers. They found a large wooden building, used as a canteen and store, blazing furiously. Difficulty was experienced in obtaining water from the River Roding, and the building and contents were destroyed.

The Ongar Brigade was under Chief Officer Luck and Capt. Eley. Other fire fighting appliances came from Brentwood, Abridge, Fyfield, Epping, Harlow and Theydon Bois, and the fire was prevented from spreading to other buildings.

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Essex Chronicle May 12th 1939.

FIRE AT INN

Occupants of the Moletrap Inn, Stapleford Tawney, left their rooms early yesterday in their nightclothes when old beams over the fireplace in the bar parlour caught alight. People from adjoining cottages formed a bucket chain from the tap on the green outside to the house and got the fire under control.

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SIGNED AS AMATEUR FOR MILWALL

Anthony Twynham, 18year-old agricultural student from Stapleford Tawney, has signed amateur forms for Millwall.

He is an inside-forward of great promise, who played for Epping Town, and Brentwood and Warley. Fulham, West Ham, and Leyton Orient were all interested in him.

He played twice last year for the London Youths team. His first match is on Wednesday for Millwall against Brentford Reserves.

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Essex Chronicle January 9th, 1942.

VETERAN FARMER – The death occurred on Friday of Mr. William Herbert East, of Hardings Farm, [Greensted] who was 79. He came from Hill Farm, Woodford, to Hardings, in 1903. For 60 years he had been a member of the A.O.F., Court Pride of Wanstead.

He leaves a widow, one son and two daughters. He lost three sons, Edward George, who dies in October, 1917, from wounds received in France; and Thomas William and Charles Herbert, age 27 and 25, who died within three days of each other in November 1918.

The funeral was on Monday at Greensted Parish Church, the Rector officiating. The internment was in the grave of his sons.

Letters to the Overseers of the Poor, Theydon Mount

The spelling is as it is written in the letters. Occasionally the words are indistinct and are indicated thus……

[1]

To Mr John Keys Church Warden of Thardin Mount, near Epin in Esex.

Sir,
I have not had aney thing dune to me sence i have be in hear I hame to come out of the houes one Tuesday next I hope you will be so good as to send for me down i not havein aneye ware to go from your humbell servant

Eliz Brown

December 30 1799

Aloud Ward, Barthlo.. hof….[Bartholomews Hospital ?]

****

[2]

1831 March 21st Plaistow

To the Gentlemen Overseers Thaydon Mount near Epping, Essex.

Sir, by the desire of Harriet Baker which she thought it her duty to Dew to have me to write to you that is to let you know that the young man that she is with child by is usely (?) to be taken for he is home from sea and is come to the parish where he belong and if you wish to get her a husband you must be quick about it for she and I both saw him yesterday and he talked with Harriet and me and she expect her time every day.
so no more from your

Harriet Baker.

28 March 1831

Sir,
I am instructed to addrefs you by the Officers of this Parish upon the subject of a contemplated marriage between the Paupers one belonging to this and one to your Parish - viz. Thomas Killerby and Harriet Baker. This woman (farmed out by you) being far advanced in pregnancy. You have taken out a warrant against Thos. Killerby as the father - likewise farmed out by us, we understand you are to pay the Fees he not having...and to advance a sum of money. He is under age, and admits he has not a stick of furniture and is without means of maintaining a wife, and proposes going to sea. He must either be married by banns or licence. By the first mode their respective Parishes must be described, by the latter they must be both of age. At .... events it is a ................. as ought not be adopted or sanctioned ... getting rid of a pauper, .............under the circumstances the marriage ............... and the child would belong to you. I however trust that... this information your Parish will not allow themselves any such measure.

28 March 1831
signed ?
Vestry Clerk.

May 16 1831
Letter to the Churchwardens, Theydon Mount, Essex

Gentlemen
Notwithstanding my letter of the 28th March, it appears your people have had the Pauper Killerby and the Pauper Baker married - and they have been forced back with a child born in your Parish. I now write to know whether in you will consent to allow 2/6 a week for the child or if I must summons you which will be in London. In order to avoid the expense of two journies with the woman and child.

Bishopsgate 16 May 1831
signed Sir L. Smart.

Springfield Convict Gaol

To the Overseer of Theydon Mount, near Epping, Essex.

April 20th

Sir,
I therefore address you with this letter to inform you that I have very ill and thanks be to God I now gitting better of my illness. I shall esteem it as a favour if you wold confirm me when Harriett was confined that I may be able to say how long that I am to be confined heare (please to give my love to her) and I think long till the time comes that will relieve me from this as the place is all to gather wheary unheallfull.

I conclude with my kindest love to all that ask after me

Thomas Kellerby

N.B. please to send me answer by the return of post and pay the postage of the letter if you please.

Part of the Greensted Hall Estate
Freehold Properties
at
Greensted, Essex.

For Sale by Auction
at Winchester House, Old Broad Street, EC
on Monday 10th day of May, 1920
at 2.30pm

Two Valuable Farms
extending to

206a. 1r. 27p

and comprising

TWO VALUABLE FARMS

ACCOMMODATION LAND

and Modern Country Cottage.

POSSESSION AT MICHAELMAS, 1920

LOT 1
The Valuable Small Farm, with Good Residence suitable for a Hunting Box known as NEW HOUSE FARM situate in the Parishes of GREENSTED and BOBBINGWORTH, about 10 minutes walk
from Blake Hall Station.

The House
which is situated on rising ground, well back from the road, is approached by a Carriage Drive, and contains Three Front Bed-Rooms, Three Back Bed-Rooms, and Two Box Rooms, Two Staircases, Dining Room, Drawing Room, Office, Large Kitchen, Pantry and Cellar.

The Company's water is laid on to the house.

There is a good Garden and the Outbuildings comprise Coal Shed, Wash-house, with Copper and W.C.

A DETACHED COTTAGE containing Two Bed Rooms, Sitting Room, Kitchen and Scullery.

The Farm Buildings
include modern Loose Boxes and Harness Room, Two Trap Sheds and Granary over, Large Open Barn Cow Stalls for Sixteen Cows, Loose Boxes, Open and Closed Cattle Sheds, Grain Barn with Cement Floor, Three Horse Stable, with Loft over and Loose Boxes, Hen House and Pig Pounds, and

34a. 0r. 39p.

of Arable and Pasture Land

Let, with other land, on a Yearly Tenancy expiring at Michaelmas, 1920, to Mr. C.A. Millbank, at a Rent apportioned for the purpose of this Sales at £60 per annum.

OUTGOINGS
Tithe Rent Charges (commuted amount)

Parish of Greensted £6. 16 6
Do. Parish of Bobbingworth £1 7 1

The Growing Timber is included in the Sale, except certain marked trees already sold.

The Purchaser will be required to take to and pay for the Tenant Right Valuation as due to the Outgoing Tenant.

LOT 2

The Valuable Dairy Farm KNOWN AS HARDINGS FARM
situate in the Parish of GREENSTED, and about 10 minutes walk from Blake Hall Station.

The Modern Farmhouse
which stands on high ground, contains 5 Bed-Rooms, One Box Room, Dining Room, Drawing Room, Large Kitchen, Scullery, Larder, Dairy, Cellar and WC.

The Company's water is laid on to the House.

The Farm Buildings
which are mainly substantially built brick buildings and include Cooling Room, Wood Shed, three Henhouses, Nag Stable, Coach-house. Two Stalls and Granary, Cowstall for 16 Cows Stable for Five Horses, Harness and Chaff Sheds, Second Cowstall for 18 Cows, and Open Four-bay Shed with manger. Two loose Boxes and Open Sheds used as Piggeries. Pig Pounds, closed Implement Shed and Six-bay Card Shed, and

12a. 1r. 3p.

of Arable and Pasture Land

Held over with other Lands, on a Yearly (Michaelmas) Tenancy on terms of an expired Lease dated 10th October, 1904, by Mr. W.H. East, at a Rent apportioned for the purpose of this Sale at £138 per annum.
OUTGOINGS:
Tithe Rent Charge (commuted amount) £37 14s 0d.
No Land Tax is paid.

The Growing Timber is included in the Sale, except certain marked trees already sold.

LOT 3

The Enclosures of Arable and Pasture Land.

19a.0r.7p

of Arable and Pasture Land with a Frontage to the Road running from TOOTHILL to GREENSTED GREEN.

Mr W. H. East £22 per annum.
Tithe Rent Charge (commuted amount) £4.14s.6d.

LOT 4

The Enclosures of Arable Land

24a.2r.26p. Situate on the road leading from DRAPERS CORNER to GREENSTED GREEN with PLANTATION.

C.A. Millbank £30 per annum.
£8.7s.0d.

LOT 5

A Modern Country Cottage.

Brick-built and rough cast with half-timber work, containing Three Bed Rooms (two with fireplaces), Sitting Room, Kitchen and Pantry, with a Small Garden.

Let on a Quarterly Tenancy to Miss Lockyer, at a Rental of 5s. per week, Landlord paying Outgoings.

CHARLES JAMES by DIVINE PERMISSION Bishop of London.

To our beloved in CHRIST Richard Thomas Clerk, Greeting. We do by these Presents give and grant unto you in whose Fidelity, Morls, Learning, sound Doctrine and Diligence, We do fully confide our Licence and Authority to perform the Office of Stipendiary Curate in the Parish Church of Stanford Rivers in the County of Essex within our Diocese and Jurisdiction, in reading the Common Prayers, and performing other Ecclesiastical Duties belonging to the said Office, according to form prescribed in the Book of Common Prayer made and published by Authority of Parliament, and the Canons and Constitution in that Behalf lawfully established and promulgated, and not otherwise, or in any other Manner (you having first before us subscribed the Articles, taken the Oaths, and made and subscribed the Declaration, which in this case are required by Law to be subscribed, made and taken): And We do by these Presents assign unto you the yearly Stipend of Seventy Five pounds to be paid Quarterly, for serving the said Cure and we direct you to live in the Parish.

IN WITNESS whereof, We have caused our Seal which we use in this to be hereto affixed. Dated the Eighth Day of July in the Year of our Lord One Thousand eight hundred and thirty one and in the third year of our Translation.

Jn. SHEPHARD
D/ Registrar

On Monday last clothing to the amount of £115 was distributed among the poor by the Clothing Club at Stanford Rivers, which has been established ten years.

Dating from the 14th century, the vestry was a parish parliament chaired by the parish priest or in his absence the churchwarden or, in the absence of both, an elected member of the meeting.

In England, until the 19th century, the parish vestry was in effect what today we would usually call a parochial church council. Vestries were responsible not only for the ecclesiastical affairs of the parish but all the other administrative requirements of lay business. Records of parish business would be stored in a parish chest kept in the church and provided for security with three locks, the keys to which would be held by the incumbent and the churchwardens.

Parish vestries were responsible for the maintenance of the church and its services, the keeping of the peace, the repression of vagrancy, the relief of destitution, the mending of roads, the suppression of nuisances, the destruction of vermin, the furnishing of soldiers and sailors, even to some extent the enforcement of religious and moral discipline.

Vestries were either open vestries or select vestries. Open vestries were rather like today's parish meetings. An open vestry was a general meeting of all inhabitant rate-paying householders in a parish.

A select vestry or "close" vestry was the governing body of a parish, the members generally having a property qualification and being recruited more or less by co-option. The open vestry elected the bulk of the select vestry members or, if dissatisfied, could exercise their power to do so.
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Parish of Stanford Rivers

The Inhabitants of this Parish are requested to meet in Public Vestry at the Church on Saturday the 25th day of March Instant at Eleven o’clock in the forenoon to examine and pafs the Surveyors Accounts for the current Year; for electing one or more persons to serve the office of Surveyor of Highways and appoint Churchwardens and to nominate Overseers and Afsefsors for the ensuing Year,

Dated March 18th 1865.

Thomas Stallibrass } Overseers
Charles Clark }
Select Vestry

Whereas in and by the Statute made and passed in the 59th Year of his late Majesty's Reign, intituled "An Act to amend the Laws for the Relief of the Poor, " it is enacted that it shall be lawful for the Inhabitants of any Parish, in the Vestry assembled, to establish a select Vestry for the concerns of the Poor of such Parish, and to that end to nominate and elect in any Vestry such and so many substantial Householders or Occupiers within such Parish, not exceeding the Number of Twenty, nor less than Five, as shall in any such Vestry be thought fit to be Members of the Select Vestry; and that the Rector, Vicar, or Minister of the Parish, and, in his absence, the Curate thereof (such Curate being resident in and charged to the Poor Rates of such Parish) and the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor for the time being, together with the Inhabitants who shall be nominated and elected as aforesaid (such Inhabitants being first thereto appointed by Writing under the Hand and Seal of one of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace, which appointment he is thereby authorized and required to make), shall be and constitute a Select Vestry, for the care and management of the concerns of the Poor of such Parish, And whereas information is made and given on this seventh Day of April in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty two, unto Us, whose Hands and Seals are hereunto subscribed and set, being Two of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace in and for the County of Essex, that the Inhabitants of the Parish of Stanford Rivers in the said County, have nominated and elected, in manner aforesaid, substantial Householders and Occupiers within the said Parish: We, therefore, by virtue and in pursuance of the authority and requisition aforesaid, do herby appoint the following substantial Householders and Occupiers, that is to say,

Jonathan Stokes John Smitheman
William Phillips John Palmer
John Stallibrass Benjamin Lewis
John Gingells John Mumford
John Bailey Henry Mott
John Mott William Smith
to be Members of the Select Vestry for the Care and Management of the Concerns of the Poor of the said Parish of Stanford Rivers in the said County, to continue and be empowered to act therein from the time of this appointment until fourteen Days after the next annual appointment of Overseers of the Poor of the said Parish shall take place.

Given under our Hands and Seals, at the Town Hall in Chipping Ongar in the said County - the Day and Year above written.

H. J Earle Bridges Hawg (?)

The article by Michael Leach in the previous issue of this Journal illuminated a little known tale of some panels of local stained glass. The story outlined the travels of the glass fragments from a window of St Andrew’s church, Greensted, to New Zealand and their intended return many years later in 1870. The return journey was not completed because the ship that was entrusted with the glass, the Challenger, is recorded as being lost in 1871; the crew and passengers were saved but the glass has never been recovered.

The article perhaps suggests a closer look at some more of the stained glass in the High Country. As a first example, look at the figure in the lower right of the east window in St Margaret’s, Stanford Rivers. The figure is Caedmon. Caedmon occupies, despite his rustic demeanour and his modest place in the window, a unique position in the history of English literature.

Caedmon was attached to the double monastery of Streonæshalch (Whitby Abbey) during the abbacy of St. Hilda (614–680, abbess from 657). He was an Anglo-Saxon whose work was as a herdsman in the monastery. He was said to be ignorant of "the art of song", and probably illiterate, but his fortunes were to change overnight, literally. The learned 8th-century monk, Bede, has recorded his story in his Historia. One night in a visionary dream, Caedmon learned to compose poetry. The monks of the abbey duly wrote down the details of the vision. His skill developed and he started to put into English verse passages that were translated from the scriptures. In due course Caedmon became an elderly and respected monk. Although not a saint, he was acknowledged as being very saintly; his actual death was said to be particularly so.

What is Caedmon’s place in English literature? Cædmon is one of only twelve Anglo-Saxon poets identified in medieval sources. Furthermore, he is one of only three for whom both biographical information and examples of literary output have survived. His only known surviving work is Cædmon's Hymn, a nine-line vernacular praise poem in honour of God, which he supposedly learned to sing in his initial dream. The poem is one of the earliest attested examples of Old English It is also one of the earliest recorded examples of sustained poetry in a Germanic language.

It would not be appropriate to omit the surviving work of Caedmon. It appears in several dialects. As may be anticipated from its historical significance, the hymn has been thoroughly studied and analysed by students. It presents an opportunity for you also to practice your Old English.

Caedmon’s Hymn in Old English

nu scylun hergan hefaenricaes uard
metudæs maecti end his modgidanc
uerc uuldurfadur swe he uundra gihwaes
eci dryctin or astelidæ
he aerist scop aelda barnum
heben til hrofe haleg scepen.
tha middungeard moncynnæs uard
eci dryctin æfter tiadæ
firum foldu frea allmectig

Caedmon’s Hymn in Modern English translation

Now [we] must honour the guardian of heaven,
the might of the architect, and his purpose,
the work of the father of glory - as he the beginning of wonders
established, the eternal lord,
He first created for the children of men
heaven as a roof, the holy creator
Then the middle earth, the guardian of mankind
the eternal lord, afterwards appointed
the lands for men, the Lord almighty.

The reference to Caedmon in the St Andrew’s memorial window presents an image of a farmer of livestock, with a literary interest, maybe an especial interest in poetry? Does it also suggest a farmworker who rose from less modest beginnings to become a successful farmer.

A list of paupers belonging to the above Parish who have been relieved during the Quarter ending 25th December 1837.

[Also listed was the cost of providing relief for each pauper, which varied between 4s.5d to over £16 for Charles Baker who had been in the workhouse for 224 days.]

Laundy, George 13 years Bastard

Boutle, Sarah 61years Infirm

West, Joseph 12 years Orphan

West, Charles 10 years Orphan
Mansfield, Mary 39 years Widow with 3 children

Pegram, Mary 69 years Infirm

Merriday, George 10 years Orphan

Gann, William 33 years Earnings insufficient

Day, Jn. & Elizabeth 73 years Infirm

Wood, Tho. & Ann 71years Infirm

Madle, Susan 17 years Illness

Reeve, Jeremiah & Mary 65 years Infirm

Merriday, Sarah 12 years Clothing (Orphan) in Service

Franks, Geo. & Eliza 50 years Partly able only

Merriday, Stephen 10 years Orphan
Baker, Charles 8 years Bastard

PROGRAMME

2012/2013

“New Towns in Essex”
by Gareth Gunning

8.00pm, Thursday, 25th October
Toot Hill Village Hall

This talk is a repeat of a talk presented to the Essex Society for Archaeology and History at their prestigious annual Morant Lecture. The talk sets out to explore the founding principles of the design of Basildon, and Harlow, in particular. The talk reviews how original intentions have been compromised by new considerations and external factors over sixty years. The talk is copiously illustrated.

The talk for the 22nd November has still to be confirmed.

Meetings are held in Toot Hill Village Hall.
Meetings start at 8.00pm.

Visitors £3. Refreshments.

Details from 01277 364305.

Mrs Beeton’s Book of Household Management, 1861, was a guide to all aspects of running a household in Victorian Britain.

Sunday
Carrot soup

Roast beef, horseradish sauce, vegetables.

Plum pudding, mince pies.

Monday
Fried whiting, melted butter

Rabbit pie, cold beef, mashed potatoes

Plum pudding cut in slices and warmed apple tart

Tuesday
Hashed beef and broiled bones, pork cutlets and tomato sauce, vegetables

Baked lemon pudding

Wednesday
Boiled neck of mutton and vegetables, the broth served first with a little pearl barley or rice boiled in it.

Bakewell pudding

Thursday
Roast leg of pork, apple sauce, vegetables

Rice snowballs

Friday
Soles a la crème

Cold pork and mashed potatoes

Broiled rump steaks and oyster sauce

Rolled jam pudding

Saturday
The remains of cold pork, curried dish of rice, mutton cutlets, mashed potatoes

Baked apple dumplings

Mrs Beeton’s dinner for 6 persons with Christmas Fayre

First Course
Haunch of mutton
Soles a la maître d’hotel

Entrees
Pork cutlets and tomato sauce
Ragout of mutton a la jardinière
Second course
Roast goose
Boiled leg of mutton and vegetables

Third course
Pheasants
Whipped cream
Meringues
Compote of Normandy Pippins
Mince pies
Plum pudding

Desert and Ices.