MBBX. 



XI. I 



chapel t Thorpe. A customary market U held there on Wednesday 

 Toning. Walton possesses a firm aad extensive beach, au<l is moried 

 1 tliing by invalids from the eutern part* of Essex. Crescent 

 Pier at Walton u neat and convenient Deaidoi the pariah clum-li, 

 rooted about the commencement of the prewnt century, there are at 

 Walton a chapel for Independent* and an Infant school. Tl> 

 lation of the Uireo parishes in 1 -.M was as follow. :- Kirl 

 Thorpe, 1294 ; Walton, 729 ; total, 2956. 



SUmHed Montfckn, on the left bank of the river Ktort, is 20 mile* 

 N".\V. from Chelmaford, on the Newmarket road: population, 171i>. 

 It consist* mainly of two street* containing aome good house*. 

 Montfichet was the lurname of William Uurnon, who built a cattle 

 here shortly after the Conquest The church was erected in 1692. 

 There are British and Free schools. A fair is held on May 1st Some 

 flour-mills are in the neighbourhood. Brewing and malting are 

 carried ou. 



tt'riale, about 3 miles W. from Chelmsford, population 2423, was 

 formerly a market-town, but declined as Chelmsford rose into import- 

 ance. A square plot of ground with a moat round it, in which the 

 foundations of a building were dug up in the hut century, is supposed 

 to have been the site of a palace of King John. The church contains 

 many elegant monument*. There are here National and Free schools, 

 and almshouses for six poor persons. Malting and brewing are carried 

 on. Some corn-mills are in the vicinity. 



The following are aome of the more important village.*, with the 

 population of the several parishes in 1851, and a few other 

 particulars : 



Ardleigk, 27 miles S.E. from Chcluwford, population 1737; chiefly 

 agricultural The church has a south aisle and a handsome tower. 

 Athdo*, 30 miles N.K.W. from Chelmsford, population 1238, ia sup- 

 posed by some to have been the scene of a battle between Edmund 

 Ironside and Canute ; but the battle was more probably fought at 

 Aahingdon, near Canewdon. Arelcy, on the Marditch river, 26 miles 

 S.S.W. from Chelmsford, formerly a market town : population 811. 

 There are chalk pits in the vicinity. Great Baddme, 14 miles E. from 

 Chelmsford, population of the parish 2122. Little Baddow, 4 miles 

 E.N.E. from Chelmsford, population of the parish 622. The church 

 of Great Baddow is an ancient building with a square towor, in which 

 are eight bells. There is a Free school A brewery and some corn 

 mills are in the pariah. Little Baddow is on the river Cheliner ; the 

 pariah church is a good building with a tower. There are aome good 

 residences in the neighbourhood. Gnat Bardjiild, 16 miles N. by K. 

 from Chelnuford, is on the right bank of the Pant or Blackwater, over 

 which is a brick bridge: population, 1110. A market formerly held 

 here has been long discontinued. There was a church at Great 

 Bardfield previous to the Norman Conquest The Grammar school, 

 founded in 1584, had 80 scholars in 1850. The income from endow- 

 ment is a rent charge of 102. a year. The classics are not now taught 

 in the school. Great Bfntley, 29 miles N.E. by E. from Chelmsford, 

 population 1025, is an anci- nt village, pleasantly situated ou the left 

 aide of BrighUingsea Brook. The church is built of flint and stone, 

 and has a tower at the west end. There are here a chapel for 

 Wealeyan Methodist* and a National school \\',it Bert/holt, thus 

 distinguished from East Bergholt in Suffolk, is 21 miles N.E. from 

 Chelmsford : population, 852. The manor belonged in the 17th cen- 

 tury to Sir John Denham the poet The south aisle is separated 

 from the nave by strong Norman pillars ; on the church are a small 

 turret of wood and a shingled spire. The Wesleyan and Primitive 

 Methodist* have places of worship. There are three almshousea. 

 Bricks are made, and there are some corn-mills in the vicinity. Great 

 Birch and Little Birch, 18 miles N.E. from Chelmsford : population 

 of the united parishes 962. The two villages are about a mile apart 

 The church of Little Birch is in ruins. The church of Great Birch 

 consist* of a nave and chancel und u nt< i ; Tin-re are some ruins 

 of an ancient castle. In the vicinity arc corn-mills, and malting is 

 carried on. Biathlon, 8 miles S.W. by W. from ChchuKford : popu- 

 lation, 704. Some ruin* exist of a priory, established here for 

 Augnstinian canons in the 12th century, "ll.my VIII. frequently 

 Tinted this place. Brickinaking is carried on. There is an Infant 

 school Bortkam, an ancient village about 3 miles N.E. from Clu -Ini.-- 

 ford, population 1040, occupies an elevated site ; in the neighbourhood 

 are extensive plantation*. The parish church ha* an embattled square 

 tower. Borebam House is near the village. New Hall, now a Roman 

 Catholic Nunnery and educational establishment, was a royal residence 

 in the reigns of Henry VII. and Henry VIII. It contained 107 

 {amatol ia 1851. Bradmll-nejt-Sea, or ncjcl-Tillmghatn, 24 miles E. 



L Cheluuford, population 1143, was a Roman station': the see, ha* 

 hen made considerable inroads upon the land. The church has a 

 tone tower with a lofty spire. There i* a National school The 

 Tillage is on eleraUd ground, and commands extensive sea-views. 

 friyUlutyiea is on the wstuary of the Colne, 38 miles E. by N. from 

 Chelmsford: population, 1852. About 600 men and boys were 

 absent at the oyster fishery when the Onsus was taken. The chief 

 occupation of the inhabitant* ia furnished by the oyster and sprat 

 fishery. Upward* of 400 person* are said to be licensed to engage in 

 this branch of industry : the matters connected with the fmliery are 

 managed by a jury of 14 with a foreman and treasurer. More than 

 200 smacks of various sue* belong to the port There is safe 



anchorage for vessels of considerable burden. The parish forms a 

 peninsula, surrounded by the marahns of tho Coluo and its inlets, 

 except on the north-east side. The church tower, 94 feet in I 

 in a prominent sea-mark. There are a chapel of case, a Wnsleyan 

 V. ii.-..l; :. n 1 t .-nting chapels; a National school, and 



< -ranee liall. Brightling*!*, u a member of Sandwich in 

 : ; 



present century, limit Bromley and Liltli Uromity are al.iit a mile 

 apart, and about 27 miles N.E. from Chttlnioford : p 

 Great Broml Two small brook* rise 



here whi li run into tin- ' '. . 'I if paruh church of Great Hi 

 ia a handsome building ; it has a beautifully wrought roof, and some 

 fine stained-glass window*. The tower is of considerable height 

 lldutn Bumpttead, 25 mile* N. by W. from ' imputation 



951, is pleasantly situated on the Cambridgeshire bor.l. r. The 

 church U an ancient edifice, and contains some interesting monu- 

 ments. Steeple Jlnm/titt'iil. -I miles N. by W. from ' 

 population 1295; also called Bumpstead ad Turritn. or l.ittl.- 

 Bumpetead. The manor belonged to Edith, queen of Edward the 

 Confessor. The pariah church and school-house are both an 

 In the neighbourhood are some remains of entrenchment*. Rope and 

 twine making are carried on, and there are corn mill*. Jlutttbur;/ 

 and Slofl; two contiguous Tillages, usually regarded as conjoined, 

 about 5 miles S. by W. from Chelmsford : population of Buttsbury 

 parish 06, of Stock 702. Both villages are ancient Stock 

 *oiu, times receive* the name of Harford or Herwardstock. 

 ButUbury church, a very small building, with a square tower con- 

 structed of flint and stone, formerly belonged to the nunnery at 

 Stratford-le-Bow. Tho church at Stock is ancient, and has several 

 tombs and brasses. A superior quality of earth which is found here, 

 is manufactured into the kind of bricks called Stock bricks. There i* 

 a National school. Canewdo*, on the right bank of the Crouch, 20 

 miles S.E. from Chelmsford : population, 702. Roman antiquities have 

 been found here, and the remains of an encampment exist It is sup- 

 posed that Canute resided at this place, from which circumstance it is 

 said the name has been d. i ive I. The village being ou elevated ground 

 affords extensive and beautiful prospects. Ashingdon, supposed to be 

 the field of battle between Canute and Edmund Ironside, is at a short 

 distance. The church is ancient ; it is built on Canewdou Hill, and 

 has a steeple 74 feet high, which is a prominent landmark for the 

 district A fair is held yearly on June 24th. Great ChetUrford, an 

 u-icieut village on the right bank of the Cam, 32 miles N.N.W. from 

 Chelmeford, population 1U24, was a Roman station. Coins of several 

 of tho Roman emperors have been found. Great Chesterford had 

 formerly a market. The tenure of land here is that of ' borough 

 English,' by which an estate falls to the youngest sou or kinsman. 

 There are National and In/ant schools. OhigveU, 20 miles S.W. from 

 Chelmsford, population 1965, is situated on the left bank of the river 

 Rodiiig, near Epping Forest. 'eusive 



view is obtained over the south of Essex and the Thames int 

 ATI I'.ndowed Grammar school, founded in 1629 by Archbishop HOTS- 

 nett, is free to 24 boys belonging to Chigwcll and three neighbouring 

 parishes. Many gentlemen's seat* are in the viciuity. The parish 

 church, an ancient edifice, has at the south door a Norman arch. 

 There are National and Infant schools. At Chigwell Row is an Inde- 

 pendent chapel. A considerable extent of ground id laid out in 

 nurseries and market-gardens. Brewing is carried oa Chingfu. 

 the left bank of the Lea, 26 miles S.W. by W. from i . popu- 



lation 963, occupies a pleasant situation to the west of Epping Forest. 

 The parish church U a neat structure, recently erected ou the site of 

 an ancient church. There is a National school The Colnet: four 

 villages bear this name : Earl't Colne, on the river Colne, 2" 

 N.E. by N. from Chelmsford : population, 151$. The church, erected 



:. has a tower iu which are six bells. The Baptints and Quakers 

 have places of worship. The Grammar school, founded in 1520, has 

 an endowment producing 2001. per annum, and is free to 42 boys from 

 Earl's Colne and five neighbouring parishes. The number of scholars 

 in 1853 was 30. There are National, British, and Infant school*. 



.mains are traceable of a priory founded at the close of the 

 llth century. The parish has six alnishouse*. An annual fair is 



u March 25th. t.'olut Engain, ou the left bank of the ' 

 about a mile N.W. from Earl's Colne, population 670 ; Wate't 

 Colne, on the left bank of the river, 2 milex E. n "in Earl's Colne, 

 population -I I'D; White Colne, about n mile N.I-'.. In. m Karl's Colne, 

 population 4 :'i!). JHtnbury, 5 miles E. by S. from Chelmsford, popula- 

 tion of tin- p.-iri-h 12'Jl, supposed to be named from tho occupat 

 the place by the Danes; remain* of an encampment and military 

 work* are in the vicinity. The village i* built on the side of the 

 highest hill in the county : extensive prospects may be obtained from 

 the summit of the hill, on which is the church. The church tower is 

 surmounted with a lofty wooden spire, which, though several mil. < 

 distant from the coast, U useful a* a sea-mark. Some curiously- 

 carved figures of oroased -legged knight* are in this church. There are 

 here National and Infant schools. Dtbdm, 21 milea N.W. by N. from 

 Clu -lintfonl, population 1084, is a small village seated on elevated 

 ground. Tho church wan originally cruciform with a central tower ; 

 but the tower having fallen down, wa< not restored. There are a 

 Free school and some small parochial charities. JJedham, ou the right 



