ONGAR HUNDRED 



THEYDON MOUNT 



1 8th century this was considered the 'principal front'.J' 

 We must assume that the great columns, similar to those 

 on the south side, were adapted or copied to form part 

 of the new composition. This includes a less ponderous 

 entablature and a central pediment. The tall sash 

 windows have the segmental heads and rusticated quoins 

 of the period. The treatment of the central doorway is 

 modern. In the pediment is a cartouche bearing the 

 arms of Smyth impaling Hedges.^^ 



A general simplification of the exuberant Eliza- 

 bethan roof-line probably took place at this period. 

 Plain parapets replaced gables and the chimneys are 

 known to have been rebuilt. The sundial on the south 

 front and the wrought-iron grille at the north entrance 

 are of the same period. Internally many insertions 

 were made, among them the fine inlaid staircase occupy- 

 ing the tower at the south-east corner of the house. A 

 heavily ornamented marble fireplace with flanking con- 

 soles was added to the chimney-piece of the Great 

 Hall, but this was later removed to the upper corridor 

 of the west range.33 



The dates 1768, 1815, and 1844 all appear on the 

 walls of the house and it may be assumed that alterations 

 were carried out at those times. A tablet in the court- 

 yard is dated 1 8 1 5 and bears the initials of Sir William 

 Smijth (d. 1823) and his wife. This was probably the 

 date at which the cement work was renewed. 



Soon after 191 2 major alterations took place and 

 Hill Hall became one of the more luxurious country 

 houses of that time. Attics with hipped dormers were 

 inserted in the north and west ranges. The north-west 

 wing, incorporating the old gatehouse, was rebuilt as 

 staff quarters. A new kitchen wing was added. The 

 oak screens were removed from the hall. The interior 

 was expensively fitted out, many of the furnishings 

 being museum pieces. The dining-room was lined with 

 17th-century carved woodwork of Venetian origin.^'* 

 This and many other fittings were later removed. 



The restoration of 1950—2 brought to light many 

 original features besides the wall-paintings in the north 

 range. Owing to its condition the pediment on the 

 north front was taken down, but as far as possible all 

 existing details were left unaltered. 



During his Ufetime Sir Thomas Smyth paid great 

 attention to the grounds of Hill Hall. He planted 

 orchards and a tree-lined walk. The approach avenue 

 to the north is said to be his work^s and two of his fish- 

 ponds remain in the garden as ornamental pools. Many 

 'improvements' were made to the park during the late 

 l8th and early 19th centuries, including the removal 

 of Mount Hall, the inclusion of the parish church 

 within the park, and the construction of the long curving 

 drives to north and south.^* 



There appears to have been a church at Theydon 



Mount in 1236, for in that year 



CHURCHES Robert, parson of the church at 



Theydon, was involved in a dispute 



with Robert de Briwes and his wife Beatrice over 26 



3' Watts, Seati of Nobility and Gentry 

 fefc, note to pi. 84.. 



32 Anne Hedges, ist wife of Sir Edw. 

 Smyth, d. 17 19. 



33 Country Life^ xx, 22, 25 (photos.). 

 3< Ibid. xli. 



35 Strype, op. cit. 171— 3. 



36 Howard and Burke, Theydon Mounts 

 p. X. And see above, p. 276. 



3' Cal. Close, 1234-7, 516. 

 38 Feet of F. Essex, i, 179. 

 3' Kelly's Dir. Essex (1922, 1926); 

 Chel. Dioc. rear £*. 1937/. 



« Tax Eccl. (Rec. Com.), 2ii. 



*' Feud. Aids, ii, 250. 



■t2 Falor Eccl (Rec. Com.), i, 437. 



43 Smith, Eccl. Hist. Essex, 17, 273. 



■M E.R.O., D/CT 351. 



••s J. J. Howard and H. F. Burke, 

 Theydon Mount, 21—22. 



46 Hill Hall Estate Act, 5 Geo. IV, 

 c. 18 (priv. act). 



*' J. Chapman and P. Andre, Map of 

 Essex, iyy7, sheet xvi. According to 

 Howard and Burke, Theydon Mount, xi, 

 the parsonage stood on the north side of 



acres of land.3' In 1248 the advowson passed with the 

 manor of Theydon Mount to John de Lessington.J' 

 They continued to descend together until 1925, when 

 the advowson was sold with Hill Hall to Sir Robert 

 Hudson. The advowson then passed with Hill Hall until 

 the house was purchased by the Prison Commissioners, 

 when it remained with Lady Edward Hay, now Lady 

 Menzies.^' Since 1755 the rectory of Theydon Mount 

 has always been held jointly with that of Stapleford 

 Tawney (q.v.) although not formally united with it. 



In 1 29 1 the rectory of Theydon Mount was valued 

 at £\ 6s. SJ.^° In 1428 the value was said to be 6 

 marks.''! Jn 1535 the valuation was ;^i 3 6s. 8</.*^ The 

 'improved' value was given as ^^30 in 1604 and as ^^92 

 in 1650.43 The tithes were commuted in 1838 for 

 ,^307 15/.+* In 1 62 1 the glebe consisted of five pieces 

 of land totalling 40 acres.'ts In 1824 27 acres belong- 

 ing to the rectories of Theydon Mount and Stapleford 

 Tawney were exchanged for lands in Stapleford 

 Tawney belonging to the Hill Hall estate.''^ 



In 1777 the parsonage house of Theydon Mount 

 was shown as lying between the church and Hill HaU.^'' 

 By this time the union of Theydon Mount and Staple- 

 ford Tawney had rendered one of the rectory houses 

 redundant. In the 19th century the rectors lived at 

 Stapleford Tawney and the house at Theydon Mount 

 was evidently demolished.''* The rectory continued to 

 be at Stapleford Tawney until the time of the present 

 rector, the Revd. E. B. Rees, who arranged for the sale 

 of the old house and built a new one at Theydon 

 Mount in 195 1. This is a red-brick building to the 

 north of Hill HaU."' 



In his will of 1389 John de Northampton provided 

 for the endowment of a chantry in the parish church 

 of Theydon Mount, out of the income from Hill Hall 

 (see above). It is not clear how long this chantry lasted. 

 In 142 1 the feoffees of Edmund Herde conveyed to 

 Simon Archer and two others properties in Theydon 

 Mount for the purpose of providing a suitable priest to 

 celebrate in the parish church for two following years for 

 the souls of Edmund and his father Thomas. The priest 

 was to receive an annual stipend of j^io 1 3/. 4^'. unless 

 the trustees could drive a better bargain {nisi meliori 

 precio foterint).^^ The chantry certificates of 1 546—8 

 contain no reference to a chantry in Theydon Mount. 



The original parish church of Theydon Mount was 

 dedicated to ST. MICHAEL and ST. STEPHEN. 

 In 1400 the Pope offered indulgences to those who 

 should visit the church and contribute to its upkeep. '• 

 Reynold Malyns (d. 143 1) left 66/. %tl. to the church 

 and for the seats that had been made there.^^ This 

 church was burnt down in 161 1 ; it is said to have been 

 struck by lightning. 53 The present church was certainly 

 in use by 1614.54 Unlike its predecessor it is dedicated 

 to ST. MICHAEL only. It adjoins the park of 

 Hill Hall. This was effected between 1777 and about 

 1800 by the diversion of the road south-east of Hill 

 Hall.ss The church consists of nave, chancel, south . 



the park on the site of the present North 

 Farm. 



« O.S. I in. Map {c. 1801); O.S. 6 in. 

 Map {c. 1870), sheet Iviii; E.R.O., D/CT 

 351 j White's Dir. Essex (1848); Kelly's 

 Dir. Essex (1859 f.). 



*<> Inf. from Rev. E. B. Rees. 



5» B.M. Add. Chart. 28836; Winstonc, 

 Eppingand Ongar Hightvay Trust{2yg—So. 



5* Cal. Pap. Letts, v, 277. 



52 Reg. Chichele, ed. E. F. Jacob, ii, 453. 



53 Howard and Burke, Theydon Mount, 

 liii, 4. 54 Ibid. 55 See above, p. 276. 



ES. IV 



281 



00 



