BUMPSTEAD-STEEPLE
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1831, 1841 , 1851 , 1861, 1871 , 1881 & 1891
White's History, Gazetteer & Directory of Essex ~ 1848
Submitted and Transcribed by Essex Villages
BUMPSTEAD, (STEEPLE) is a large and pleasant
village, with several good houses on the banks of a tributary stream of the
Stour, 3 miles S. of Haverhill, and 8 miles N.W. by W. of Castle Hedingham, and
W.S.W. of Clare. Its parish contains 1212 inhabitants, and 3296a, 1r, 25p. of
land, generally having a heavy fertile soil, well cultivated and highly
productive both in grain and grass. The fine old pastures and dairy farms in
this neighbourhood were formerly in high estimation for a large supply of
excellent cheese, but most of them are now in tillage.
POST OFFICE, at Susan Pettit's.
Mrs. Ann Walton, of Haverhill, owns a great part of the parish, and is lady of
the principal manors, formerly belonging to the Bendish family, who were seated
at BOWER HALL, a large and handsome mansion, with a well-wooded park, but now
unoccupied. Sir Thos. Bendish was created a baronet in 1611; but on the death
of Sir Henry, the last male of this ancient family, in 1717, the title became
extinct, and this estate passed to Sir Stephen Anderson, Bart., and afterwards
to E. A. Stevens, Esq. MOYNES PARK, nearly a mile east of the church, is the
beautiful seat of Geo. Wm. Gent, Esq., and was anciently the residence of the
Moyne family, whose heiress married Wm. Gent, Esq., in the reign of Henry VII.
The principal front of the mansion is a noble specimen of the ornamented style
of domestic architecture of the time of Henry VIII, and Queen Elizabeth. The
large projecting windows rise as high as the body of the building, assuming the
form of turrets; and the numerous ornamental gables, with the antique clustered
form of the chimneys, give the whole of this grand front a varied and pleasing
appearance. This elegant part of the building was erected in 1580, by Baron
Thomas Gent, one of the barons of the exchequer, who died in 1593. A
considerable part of the more ancient building has been preserved, and some of
the offices behind the house are of great antiquity. Internally, the apartments
are spacious and lofty, and richly embellished with valuable paintings, among
which are some fine family portraits.
The park contains an abundance of fine forest trees, and commands extensive
prospects. Mr. Thos. Jarvis, Mr. John Willett, and several smaller owners have
estates in the parish, partly copyhold, subject to certain fines. The Wanton,
Robtoft, Blois, Gernon, and Latchley families, formerly held the estates in
this parish, still bearing their names; and some of them having fine old
houses, one of which (Latchleys,) is still encompassed by a moat. The Church
(St. Mary,) is an ancient stone fabric, in good repair, and has a handsome
tower and five bells. In the interior are several handsome monuments belonging
to the Bendish family. One is very elegant, and has a fine recumbent effigy of
Sir Henry, the last male heir of the family.
The vicarage, valued in K.B. at £15. 2s. 1d., and in 1831 at £247, is in the
patronage of the Lord Chancellor, and incumbency of the Rev. J. Townley, who
has a good old residence, and about 50a. of glebe. The tithes were commuted in
1839, the vicarial for £400, and the rectorial for £652. 2s. 5d. per annum. The
latter are held by Mrs. Walton, on lease from the Dean and Chapter of St
Paul's.
In the village is a neat Independent Chapel, erected in 1800, and enlarged in
1839. It has 700 sittings, and is now under the ministry of the Rev. J.
Chapman, who has a house near the chapel, built at the cost of £300.
The school belonging to the chapel, was erected in 1847, by subscription, on
land given by Mr. John Willett. A neat National School was built here in 1848,
at the cost of £500. The old parish school was built in the reign of Elizabeth,
and conveyed to trustees in 1592. It is endowed with £100 three per cent.
reduced Annuities, purchased in 1797 with money given by several benefactors.
The Town Land comprises 2a, 1r, 6p., and is mentioned in the awards of the
enclosure commissioners, in 1702. It is let for £5. 5s., which is distributed
in calico to poor families.
The Poor Houses are three cottages, which have been long held by the parish,
and are occupied by paupers. There are also three tenements, called the Old
Workhouse, which are let by the churchwardens, at 10 d. each per week. There
are now no traces of the Church Lands (5a.) said to have been given by Wm.
Hilbovan in 1498.
Letters desp. 2 aft. via Haverhill.
Balls Mr Stephen ll Allen Miss S.
Barker Mary Ann and Lucy, Milliners and dressmakers
Bowyer Edward, butcher
Brown Alexander, surgeon
Bunting Thomas, sexton
Chapman Rev. Josiah (Independent)
Cocke Wm., land steward
Crick John, cooper
Dare George, coal and corn dealer
Fitch Fredk. Chas., auctioneer, &c
Fitch Miss Mary ll Hornsey Alice
Fitch Phoebe, boarding school
French Mrs Ann, Clay House
Gent Geo. Wm., Esq. Moynes Park
Hazelwood Giles, clock & watch mkr
Hanch Arthur, confectioner, &c
Hornsey Mrs Mary ll Kenyon Mary
Hoy Chas. Rt., & Jno., basket mkrs
Humphrey Wm., wheelwright
Jackson Ann, vict., Red Lion
Kebbel Rev. Carston Dirs, B.A. curate
Legerton Mrs. ll Robinson Elizabeth
Samuel James, hairdresser
Suckling James, rope and twine mfr
Suckling John and Wm., saddlers
Townley Rev. Jonathan, Vicarage
Watts Jacob Sparrow, vict., Fox and Hounds
Woodham John, church clerk
Woolnough Misses Martha & Anna
Farmers
Baines Peter, Little Waltons
Beddall Josiah, Rylands
Brett Wm. ll Coe Elijah
Coe Peter, Old Park
Cole Rist, Latchleys
Colman John George, Garlands
Fitch Frederick Charles, Old Hall
Jarvis Thomas ll Jarvis John
Metson Joseph ll Nice John
Pannell Daniel Charles, Blois
Payne Charlotte, Great Waltons
Robinson Joseph, Brick House
Smith Thomas (and brick maker,) Smith Green
Snape John ll Sorrell Thomas
Willett John, Lower House
Bakers
Coe Elijah
Playle Henry
Smith Jeffery
Sorrell Thomas
Taylor Isaac
Beer Houses
Garwood Andrew
Smoothy Sarah
Blacksmiths
Garwood Andrew
Turner Wm.
Bricklayers
Coote John
Hitching Mark
Scotcher Henry
Carpenters
Barker George
Barker James
Humphrey Wm.
Corn Millers
Coe Elijah
Fitch Fredk. Chs.
Playle Henry
Grocers & Dprs
Nichols Wm.
Prime Fredk. L. (and druggist)
Jobbers &c
Choat & Clayden
Clayden John
Clayden Wm.
Humphrey Chas.
Schools
Blakeney Miss
Gouldstone Wm.
Hewlett Augusta
Shoemakers
Clarke Joseph
Humphrey Saml.
Pannell Daniel
Smoothy Thomas and James
Shopkeepers
Hitching Mark
Kemp James
Straw Hat Mkrs
Barker Alice
Jackson My. Ann
Wheelwrights
Barker Denny
Humphrey Wm.
Tea Dealers
Barker James
Midson Joseph
Tailors
Gunn John T.
Gunn Jno. & Alfd.
Gunn Thomas
Jackson Joshua
Carrier
Robert Willis, to Cambridge every Friday.
Post Office Directory of Essex ~ 1871
Submitted and Transcribed by Essex Villages
STEEPLE BUMPSTEAD (or BUMPSTEAD-AD-TURRIM) is a village and
parish, in the Eastern division of the county, Hinckford Hundred, Risbridge
union, Haverhill county court district, Colchester archdeaconry, Yeldham rural
deanery, and Rochester diocese, 9 miles north-west from Castle Hedingham railway
station, 3 south from Haverhill, and 10 east from Saffron Walden.
The church of St. Mary is a finely proportioned building, and has a tower and 5
bells: it contains several handsome monument?s, particularly that to Sir Henry
Bendish; also a curious old alms box. The register dates from the year 1676.
The living is a vicarage, yearly value ?400, with residence, in the gift of the
Lord Chancellor, and held by the Rev. Charles Benet Calley, B.A., of Worcester
College, Oxford.
Here are National and British Schools; also a chapel for Independents.
The steeple, or tower, from which this place derived its name, formerly stood
near the road leading from Haverhill to Baythorne Bridge, where entrenchments
are to be seen.
Here is a handsome residence, of the Elizabethan order, surrounded by a
well-wooded park and a moat crossed by a bridge, the property of Miss Gent,
called Moyns Park; also a beautiful seat, close to the village, standing in a
well-wooded park, now occupied by Ellys Anderson Stephens Walton, esq., J.P.,
called Bower Hall. George Shaw, esq., is lord of the manor. The principal
landowner?s are Miss Gent and E. A. S. Walton, esq.
The soil is clay; subsoil, gravel. The chief crops are wheat, barley, oats,
beans and potatoes. The area is 3,296 acres, and the population in 1861 was
1,295; gross estimated rental, ?6,380; rateable value ?5,581.
Parish Clerk, John Kemp
Post Office - Josiah Chapman, receiver. Letters from London arrive from
Newmarket by foot post from Haverhill at 8-30am., delivered immediately;
dispatched at 4-30pm. except on Sunday, when they are dispatched at 9-30am.
Schools
National, John Brooks, master; Mrs. Harriet Brooks, mistress
British, Miss Sarah Luff, mistress
Carriers to-
LONDON - George Dare, from his own house, to `Saracen?s Head,? Aldgate, every
Friday
SAFFON WALDEN - John.T.Gunn, every Saturday
Private Residents
Barker Guylott
Barker Mrs
Brown Alexander
Calley Rev. Charles Benet, B.A., Vicarage
Fitch Denny
Gent Miss, Moyns Park
Mascall Mrs
Miller Edward George
Price Joseph
Reynolds Robert, M.R.C.S
Walton Ellys Anderson Stephens, J.P,. Bower Hall
Willett John
Woolnough Misses
Commercial
Baines Emma & Mary Ann (Misses), farmers, Lower house
Baines Walter Peter, farmer, Old hall
Balls Edmund, farmer
Barker Benjamin, carpenter
Barker George, carpenter
Barker William, farmer, Martin?s farm
Beddall Sarah (Mrs.), farmer, Ryland?s farm
Bowtell Albert Edward, grocer & draper
Bowyer Stephen, butcher
Brett William Porter, farmer, Coot?s farm
Bryant George, gardener
Chapman Josiah, stationer & tea dealer
Choat John, wool dealer
Choat Joseph, bricklayer
Choat William, tailor & draper
Clark John, shopkeeper
Claydon John, butcher
Claydon William, butcher
Claydon William, wheelwright
Coe Elijah, miller & farmer
Coe Lydia (Mrs.), farmer, Old park
Colman George John, farmer, Garlands
Cowell Daniel, tea dealer
Cowell Thomas, saddler
Dare William, farmer & corn dealer, Parsonage farm
Deeks James, farmer, Smith?s green
Dix John, carpenter
Dix Samuel, carpenter
Dix Walter, beer retailer & carpenter
Dixey George, Red Lion Commercial Inn & posting house
Fitch Phoebe & Sophia (Misses), school
Fitch Samuel, butcher
Gouldstone Wm. day school, & vestry clerk
Gunn Alfred, tailor
Gunn Jno. Turner, Fox & Hounds, & tailor
Gunn Thomas, tailor
Hitchin Joseph, bricklayer
Hoy Edward, basket maker
Humphrey Arthur, cattle dealer
Humphrey Charles, farmer
Humphrey George, shoemaker
Humphrey Samuel, thatcher
Humphrey William, carpenter
Humphrey Mary Ann (Miss), dressmaker
Jarvis Thomas, farmer, Wilding farm
Kemp Alfd, shoemaker & beer retailer
Lacey George, farmer, Wakelings
Lovett Wm Ireland, grocer & draper
Mason Henry, farmer, Waltons
Metcalf George, watchmaker
Midson David, carpenter
Moore Jabez, grocer & draper
Nice John, farmer, Broad green
Pannell Daniel, shoemaker
Pannell Daniel Charles, farmer, Blois
Pannell Thomas, shoemaker
Playle Charles, plumber & baker
Reynolds Robert, surgeon
Salmon James, hairdresser
Smoothy James, beer retailer
Smoothy Thomas, shoemaker
Suckling John & Wm. saddlers & millers
Suckling Harriet Rebecca (Mrs.), millinr
Suckling John, saddler
Turner John, baker & grocer
Turner William, blacksmith
Willis Robert, farmer, Simpson?s
Willet John, farmer, Clay wall
Willet Samuel, farmer, Latchley
Wood Charles, thatcher
The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales...., by John Marius Wilson. circa 1866
BUMPSTEAD-STEEPLE, a parish in the district of Risbridge and county of Essex; on the Halstead and Haverhill railway, near Birdbrook station, 8 and ½ miles NE of Thaxted. It has a post-office under Halstead. Acres, 3,296. Real property, £6,085. Pop., 1,158. Houses, 235. The property is divided among a few. The living is a vicarage in the the diocese of Rochester. Value, £229. Patron, the Lord Chancellor. The church is good.
Transcribed by Noel Clark
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