ROMFORD
Pigot's Essex 1832-3 Trade Directory
WITH THE VILLAGES OF HARE STREET, DAGENHAM, HAVERING-ATTE-BOWER, RAINHAM, WENNINGTON AND NEIGHBOURHOODS
is a populous market town, in the liberty of Havering-atte-Bower; situated upon the main Essex road, about 12 miles from London. The earliest notice we find of this manor is in a record, dated 1299, at which period it belonged to Adam de Cretinge; of whom Henry de Winchester, a Jewish proselyte, held it. The town consists principally of one street, through which the turnpike-road passes. The market-house stands near the centre of the town, as does also the town-hall, in which are held the quarter sessions for the district of Havering-atte-Bower. This is not a manufacturing town, nor does it possess any peculiar commerical advantages; but its extensive and well-attended market, joined to its thoroughfare situation to and from the metropolis, renders its local business at all times flourishing.
The church (or rather chapel, for it is under Hornchurch,) is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and Edward the Confessor; of the latter there is a whole-length portrait in the east window of the chancel. Here are also two chapels for dissenters; a charity school for 60 boys and 30 girls, and almshouses for six poor men and the like number of women : the last-named charity was founded by Roger Reed; and the parishes of Romford, Hornchurch and Dagenham have the alternate right of presentation as vacancies occur. The market, which is a very large one, is held on Wednesday; and a fair is holden on the 24th June, for horned cattle and horses. The population of the parish, by the census for 1831, was 4,294; being an increase, since the year 1801, of 1,115 inhabitants.
HARE STREET is a hamlet to Romford, from which it is distant about a mile, upon the main road to Chelmsford. The soil around is exceedingly rich and fertile, and many families of distinction reside here. 'Hare Hall' is a beautiful mansion of Portland stone; and on the opposite side of the road is 'Gidea Hall,' a large square brick edifice, in the occupation of Alexander Black, Esquire.
The village of DAGENHAM is in the parish of its name, and hundred of Becontree; situated two miles and a half from Romford, between that town and the Thames, near to the high road leading from Barking to Raynham. Here, in the winter of 1703, a most destructive breach was made by the Thames; in consequence of which 1,000 acres of rich land, in the adjoining levels, were quickly laid under water. The damage occasioned, by the continuance of this breach, to the navigation of the river, rendered the situation of the bank a fit subject for parliamentary consideration: the expense of the new embankment was £40,472; of this sum, the original contract allowed only £25,000; parliament afterwards granted £15,000, and the remainder was defrayed by the spirited and skilful contractor, Capt. Perry. -- The church is a very handsome structure, and was thoroughly repaired in 1800; at which time the windows and angles of the tower were faced with brick, which much improved its appearance. The living is a vicarage, in the gift of Mrs. Sarah Bonynge, and in the present incumbency of the Rev. Thomas Lewis Fanshawe. Here is a well endowed free-school, founded by Mr. William Ford, in 1828, for 30 boys and 20 girls. The population of the parish, according to the last census, was 2,118.
HAVERING-ATTE-BOWER is a village, in the parish of its name, as it is also of the liberty in which it lies; which district is renowned in the annals of monkish legends. In a most delightful situation, commanding rich and extensive prospects, are the dilapidated remains of an ancient palace, the foundation or repair of which is ascribed to the Confessor. The church is very ancient, with a steeple of wood, which gives it an uncommon and singular appearance. Here is a charity school for 20 children, founded and endowed by Dame Anne Tipping, in 1724. The liberty of Havering-atte-Bower, includes the three parishes of Havering, Hornchurch & Romford; and constituted, formerly, part of the demesnes of the Saxon monarchs. Peculiar priveleges, arising in part from prescriptive right, and in part from a charter granted by Henry IV, and since that period frequently confirmed, belong to this district. The number of inhabitants in the parish, by the last census, was only 332, but the entire liberty contained, by the same returns 6812, being an increase since the year 1801, of 2114 persons.
The village and parish of RAINHAM is in the hundred of Chafford, pleasantly seated near the river Thames, about five miles from Romford and 12 from the metropolis. The parish church is a building of some antiquity, and contains a few very old monuments. A charity school for the education of poor children is established here. The population, by the last returns, amounted to 671 persons.
WENNINGTON is a small village and parish, in the same hundred as Rainham, situated between that village and Purfleet. It has a church which appears to be of ancient date, and a population of 127 persons.
POST OFFICE, High Street, ROMFORD, Robert Surridge, Post Master. - Letters from LONDON arrive every night at ten, and are despatched every morning at six. - Letters from NORWICH and all parts Eastward arrive every morning at six, and are despatched every night at ten. -Letters from ONGAR and all intermediate places arrive (by mail-cart) every evening at eight, and are despatched every morning at six. -- Letters from GRAYS THURROCK, HORNDON-ON-THE-HILL and Intermediate places arrive every evening at half-past six, and are desptached every morning at seven.
POST OFFICE, Bull Inn, DAGENHAM, George Kittle, Post Master. - Letters arrive every morning at eight, and are desptached every evening at five.
COACHES. To LONDON, Boyce & Deacon's coaches, every morning at a quarter-past eight and nine, and afternoon at half-past two, Sunday excepted, when the hours are half-past six in the morning, and five in the evening - the Chelmsford coach, every morning at ten - the Maldon coach, every afternoon at one - the Wellington (from Colchester), every afternooon at a quarter before two - the New Times (from Harwich), every afternoon at a quarter before three - the Bury, every afternoon at a quarter-past four - & the Perseverance (from Horndon-on-the-Hill), every morn. at half-past nine. (from London)
To BURY, every morn. at half-past ten.
To CHELMSFORD, every even. at five.
To COLCHESTER, every morning at half-past ten.
To HARWICH, the New Times, every day at twelve; goes thro' Colchester.
TO HORNDON-ON-THE-HILL, the Perseverance, every evening at five.
To MALDON, daily at half-past twelve.
CARRIERS. To LONDON, John Wheele's Waggon, from his house, London, road, every morning (Saturday & Sunday excepted) - Charles Halford, from his house, High Street, and John Guiver, from his house, North st, every Tu. Thurs. & Sat. morn.
** In addition to the above, coaches and carriers are continually passing to and from LONDON, and most parts of ESSEX, SUFFOLK and NORFOLK - All the coaches call at the White Hart, with the exception of the Maldon coach, which calls at the King's Head, and the Horndon coach, which calls at the Phoenix, Rainham.
Transcribed by CG
The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales...., by John Marius Wilson. circa 1866
HAVERING-ATTE-BOWER, a village, a parish, and a liberty, in Romford district, Essex. The village stands near Hainult forest, 3½ miles N by E of Romford r. station; was formerly a borough; and has a post-office, of the name of Havering, under Romford, London E. The parish comprises 4,290 acres. Real property, £3,844. Pop., 429. Houses, 89. The property is divided among a few. The manor belonged to the Saxon kings; was a favourite retreat of Edward the Confessor; and had a royal palace, some remains of which still exist. The living is a p. curacy in the diocese of Rochester. Value, £75. Patron, W.P. Barnes, Esq. The church is supposed to have been the chapel of the royal palace; was restored in 1836; and contains a very ancient font, and a monument, by Wyatt, to Sir J. Burgess, Bart., and some new splendid tablets. There is an endowed school, with £10 a-year.- The liberty contains also the parishes of Romford and Hornchurch. Acres, 15,972. Pop., in 1851, 8,669; in 1861, 9,260. Houses, 1,829.
ROMFORD, a town, a parish, a sub-district, and a district, in Essex. The town stands on a small affluent of the river Thames, and on the Eastern Counties railway, 12 miles ENE of Bishopsgate, London; occupies the site of Roman Durolitum; is the capital of the liberty of Havering-atte-Bower; is also a seat of quarter sessions, petty sessions, and county courts, and a polling-place; consists chiefly of two streets, crossing each other at right angles; contains many excellent houses and good shops; underwent much improvement and extension, with alignments for several new streets, prior to 1868; is managed by a local board of health; and has a head post-office, a railway station with telegraph, a banking-office, several inns, a town-hall, a corn-exchange, a court-house, three churches, three dissenting chapels, a Roman Catholic chapel, a mechanics' institute, and endowed school with £65 a-year, five other public schools, a workhouse, alms-houses with £423 a-year, and other charities £72. St. Edward's church was rebuilt in 1850; is in the decorated English style, of Kentish rag, with Bath stone dressings; and consists of nave, aisles, chapels, and chancel, with tower and spire 162 feet high. St. Andrew's church was built in 1862, at a cost of £4,500; is also in the decorated English style; and consists of nave, S aisle, and chancel, with bell-turret. The Independent chapel was built in 1812, in lieu of a previous one at Havering-Well; and has an endowment of £95 a-year. The workhouse was built in 1838, at a cost of £9,500; and has accommodation for 500 inmates. A weekly market is held on Wednesday; and a fair on Mid-summer-day. There are extensive malting and brewing establishments, agricultural implement works, and foundries. Pop. Of the town in 1851, 3,791; in 1861, 4,361. Houses, 890.
The parish includes the hamlets of Collier-Row, Hare-Street, Noak-Hill, and Prospect-Place; and was ecclesiastically divided, in 1862, into the sections of St. Edward and St. Andrew. Acres, with Havering-atte-Bower parish, 9,173. Real property of Romford alone, £19,055; of which £308 are in gas-works. Pop., in 1851, 5,868; in 1861, 6,604. Houses, 1,270. The manor belonged to the Mowbrays; and passed, through the Berkeleys and others, to the Newmans. Gidea Hall is an old mansion, where Sir Anthony Cooke entertained Queen Elizabeth. Dagnan Park is the seat of Sir A. Neave, Bart.; priests, of O. Mashiter, Esq.; and Marshalls, of D. M'Intosh, Esq. Market-gardening is carried on. The living of St. Edward is a vicarage united with the chapelry of Noak Hill, and that of St. Andrew is a rectory, in the diocese of Rochester. Value of the former, £700; of the latter, £150. Patron of both, New College, Oxford. A church and a national school are at Noak-Hill. Quarles. The poet, was born in the old manor-house of Stewards, and Repton, the landscape gardener, resided in Hare-Street.
Transcribed by Noel Clark
Post Office Directory of Essex ~ 1871
Submitted and Transcribed by Essex Villages
HAVERING-ATTE-BOWER is a village and parish, seated on the Ingerbourn, 3 miles north of 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. It gives name to, and is at the head of, the liberty and peculiar of Havering-atte-Bower, which includes the parishes of Romford, Havering, and Hornchurch.
The church of St. John is a 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 £75, in the gift of W. P. Barnes, esq., and held by the Rev. Richard Rowland Faulkner, b. d., of St. John’s College, Cambridge, who is also vicar of St. Sepulchre’s, Cambridge. 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 lV., died.
Havering Park, the seat of David McIntosh, esq., is pleasantly situated on a commanding eminence, having a most extensive view of the surrounding counties 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, and the population in 1861 was 429; gross estimated rental, £4,610; rateable value, £4,083.
Parish Clerk, James Newland
POST OFFICE - Miss Mary Playle, receiver.
Letters arrive from Romford at 5.30am; delivered at 7.30am; dispatched at 7.15pm.
The nearest money order office is at Romford
National School, James Newland, master; Mrs. Caroline Newland, mistress
Private Residents
Barber Charles, Bedfords
Barnes William Pemberton, The Hall
Bray Joseph, Pyrgo park
Conder Edward
Faulkner Rev. Richard Rowland, b. d. [vicar of Havering & of St. Sepulchre’s, Cambridge]
Gladding John, Cromwell house
Hope Stephen Charles, j. p. Havering grange
McIntosh David, Havering park
Matthews Charles P, Bower house
Pemberton Joseph, Roundhouse
Smith Benjamin
Aylett Henry, shoemaker
Banham George, beer retailer
Bennet James, blacksmith
Boyd John, farm bailiff to D. McIntosh
Gardner Samuel, brewer and brick tile maker
Haldane William, farm bailiff to D. McIntosh
Jackson George, beer retailer and shopkeeper
Lester Alfred, Orange Tree
Taylor John, baker
Wynn James, butcher