Hornchurch 1863 Whites Directory

HORNCHURCH is a large village, consisting chiefly of two streets, pleasantly situated, 2 1/2 miles E.S.E. of Romford, and more than 4 miles north of the Thames; but its parish extends southward to that noble river, though it decreases from two to about one mile in breadth; bounded on the east and west by the small rivers Rom and Ingerbourn. The parish increased its population from 1331 in 1801, to 2227 souls in 1861, and comprises about 6000 acres of land. It was assessed to the property tax in 1843, at the annual value of £17,749, and includes Eardley Green, Havering Well, and many scattered houses, extending southward to Hornchurch Marsh, on the north bank of the Thames. It anciently comprised the whole Liberty of Havering-atte-Bower , and Romford and Havering are still considered its parochial chapelries. It has an extensive Foundry, and Agricultural Implement, etc Manufactory. David Mackintosh, Esq., is lord paramount of the whole Liberty, but a great part of the soil in this parish belongs to New College, Oxford, Lord Salisbury, the Executors of the late Dr. Kerrison, the Rev. Dr. T. H. Newman, Thomas Mashiter, and Richd. Reynolds, Esqrs., and several smaller freeholders. The manors of Hornchurch Hall and Suttons, with the church and the tithes of the whole Liberty, were given by Henry II. to the Great Hospital of St. Bernard de Monte Jovis, in Savoy, which had a cell or subordinate hospital here, for a master and poor brethren, called the fraternity of the "Horned Monastery;" but it was dissolved with the other alien houses, and its possessions were purchased by William of Wykeham, for the endowment of New College, Oxford, to which the said manors and tithes still belong; hut they are held on lease by John Bearblock, Esq., of Hornchurch Hall, a neat mansion with tasteful grounds. The Lodge, another pleasant seat, is the residence of Thos. Mashiter, Esq.; and Bretons, a large brick mansion, with a fine avenue of trees, two miles south of the village, is occupied by John Moss, Esq., but belongs to the Trustees of R W. H. Dare, Esq. Great Nelmes is the pleasant seat and property of the Rev. Thomas H. Newman, D.D. There are several other neat mansions in the parish, as named with their occupants in the directory. The main street of Hornchurch was formerly called Pell street, from the number of "peltmongers," or skinners, who dressed leather here for the breeches makers of Romford. An ancient custom of wrestling for a boar's head, arising out of a charter granted to this Liberty by Henry II, occurs here every Christmas day. The boar's head is given by New College, Oxford, as appropriators of the rectory, and there are often as many as 30 competitors for it.

The CHURCH (St. Andrew) is a lofty and spacious stone fabric, with a tower, containing six bells, and crowned by a tall spire, rising 170 feet. In the chancel and transepts are many mural tablets; and against the east wall is carved a bullock's head, said to have been the crest of the " Horned Monastery" just noticed. The organ was purchased by subscription, in 1861. The benefice is a Vicarage, valued at £740. Since 1831, it has been held by the Rev. D. G. Stacy, B.C.L., for whom the Rev. T. C. Dean officiates; It is in the patronage of the Wardens and Fellows of New College, Oxford, -the appropriators of the rectory. The parish, has several Charities for the poor, as noticed below; and it has a corps of Rifle Volunteers numbering about 65 men. P. E. Bearblock is their captain.

The Church Land comprises 8A. left by Wm. Talbot, in 1563, and 2A. given by Wm. Gogney, in 1627. The Free School, for 16 poor boys, is endowed with a yearly rent-charge of £10, left by Alice Aylett, out of land now forming part of Langtons Park; and with the dividends of £200 Three per Cent Consols, purchased with £160.10s,'derived from a legacy of £200, left by Wm. Jacob, in 1813. In 1687, Henry Appleton gave three tenements for the residence of three poor families; and they were rebuilt in 1888. In 1597, John. Pennant left four tenements, as an Almshouse
for the poor, but in 1721, a Workhouse was built upon their site, at the cost of £300. Since the establishment of Unions, under the New Poor Law, part of this Workhouse has been divided into five tenements, occupied rent free, and the rest is let for about £15 per annum. Two cottages, called Painter's Almshouses, derived from the gift of Anthony Ram, in 1699, being in a delapidated state, were let, in 1824, for 31 years, at the annual rent of £10, to two lessees, each of whom covenanted to expend £200 in rebuilding the houses. In 1678, Sibell Skeale left £20 as a fund, for repairing her tomb, and the surplus for the poor. This sum, with £75 benefaction money, was laid ont in the purchase of two cottages and 2A., called the West Field, now let for about £16. A house and garden, bequeathed to the poor by Wm Oakley, in 1693, are let for about £9 a year. In 1657, Wm. Armstead left two yearly rent-charges, viz.:- £5 for the poor, and £1 for two sermons on Michaelmas and Lady days. They are paid out of a farm of 80A. in Hay Street, which the testator also charged with £4 a year, for the poor of Romford and Dagenham. In 1811, Thos. Page left £105 New 3 1/2 per Cent Stock, in trust, that the yearly dividends should be distributed among the poor widows of Hornchuroh, except what might be required for repairing his tomb. As noticed with Romford, the poor of this parish participate in Reede's, Hide's, and Webster's Charities. They have also the following yearly doles, viz.:- 20s. out of Ford Lodge, left in 1738, by Thos. Clarke; £3, from £100 South Sea Annuities, left in 1787, by David Rickett; £3.13s. 6d., from £100 Three-and-a-Half per Cents, given in 1811, by Hannah Richardson; £3, from £100 Three per Cent. Reduced Annuities, left in 1797, by John Richardson; 30s., as the rent of 1A. 32p. of Allotments, awarded at the enclosure in 1812; 6s. 9d., from £18 in the Savings' Bank, left in 1821, by John Bourne; and £3, from £100 Three per Cent Consols, left in 1811, by Wm Higgs, who also left £100, to be lent, free of interest, in four sums, to four poor deserving tradesmen or little farmers, for three years. Part of this loan, fund has been lost. A yearly rent-charge of 21s, left to the poor by Burchett Whennett, in 1780, out of Albyne Farm,.has not been paid since 1828. About I 1/2 A. of marsh land, left to the poor by Samuel Ballard, in 1691, was inundated about the year 1700, by the Dagenham Breach, which swallowed up many acres of the marshes. In 1807, John Massu, Esq., of Langtons, left £1000 East India Stock, for the use of his wife during her life, and afterwards to be vested, in trust with the vicar and churchwardens, to pay the yearly dividends, in equal shares, to ten poor men of Hornchurch, who have never received parochial relief. His widow died in 1850, aged 79. Jane Oxley died here in 1841, aged 101 years.