Toppesfield
White's History, Gazetteer & Directory of Essex ~ 1848
Submitted and Transcribed by Essex Villages
TOPPESFIELD, a pleasant retired village on a commanding
eminence, 8 miles N. W. by N. of Halstead, has in its parish 1073 inhabitants,
many scattered houses, and 3246 acres of land, rising boldly from a tributary
stream of the river Colne, and generally having a deep tenacious marly soil,
and requiring draining, though the lands here are said to be the highest in
Essex.
The principal manors and their lords and owners are Berwick and Scoteneys, Saml.
Sampson, Esq.; Camoys, John Jas. Unwins Clark, Esq., of Bristol; and Cust Hall
and Husees, John Sperling, Esq.; but J. Hardy and several smaller owners have
estates in the parish, partly free and partly copyhold. Some of the latter are
subject to fines equal to two years rent. Estates here called Gobins, Hawkes
Hall, Bradfield and Olivers had their names from their ancient owners. Some
curious Roman remains were found here in 1800, consisting of a skeleton, a
broken sword blade, a metal vase and patera, and a coin.
The Church (St. Margaret,) is a plain ancient fabric of flint and rubble stone,
except the tower, which fell down, and was rebuilt of brick in 1699, and
contains five bells. On the floor and walls are many monumental inscriptions.
The rectory, valued in K.B. at £26, and now at £900, is in the patronage of the
Crown, and incumbency of the Rev. C. J. Gooch, who had about 20a. of glebe and
a good residence, enlarged about three years ago.
A fair for pleasure and pedlery, is held in the village on the 20th of July.
Here is a National School, and ten of the children are taught entirely free, in
consideration of a yearly rent charge of £10 left in 1730, by Robert Edwards,
out of Newhouse Farm, in Stambourne, which is also charged, by the same donor,
with £3 a year for the poor of Toppesfield; who have also 20s. a year out of
Oliver's farm, supposed to have been left by one Durnford.
Two other small rent charges, left to them by Wm. and John Edwards in 1616 and
1730, are lost. In 1712, John and Wm. Edwards granted 11a. 2r. of land, upon
trust, to apply the rents towards the repairs of the church and the relief of
the poor. It is let for £25 a year.
Allerton Robert, coal carter
Barker George, blacksmith, wheelwright, & agrl. machine maker
Brewer Joseph, par. clerk & schoolmr
Brown John, blacksmith
Burleigh Mrs Hannah
Burleigh John, vict. Green Man
Butcher Robert, cattle dealer &c.
Chatters Henry, baker, &c.
Cooke Marshal, police officer
Dowsett Hezekiah, carpenter
Gooch Rev. Charles John, Rectory
Hardy Robert, hawker
Piper Stephen, poulterer
Tottman Charles, butcher
Farmers ? (+are Owners)
Bridge George Kemp, Thurston's
Briggs Wm., Oliver?s
+Brown Wm., Elms
Burleigh John, Shop Farm
Chapman Charles, Mortimer's
Darby John, Bradfield
Davey Charles, Tyler's
+Dowsett Robert, Grey's
+Eley John, Husees
Eley Thomas, Berwick's Hall
Freeborn George, Cust Hall
Golding Charles, Lewsey's
+Hardy John, Flowers Hall
Howard Wm. Hill Farm
+Piper James, Ongars
Smith Jas. (charcoal mert) Huralls
Tottman Charles, Dog House
Warren Sarah ll Mead Daniel
Wilding Wm. Scotneys
Beerhouses
Perry and Letch
Tottman Charles
Shoemakers
Hardy James
Letch Humphrey
Smee Isaac
Smee John
Webb Thomas
Millers
Butcher Wm.
Eley John
Hardy John
Shopkeepers
Brasher Rt. (and straw plat mfr)
Dowsett Charlotte
Perry Thomas
Tailors
Manning David
Percival Wm.
[Letters from Yeldham]
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