Universal British Directory of 1791
Is a hamlet only and chapelry of the parish of Great-Bursted, but has a
considerable market on Tuesday, especially for corn. It is situated 6 miles East
of Brentwood, 9 from Chelmsford, and 24 from London. It has two fairs in a year,
on July 22, and October 7. Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday, are the post-days.
Billericay is seated on a fine eminence, on the road from Chelmsford to
Tilbury-fort, commanding a most beautiful prospect over a rich valley to the
Thames: here you have a full view of the shipping, and the prospect is bounded
by the hills of Kent. A late writer speaks of this view in the following
rapturous strain of panegyric:—" Nothing can exceed this amazing prospect,
unless it be that which Hannibal exhibited to his disconsolate troops, when he
bade them behold the glory of the Italian plains!"
Pigot's Essex 1828-9 Trade Directory
Submitted by Ian Hunter () and Transcribed by Essex Villages
Billericay is a small market town, 9 miles from Chelmsford, 6 from Brentwood, and 24 from London; and is a chapelry to Great Burstead. It is seated upon high ground, and commands an extensive and pleasing view of the surrounding country. On a clear day the coast of Kent is distinguishable by the naked eye, and the Nore is plainly discernible. The town is clean and tolerably well built, consisting of one main and one back street. At various times have been found in the neighbourhood, several articles of Romish fabrication; and it is conjectured that this town was the site of a Roman villa, or station. In the centre of the town is a neat chapel of ease to Great Burstead; there are also a Quakers' meeting house, independent and Baptist chapels, a free school, a well conducted workhouse, and a market house. The charter for the market was granted in 1476, and it was at one time of considerable note, but it has fallen off much of late years; and a great portion of the trade transferred to that markets of Chelmsford and Romford. Several opulent families reside hereabout; the residence of Colonel Bruce, which is delightfully placed upon an acclivity, and embosomed in rich foliage, is very picturesque. The market day is on Tuesday; fairs are held August 2, and Oct. 7, for cattle. The census includes Great and Little Burstead, and the population contained in the three places was in 1821, 2062.
Great Burstead, or Burghstead, is two miles from Billericay; and is only named as being the parish in which that town is placed, and where is situated the parish church; it is a neat building, with a tower and five bells, but contains nothing to compensate the inquirer for his time in viewing the interior. Henry III. gave to the abbey of Stratford Langthorne a charter to hold a market here; but it did not long enjoy the privilege.
Little Burstead is one mile and a half from Billericay, and consists only of a few scattered houses; and the church, which is small building, having nothing remarkable about it.
Hanningfields, East, West and South, are three parishes adjoining to each other, and are distinguished each from the other by the locality of their situation. West Hanningfield is about 6 miles from Billericay and 10 from Maldon. East Hanningfield is about 3 miles distant from Billericay and South Hanningfield about two miles. The country around possesses no particular attraction, except to the contemplative mind, as it partakes of a dreary and forest-like appearance; and it was still more so a century ago, being then for many miles round a complete woodland, in many parts impenetrable to the traveller. The number of inhabitants contained in the three parishes in 1821 was 1042.
Post Office, Billericay. John Goodman, Post Master, Crown Inn. Letters arrive from all parts in the morning at one, and are despatched every evening at nine.
| Gentry & Clergy Note: The names with the Town not mentioned are in Billericay Brooksbury Rev. Thomas, South and West Hanningfield Bruce Col. Mill hill house Cusack Mrs. Billericay Edison Rev. G. T. Ramsden, Bell house Firman Rev. Robert, curate, Laindon Fothergill Rev. Henry, Billericay French Joseph, esq. Clock house Hand Rev. Jno. Staples, magistrate Hodyson Rev. Edward, rector, Laindon Jenner Rev. Dr. Billericay Knox Rev. Thos. Rector, Ramsden Crays Leake Mr. Pell, Billericay Nottage, Rev. John, East Hanningfield Notridge Rev. John, Dounham Offin Mrs. Billericay Packman Rev. Wm. rector, Langdon Roberts Rev. Jno. Little Burstead Robinson John, esq. Billericay Rolph Mr. Geo. Billericay Skipper Peter, esq. Hope house Spitty Mrs. Billericay Spitty Captain, Billericay Thomas Rev. John, Church st Thornton Rev. John, Indep. Min. Tomlinson Captain, Billericay Academies. & Boarding Burningham John, (gents) Clark Thos. (gents) Evans Miss Diana, (ladies) Oates Miss Ann, (ladies) Miall Moses, (gents) Attorneys Shaw Geo. Clerk to the magistrate Stanley Henry Auctioneer Rolph George Bakers Collins John Cotty Joseph, East Hanningfield Tyler Philip Wood Wm. Boot & Shoe Makers Durrant Benjamin Hummerston Thomas Making John Markwell Wm. Osbourn Wm. Warwicker David Whistler Wm. Butchers Cole Joseph Dennis Wm. W. Gower Abraham Richardson Daniel Richardson James Whipps George Corn Factors (Attending the Market House) Alexander Thomas Agnis Joseph Barrell Savage Clark John Deeley John James Thomas Moss Wm. Stock James Threadgold George Wood Wm. Carpenters & Builders Curtis Wm. sen (and brick maker) Mann John Tunstall Charles Wingfield Richard Gardeners & Seedsman Brand Thomas Hatch William Ramsey Henry Farriers & Smiths Archer Samuel Cockerell James Making William Paperill Richard Ship Timothy and Son Fire, &c. Office Agents County, Ann Butcher Essex Economic, Crisp Harridge Essex & Suffolk, Wm. Rolph |
Grocers & Drapers Barrell Savage, (& tallow chandler & spirit merchant) Burrell Thomas Coote Mark Foreman Geo. West Hanningfield Markwell Thos. (draper only) Millbank Joshua Moore Wm. (& glass & china dir) Oliver Thomas Rolph George Tunbridge John Walker William Williams James (draper only) Inns & Public Houses Bull, Thomas Curtis Chequers, Abraham Parker Compasses, Wm. Hayward, West Hanningfield Crown Inn and Posting House, & Excise Office, John Goodman De Beauvois Arms, Geo. Watts, Downham Duke of York, John Woodward, South Green Plough and Sail, Joshua Ramsay, East Hanningfield Red Lion, Susan Thompson Ship, Wm. Pincham, West Hanningfield Sun Inn and Commercial Hotel, Crisp Harridge Three Horse Shoes, Thos. Burrell Windmill, Josh. Myal, East Hanningfield White Hart, Wm. Cornell Windmill, John Cross, South Hanningfield Plumbers, Painters, &c. Bassom James Whipps Jas. (& glass & china dir) Saddlers, &c. Hopwood Francis Upson George Surgeons Adams George, M. D. Carter William D. Aranda Benjamin, sen. & jun. Martin John Tailors, &c. Hughes John Sandford William Smith William Stebbing John Walker James Wheelwrights Baker Wm., West Hanningfield Parker Abraham Stock Thomas, East Hanningfield Wine and Spirit Merchants And Dealers in Malt & Hops Barrell Thomas jun. Goodman and Rolph Miscellaneous Barrett Thos. watch maker and jeweller Blanks, blacksmith, East Hanningfield Burrell Thomas. tailow chandler Curtis Wm. jun. cabinet maker, appraiser, &c. Curtis William, bricklayer Davan John, carrier, &c. Davey Robt. furniture broker Eaton Robt. carpenter, East Hanningfield Goodman and Rolph, brewers Henniker Wm. corn & flour dealer Oates Thos. tanner & fellmonger Parnell Matthew, blacksmith, West Hanningfield Root Wm. hairdresser Sach Elizabeth, milliner Sankester Robt. ironmonger, &c. Shettlewood William, blacksmith, South Hanningfield Stebbing Ann, straw hat maker Stedman Richard, chemist, druggist, and stationer Wilson Hannah, cooper Coaches To London, from Billericay, from the Crown Inn, through Brentwood and Romford, every morning at seven and eleven. From the Sun Inn, every morning at half past seven. To Chelmsford, from the Crown Inn every Friday morning at eleven. To Southend, from the Crown Inn, through Rayleigh and Rochford, every afternoon at three and five, and from the Sun Inn, every afternoon at five Carriers To London from Billericay, Thos. Fitch's Van, every Thursday afternoon at five. John Pease's Van every Monday afternoon at five. John Hammond's, every Monday & Thursday afternoon, to the Swan, Whitechapel and return on Tuesdays and Fridays. To Southend. Thos. Pease's and Fitch's Van, every Saturday morning at seven. |
Pigot's Essex 1832-3 Trade Directory
BILLERICAY
WITH THE VILLAGES OF GREAT AND LITTLE BURSTEAD, AND EAST, WEST AND SOUTH HANNINGFIELDS.
BILLERICAY is a small market town, in the parish of Great Burstead and hundred
of Barstable; 24 miles from London, 9 from Chelmsford, and 16 from
Gravesend. It is seated upon high ground, and commands an extensive and
pleasing view of the surrounding country; on a clear day the coast of Kent
is distinguishable by the naked eye, and the Nore is plainly discernible.
The town is clean, and tolerably well built, consisting of one main and one
back street. At various times, several articles of Roman fabrication have
been found in the neighbourhood; and it is conjectured that this town was
erected on the site of a Roman villa or station. Lord Petre is lord of the
manor, and holds a court leet and baron annually in Whitsun week; and petty
sessions are held, at the market-house, the first and third Tuesday in every
month. The trade of this place, with the exception of that in corn, and a
silk manufactory, is inconsiderable. There are two good Inns here; the
'Sun', especially, is a house well and deservedly supported by the
commercial traveller.
In the centre of the town is a neat chapel of ease to Great Burstead; there
are also three meeting-houses for dissenters, a free-school, and a well
conducted workhouse. The charter for the market was granted in 1476, and it
was at one time of considerable note; but it has fallen off much of late
years, and a great portion of the trade transferred to the markets of
Chelmsford and Romford. The market-day is Tuesday; fairs are held on the 2nd
of August and 7th of October, for cattle. The parish of Great Burstead
contained, by the returns for 1831, 1,977 inhabitants; being an increase,
since 1801, of 505 persons.
GREAT BURSTEAD is two miles from Billericay; and is only named as being the parish in which that town is placed, and where is situated the parish church; this is a neat building, with a tower and five bells; Lord Petre is the lay rector, and the Rev. John Thomas is the vicar. Henry III gave to the abbey of Stratford Langthorne a charter to hold a market here, but it did not long enjoy the privilege.
LITTLE BURSTEAD is one mile and a half from Billericay, and consists of only a few scattered houses; and the church, which is a small building, having nothing remarkable about it: the Rev. Wm. Roberts is the rector. The number of inhabitants in Little Burstead is about 200.
HANNINGFIELDS, EAST, WEST and SOUTH, are three parishes adjoining to each other, and are distinguished each from the other by the locality of their situations. West Hanningfield is about six miles from Billericay, and ten from Maldon; East Hanningfield is about three miles distant from Billericay, and South Hanningfield about two miles. The number of inhabitants contained in the three parishes, by the last census, was 1,141.
POST OFFICE, BILLERICAY, William Curtis, Post Master, - Letters arrive (by mail-cart, from INGATESTONE,) every afternoon at one, and are despatched every morning at eight.
Transcribed by Jo
The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales...., by John Marius Wilson. circa 1866
BILLERICAY, a small town, a chapelry, and a
district in Essex. The town stands on an eminence, near the site of a Roman
station, 4 and ½ miles S of Ingatestone r. station, and 9 SSW of Chelmsford. It
commands a fine view of the surrounding country, away to Kent and the Nore; and
is of ancient origin, and has been much improved. It has a head post-office, a
banking-office, one chief inn, a church, two dissenting chapels, an endowed
school, a public reading-room, and a workhouse; and is a seat of petty sessions,
and a polling-place. The church is a brick building, partly as old as the time
of Edward III., and has a tower, of previous date, much decayed. A weekly market
is held on Tuesday; fairs are held on 2 Aug and 7 Oct.; and brewing,
brick-making, and country businesses are carried on. Rated property, £6,972.
Pop., 1,390. Houses, 248. The chapelry is conterminate with the town; and is in
the parish of Great Burstead. The living is a papal curacy in the diocese of
Rochester. Value, £120. Patron, the Bishop of Rochester.
HANNINGFIELD (EAST), a parish in Chelmsford district, Essex; 3½ miles N of the
river Crouch, and 6 SE of Chelmsford r. station. Post-town, Chelmsford. Acres,
2,446. Real property, £3,323. Pop., 453. Houses, 94. The property is subdivided.
The manor belongs to Lord Petre. The living is a rectory in the diocese of
Rochester. Value, £417. Patron, C. Nottidge, Esq. The church is later English;
and consists of nave, chancel, and north chapel, with a steeple. Charities, £13.
HANNINGFIELD (SOUTH), a parish in Chelmsford district, Essex; 3½ miles N of
Wickford, and 7 S by E of Chelmsford r. station. Post-town, Stock, under
Ingatestone. Acres, 1,526. Real property, £2,050. Pop., 235. Houses, 51. The
property is divided among a few. The manor belongs to Lord Petre. The living is
a rectory annexed to the rectory of West Hanningfield, in the diocese of
Rochester. The church is good.
HANNINGFIELD (WEST), a parish in Chelmsford district, Essex; 5½ miles E of
Ingatestone r. station, a 6 SSE of Chelmsford. Post-town, Stock, under
Ingatestone. . Acres, 2,218. Real property, £4,326. Pop., 527. Houses, 115. The
property is sub-divided. The manor belongs to Lord Petre. The living is a
rectory, united with the rectory of South Hanningfield, in the diocese of
Rochester. Value, £934. Patron, the Rev. W. Kemble. The church is later English,
in good condition; has an octagonal tower, with a wooden spire; and contains
some tombs and brasses of the 14th century. There are a national school, and
charities £31.
LILLYSTONE, a place in the S of Essex; 3¼ miles NNE of Billericay.
Transcribed by Noel Clark
Post Office Directory of Essex ~ 1871
Submitted and Transcribed by Essex Villages
EAST HANNINGFIELD is a village and parish, in the Western division of the
county, Chelmsford union, hundred and county court district, Danbury rural
deanery, Essex archdeaconry, and Rochester diocese, 33 miles from London, 6
south-east from Chelmsford, and 10 from Ingatestone station. The church of All
Saints is in the perpendicular style, and consist of a nave, chancel, north
aisle, wooden belfry containing 3 bells, and surmounted by a small spire; in the
window is a small coat of arms. The register dates from the year 1540. The
living is a rectory, tithes commuted at £557, with residence, held by the Rev.
Samuel Buxton Smyth, M.A., of Jesus College, Cambridge. Here is a school for
boys and girls, and a new school, erected in 1869, at a cost of £450. Lord Petre
is lord of the manor. The principal landowners are William Gardiner, esq., and
John Dixon, esq. The soil is stiff clay; subsoil, clay. The chief crops are
wheat, beans and oats. The area is 2,413 acres, and the population in 1861 was
453; gross estimated rental, £3,686; rateable value, £3,327.
Hanningfield Tye is a little to the north; Claydons lies to the north-west
| Parish Clerk, Richard Brand Post Office - Charles Blanks, postmaster Letters arrive from Chelmsford, which is the nearest money order office, at 7.45am.; dispatched at 6pm. National School, Thomas Sutton, master Dixon John, Great Claydons Gardiner William, The Hall Smyth Rev. Samuel Buxton, M.A. [rector] Commercial Bacon Thomas, boot and shoe maker Bacon Thomas, jun. Plough & Sail, & cattle dealer Batt Daniel, farmer Beadel Thomas, farmer, Lodge Bird Anthony, beer retailer Bird William, farmer Blanks Joseph, farmer Bright Sarah (Mrs.), farmer |
Chapman Robert, boot & shoe maker Clark William, grocer Collins Walter, farmer Cottee Charles, baker & grocer Dixon John jun. farmer Durrant Samuel, farmer Eaton John, carpenter Flack William, bricklayer Gardiner William, farmer & landowner, The Hall Grange Horatio, shopkeeper Kirkham George, blacksmith Mott Charles, farmer, Paprills Myhill Richard, butcher Ratcliff Joseph, farmer Rayner Henry, farmer Shelly William, Windmill Wells Henry, beer retailer Wells James, Three Horseshoes |