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Elmswell, Blackbourn Hundred
ELMSWELL in 1844, is a large neat village, pleasantly situated nearly 4 miles
N. W. of Stowmarket, and 8 miles E. of Bury St. Edmund's, has in its parish 671
souls, and 2,021 acres of land. The manor was given by King Edward, to Bury
Abbey, and was one of the country seats of the abbot. It was granted in the 8th
of James I., to Robert Gardiner, and afterwards passed to the Chapmans and
Giffords. Miss Gifford is now lady of the manor, but a great part of the soil
belongs to Lord George Seymour, Miss Smith, Rev. J. T. Lawton, and the Sparke,
Long, Pilbrow, Sturgeon, Pattle, Bennett, Catchpole, and a few other families.
The Church (St. John) stands on a commanding eminence, and has a very handsome
tower. It contains an elegant mural monument in memory of Sir Robert Gardiner,
Kt., who was chief justice of Ireland eighteen years, and died in 1619, aged 80.
The figure of Sir Robert, nearly as large as life, and well executed, is in a
recumbent posture, and his son is represented as kneeling at his feet. The
rectory, valued in K. B. at �l1 7s. 1d., has now a yearly modus of about �500,
awarded in lieu of tithes, in 1843. The Rev. Joseph Thomas Lawton is patron and
incumbent, and supports a school for the instruction of the poor. Here is a
Wesleyan Chapel, built in 1818.
Sir Robert Gardiner, Kt., by deed, in the 12th of James 1st., reciting that he
had ercted an Almshouse, at Elmswell, containing five rooms, with a yard and
garden containing half an acre; and that he had placed in each of four of the
rooms one poor widow, and in the fifth, being larger than the rest, two poor
widows; he thereby appointed that the almshouse should be used for the
habitation of six poor aged widows, three from Elmswell, and three from Woolpit;
and that the successive owners of the manor of Elmswell should keep the
buildings in good repair; and he hereby appointed six persons as governors, who
should, with the ministers of Elmswell and Woolpit, with the consent of the
owner of the mansion house of Elmswell, have the nomination and power of
displacing the almswomen, each of whom he endowed by the same deed, with an
annuity of �3 10s., and a gown of blue cloth or stuff, yearly; and to provide
for these allowances, he gave a yearly rent charge of �16, out of his lands in
Thelnetham, and another of �10 out of the manors of Elmswell and Woolpit; the
former of which he also charged with the delivery of one load of fire-wood,
yearly, for each almswoman. By his will, he afterwards gave �100 to purchase
lands for the almspeople, and �30 to purchase lands for the poor of the parish.
With these legacies, about 14a. of land was purchased at Combs, now let for �15
a year; threefourths of which are divided among the almswomen, and the remainder
among poor parishioners. The firewood is supplied out of the East wood, now
belonging to Lord Thurlow. A weekly stipend of 2s. 6d. is now paid to each
almswoman. The Church Land, about 26a., and the Poor's Land, about 2 1/2a.,
lying in Elmswell and Woolpit, were vested in trust with 12 feoffees, in 1706,
and are now let for upwards of �84 per annum. The rent of the latter is
distributed among the poor, in sums varying from 6s. to 20s.
Baker George Randall, beerseller
Bridges Mrs Mary
Cooke Mrs S
Browne Mrs, New Building
Copping Mr William
Rowe Mr Jno
Cuthbert John, Wheelwright
Fakes Robert, cutler & grinder
Lawton Rev Joseph Thomas, Rectory
Mathew Miss Rebecca, schoolmistress
Pattle Mr Daniel Moss, quarter master
Robinson John, victualler, Red Lion
Spencer William, blacksmith
Warren Nathan, woodman
BAKERS.
Mulley George
Wright William
Boot & Shoemakers.
Clarke David
Mulley John
Wright William
Bricklayrs.
Mulley William
Sayer William
Butchers.
Graham Ireland
Robinson Charles
FARMERS.
Beeton John
Bridges Denis
Bridges William, Marsh
Catchpolt; Thomas, (& maltster)
Fisher Henry
Goldsmith William
Graham Ireland
Howlett John
Jackson Isaac
Kitchen Hannah, Elmswell Hall
Lawton John
Lord Walter
Lord William
Sturgeon Joseph
Wright David
Wright Reuben
Wright Robert
Gardeners & Nurserymen.
Fenton Edw.
Fenton Zach.
Welham Nunn
Grocers & Drapers.
Mulley John
Wright Robert (& broker)
TAILORS.
Bull John, (and draper)
Mulley Reubin
Sayer Reubin
Carrier to Bury, John Beeton, Wednesday
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