Post Office Directory of 1865. & Private Residents & Commercial Traders in 1865
HALESWORTH is a thriving market town, 32 miles north-east from
Ipswich, 9 south-by-east from Bungay, 10 south-by-west from Beccles, 9 west from
Southwold, 12 from Saxmundham, and 100 north-east from London, in the Blything
hundred and union, Norwich diocese, East Suffolk. It is a railway station on the
East Suffolk line of the Great Eastern Railway, which gives direct communication
between the important district of East Suffolk and the metropolis, and has a
large passenger station, with an extensive goods shed, and accommodation for
coal yards. Halesworth, though usually considered to be situated on the Blyth,
appears rather seated on a tributary stream to that river, which just above
Halesworth bridge receives the waters rising from several heads in the adjacent
parishes, and forms the northern arm of the Blyth: the other branch rises in
Laxfield, and traversing the villages of Ubbeston, Heveningham and Walpole,
passes south of the town, and is here a sluggish stream; it is navigable from
Southwold to the town for wherries of from 20 to 30 tons. The town is well
built, and consists of one long street, with several short ones, and is well
lighted with gas. Here are the banks of Messrs. Gurneys' & Co., Harveys' &
Hudsons', and the Provincial Banking Corporation; also a savings bank for the
Blything hundred. The Mechanics' Institute is in Quay-street, and the Working
Men's reading room in Rectory lane. The Police Station, a neat building, with
residence for the sergeant, and three cells, was erected in 1865, at a cost of
�800. The Angel is the principal hotel: the Market Hall is a fine building,
which will accommodate 400 persons: it was erected some years since in the yard
of the hotel, and is connected with it. The market is held on Tuesday. The old
theatre, now the Rifle Hall, the interior of which has undergone a great
improvement, is the gift of the family of the late Andrew Johnston, Esq. (late
captain of the rifle corps), to the town, and is used as a drill room for the
volunteers, lectures, Sec. under the management of five gentlemen as trustees.
The church of St. Mary is a Gothic building, principally in the Perpendicular
style, consisting of nave, chancel, and three aisles, with square tower
containing clock and fine peal of 8 bells: it has undergone restoration: there
are 3 brasses, date 1476; one was found in the river Waveney, near Earsham. some
years since: a tablet has the following inscription�" Pray for the soul of John
Everard, who died on the 15th day of the month of October, A.D. 1476, on whose
soul God have mercy." The parish register dates from the year 1653. The living
is a discharged rectory, with the vicarage of Chediston annexed, joint gross
value �600, with about 10 acres of glebe, in the gift of Sir T. F. Buxton, Bnrt.,
and held by the Rev. Vincent John Stanton, M.A., of St. John's College,
Cambridge; the Rev. William John Garrould, B.A., of Corpus Christi College,
Cambridge, and the Rev. Abraham Matchett are the curates. The National school
for boys is on the Holton-road; the average attendance is about 140; and in the
Rectory lane is a school for girls and infants, erected by the inhabitants of
the town in memory of Priscilla, wife of the late A. Johnston, Esq.; the average
number of scholars is 270. The Memorial Home, a handsome building, close to the
church, was erected and endowed by John Crabtree, Esq., in the year 1859, in
memory of his wife, for the support of four poor widows, each of "whom has two
rooms and five shillings per week. There are six almshouses and several other
charities. The town estate is vested in trustees for the general benefit of the
parishioners, and has rents amounting to �180 a year, applied principally in
repairing the church, paying salaries to the organist, parish clerk, Sic.,
lighting the town, and a few minor purposes. The Town-room, near the church, is
used principally for parish business, and for an adult evening school in the
winter. The Baptists, Wesleyans, and Independents have each a cha|iel; the
latter will accommodate about 900 persons, and has a Sunday school for 80 boys
and about 120 girls; the Baptists have also a prosperous Sunday school. This is
one of the polling places for the eastern division of the county, and
magistrates hold petty sessions at the Angel hotel every alternate Wednesday.
The county court is held at the Corn Hall once a month, and comprises the
following parishes within its jurisdiction :� Benacre, Blyford, Blythburgh,
Bramfield, Brampton, Chediston, Cookley, Covehithe, Cove South, Cratfield,
Darsham, Dunwich, Easton Bavents, Frostenden, Halesworth, Henham, Heveningham,
Holton, Huntingfield, Linstead Magna, Linstead Parva, Middleton, Peasenhall,
Reydon, Rumburgh, Sibton, Sotherton, Southwold, Spexhall, Stoven, Theberton,
Thorington, Ubbeston, Uggeshall, Walberswick, Walpole, Wangford. Wenhaston,
Westhall, Westleton, Wissett, Wrentham, and Yoxford. The trade consists chiefly
in corn and malting, which is carried on very extensively by Messrs. Burleigh,
George and Strathern; many thousand quarters are annually exported to London by
rail and the navigable river Blyth, by means of small craft to the port of
Southwold. The coach manufactory of Mr. S. Smith employs over 90 hands. Here is
also a brick and draining tile yard of Mr. R. Smith, the iron foundry and
agricultural implement works of Mr. E. Headley, and the brewery of Messrs.
George, Stanford St Holden. A large repository stock sale is held the first
Wednesday in the month, conducted by Mr. G. P. Freeman. Fairs are held on the
Tuesday in Easter and Whitsun weeks, and on the 20th of October for the hiring
of servants. John Crabtree, Esq., is lord of the manor of Halesworth and Dame
Margeries in Halesworth, and the rector is lord of the manor of the Rectory. The
population in 1861 was 2,521; the area is 1,445 acres. The gross value is
�10,068, and the rateable value �8,138 10s.
Parish Clerk, Thomas Jarmy, Market place.
Official Establishments, Local Institutions etc
INSURANCE AGENTS :�
Alliance Fire Life, F. B. Parslee, Bank house, Thoroughfare
Atlas, A. G. Stagoll, Mill Hill street
Crown Life, R. B. Baas, Marketplace; A. J. Young, Market place
Eagle, John Crabtree, Thoroughfare
General Hailstorm, J. Cross
General Fire & Life, J. B. Harvey, The Castle �
Law Union Fire & Life, J. Read, Thoroughfare; W. Garrod, London road
Life Association of Scotland, W. F. Rogers, Thoroughfare; F. B. Strathern, Quay
street
Liverpool S; London $ Globe, W. C. Chilvers, Alexandra terrace, London road; W.
H. Aldred, Market place
Norwich Union Fire S; Life, J. Tippell, Thoroughfare; W. F. Rogers, Thoroughfare
Norfolk Farmers', J. Day, Quay street
Norfolk & Norwich Accidental, W. F. Rogers; J. Day
Pelican Life, J.J. Waller, Quay street
Phoenix Fire, J. Read, Thoroughfare
Pontefract & West Rilling of Yorkshire Horse & Cattle, J. Cross, Quay street
Local Institutions, &c.
Queen, G. W. Chase, Thoroughfare
Railway Passengers', J. Cross, Quay street; W. C. Chilvers, Alexandra terrace,
London road
Reliance Mutual Life, J. Day, Quay street
Royal Fire & Life, J. H. Gostling, Market place
Royal Exchange, J. Cross, Quay street
Royal Farmers' & General, R. Haward
Sun, Charles Bryant, Quay terrace
Suffolk Allmnce, Miss Allcock, Quay terrace
Yorkshire Fire & Life, W. Upton
PUBLIC ESTABLISHMENTS:�
County Court, John Worlledge, esq. London, judge; Robert Beales Baas, esq.
Halesworth, registrar; Jonathan Townley, esq. Norwich, treasurer; Henry William
Wallace, Framlingham, high bailiff; John Seammen, Halesworth, bailiff
Burial Board Office, Thoroughfare, open from 10 to 4
Corn Hall, Angel yard
Gas Works, Wissett road
Inland Revenue Office, at the Angel inn. Thoroughfare
Fire Engine, near the Almshouses, Pound street; keys at J. Jarmy's, Chediston
street
Rifle Hall, London road
Stamp Office, Mr. John Foreman, Thoroughfare
Mechanics' Institute, Quay street
Working Men's Reading Room, Rectory lane
Police Station, near the Church, Daniel Keeble Taylor, sergeant
Seventh Suffolk Volunteer Rifle Corps, Head Quarters, Rifle Hall; Captain H. A.
S. Bence, Thorington hall;
Rev. R. S. Beloe, chaplain; Sergeant Miller, drill instructor
PUBLIC OFFICERS:�
Clerk to the Magistrates, Frederic Cross. Thoroughfare
Clerk to the Trustees of the Ipswich Turnpike Trust, Robert Beales Baas, Market
place
Clerk of the Market, J. Miller, Chediston street
Clerk to the Halesworth Burial Board, John Read, Thoroughfare
Clerk to the Commissioners of the River Blyth, Robert H. Baas, Market place
Collector of Tolls on the River Blyth, Charles Bryant, Quay terrace
Collector of Poor Rata & Property & Income Taxes, John Bedwell, jun
Commissioners to Administer Oaths & for Taking Acknowledgments of Married Women,
Messrs. Crabtree & Cross, H. B. Baas, & J. Read
Inspector of Nuisances, H. White, Rectory lane
Deputy Superintendent Registrar, John Cross, Quay street
Medical Officers, J. S. Harris, No. 1 District; F. Haward, No. '2 District
Registrar of the County Court, Robert Beales Baas, esq. Market place
Registrar of Births & Deaths for the Halesworth District & Relieving Officer,
Henry White, Rectory lane
Registrar of Marriages for Blything Union, H. White, Rectory lane
Superintendent Registrar, Charles White, at Bulcamp
Supervisor of Inland Revenue, John Marshall
Surveyor of Taxes, Alfred Apthorpe
Vestry Clerk, John Read, esq
PLACES OF WORSHIP: �
St. Mary's Church, Rev. Vincent John Stanton, M.A. rector; Rev.William John
Garrould, B. A. & Rev. Abraham
Matchett, curntes
Baptist Chapel, Rev. William John Gooding, minister
Independent Chapel, Rev. Henry Coleman, minister
Wesleyan Chapel, ministers various
SCHOOLS:�
National (boys), Holton road, George Frederick Cbappell, master
National (girls & infants), Rectory lane, Miss Agnes
Hughes & Miss Lucy Bird, mistresses
NEWSPAPER.�' Halesworth Times,' published tuesdays, by William Pickin Gale,
Thoroughfare
POSTING HOUSE.�Angel hotel, G. Newman
Great Eastern Parcel Office, Angel hotel, G. Newman, agent; Sutton & Co. James
Miller, agent
Railway Station, George Charles Kew, station master & goods manager
CARRIERS TO : �
ALDBOROUGH�Sawyer, from Quay street, thursday
BECCLES�Mrs. Maria Watson, from ' King's Head,' Quay street, Wednesday &
Saturday
BUNGAY�Sawyer, from Quay street, tuesday &, friday
FRAMLINUIIAM�Thomas Coates, monday & friday
IPSWICH�Thomas Coates, from Bridge street, monday & friday
LAX FIELD�Elnaugh, tuesday & friday
LOWESTOFT�Mrs. Barbam, Wednesday
NORWICH�Sawyer, from Quay street, tuesday & frldoy
SOUTIIWOLD�Bedingfield, from'Tuns,' daily