Pigot's Essex 1832-3 Trade Directory
Hadleigh, Hockley, Hawkwell, Rettendon, Runwell, South Benfleet, Thundersley, Canvey Island and neighbourhoods
RAYLEIGH, a village and parish, in the hundred of Rochford, is situated between Billericay and Rochford; distant 10 miles from the former, and six from the latter, 16 from Brentwood, 14 from Chelmsford, and 35 from London. At the upper end of the town are the remains of Rayleigh castle - a famous piece of antiquity, erected by xxxxx before the conquest; the mount upon which it stood is very lofty, and from its summit an agreeable prospect all over the country prsents itself; a deep ditch surrounds the remains of the fortress, & a second ditch, with a rampart, is still to be seen. The Church, which is dedicated to the Holy Trinity, is situated on a rising ground, and has a tower and six bells; there is, besides, a baptist chapel. A fair is held on Trinity Monday, for cattle, - [For the population of the several places see after CANVEY ISLAND]
Hadleigh is a village and parish, in the same hundred as Rayleigh, three miles from that place; situated between Rochford and Southend, seven miles from the former and five and a half from the latter. About half a mile from the village stands Hadleigh castle, supposed to have been built by Hubert de Burgh, Earl of Kent, in the time of King Henry III; it is situated on the top of a hill, from which is a very extensive prospect; a great portion of the ruins are overgrown with moss and ivy, - but from the thickness of the walls, which are nine feet in breadth, it is evident it must have been a building of great strength, as well as of considerable extent. The parish church is a neat building, with a spire.
HOCKLEY is a pleasant village, situated between Rayleigh and Rochford; distant from the former two miles, and from the latter four. The parish is extensive, containing about 5,000 acres; the soil is in general heavy, but considered good. The church, which is about half a mile from the village, is seated upon an eminence; it is a plain building, with a tower and small spire; Wadham college has the gift of the living.
HAWKWELL is the adjoining parish to Hockley, and consists of a few straggling houses, situated on a level. The church is a plain building, with a spire; it presents nothing externally to command attention, nor does it contain anything remarkable.
RETTENDON is a small village and parish, in the hundred of Chelmsford, four miles from Rayleigh; its name is said to have been bestowed by the Saxons, who applied this appellation on account of the badness of the roads. The church is a neat building, with a tower and spire; there is, besides, a charity school for the education of 20 poor boys.
RUNWELL is a parish and village, in the same hundred as Rettendon, five miles from Rayleigh; it received its name from a noted running well that was in the parish. The church is an ancient building, with a tower and small spire.
SOUTH BENFLEET is in the hundred of Barstable, pleasantly situated about three miles from the Thames and four from Rayleigh. The church is an ancient structure, with a tower and five bells.
THUNDERSLEY is a small hamlet and parish, partly in Rochford hundred and partly in that of Barstable, about two miles from Rayleigh and the like distance from Hadleigh. The church, which is situated on an eminence, has a spire; but does not possess anything remarkable, either in its exterior or interior.
CANVEY ISLAND lies against Benfleet and Hadleigh, encompassed by branches from the river Thames; from the above villages there is a passage to it over the strand, at low water. It is about five miles in length and two in breadth, comprising about 3,600 acres. It is no parish of itself, but is chiefly connected with Benfleet, although it pays rates to eight other parishes. It has a chapel, and about 50 houses. The POPULATION of the foregoing parishes, by the last government census, was as follows: - RAYLEIGH, 1,339; HADLEIGH, 365; HOCKLEY, 777: HAWKWELL, 329; RETTENDON, 671; RUNWELL, 341; SOUTH BENFLEET, 533; THUNDERSLEY, 526.
POST OFFICE, RAYLEIGH, William Pissey, Post Master - Letters from INGATESTONE arrive (by mail-cart) every morning at three, and are despatched every evening at eight.
POST OFFICE, HADLEIGH, George Lloyd, Post Master - Letters from ROCHFORD arrive (by foot-post) every morning at half-past 8 in summer and 9 in winter, and are despatched every afternoon at 4.
COACHES. To LONDON, the Despatch (from Southend), calls at the Golden Lion, every morning at half-past 9 - & Thorogood's coach, calls at the Crown, every morning at a quarter-past six in summer, & a quarter-past seven in winter; both go through Brentwood, Romford & Ilford.
To SOUTHEND, the Despatch (from London), calls at the Golden Lion, every evening at six - and Thorogood's coach, calls at the Crown, every evening at half-past six; both go through Rochford, &c.
CARRIERS To LONDON, Joseph Pease's Van, every Monday and Thursday afternoon.
To CHELMSFORD, William Doe, every Friday morning.
To ROCHFORD, Joseph Pease's Van, every Wednesday & Saturday afternoon
Transcribed by CGThe Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales...., by John Marius Wilson. circa 1866
HADLEIGH, a village and a parish in Rochford district, Essex. The village stands 1½ mile N of Hadleigh-Ray, 2 NE by E of Benfleet r. station, and 2½ S of Rayleigh; is an ancient place; was once a market-town; and has a post-office under Chelmsford; and a fair on 24 June. Hadleigh-Ray is the strait on the N side of Canvey island. The parish includes that part of the island, and comprises 2,679 acres. Real property, £2,298; of which £18 are in fisheries. Pop., 451. Houses, 102. The property is much sub-divided. The manor belonged, in the time of Henry III., to Hubert de Burgh, Earl of Kent; and passed to the Riches and the Barnards. Remains of a castle, built by Hubert de Burgh, stand on an eminence, commanding an extensive view; occupy an oval area of 330 feet by 120; include buttressed walls and remains of two towers; and exhibit traces of both magnificence and of great strength. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Rochester. Value, £400. Patron, Lincoln College, Oxford. The church is partly Norman, partly early English; and was recently restored. There is a national school.
HOCKLEY, a village and a parish in Rochford district, Essex. The village stands on a hill, 1½ mile S of the river Crouch, 4 NW of Rochford, and 6 N of Benfleet r. station; and has a post-office under Chelmsford. The parish comprises 4,614 acres. Real property, £6,108; of which £65 are in fisheries. Pop., 798. Houses, 170. The property is much subdivided. High grounds here command some fine views. Wharves, and remains of an ancient bridge, are on the Crouch at Hull-Bridges; and the river there is fordable at low water. A pump-room with baths, and a hotel, were erected at a recently discovered medicinal spring; but they proved unsuccessful, and the pump-room is used as a Baptist chapel. There is a large barrow. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Rochester. Value, £165. Patron, Wadham College, Oxford. The church is Norman; has a massive octagonal tower; was founded by Canute, in memory of his victory over Edmund Ironside at Ashingdon; and has been restored. Charities £13.
RUNWELL, a parish in Chelmsford district, Essex; on the river Crouch, 5 miles N by E of Pitsea r. station. Post-town, Chelmsford. Acres, 2,059. Real property, £2,641. Pop, 366. Houses, 70. The manor, with Runwell Hall, belongs to T. Kemble, Esq. the living is a rectory in the diocese of Rochester. Value, £570. Patron, the Rev. T. Knox. The church is later English, and was recently restored. There is a day-school.
Transcribed by Noel Clark