Havering atte Bower 1874 Post Office Directory

Havering Atte Bower Liberty

[comprising Havering, Romford & Hornchurch]

Havering atte Bower is a village and parish, seated on the Ingrebourne, 3 miles north from Romford railway station, and 15 from London, in the southern division of the county, Romford union and county court district, archdeaconry of Essex, rural deanery of Lambourne, and Rochester diocese; this place gives its name to the liberty and peculiar of Havering ate Bower, which includes the parishes of Romford, Havering and Hornchurch. The church of St John is a very old brick building, with a belfry of wood, it contains a very old font. The register commences in the year 1657. The living is a vicarage, yearly value £85, with residence, in the gift of Mrs Barnes, and held by the Rev William Rogers Cope, of King’s College, London. Here is a National school. The inhabitants of the liberty claim freedom from toll throughout England for goods and cattle sold, and provisions bought, from shire rates, and from serving on juries and inquests without their liberty. Havering was once the seat of Saxon royalty. Edward the Confessor long dwelt here, and the remains of his palace are still shown. Another place, called Pyrgo, belonged to the Queens of England: here Jane, queen of Henry IV, died. Havering Park, the seat of David McIntosh esq, is pleasantly situated on a commanding eminence, having a most extensive view of the surrounding country and the river Thames: the mansion was formerly the old palace, and was the residence of Edward the Confessor. The lord of the manor of the liberty is David McIntosh esq, of Havering Park, who is also the principal landowner. The soil is mixed; subsoil, clay. The chief crops are wheat, barley and roots. The parish contains 4,290 acres; gross estimated rental, £4,610; rateable value, £4,083; and the population in 1871 was 369.

Parish clerk, James Newland

Post Office, Money Order, Savings Bank & Telegraph Office – Mrs Mary Playle, receiver. Letters arrive from Romford at 5.30 am; delivered at 7.30 am; dispatched at 7.15 pm

National School, James Newland, master; Mrs Caroline Newland, mistress

Private Residents

Barnes Mrs, The Hall

Conder Edward, Welbury Lodge

Cope Rev William Rogers, Vicarage

Fytche Majo Gen, Pyrgo Park

Hope George Palmer, Havering Grange

Hope Robert Octavius, Havering Grange

Hope Mrs, Havering Grange

Lynch Mrs

McIntosh David, Havering Park

Matthews Charles P, Bower House