FORDHAM
White's History, Gazetteer & Directory of Essex ~ 1848
Submitted and Transcribed by Essex Villages
FORDHAM, a pleasant village on the north side of the river Colne, 6 miles W. N. W. of Colchester, and 7 miles E. S. E. of Halstead, has in its parish 739 souls, and about 2000 acres of land, including 30a. of open heath.
It is sometimes called Great Fordham, to distinguish it from Aldham, or Little Fordham, on the opposite of the river. Onley Savill Onley, Esq., is lord of the manor of Great Fordham and the Frith; and Earl de Grey is lord of the manor of Fordham Hall. Under the Conqueror, these manors were held by Hugh de Gurnai, William of Warren, and Richard Fitz-Gilbert.
The Church (All Saints,) stands on elevated ground, and has a nave, aisles, and chancel, with a square tower at the west end, containing three bells, and surmounted by a lofty wooden spire, which is seen at a great distance. The roof is now covered with tiles, the lead having been stripped off in the civil wars, for the manufacture of bullets. In 1549, Edward Vl. granted a free chapel here to Ralph Agard and Thos. Smyth. The rectory valued in K.B. at £14. 4s. 2d., and in 1831 at £605, is in the alternate patronage of Earl de Grey and O. S. Onley, Esq., and is now enjoyed by the Rev. W. H. Herring, B. A., who has 25a. 1r. 30p. of glebe, and a good residence.
The tithes were commuted in 1840, for £560 per annum. The poor have £2.10s. yearly from Love's Charity, (see Aldham) and the parish clerk has a rood of land given by an unknown donor.
In 1797, Wm. Ellis bequeathed £1000 upon trust, to invest the same in the purchase of property, and to apply the yearly proceeds as follows: £10 to the minister of Lady Huntington's Chapel, at Fordham; 20s. to the clerk; 40s. to the person who teaches singing in the chapel; 40s., for distribution in bread, at Christmas among the poor of the congregation; £10 to the minister, or any other person, for teaching ten poor children reading, writing, and accounts; and to expend the residue in painting and repairing the said chapel, which was built about 1790, chiefly at the cost of Robert Spark, who also left £700 to be invested for the benefit of the minister.
Mr. Spark, having Ellis's legacy in his own hands, charged the payment of both sums (£1700,) on a farm of 85a., called Howe's or Godfrey's, which he bequeathed to the Rev. John Harris, the late minister. In respect of these charities, this farm is now charged with yearly rent of £75. Messrs. Eisdell, Chaplin, Savill, and others, are the trustees, and the Rev. J. F. James is minister of the chapel, which is a neat building, with about 300 sittings, and has a house and school attached.
Bunter Wm. tailor
Funnell Ths. vict. Shoulder of Mutton
Herring Rev. Wm. Harvey, A. B., Rectory
James Rev. Jno. Fras. (Huntgn. min.)
Leatherdale Thomas, carpenter, &c.
Polley John, cattle dealer
Wilby Jno., shoemkr. and par. Clerk
Bull Oliver
Pudney John
Arnold Thomas
Bull Oliver
Bricklayers
Buck Jesse
Diss Abm.
Corn Millers
Derlin Charles
Green Thomas
Farmers
Alt Sarah
Beard Wm.
Bull Robert
Cant Thomas
Cooper Mark
Daniell Thos.
Death Joseph
Firman Benj.
Forsdyke James
Grant James
Green Isc., Hall
Green Joseph
Harvey James
Harvey Martin
Joslyn Robert
Marchant Clmt.
King Alexander
Partridge Hanh.
Patten Anty.
Perry Thomas
Pettit Zach.
Salmon Henry
Taylor Charles
Taylor Thomas
Verlander Jacob
Grocers, &c.
Diss Abm.
Firmin Benj. (& sack manfr.)
Partridge James
Arnold Thomas
King Jehu
Post from Halstead daily.
The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales...., by John Marius Wilson. circa 1866
FORDHAM, a village, a parish, and a sub-district in Lexden district, Essex. The village stands near the left bank of the river Colne, 212; miles E by S of Chapel r. station, and 5 NW by N of Colchester. The parish comprises 2,517 acres. Post-town, West Bergholt, under Colchester. Real property, 4,095/ Pop., 782. Houses, 178. The property is sub-divided. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Rochester. Value, 740. Patron, alt. Countess Cowper and O.S. Ouley, Esq. The church is later English; has a tower; and was restored in 1861. There are a chapel of Lady Huntingdon's Connexion, and charities 83.
Transcribed by Noel Clark