Hornchurch 1878 Kellys Directory
History of Hornchurch
Hornchurch is a village and parish,
pleasantly situated on the road from Romford to Upminster; it is within the
liberty of Havering ate Bower, in the southern division of the county, Romford
union and county court district, rural deanery of Chafford, archdeaconry of
Essex and diocese of St Albans, 2 miles south east from Romford railway station
and 2 from Harold Wood railway station, which is in this parish, and 14 from
London, bounded on the east and west by the rivers Ingrebourne and Rom. The
church of St Andrew is an old spacious stone building, having a chancel, nave,
aisles and porches, with a large square tower, turreted and embattled and
surmounted by a spire, the whole 170 feet from the base; there are 6 bells, an
organ, and a clock: the chancel was restored in 1869, and a stained window added
to the memory of Thomas Mashiter esq; and the whole church was restored in 1871
at a cost of about £2,000. The register dates from the year 1576. The living is
a vicarage, yearly value £740, with residence, in the gift of
New
College,
Oxford,
and held by the Rev Robert Johnson MA, of
St John’s
College,
Cambridge.
An iron church was built in 1871 by subscription at Harold Wood, as a chapel of
ease to the parish church. There are several small charities, which are now in
the hands of the charity commissioners. Three almshouses, founded by Dame
Appleton in 1587, restored by Thomas Mashiter esq, in 1837. Here are foundries,
a manufactory of steam engines and boilers, and agricultural implement works;
brick and tile and drain pipe making, brewing, and malting are carried on. A
priory of St Nicholas and St
Bernard, subordinate to the
hospital of
Monte Govis,
was founded here in the reign of Henry II, and purchased by William of Wykeham
and by him given to New
College.
Great Nelmes, an ancient stone mansion, situated in a park of about 50 acres, on
the outskirts of the village, is the residence of the Rev T H Newman, DD. Grey
Towers, a handsome castellated Gothic stone mansion, of about the twelfth
century, standing in a park of about 50 acres, at the entrance to the village,
is the seat of Henry Holmes, esq: there is a finely decorated entrance hall of
the above period; the hall and staircase being of black and white marble, and
ceiling of carved oak, with a very handsome stained window on the landing at the
top of the staircase. Langtons, a brick mansion standing in a small park, is the
residence of John Wagener esq. Hornchurch Lodge, a brick mansion standing in a
park of about 30 acres, and containing handsome pleasure grounds, adjoins the
high road, and is the residence of Edward Thomas Helme esq. Fair Kytes, a modern
brick house, situated in the village, is the residence of Joseph Fry, esq JP.
Here is a Drill Hall, erected by public subscription, at a cost of about £400,
for the 15th Essex Rifle Volunteers, who muster an enrolled strength
of 80; captain, H P Fry. David McIntosh, esq is the lord of the liberty, but
most of the land belongs to
New
College,
Oxford.
The soil is of a light nature; subsoil, gravel. The area is 6,874 acres of
arable, grass and marsh lands; rateable value, £20,750; in 1871 the population
was 2,476.
Havering Well, 1 mile north of the
village, is a hamlet of Hornchurch
Parish Clerk, Joseph Lazell
Post, Money Order & Telegraph Office &
Savings Bank – Miss Julia Hampshire, post mistress. Letters arrive from Romford
at 5.30 and 11 am;
dispatched at 3.20 & 6.20 pm; delivery commences at
7 am.
Insurance agent – Liverpool & London &
Globe, F A Stratford
Railway Station, Harold Wood, Fredk
Flegg, station master
Schools:-
National,
Fredk Jenvey, master; Mrs Emily Jenvey, mistress
Infant,
Miss Charlotte Baker, mistress
Carrier to
London –
William McPherson Mordan, from his own house, on tues, thurs & sat, returning
same days
Carrier to Romford – William George
Patience, twice a day from his house, the Bridge Inn
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