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Woodbridge in the
Loes hundred
Woodbridge 1855 Whites Directory
Transcribed by Colin Ager
Part one ;
Part two ; Part three ;
Part four ;
Part five
WOODBRIDGE COUNTY COURT is held here monthly, at the Shire Hall, for a district
comprising all the 48 parishes, &c., in Woodbridge Union, (see page 236;) and 16
parishes in Plomesgate Union, which see. Fras. King Eagle, Esq., is the judge;
Thomas Collins, of Bury, chief clerk; Robert A. Reeve, assistant clerk; and
Alfred Taylor, bailiff. The office is in the thoroughfare.
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 stones 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-angle, encountering the Dragon. In 1840-’41 the
late George Thomas Esq., at his own expense, laid out nearly �1000 in repairing
and beautifying this noble edifice, which he decorated with several beautiful
stained glass windows, and improved by the erection of a new porch. Here were
formerly alters 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 Sekforde, 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. Mr. Sekforde, or Seckford, 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 Saxon, the public was indebted for the first set of county
maps, which were engraved by his encouragement, and at his expense. He built the
Session 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 arch-angels,
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 is now valued at �500, in the patronage and incumbency of the Rev. Thomas
Wm. Meller, M.A., who purchased the advowson and the impropriate rectory for
�550 in 1842, and has a commodious residence, called the “Rectory,” near
Sekforde’s Hospital, of which he is chaplain. His curates are the Rev. T.
Batchelor and the Rev. A. E. Marshall. Mr. W. S. Causton, is the organist; Mr.
W. G. Chappel, clerk; and Jas. Cutting, sexton.
ST. JOHN’S CHURCH was erected in 1842-‘3, to supply that lack of church-room
which had long been felt in this town. It is a fine specimen of the simple, yet
beautiful early English 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, but the church was not consecrated till August, 1846. Mr. J. M. Clark,
of Ipswich, was the architect, and Mr. A. Lockwood, of Woodbridge, was the
contractor for the building. The benefice is a perpetual curacy, in the gift of
the Church Patronage Society, and incumbency of the Rev. Joseph Moss Rowley,
B.A., who has a neat white brick Parsonage House, erected in 1853, at the cost
of �850, raised by subscriptions and grants
Here are two INDEPENDENT CHAPELS. That in Quay lane was built in 1805, but both
it and the burial ground were enlarged some years ago, and a new organ erected.
That in Chapel lane was built in 1841, at the cost of �1400. The Rev. F. B.
Brown is minister of the former and the Rev. John Ross of the latter In the town
are also three other chapels, belonging to Baptists, Wesleyans, and the Society
of Friends.
Woodbridge LITERARY AND MECHANICS’ INSTITUTION was established in 1835, and now
occupies a neat building in St. John’s street, built in 1852, at the cost of
about �300, by a company of shareholders, who also erected the LECTURE HALL
which adjoins it. The latter is a large and handsome building of white brick,
and cost �1100, raised in �5 shares. It is let for various purposes, and will
accommodate 500 persons. The institution has about 150 members, and a library of
about 3000 volumes. F. C. Brooke, Esq., is the president, Mr. S. Gravely,
secretary, and Mr. Robert Bird, librarian. Woodbridge Horticultural Society has
a numerous list of members, and generally has its annual shows in the Abbey
grounds. Mr. J. G. Sheppard is the president, and Mr. J. Lodger, jun.,
secretary. There are circulating libraries at the four booksellers’ shops; and
at Mr. Smith’s, in the Market place, is a News Room. In the town are several
Religious, Charitable, and Friendly Societies; a richly-endowed Hospital; and
several schools and charities for the education and relief of the poor. The
Depot of the Christian Knowledge Society is at Mr. W. M. Marsh’s, and of the
Tract Society at Mr. J. D. Munro’s.
Woodbridge Public Houses
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