ASHEN
White’s History, Gazetteer & Directory of Essex ~ 1848
Submitted and Transcribed by Essex Villages
ASHEN, a small village on the bold acclivity on the south side of the river Stour, 2½ miles S.W. of Clare, has in its parish 321 souls and 1452 acres of fertile land. John P. Elwes, Esq., is lord of the manor and owner of Launds and Claret Hall; but Ashen House estate belongs to John Sperling, Esq., of Dynes Hall, near Halstead; and the estate of Ashen Hall is the property of King Viall, Esq.
The Church is an ancient tiled building, with a tower and three bells, and contains several monuments belonging to the Piper, Tallakarne, and other families.
The rectory, valued in K.B. at £8, and in 1831 at £304, is in the patronage of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and incumbency of the Rev. E. Squire, M.A., who has 17a. of glebe, and a good residence, built in 1836. The tithes were commuted in 1838 for £390 per annum.
A yearly rent charge of 32s. is paid out of Stoke College estate, to 32 of the oldest married couples of this parish, but the donor is unknown.
Aylen Joseph, blacksmith
Bird Thomas, parish clerk
Bridge Thos. Esq. B.A. Prospect pl
Clark Allen, shopkeeper
Gayfer Thomas, miller; h Clare
Golding Henry, ironfounder
Hills Capt. George, R.N. Ashen Hall
Squire Rev. Edmund, M.A. Rectory
Farmers
Chickall Thomas, Claret Hall
Fox Thomas
Golding John
Golding Stephen
Beer Houses
Malton Charlotte
Wright Eliz. (& shopkeeper)
The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales...., by John Marius Wilson. circa 1866
ASHEN, a parish in the district of Risbridge and county of Essex; on the verge of the county, at the river Stour, 2 and ½ miles SW of Clare, and 3 and ¼ NNW of Yeldham r. station. Post-town, Bumpstead-Steple under Halstead. Acres, 1,498. Real property, £2,528. Pop., 344. Houses, 71. The property is sub-divided. An Augustine priory was founded here in the time of Edward II. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Rochester. Value £300. Patron, the Duchy of Lancaster. The church was repaired in 1859.
Transcribed by Noel Clark