BRAINTREE AND BOCKING, WITH THE VILLAGE OF RAYNE AND NEIGHBOURHOODS

Pigot's Essex 1832-3 Trade Directory

BRAINTREE, is a considerable market town, in the hundred of Hinckford; 41 miles from London, and 12 from Chelmsford. It is situated on a rising ground, and connected on the north with Bocking, one of the most pleasant and populous villages in Essex. The town itself is irregularly built, and the streets for the most part narrow, and its general aspect that of considerable antiquity; but, as regards its inhabitants and trade, it is as respectable as any other of its size in the county. In domesday-book the manor is comprehended under the name of Raines; it was then held by the Bishop of London, to whose see it continued attached till the reign of Edward VI. The principal employments, in addition to what arises from the passage of goods between the metropolis and the more eastern counties, is the manufacture of silk, which gives employment to serveral hundred hands; a great quantity of straw plat is also made here for the London market: it was once famous for the manufacture of baize, but this branch is nearly extinct.

Upon the south side of the town stands the church, a spacious edifice (dedicated to the Virgin Mary), built upon an elevated site, which appears to have been once occupied by a camp: the church consists of a nave, chancel and side aisles; at the west end is a tower, crowned with a lofty spire, cased with slate. This building was founded in the reign of Edward III, but it has been much enlarged and improved since that period. The living is a vicarage, in the gift of the Earl of Winchelsea, who is the lay impropriator; the incumbent is the Rev. Barnard Scale. There is a charity school, endowed by Dr. Gurden, Bishop of Worcester, for educating 30 poor boys. The town is governed by a select vestry of committee of 24 parishioners. The country around here is decidedly agricultural; the land hilly in the immediate neighbourhood, well wooded and very fertile. The market is held on Wednesday, and is one of the largest in Essex; the chief commodities are corn, cattle and pigs. Fairs - 8th May, for cattle and pedlery; and (a large fair) 2nd October, and two following days, for cattle and hops. According to the census of 1831, the population of Braintree was as follows: in 1801 it contained 2,821 inhabitants - in 1811, 2,298 - in 1821, 2,983 - and in 1831, 3,422; being an increase, in 30 years, of 1,601 persons.

BOCKING. - This village, which forms the northern suburb of Braintree, consists chiefly of a single street, having many excellent houses. Its trade is of the same character as that of Braintree. This parish is peculiarly annexed to the see of Canterbury, and is subject to the Archbishop's jurisdiction. The church, which is a spacious building, stands upon an eminence, at a distance of between one and two miles north-west of the village; and is supposed to have been founded about the reign of Edward III. The living is a deanery, - two deans are nominated at the same period; the present resident on the living is the Rev. Charles Barton. Two copyhold courts are held here; one for the manor of Bocking, of which the Rev. John Thomas Nottidge is lord; and the other for the manor of Derwards Hall, possessed by the Honeywood family, of Marks Hall, in this county. Bocking parish contained, by the last census (1831), 3,128 inhabitants; having increased its population, in thirty years, 448.

RAYNE is a genteel village, in the same hundred as Braintree, two miles east of that town. There are two manors in this parish, viz. Rayne Hall, belonging to the Earl of Essex; and Old Hall, the property of Mr. Richard Andrews. The living here is a rectory, in the gift of the Earl; the incumbent is the Hon. and Rev. Wm. Capel, and the present curate is the Rev. James Warburton Alexander. The parish contained, by the last returns, 320 inhabitants.

POST OFFICE, BRAINTREE, William Sach, Post Master. - Letters from LONDON arrive every morning at half-past four, and are despatched every evening at half-past nine. Office closes every evening at nine; but letters are received until half-past nine, by paying two-pence with each.

COACHES.

To LONDON, the Braintree and Halstead (from Halstead), calls at the Horn Inn, every morning at seven, Monday excepted, when it calls at five; the Bury (from Bury), calls at the White Hart, every afternoon at a quarter to one, (Sundays excepted), and the Herald (from Diss), every afternoon at a quarter-past two - the Sudbury, every morning at quarter to eleven (Sunday excepted) - the Blue & the Phenomena (from Norwich), alternately every afternoon at a quarter to four, & the Times, call at the Boar's Head, every afternoon at three; all go through Chelmsford, Ingatestone, Romford and Stratford.

To BURY, the Bury (from London), calls at the White Hart, every afternoon (Sunday excepted) at a quarter to two; goes through Sudbury.

To CHELMSFORD, Brooks' coach, from the King's Head, every Friday morning at half-past nine.

To COLCHESTER, the Express, from the White Hart, every Tues. Thurs & Sat. morn. at 9; goes thro' Coggeshall.

To DISS, the Herald (from London, calls at the White Hart, every day at twelve; goes through Halstead, Sudbury, Bury, Botesdale and Eye.

To HALSTEAD, the Braintree & Halstead (from London), calls at the Horn Inn, every Monday evening at seven, & every other even. at eight (Sun. ex.)

To NORWICH, the Blue and the Phenomena (from London), alternately call at the White Hart, every morning at eleven - and the Times, calls at the same Inn and the Boar's Head, every morning at half-past ten; all go thro' Halstead, Sudbury, Long Melford, Bury St. Edmonds, Botesdale and Harleston.

To SUDBURY, the Sudbury (from London), calls at the White Hart, every evening (Sunday excepted), at five; goes through Halstead.

VANS, &C.

To LONDON, Cornelius's Van, from the Boar's Head, every Tues. & Fri. at noon.

To CHELMSFORD, Livermore's Car (for passengers and goods) from the King's Head, every Fri. morn. at eight.

To WITHAM, Mail Cart (for parcels), calls at the Post-office and White Hart, every evening at half-past nine.

CARRIERS.

To London, Byford's Waggon, calls at the King's Head, every Tues. and Fri. and Thurgood's Waggon, every Tues. - Gunn's Waggon, from his house, Bocking, every Mon. & Fri. - Ablitt's Waggon, calls at the Cardinal's Cap, Bocking, Jarvis's Waggon, calls a the Horse and Groom, Farrow's Waggon, calls at the White Hart, and Sykes & Cook's Waggon, calls at the Six Bells, every Friday - and Potts' Waggon, calls at the Horse and Groom, every Wednesday.

T0 BURY, Sykes & Co.'s Waggon, calls at the Six Bells, every Monday.

To CAMBRIDGE, Thomas Wright, from his house, occasionally every week.

To CAVENDISH, Byford's Waggon , calls at the King's Head, every Thurs. and Sun. - Jarvis's Waggon, calls at the Horse & Groom, every Sun. and Potts's Waggon, every Friday.

To CHELMSFORD, Wakefield's Cart, from the Horse & Groom, every Friday.

To COLCHESTER, Wright's Waggon, from his house, London road, every week - and Wakefield's Cart, from the Horse & Groom, every Wed. & Sat.

To DISS, Farrow's Waggon, calls at the White Hart, every Sunday.

To DUNMOW, Wakefield's Cart, from the Horse & Groom, every Monday.

To HALSTEAD, Gunn's Waggon, from his house, Bocking, every Mon. & Fri. - and Thurgood's Waggon, calls at the King's Head, every Saturday.

To MALDON, Wright's Waggon, from his house, every Monday.

To SUDBURY, Ablitt's Waggon, from his house, every Monday.

Transcribed by CG