Gestingthorpe
White�s History, Gazetteer & Directory of Essex ~ 1848
GESTINGTHORPE, a long straggling village, on a pleasant
eminence, 4� miles South West of Sudbury, has in its parish 834 souls, and
261lA.3R.22P. of land, and several scattered farm-houses. The soil is generally
heavy, and partly a sandy loam. The heirs of the late George Walker, Esq, are
owners and lords of the manor of Over Hall, a neat mansion, with pleasant
grounds. The Earl of Mornington is owner of Nether Hall manor; and the estate
called Parks belongs to A. Majendie, Esq. Here are several smaller owners,
mostly copyholders, subject to arbitrary fines. Odewell was anciently a hamlet
and chapelry; and on the south side of the parish are several houses adjoining
Maplestead.
The Church (St. Mary,) is a good brick building, with a nave, south aisle, and
chancel, and an embattled tower, containing six bells. Over the altar is a fine
picture of Christ rising from the Tomb, and on either side are paintings of
Moses and Aaron. A mural monument, on the south side of the chancel, has, in a
niche, the kneeling effigy of Capt. John Sparrow, who died in 1626. From an
early period, there have been here a sinecure rectory and a discharged
vicarage, the former valued in K.B. at �13. 6s. 8d., and in 1831 at �454. They
are both in the patronage of J.P. Elwes, Esq; and the Rev. Frederick Elwes,
B.A., of Wixoe, Suffolk, is incumbent of the former, and the Rev. B.B. Syer,
B.A., of the latter. The Vicarage-House has recently been rebuilt, and is a
handsome mansion, near the church. The rectorial glebe is 96A.2R.33P., and the
vicarial glebe 34A.2R. The tithes were commuted in 1840, the rectorial for
�520. 10s., and the vicarial for �181 per annum. The rent of a cottage and 12A.
of land, called Rents Fields, let for �16, is applied in schooling poor
children, but the donor is unknown.
Blanden Robert, butcher
Downs John jun., smith and ironfounder
Finch James, baker
Moss Luke, church clerk
Nice William, blacksmith
Pannell Jeffrey, wheelwright
Rayner Elizabeth, earthenware manufacturer
Rippinggale James, hop merchant and beerhouse
Syer Rev. Barrington Blomfield B.A., Vicarage
Walker Mrs., gentwoman, Over Hall
Weybrew Sarah, victualler, Compasses
Wiglesworth Mrs. Susanna
Farmers.
Bear William, Nether Hall
Bentall Anthony, Park Gate
Branwhite Charles Hammond, Moat
Carter John, Old House
Downs John (brick and tile maker)
Downs Mrs. Phoebe, Crouch House
King Isaac , Dalvyns
Patmer Nicholas , Park
Rayner Samuel , Rectory Farm
Schools.
Hale Harriet
Rippingale Susan
Shoemakers.
Bowers Edward
Harvey Wm and Jas
Turner Benjamin
Shopkeepers
Bowers Edward
Corder Henry
Felton Rebecca
Finch James
Nice Mary