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Woodbridge in the
Loes hundred
Woodbridge 1844 Whites Directory
part one ;
part two ;
part three
The PARISH CHURCH (St. Mary) is a spacious and handsome structure of black flint
and free stone, supposed to have been built in the reign of Edward III. by John,
Lord Segrave, and his wife, Margaret de Brotherton, whose arms are yet to be
seen over the door of the large and lofty quadrangular tower which has, in the
upper part, the stone and flints beautifully intermixed in various devices. The
roofs of the nave and aisles are supported by ten beautiful Gothic pillars and
four demi ones. The north portico is decorated in front with the representation,
in relievo, of Michael, the arch-angel, encountering the dragon. Since 1839,
George Thomas, Esq., has, at his own expense, laid out nearly �1000 in repairing
and beautifying this noble edifice, which he has decorated with several
beautiful stained glass windows, and improved by the erection of a new porch.
Here were formerly altars of St. Anne and St. Saviour, and a celebrated image of
our Lady ; and in the north aisle was a chapel, dedicated to St. Nicholas.
Adjoining the north side of the chancel is a private chapel, erected by
Thomas Seckford, Esq., one of the Masters of the Court of Requests, and Surveyor
of the Court of Wards and Liveries in the reign of Elizabeth, and the founder of
the almshouses here. This munificent benefactor of Woodbridge was interred in
this chapel, under a large altar tomb, which was stripped of its brass
inscriptions, &c., in 1643, by Dowsing, the Parliamentary visitor. He was not
less distinguished in the profession of the law, than in the other polite
accomplishments of the age in which he lived ; and to his patronage to his
servant Christopher Saxton, the public was indebted for the first set of county
maps, which were engraved by his encouragement, and at his expense. He built the
Sessions House at Woodbridge, giving the upper part of it to the use of the
county for ever. He represented Ipswich in three Parliaments, and died without
issue in 1588, aged 72. The steeple and some other parts of the church were
repaired about the middle of the 15th century, as appears from numerous legacies
left for that purpose. Here is a mutilated inscription of John Albrede, a
"twill-weaver," who left 20 marks towards repairing the steeple, and was at the
expense of carving, gilding, and painting the rood-loft, in which were the
pictures of the cross and crucifix, the Virgin Mary, and several archangels,
saints, and martyrs, figured, as we are told, to the life, but all destroyed by
Dowsing in 1643. The benefice is a perpetual curacy, which was certified at �45,
and valued in 1835 at �439 per annum. W. C. Betham, Esq., is the patron, and the
Rev. T. S. Bomford, the incumbent.
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH was erected in 1842-3 to supply that lack of church-room which
had long been felt in this improving town. It is a fine specimen of the simple,
yet beautiful early Englieh style, and cost about �3500, raised by subscription.
It has about 800 sittings ; and an elegant spire, rising 138 feet, and
terminated by a finial of Caen stone, forming two crosses intersecting each
other diagonally, and decorated with foliage thrown out in bold relief. The
foundation stone was laid, June 30th, 1842, by George Thomas, Esq., one of the
principal contributors to the fabric, and the event was celebrated by a splendid
procession of Free Masons. Mr. J. M. Clark, of Ipswich, was the architect, and
Mr.A. Lockwood, of Woodbridge, was contractor for the building. There are in the
town two Independent Chapels, built in 1805 and 1841, by congregations which
date their origin from 1651 and 1787. Here are also an old Friend's Meeting
House, a Baptist Chapel, and a Weslyan Chapel; the latter built in 1829.
The MECHANICS' INSTITUTION, established here in 1835, is in a flourishing
condition, and has a library of abont 2000 volumes. G. Moore, Esq., is
president; G. Thomas, Esq., vice-president; and Mr. Alfred Taylor, librarian.
There are in the town several Religious and Charitable Societies, Sick Clubs,
and Secret Orders, a Shipwrecked Seamen's Benevolent Society, (established in
1840;) a Savings' Bank ; richly endowed Almshouses ; and several schools and
charities, for the education and relief of the poor.
FREE SCHOOL :- In 1662, Robert Marryott conveyed to certain trustees his
copyhold messuage in Woodbridge, and the buildings, yards, garden, and orchard
thereunto belonging, in trust for the use and residence of a schoolmaster. By
the same deed, four rent-charges amounting to �25 per annum, were settled upon
the master for teaching ten poor children - viz., �5 given by the said Robt.
Marryott, out of land called Brayes, in Bredfleld ; �5 given by Fras. Burwell,
out of a messuage at Sutton ; �5 given by Dorothy Seckford, oat of land in Great
Bealings ; and ,�10 given by the feoffees of the town lands, out of the Lamb
Farm. By a decree of the Court of Chancery in 1800, it was ordered that the
schoolmaster and the ten free scholars should be elected by the perpetual
curate, the churchwardens, and six of the principal parishioners ; and that the
master should charge only �3 a year each for teaching other children of
Woodbridge, but might make his own terms for those sent from other parishes. The
free-scholars are selected from the poor families of Woodbridge. They are
instructed with the other scholars in writing, arithmetic, mathematics, and
mensuration, and also in the Latin and Greek Tongues, when required.
Besides the use of the school premises and the �25 per annum noticed above, the
master has 2A. 3R. 36P. of land, left by Francis Willard in 1679, and now let
for �8 a year. The school and master's house were repaired and partly rebuilt in
1835, at the cost of about �500.
The Rev. Thos. W. Hughes, B.A., is the present master. Here is also a NATIONAL
SCHOOL, built in 1812, at the cost of abont �1500, and having room for about 150
children of either sex ; and in Castle street is another large School, in two
apartments, connected with the BRITISH AND FOREIGN SCHOOL SOCIETY, erected in
1840, at the cost about �900, and now attended by about 80 boys and 70 girls.
Woodbridge Public Houses
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