EssexJOURNAL A REVIEW OF LOCAL HISTORY & ARCHAEOLOGY Autumn 2014
CHRISTINE JONES DISCUSSES THE BURIAL IN WOOLLEN ACT
AND SO MUCH MORE...
s: n s o d ti n es la u w Q o 0 R 2 n J so E li A
Autumn 2014 Vol.49 No.2 EssexJOURNAL ISSN-0014-0961 Incorporating Essex Review
he ESSEX JOURNAL is published twice a year under the management CONTENTS of an EditorialBoard consisting of T Editorial 40 representatives of the Essex Archaeolog ic al News from the Essex Record Office 41 andHistoric al Cong ress, theFriends of Hannah Salisbury Historic Essex, theEssex Record Office The Essex Great War Archive Project 42 (on behalf of the Essex County Counc il), Sarah Ensor and the Honorary Ed itor. It is recognised The Identity of the Prittlewell Prince 44 that the statutory duties of the County Julian Whybra Counc il preclude the ERO from sharing Civic Feasts and Ceremonies: Colchester and its 49 in thefinancial commitments of the Oysters consortium . Andrew Phillips ‘Made of Sheeps Wooll Onely’ 57 Chairman:Adrian Corder-Birch: Christine Jones c [email protected] Some Memorials in Essex Churches relating to the 65 Hon. Editor: Neil Wiffen, MA: Sub-Continent of India neilwiffen@hotm ail.com Alan Tritton Hon. Treasurer: Geraldine Willden, MAAT: Book Reviews: g eraldine.w illd en@ hotmail.co.uk Michael Fox, 71 Hon. Secretary: Karen Lawrenc e, MA: Chelmsford Diocese – the first 100 years, karenlawrence@ waitrose.com & Tony Tuckwell, Hon. Membership Sec : Jenepher Hawkins, MA: Coming of Age: the life and times of Chelmsford je [email protected] Cathedral 1914–2014 (J. Bettley) Adrian Corder-Birch, 73 The annual subscription of £10.00 Bricks, Buildings and Transport: A History of Mark should be sent to: Gentry, the Hedingham red brick industry, The Hon. Membership Secretary, buildings, road and rail transport, 13 South Prim rose Hill, Chelm sford, (R. Harris) Essex, CM1 2RF. Brian G. McAllister (editor), 74 Lost Letters of Edward Maitland Notes to contributors (M. Leach) Contributions are welcome and should be sent in a Word Richard Morris, format to the Honorary Editor at the email listed above. William D’Oyley 1812-1890, General correspondence can either be emailed or posted to: (M. Fox) 30 Main Road, Broomfield, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 7EF. The Editor is more than happy to discuss any proposed articles as he does not guarantee that unsolicited material EJ 20 Questions? Alison Rowlands 75 will be published. Contributors are requested to limit their articles to 2,500/4,000 words, other than by prior agreement with the Editor. Style notes are available. Disclaimer Items printed in the Essex Journal do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editor or Editorial Board. Contributors, on behalf of the Essex Journal, have made every effort to trace and acknowledge ownership of all copyrighted material and to secure permissions. The Editor would like to hear of any inadvertent omission in the acknowledgement of copyright material. Copyright All written material, unless otherwise stated, is the copyright of the Essex Journal. Enquiries to the Editor.
Cover illustration: Certificate of affidavit of burial in woollen, St Mary on the Walls, Colchester, 1678. (ERO, D/P 246/18/2.) EssexJOURNAL 39 EJ Editorial
t seems that wherever one turns in Chelmsford, a different world, and I suspect it’s the same for much of Essex, one of quiet solitude Ithere’s a lot of building and development going disturbed only by the on, with more in the pipeline. Some of it seems to birds. Who knows take an age to even start. I have been waiting for what lies ahead – bit the first brick to be laid in the much anticipated (and dangerous to be too imminently imminent?!) building of the John Lewis certain on anything. store on the site of Walker’s ‘backsydes’ for some What I can be while now. certain of though is However, there’s plenty to watch such as the the content of this Marconi New Street development, and others issue of the Essex around the fringes of the city. One site is in ‘north Journal! I do hope Chelmsford’, where many houses are planned over that some of you the next few years. I pass this development, off of have discovered the White Hart Lane on what was productive farmland wonderfully irreverent now being built on, quite regularly. Perhaps autumn BBC Four comedy series Detectorists, which is set is not a time to dwell too long on such a melancholy in Essex on the hunt for a Saxon ship burial. If not sight of diggers and graders and bulldozers churning then you must find it on iPlayer and before you up the soil. watch it brush up on your Saxon royal genealogy Almost one thousand years ago we know that by reading Julian Whybra’s article on the identity a chap called Godric Poinc held the manor of of the Prittlewell burial. Who knows, perhaps Belstead Hall in Broomfield where these house are they’re just waiting to be found? now being built. I suspect that he himself did not Something completely different follows written work the fields nor move the soil with the two by that doyen of Essex local history research, Andrew ploughs held in demesne that Domesday Book tells us Philips. Andrew looks at the origins of the ‘ancient’ he had. He would have had men for that. I suspect annual Colchester oyster feast. I’ve never eaten an though that he would have looked out across his oyster before and I’m not sure that, despite Andrew’s fields, on the slopes of the Chelmer valley, and fascinating article, I feel inspired to go ahead and try perhaps felt a sense of pride for a crop fair grown, one but perhaps you all feel differently. a hedge cleverly laid or a field well ploughed. Christine Jones has written a wonderful history Equally I can assume that he also had moments of of 1678 Burial in Woollen Act and its adoption despair when the rain never stopped or the sun throughout Essex. It is interesting to see how didn’t shine. I suppose he would have shared these different incumbents recorded it and the varying feelings with those who did the really hard work degrees of detail that was written down. Was it that the land demands in return for a harvest. just a bit of a pain to administer and did it really They would have all been regulated and ruled by usefully provide a stimulus to the woollen a rhythm of agrarian and religious life, ceremonies industry? and celebrations that would have marked the years Alan Tritton examines some Essex connections as they spun by. Successors would have come over with India – staggering that there is estimated to the centuries as the fields were tended and the be two million mainly British burials in the Indian harvests taken. A farmer who succeeded Godric sub-Continent alone. I wonder how many ‘ordinary’ Poinc was David Smith of Hill Farm, Broomfield. Essex men and women have ended their days under It was he who wrote of his farms in The Same Sky a foreign sun? Perhaps you’ve been researching Over All (London, 1948) and mentioned the various one? fields he looked after with their individual features, I do hope that you might find a book to hunt characteristics that I’m sure Godric Poinc would have out and read on the recommendation of our book recognized. But now the long cycle of ploughing reviewers but if you just want to make it to the and weeding and harvesting are coming to an end back cover then there’s a treat in store as Professor under a new estate of houses – sad days to witness Alison Rowlands, of the University of Essex, shares perhaps, except that all our houses have been built her 20 answers with us. As ever a fascinating look on somebody’s field at some time! at a historian at work in our wonderful county. However, perhaps the story is never finished, As ever thanks to all those who help me make the whole tale never told for also in Broomfield this all possible, from all of the contributors, book there is an arable field called Dragon’s Foot in which reviewers, technical experts and those who I can go the remains of a high status Roman building still to for advice – all very much appreciated. litter the soil. Those who witnessed the building of this some two millennia ago might have had similar See you all for Volume 50 next year, thought to ours and wondered what the world was coming to. But where now is the bustle and noise? Cheers, Standing in the field today, looking down across to Chelmsford in the distance, one could almost be in Neil
EssexJOURNAL 40 News from the Essex Record Office
he ERO has had such a busy few months Since the last Journal we have sadly waved off I hardly know where to start! Our major two more members of our team – our Senior Tevent commemorating the centenary of Conservator Tony King has moved to a new post the outbreak of the First World War took place at at Cumbria Archive Service, and Archive Assistant Hylands House on Sunday 14th September, which Edward Harris has left to take up a post with a firm was a huge success with around 1,000 people of solicitors, to pursue a career in law. We wish attending. The day included displays from ERO them both the very best of luck and thank them and Hylands House, WWI living history groups, for their very valuable contributions to the ERO. children’s activities, and the launch of the Now We have since welcomed Diane Taylor as our the Last Poppy has Fallen exhibition, which will new Senior Conservator. Diane may already be a now tour the county over the coming months. familiar figure to some as she has worked part-time We were lucky enough to have a filmmaker in our Conservation Studio for some years already, attend, and a short video with highlights from and runs our bookbinding courses. If you would the day is available on YouTube – just search for like to benefit from Diane’s expertise yourself, the ‘Essex at War’. next course begins on Monday 2nd March 2015. September also saw us welcome Sir Tony More details are in our events guide, which can Robinson to the ERO as part of Ancestry’s 2014 be downloaded from: tour. Sir Tony was a brilliant speaker, and talked about his own family’s connections to the First www.essex.gov.uk/EROevents World War and why remembrance of the War is so important. You can keep up with the ERO by joining the e- Since last writing we have done our best to get bulletin to receive monthly updates. To be added to out and about across the county; so far we have the mailing list, e-mail, been to Tilbury, Harwich, Colchester, Southend, and Saffron Walden. Each time we travel to the [email protected] towns and villages around Essex I am always reminded what a diverse (and large!) county with ‘e-bulletin’ as the subject. we live in, and we have been very gratified with the reception we have received on our travels. We hope to see you at the ERO soon! Thank you if you have attended one of our outreach events! Hannah Salisbury, Access and Participation Officer
Hannah Salisbury, Sir Tony Robinson and Neil Wiffen at the ERO for the Ancestry First World War Tour. (Reproduced by courtesy of Ancestry.co.uk.)
EssexJOURNAL 41 The Essex GPrleuamt eW Lairb rAarrcyhive Project
he Essex Record Office (ERO) and The Robert and his wife Margaret Jane had three Friends of Historic Essex (FHE) are working sons and a daughter between 1882 and 1887. Their Ttogether on a project to commemorate the sons, Robert George Rendall, Arthur Travers and centenary of the Great War. The Essex Great War Alfred Gordon were all educated at Felsted School Archive Project will run from 2014 to 2018 and and later served in the army. The letters deposited aims to preserve documentary evidence of the appear to date from towards the end of the Boer War period for educational study, family history through the Great War and beyond. research and community histories. Robert George Rendall Saulez answered the The ERO is collecting documents relating to call to serve in the South African Constabulary Essex such as photographs, letters, diaries, community from 1902 to 1904 so is likely to be the author of records and official documents from individuals the earliest letters in the collection. He volunteered and wartime organisations. These can be digitally soon after the outbreak of the Great War and served copied and included in the archive or the originals with the Army Service Corps in Egypt and Palestine. deposited for permanent preservation and safekeeping. He was a good horseman and was recognised during If you have any such records please contact the ERO the war for his share in providing an efficient trans- at [email protected] or 01245 244644. port service by ‘Horse, Camel or Motor’. After the The FHE are collecting donations to fund the war he served in the Supply and Transport Corps conservation, cataloguing and digitising of both in the Indian Army until about 1922 after which it new acquisitions relating to the Great War and is believed he settled in the country. some that are already held at the Record Office. On leaving school Arthur Travers Saulez attended If you feel you can help please visit the website the Royal Military Academy before joining the www.essexinfo.net/friends-of-historic-essex for Royal Garrison Artillery. He was posted to India further information. in 1907 but returned to England prior to 1914 and was sent to France in May 1915. He achieved the rank of Major and having survived the Battle of the Somme was killed on 22nd April 1917. The pencil in his diary which is amongst the collection is lodged in the page of the week of his death. A window was erected in the church at Willingale Doe in memory of Arthur Travers Saulez by the officers, NCOs and men of his battery. Hart’s Annual Army List for 1908 shows that the youngest of the brothers, Alfred Gordon Saulez, had joined the Army Service Corps in 1906 and when war broke out he was sent to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force in 1914. Like his brother Arthur he rose to the rank of Major but unlike his brother he survived the war; however nothing is known of his service throughout the conflict so hopefully some of his letters in the family collection will reveal more. Following the Armistice he was posted to Mesopotamia where he died in 1921 apparently as a result of the The Saulez Family Collection ‘excessive heat’; he left a wife and two children. The FHE have recently acquired a family collection Robert and Margaret’s daughter Margaret Hilda which has since been deposited at the ERO embraced the opportunity that the Great War gave (Accession A14026). A large part of the collection women to be involved. She served with the Scottish consists of letters and telegrams from and relating to the sons of the Reverend Robert Travers Saulez. Robert was born in India in 1849 where his father, George Alfred Frederick Saulez, was an assistant chaplain at Nainee Tal. After gaining his degree from Trinity College, Cambridge, Robert served as curate in Lancashire, Hampshire and London before moving to Essex in 1886. According to Crockford’s Clerical Directory he was vicar of Belchamp St Paul from 1886 to 1901 and rural dean of Yeldham from 1899 to 1901, vicar of St John, Moulsham from 1901 to 1906 and rector of Willingale Doe with Shellow Bowels from 1906 to 1927. He retired to Twinstead where he died in 1933.
EssexJOURNAL 42 Images, from left to right: Some ERO documents that relate to the Great War; a detail of stamps on a selection of the Saulez letters; ERO Archivist Allyson Lewis accepting the Saulez collection from Dr Chris Thornton, Chairman of the FHE; a look inside one of the trunks, including a whistle, and Arthur Saulez’s diary. (All ERO.)
Churches Huts which, like the YMCA, provided support behind the lines in France. Following the war she married Wilberforce Onslow Times at St Christopher’s in Willingale Doe with her father conducting the service. Until this collection of over 300 letters and other items can be sorted and catalogued the full story of this family’s experiences serving their country remains untold. It is hoped that funding can be raised to expedite the cataloguing and storage of the collection and the provision of an educational resource for students and people of all ages. If you as an individual, group or institution are interested in helping fund this project then please contact:
Sarah Ensor
EssexJOURNAL 43 The Identity of the Prittlewell Prince by Julian Whybra
etween 22nd October and masculine nature of the artefacts were over one hundred objects 20th December 2003 an and the total absence of women’s of gold, silver, iron, copper, and Barchaeological excavation jewellery indicate that the occu- glass, some of which can be uncovered an undisturbed East pant was male. His possessions dated. These included a gold belt Saxon royal burial tomb beneath included his weapons (a sword buckle datable to AD 600-640, a mound on land north-east of and shield), a gold-decorated two small copper-alloy shoe Priory Park in Prittlewell. It was drinking horn, a tunic with gold buckles virtually identical to those the most significant and spectacu- braid woven into the neckline, found in the Sutton Hoo ship lar discovery of its kind since the a throne-like folding stool, and burial (probably of Raedwald finding of the Sutton Hoo ship a (royal?) standard.1 The quality who reigned c.599-625), one gold burial of 1939, with which it has of the drinking vessels and plate coin (a Merovingian tremiss) been compared. The man laid to shows the lavishness and generos- datable to the early seventh rest at Sutton Hoo was almost ity of his hall and their origins century and a second from a certainly King Rædwald of the from across the then known series that was in use from East Angles. But who was the world are an indication of his between 570 and 580-670.3 Two man buried at Prittlewell? A date ability to acquire and commission tiny gold-foil Latin crosses, in the early seventh century for the finest objects. The discovery undoubtedly Christian symbols, the burial has been proposed but of such artefacts soon attracted date from the late sixth and it can be argued, based on the the attention of the press nation- seventh centuries and have their archaeological evidence, that the ally and internationally and their origin in what is now Lombardy, burial took place rather later in owner was quickly dubbed the south-west Germany and northern the mid-seventh century. ‘Prince of Prittlewell’ and the Switzerland. Evidence of Roman Whilst there was no ship ‘King of Bling’. All the indications missionary activity in south-east buried at Prittlewell, the burial point to the burial of a King of England in the late sixth and chamber was vast. The body had the East Saxons.2 Alternative early seventh centuries bears disintegrated. Bone preservation identities have been put forward out this suggestion of a connec- in sandy soil is poor but fragments – an unknown king of the East tion to northern Italy. A small of human tooth enamel were Saxons, a princely member of the copper-alloy cylinder with lid found in soil from where the head royal house, a rich and powerful dates from the sixth century as would have lain. The body had noble – but there is no archaeo- does an accompanying silver been placed underground in an logical or historical evidence to (communion?) spoon which bears inner room and was surrounded support such suggestions. the remains of a seventh-century by precious objects demonstrating Unearthed from the deep two-line Latin inscription under- his wealth, power and status. The timber-walled underground room neath a cross. A Byzantine flagon
1. These blue glass squat jars were found against the east wall and are decorated with an applied floral design (seven petals) on the base and applied plaitwork with three overlapping wavy lines around the body. The jars are exactly paralleled at the Broomfield princely burial in Essex and at Aylesford in Kent, where pairs of vessels were also found. It is likely that all were made by the same craftsman. (© Museum of London Archaeology Service)
EssexJOURNAL 44 with embossed medallions Saxon royal genealogy is London, had access to goods from that showing Christian saints is typical British Library, Add. 23211 com- kingdom. of those made in the eastern prising two mutilated folios.8 A Sæberht was converted to Mediterranean between the few additional references can be Christianity in 604, so presumably sixth and ninth centuries. A large gleaned from the Anglo-Saxon his father Sledda still retained ‘Coptic’ copper-alloy bowl, of a Chronicle.9 There are two post- pagan beliefs. Sæberht’s three type found from East Anglia to Conquest works which provide sons reverted to paganism and Kent, can be dated to the first a history of the East Saxon kings expelled bishop Mellitus from half of the seventh century. and genealogical table10 and the kingdom. Subsequently all Both flagon and bowl might have three other post-Conquest works three were killed in battle against been used for the Christian ritual which had access to pre-Conquest the West Saxons. Sigeberht I washing of hands and feet. Two material not recorded elsewhere.11 ‘the Little’ succeeded them and sets of blue and green glass jars Taken together these are able was in turn followed by Sigeberht can be dated to between 580 and to provide a genealogy which, II ‘the Good’ who underwent a 630 and are believed to come with the exception of the exact conversion to Christianity in 653, from a workshop in Aylesford, position of the two Sigeberhts, implying that his predecessor had Kent (Fig. 1).4 Other finds can may be taken as reasonably been pagan. These are the only be dated to the sixth or seventh accurate (See family tree over- two known early seventh-century centuries.5 It is anticipated by leaf ).12 Christian kings of Essex. Thus, archaeologists at the Museum of Kingship was hereditary but the presence of Christian objects London, where the artefacts are not based on primogeniture. in the burial chamber further being examined, that more items A king had to be a member of reduces the list of candidates to will be dated in the future and the Sleddinga royal family and two: Sæberht and Sigeberht II. that dating might become more selection seems to have been accurate. determined according to fitness The case for Sæberht The burial artefacts provide for the post. A distinctive feature The principal source for approximate dates of manufacture of the East Saxon monarchy was Sæberht’s reign is Bede (d.735) of between 600 and 630-650. shared kingship as was each king’s who claimed to have derived The burial would have probably forename beginning with the his information from Abbot taken place in the latter half of letter ‘S’. The succession passed Albinus of Canterbury via the this period or just afterwards. from Sledda to his son Sæberht, London priest Noðhelm, later Whilst the tomb contained to his three sons Seaxred, Sæward Archbishop of Canterbury Christian objects, the burial and Seaxbald jointly, to their (d.739). In 604 Augustine of mound and chamber grave, cousin (probably) Sigeberht I, Canterbury consecrated the Gaul filled with useful items for the to his first cousin once removed Mellitus as the first bishop of the afterlife, hint at a high-status (probably) Sigeberht II, to his East Saxons, to be based in the pagan ceremony yet without the cousins Swiðfrið and Swiðhelm East Saxon capital, London. lavishness found in the Sutton jointly, to the latter’s first cousin Furthermore Bede stated that Hoo burial. ‘The poverty of his once removed Sigehere I and Sæberht converted to Christianity [the occupant’s] actual dress cousin Sæbbi jointly, and to in 604 and was baptized by (where is Sutton Hoo’s lavish the latter’s sons Sigeheard and Mellitus, while his sons remained gold and enamel purse packed Swæfred and his first cousin pagan. Sæberht then allowed the with gold coins? The luxurious twice removed Offa jointly. establishment of the bishopric helmet? The complex toilet kit?) Given the parameters suggested with the church dedicated to may be a statement of Christian by the grave goods’ dates the St. Paul being built in London. spiritual wealth.’6 It is these candidates among the royal family However, the traditional founda- conclusions that will provide for the identity of the occupant tion legend of Westminster clues as to the identity of the of the Prittlewell burial mound Abbey is also linked to Sæberht, tomb’s occupant. may be narrowed to Sledda, who after his baptism, to show Any investigation must begin Sæberht, Seaxred, Sæward, himself a Christian, immediately with a search for likely candidates Seaxbald, Sigeberht I and ‘built a church to the honour of among the members of the Sigeberht II as these are the God and St. Peter, on the west East Saxon royal family of the only kings whose dates of death side of the city of London, in seventh century. Bede provides a coincide with having been the a place (which because it was succession of the East Saxon kings possible owners of objects made overgrown with thorns, and – this information can only have between 600 and 650. All, by environed with water) the Saxons come from a regnal list for it is dint of their position, would have called Thorney’.13 Sæberht’s death unlikely that Bede would have had access to high-status goods is recorded by Bede as subsequent written with such confidence had and, since Sledda had been to that of his uncle Æthelberht of he not had access to such.7 The married to Ricula, sister of King Kent in 616. That must have only surviving pre-Conquest East Æthelberht of Kent, would have been in 616 or 617, as bishop
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EssexJOURNAL 46 Mellitus’s expulsion by Sæberht’s Billericay. Perhaps his heart was eventually being baptized by sons cannot have taken place later buried in one place and body in Cedd and both dying a decade than January 618. The arguments another? It would certainly seem later.21 have been made that ‘the unlikely that the king who Kings Sæberht and Sigeberht Prittlewell burial is that of the founded Westminster Abbey II were both Christian converts Christian East Saxon king, would be buried anywhere else. replaced by pagans. The argument Sæberht, defiantly buried by his In addition, Sæberht’s recorded that the politico-religious circum- sons in pagan splendour, rather death in 616/7 would seem to be stances which pertained at the than in the church at London’14 too early within the parameters death of the Christian King and: of the time frame for the burial Sæberht led to his pagan-style of the ‘Prittlewell Prince’ (600- burial can be equally applied ‘if these pagan sons 630x650). to the death and burial of the influenced the actual burial Christian King Sigeberht II. process, as one might expect, The case for Sigeberht II While it can be shown that many then the failure to bury in a ‘the Good’ grave goods from the burial Christian cemetery or in Sigeberht’s place in the Sleddinga chamber originate from the first association with a church family tree cannot be stated with 30 years of the seventh century is understandable. Burial certainty. William of Malmesbury (a) it would be difficult to refine in an inhumation cemetery and Florence of Worcester both that period down to the first 15 in current use perhaps suggested20 that he was the same years of the century in time for implies their commitment Sigeberht as the man who appears Sæberht’s burial and (b) many to traditional practices within in the family tree’s fifth generation other grave goods cannot be a cemetery which already from Sledda and was the father of dated any closer than the first had strong associations King Selered (r. 709-46) but that 50 years of the century, leaving with the élite, perhaps poses genealogical impossibilities. open the possibility that the grave even with their own kin.’15 Both sources also suggested that was Sigeberht II’s. In addition, Sigeberht I ‘the Little’ was the the known facts of Sæberht’s Whilst those circumstances would son of Sæward and grandson of life and the circumstantial fit with the nature of the burial, Sæberht. However, that also evidence surrounding his death tradition states that Sæberht was poses genealogical difficulties as and final resting-place would buried at Westminster Abbey: Sæward would probably have far better accord with a burial in ‘Sebert was buried in this church, been still too young at his death Westminster Abbey. The circum- with his wife Athelgoda; whose to have sired a child mature stances and timing of Sigeberht bodies many years after, to wit, enough to succeed him. It is II’s death about 653x654 seem to in the reign of Richard II (saith more likely that Sigeberht I was fit in much better with the time- Walsingham), were translated Sæward’s cousin and Sigeberht II frame of the Prittlewell burial from the old church to the new, was Sæward’s son. mound and make him a preferred and there entered.’16 In a later Bede supplied the details of candidate for being its occupant. edition of the same work Sigeberht II’s reign stating that appeared the line ‘His body lies he was on friendly terms with References in an ancient Sepulchre of Stone, King Oswig of Northumbria, a 1. The iron stand, 4' 4½" high has arched, situated on the South of distant relation who frequented four feet. S. Hirst, T. Nixon, the High Altar.’17 It was actually Sigeberht II’s court and convinced P. Rowsome & S. Wright, translated there in 1308 in the him of the importance of The Prittlewell Prince: The Discovery of a Rich Anglo-Saxon Burial in reign of Edward II and the tomb Christianity. Sigeberht II also Essex (London, 2004), pp. 29-30: can still be seen. The monument visited Oswig’s court and asked ‘X-rays show that the base was lies in the south ambulatory, him to send him teachers. made of four curved strips, between the tombs of Anne of Oswig sent Cedd, a priest from welded together at the shaft… Cleves and Richard II, facing Lindisfarne, who re-established twisted at intervals for decorative the south transept, backing Christianity in Essex and convert- effect. It tapers to a point and directly on to the high altar. ed Sigeberht II in 653, the only has at least two additional side In the high altar area itself there is date which can be fixed in his prongs. The…stand may have a remarkable painting of Sæberht reign. Sometime after his conver- been a royal standard, perhaps on the sedilia (on the tall wooden sion (exactly when is not known) holding a banner, or…to hold a panel behind the seats nearest to, Sigeberht II was murdered by burning wooden torch or candles.’ Though comparable and on the south side of, the high two brothers, his kinsmen, in a in concept to one found at altar) which was painted about pagan reaction. After his death Sutton Hoo, its form is unique 18 1300. Furthermore there is a the kingship was shared by two in England. local legend19 that Sæberht was brothers, Swiðhelm and Swiðfrið 2. www.museumoflondon buried in the Church of St. Mary (who might have been their pre- archaeology.org.uk The Prittlewell Magdalene, Great Burstead near decessor’s murderers), the former Prince: The site and the princely
EssexJOURNAL 47 burial, ‘The size of the burial of the English People (Oxford, than the fact that Seaxa was chamber and the quality and 1969), 2.III, & V-VI, 3.XXII & Sæberht’s brother and might have quantity of the accompanying XXX, 4.VI & XXI, 5.XIX. been alive in 616. There is no grave goods can leave little doubt 8. N.R. Ker, Catalogue of evidence of Seaxa’s Christian that this was a rare example of a Manuscripts containing Anglo-Saxon conversion. 7th-century princely burial.’ (Oxford, 1957), no. 127, p.160. 16. Stow, p.405. I. Blair, E. Barham & 9. C. Plummer (ed.), Two of the 17. Ibid., (2nd edn., London, 1603), L. Blackmore, ‘My Lord Essex’, Saxon Chronicles Parallel, 2 vols, p.405; T. Pennant, Some Account British Archaeology (2004), 76, (Oxford, 1892-9), I.20-1. of London (London, 1780), Vol. I, pp.10-17, ‘He was a leader, 10. W. Stubbs (ed.), Willelmi f.134 states that the translation represented by his standard and Malmesbiriensis Monachi De Gestis occurred in the reign of Henry his throne-like stool, and perhaps Anglorum, 2 vols., Rolls Ser. III (r.1216-72) who began the item worn around his neck (London, 1887-9), I.98-9; restoring the Abbey in 1245 and decorated with gold braid. For B. Thorpe (ed.), Florentii who ‘performed two acts of pious those who knew him, his sword Wigornienses Monachi Chronicon respect to the remains of the and shield may have recalled ex Chronicis, 2 vols., (London, founders of the Abbey, which battles in which he had fought, 1848), I.250 & 262-4. must not be omitted; he translated famous warriors he had killed or 11. T. Arnold (ed.), Henrici those of Sebert into a tomb of wounded…Everything sings of a Archidiaconi Huntendunensis touchstone, beneath an arch man of wealth and power, able to Historia Anglorum, Rolls Ser. made in the wall.’ acquire or commission fine things (London, 1879), pp. 193-200; 18.There is also a statue, believed from across the known world: H.O. Coxe (ed.), Rogeri de to be of Sæberht, in Henry V’s and more, for his followers to Wendover Chronica sive Flores chantry chapel, high up on the consign them in perpetuity to the Historiarum, 4 vols. and appendix, exterior of the turret, which afterlife, to create his monument (London, 1841-4); & H.R. Luard dates from the early fifteenth and myths to inspire future (ed.), Matthaei Parisiensis, Monachi generations.’ Sancti Albani Chronica Majora, century. 3. Once these coins have been fully 7 vols., Rolls Ser. (London, 19.K.D. Box, 24 Essex Churches examined, they should help to 1872-84). (Letchworth, 1965), p.48. date the grave far more exactly 12. For a detailed discussion of There is also a road named than would otherwise be possible. East Saxon history see H.M. after Sæberht in Great In 2004 Gareth Williams, Chadwick, Studies on Anglo-Saxon Burstead to commemorate Curator of Early Medieval Institutions, (Cambridge, 1905), the legend. Coinage at the British Museum, pp. 275-80. Also see B. Yorke, 20.Stubbs; Thorpe. suspected they may date to about ‘The Kingdom of the East 21.Colgrave and Mynors, 3.XXII. AD 600-630: ‘Although some Saxons’, Anglo-Saxon England Merovingian coins carry the (Cambridge, 1985), vol. 14, Acknowledgements names of rulers, providing an pp.1-36 (for a masterly interpre- I am grateful to the Museum of absolute chronology, on others, tation of the evidence and London Archaeology and Southend no ruler is mentioned. In such genealogical unravelling) and Council for their permission to cases – as with the coins found at Kings and Kingdoms of Early reproduce the image of the blue Prittlewell - the amount of gold Anglo-Saxon England (London, glass jars. I would also like to thank used will be scientifically analysed 1990); and D. Dumville, ‘Essex, Mr Ken Crowe, former Curator to suggest a likely date. For, over Middle Anglia and the expansion of Human History at Southend the course of their issue, between of Mercia in the South-East Museum, who was heavily involved AD 570-670, less and less gold Midlands’, in S. Bassett (ed.), with the Prittlewell Prince excava- was used in the coins. Even with- The Origins of Anglo-Saxon tions that took place from October out scientific analysis, experts can Kingdoms, (Leicester, 1989), to December 2003 and Dr James see how early coins are deep pp.123-40. Kemble of the Essex Place-names gold, while later examples are 13. J. Stow, A Survey of the Cities of Project who both commented on silvery-gold. The Prittlewell coins London and Westminster (1st edn., drafts of this article. seem to be a mid-goldy colour’. London, 1598), p.405. The Author This suggested Williams’s guess at 14. Hirst et al., p.42. Julian Whybra is a history graduate a date of 600-630. The Museum 15. N.J. Higham & M.J. Ryan, of the University of East Anglia of London Archeology Service, The Anglo-Saxon World (New and has carried out post-graduate ‘Prittlewell: Treasures of a King Haven & London, 2013) p.124. research as a Research Fellow at the of Essex’, Current Archaeology, 16, See also J.S. Holland, ‘Crossing Jagiellonian University in Cracow No. 10 (190), (February 2004), Over’, National Geographic and as a Fellow Commoner at p.431. ‘Geographica’, (March 2005). Girton College, Cambridge. He 4. www.museumoflondon The television programme ‘The lectured part-time in history in archaeology.org The Prittlewell Name of the King’. Time Team, the Centre for Lifelong Learning, Prince: Finds: Glass jars. Channel 4, 13/06/2005, came to University of Essex until 2005 and is 5. Hirst et al., pp.27-37. the same conclusion with a a past winner of the Browne Medal 6. Blair et al., pp.10-17. proviso that the burial might for Original Research in Military 7. B. Colgrave & R.A.B. Mynors have been of Seaxa. This seems History. He is currently engaged in (eds.), Bede’s Ecclesiastical History to be based on nothing other a doctoral thesis.
EssexJOURNAL 48 Civic Feasts and Ceremonies:
Colchester and its Oysters by Andrew Phillips
ivic ceremony has deep ‘sounds like a good investment’.2 mayor. He would recall the roots, but historians Public feasting (and drinking) now lost Mayor’s Dinner, which, Cnow recognise that has an august history, yet, on the less than ten years previously, ancient civic rituals often turn threshold of the Victorian Age, had been held every Michaelmas out to be calculated inventions municipal feasting at public (September 29th) by the incom- or re-inventions in which the expense had become such a ing mayor, feasting up to 200 at late Victorians and Edwardians perceived abuse that the landmark a cost to the borough of £80, emerge as arch culprits. This Municipal Corporations Act of (say £60,000 today). Pondering article looks at Colchester’s long 1835, a cornerstone of modern how this practice might be love affair with oysters to estab- local government, specifically revived, Wolton fixed upon an lish how its present ceremonies forbade it. Overnight, a practice existing event, the annual evolved and how far they were as ancient as local government Corporation Lunch, an event invented or re-invented in the stopped. Colchester’s male elite, with its own rationale, not to period 1880-1914. however, were fortunate: one say traditions. public feast did survive, albeit For the previous 30 or The Colchester Oyster Feast behind partially closed doors. so years the Colne Fishery Of the two surviving oyster During the late eighteenth Company, the canny oystermen events in Colchester’s civic century there had sprung up from Mersea, Brightlingsea and calendar the best known is the throughout Britain a rash of other riverine parishes, currently Oyster Feast. In its heyday provincial Associations for the making a fortune from between 1885 and 1939 this Prosecution of Felons, Horse 1. Henry Wolton 1803-74, attracted royalty (including the Stealers and Thieves. In Essex wholesale grocer and six times future Edward VIII and George alone over 100 such organisations mayor of Colchester, who VI), cabinet ministers (including were formed. Most died out in invented the Colchester Oyster six former prime ministers), the mid-19th century with the Feast and promoted earlier ambassadors, heads of the armed advent of formal policing and ceremonies associated with the forces, and stars of learning and police prosecutions. However, in Colchester Oyster Fishery. letters like Lord Kelvin, Hilaire Colchester the ‘Thieves’, (Reproduced by courtesy of Beloc, and John Buchan.1 as they came to be called, not Colchester & Ipswich Museum Despite regular reference to only continued a trickle of pros- Service.) ‘time immemorial’, the ‘ancient’ ecutions but also established a nature of the Oyster Feast has popular annual dinner which the now been carefully assessed. It business community attended in was first held on 20th October some numbers and which soon 1845. Its inventor was the mayor developed its own traditions. for that year, Henry Wolton From an early date the key post (Fig. 1), a successful High Street of treasurer of ‘The Thieves’ grocer, and the event followed was earmarked for the town’s best the opening of a new town hall, ‘chap’, the leading personalities a building now replaced by the of the Colchester ‘shopocracy’, present town hall. What has the worthy burgers who ran not been examined is why it the town; and in 1845, the very was Wolton who chose to feast year he became mayor, Henry 200 fellow citizens at his own Wolton began a 24-year reign expense, an act of generosity as Treasurer of the Thieves.3 for which he was, eventually, Now promoter of Colchester’s re-elected five times. ‘This’, only surviving ‘feast’, Wolton Sir Edward Heath observed at could also reflect on the compa- a more recent Oyster Feast, rable hospitality expected of a
EssexJOURNAL 49 2. The male elite of Colchester gather in the old Corn Exchange for the Oyster Feast of 1902, a celebration of Colchester's grandeur. Along the top table sit the senior ministers of Mexico and Japan, the Lord Mayor of London, 11 other mayors, ambassadors, military grandees, and the great and the good of Essex. (Author’s collection.) Colchester’s oyster fishery, had recreate the Mayor’s Dinner or town hall, transform the Oyster presented their landlords, Feast. To stress the direction he Feast into what Wolton had Colchester Borough Council, was taking he gave the new event conceived, a public celebration with some oysters, in thanks for an original name, the Colchester of consensual civic pride (Fig. 2). renewing their licences, at a little Oyster Feast. By Wolton’s day London VIP’s, including the Lord lunch held every October in the railways and modern marketing Mayor, travelled by a special town hall before the robed were killing the St Dennis Fair, train, pulling into North Station mayor, aldermen and councillors yet the same agencies would at 12.55 precisely. No thoughtless undertook the onerous task of eventually promote and transform leaves clogged the line; no marching down High Street to his Oyster Feast - eventually, but public discord marred the event. proclaim the ancient St Dennis not immediately. Many of Colchester stopped for the day as Fair. This, Colchester’s own Wolton’s successors as mayor had troops lined the route, traffic was Oktoberfest, had been held since at neither his deep pockets nor his stopped, and crowds watched in least 1318, when, their pockets public spiritedness; for Wolton awe as a procession of carriages full of harvest money, people had avoided the sanctions of made its way to the High Street. from a considerable surrounding the Municipal Corporation Act Here the male elite of the district, area had descended on Colchester against feasting by paying for the 4-500 strong, ate 12,000 oysters High Street, crammed for days entire Oyster Feast himself. Not and sought to follow three hours with stalls selling goods, to all his successors were so willing. of speeches without the aid of a indulge in some traditional feast- Only from the mid-1880s public address system. All this was ing and drinking of their own. did a string of wealthy mayors, paid for by the mayor himself In taking over an existing most of whom helped build until 1927. Then Colchester’s event, Wolton now sought to Colchester’s present flamboyant first Labour mayor announced
EssexJOURNAL 50 that without public funding he During the reign of Elizabeth 1 easterly point of the island, where could not hold an Oyster Feast. from limitless abundance the wild there was a military blockhouse Thereafter the event has been oyster was almost completely guarding the entrance of the paid for from the mayor’s fished out. Not only were oyster river. Here cases were tried of allowance, with all but a handful boats (called smacks) poaching far smacks and fishermen who had of guests now paying their way, and wide, but the growing offended the new legislation. even as token celebrities have London market was depleting Philip Morant, writing in 1748, replaced the metropolitan local stocks beyond renewable had access to records from the dignitaries of earlier days.4 limits. In 1566 the corporation 1550s, now lost, which, he ruled that Colchester oysters, per- claimed, provided evidence for The Opening of the ceived as a vital source of food these outings.8 Oyster Fishery for the poor, should only be sold The shortage of oysters and The pedigree of Colchester’s at Hythe Quay, the town’s port, the new legislation were followed second oyster ceremony is more with a close season introduced in due course by the rise of oyster complex. Oysters had long been from Easter to September 15th, cultivation. Without being too Colchester’s unique selling point. during which no oyster fishing technical, this involved both the From its earliest royal charters of should take place, a rule enforced maturing of oysters in pits dug in self government, the freemen of by strict penalties, including con- the inter-tidal saltings, and the Colchester had a monopoly of fiscation of offending boats and putting down of ‘layings’, piles of the River Colne fishery from fines of up to £5. In August broken shells called cultch, on North Bridge to Westness, those wishing to fish had to apply which the pin-prick oysters (spat) usually interpreted as the mouth for a licence from Colchester’s settle when first released as a of the estuary: St Osyth Point two bailiffs, the predecessors of milky bloom from their bisexual to the east and Mersea Island, to the mayor. An outcry promptly parents. In a competitive market, the west. Fish was an important arose from the Colne fishing dredging up someone else’s source of medieval trade and fish communities, showing how cultch might be worth the risk of included shellfish like oysters much they had hitherto helped a fine. Thus both ‘goings down (though the charter did not themselves, but the County the rivers’ by the bailiffs (later specify), and these existed in such Assize upheld the principle of the mayor) were functional and abundance that they were often conservation, restricting boats to a rational events. Shutting the river, called the poor man’s meat.5 certain size, with only one dredge at which the town clerk read a The sheer area of their exclu- (i.e. net) and only two men to proclamation, provided a legal sive fishery prevented Colchester each boat. It was all a very terminus on which prosecutions from realistically controlling it all. modern measure, reminiscent might stand. Holding the Famously in 1350 Lionel de of current EU regulations, and it Admiralty Court at the wind- Bradenham, Lord of the Manor set the agenda for the next 400 blown Mersea blockhouse, rather of Langenhoe, who had effective- years, though modifications to than Colchester’s Moot Hall, ly taken control of the south the length of the close season reinforced the borough’s presence western creeks and channels, did take place.7 and the ‘fact’ (which some con- when charged with laying six Now, of course, Colchester tested) that Mersea Stone, the great fish weirs across the river to Corporation had to enforce these last landfall, was the boundary trap fish, marched on Colchester draconian measures, the perennial of the fishery. with 200 men at arms, intent on problem they had always faced. For most of the seventeenth burning the town. Though The oldest surviving borough century borough records are frag- repelled, Bradenham besieged accounts date from 1579/80, very mentary, but Admiralty Courts Colchester for 11 weeks until soon after this. They record pay- were regularly held at Mersea it capitulated and agreed to pay ments to one of the bailiffs for Stone and usually had an accom- him ransom money. Eventually bread, beer and cheese for the panying meal. The blockhouse Bradenham was ensnared in a ‘first going down the river’ and continued to serve a military court of law, a landmark moment later a ‘second going down the purpose, not least during the in the borough’s transition from river’. We might assume this 1648 Siege of Colchester, when brute force to good lawyers in referred to one trip to close the it was seized by Parliamentary the defence of its fishery. This, of oyster fishery and one to open it, forces. During the eighteenth course, could work both ways. In but subsequent bills make clear century the blockhouse became subsequent centuries Colchester’s that they refer to one trip to ‘shut increasingly decrepit, and for neglect and Brightlingsea’s the river’, usually in late March, much of the century the borough persistence in courts of law led soon called, thanks to the Essex leased out the fishery, leaving the to the loss from the Fishery of accent, ‘setting the river’, while leasee to supervise its boundaries. all Brightlingsea Creek.6 the second trip referred to the It is unlikely that ‘going down By this date the lot of the Admiralty or Conservancy Court, the river’ twice or even once a oyster had profoundly changed. held at Mersea Stone, the most year took place either then, or
EssexJOURNAL 51 during the 22 years (1741-63) called Setting the Colne.’ and his successor spiced up the that Colchester was without its (author’s italics) Admiralty Court held at Mersea royal charter, and therefore with- Stone in the late summer. As the out a mayor and corporation, There is enough leeway here to blockhouse collapsed to a ruin, the body which held Admiralty support the view that in 1748 a large marquee, or even a tem- Courts. Control of the fishery an annual observance of the cere- porary booth erected by a local disintegrated. An Act of mony was not taking place, but carpenter, served to house the Parliament was finally passed that the form and the need for mayor’s party for a substantial empowering three local JP’s the ceremony was clear to Philip liquid lunch, complete with to fulfil the role of the absent Morant. There is also sporadic toasts and speeches. corporation.9 evidence in borough records Smythies long reign as town Before this became law in of the event taking place. The clerk was followed from 1820 1758, Philip Morant published his proclamation reappears 31 years by one by his son, also Francis 1748 History of Colchester. In later in the local press, when, Smythies. By now the August describing the oyster fishery, he with wording almost identical to Admiralty Court was being called states: that used in Morant, it records Colne Fair, the council and that the town clerk, Francis hangers on arriving by boat with ‘In March or April yearly, Smythies, proclaimed the shutting their own band on board. After Proclamation is or ought to of the river from a boat off the Court and lunch a sailing be made in the river near Mersea Stone on March 1st match was organised, followed at Mersea Stone within the 1779.10 night by dancing on the beach. jurisdiction of the town of Smythies, town clerk between The trip increasingly included a Colchester, that the River 1767 and 1797, regularly billed formal tour of the boundaries of Colne is shut, and all persons the borough for a journey to the fishery, itself an enjoyable forbid... to take any oysters Brightlingsea to shut the river, outing, given the time of year. out of the said river... before often giving the Water Bailiffs For all its legal relevance, the July 22nd and then to come and Colne ‘jury’ (see below) a event had become a town hall in and take licenses...This is dinner at the town’s expense. He ‘jolly’. And there is no further
3. An early 20th century version of 'hauling the first dredge' taken before it was performed by the mayor in full regalia. The operation of two very full dredges is overseen by Alderman Henry Laver with white beard and top hat, who had recently added this gesture to the ancient ceremony. The town clerk, Henry Wanklyn, stands at the rear, bare headed and in civilian clothes. (Author’s collection.)
EssexJOURNAL 52 evidence of ‘shutting’ the river there evidence that they made Company, came a sailing of the each March.11 late summer outings to the boundaries by mayor and coun- The 1758 Act of Parliament boundaries of the fishery or had cillors, invariably with a meal on had also established a ‘jury’ of dinners at the Blockhouse. board and supper on their return ‘12 of the most sufficient and Liberal triumph, however, was to Brightlingsea. This, from at intelligent’ of the dredgermen to short-lived. The Admiralty Court least 1836, began to be called the make rules ‘for preserving and did survive in order to issue ‘Closing of the Oyster Fishery’ governing the fishery’. In 1807 licences, and in 1837 the even though in practice the the dredgermen went further Conservatives resumed a further fishery was closed for breeding and set up The Colne Fishery 42 years of political control and some months before. One Company (it had no statutory monopoly of the mayoralty. In member of the council invariably standing) with its own officers. 1839 the August tour of the present was Alderman Wolton, At each Admiralty Court licences corporation’s fishery, with lunch who, shortly afterwards, invented were bought by a growing at Mersea Stone, re-commenced, the Oyster Feast, providing the number of dredgermen. It the Conservative Essex Standard third instalment of municipal was this Company which, you declaring: ‘The renewal of this feasting. recall, treated the mayor to fresh ancient custom is very desirable at That all this bore an element oysters every October, at the a time when the modern spirit of of calculation by the now domi- Corporation Lunch. From 1827 innovation and encroachment...is nant Conservatives was made they took power to borrow up to regardless of the rights of proper- clear in their newspaper, the £5,000 to expend on new stock, ty’, a clear dig at reforming Essex Standard, some 20 years spat and cultch.12 Liberalism. The tour was not later on Closing Day 1858: By this date the Admiralty repeated, however, for five years, Court was being held at the with what proved to be a grand ‘they had preserved...those Moot Hall in Colchester, finale to the Blockhouse ‘jolly’. festivities for which followed by dinner at the At 7 am, preceded by a band, Corporations were once George Hotel, until matters were the mayor and his large party so celebrated, but which transformed by the Municipal took breakfast at Wivenhoe, then, the Municipal Reform Act Corporations Act which, inter cheered by a crowd, embarked in remorselessly put an end to. alia, abolished all corporation several smacks, trimmed with Thanks to the Colne Fishery Admiralty Courts. On the eve bunting and carrying two bands. Company – the Reform Act of the act the mayor for 1835, Arriving at Mersea they were notwithstanding – the Town Roger Nunn, held, as he greeted by a gun salute from up Council of Colchester can thought, one last Court at the to 100 vessels assembled for a enjoy and boast of three feasts Blockhouse site, the first for Regatta. They then proceeded to in a year of true Corporation seven years, in what was probably sail the boundary of the fishery. abundance and freedom.’ a party political statement. On returning, the national The Municipal Corporations anthem was sung as a procession Few Liberal councillors were Act had been preceded (and justi- formed to the special booth built elected during this era, but it is fied) by public enquires into the for the Admiralty Court and the surely significant that where press affairs of some of the older, more Dinner. Here they were joined accounts list those present, no suspect, corporations by the then by the town’s Conservative MP Liberals are among them. Whig\Liberal government. and a considerable number of As the council set sail each Colchester’s all-Tory corporation ladies. The afternoon was filled year the town sergeant rapidly had fiercely opposed being inves- with sailing matches followed by called them to order. As they tigated and the town clerk, dancing at night. Some 5,000 stood in a circle the town clerk Francis Smythies, totally refused people were allegedly there that read a proclamation closing the to co-operate. This somewhat day; yet the population of Mersea fishery till August 1st. The town played into the hands of the local was only 1,250.13 sergeant then cried, ‘God Save Liberal party, increasingly domi- Over the next decade a new the Queen’, followed by three nated as it was by high-minded pattern emerged. Licenses were cheers for the Mayor. As the Nonconformity. Waving the renewed in Colchester town hall town clerk signed the proclama- banner of reform, the Liberals at an Admiralty Court in tion, those present ‘partook of secured a slender majority at the February, followed by a dinner, the time honoured fare of gin first council elections following which, starting at 4 pm, might and gingerbread’. This eighteenth the act, sacked Smythies, and last until 10 at night. Financed by century antidote to severe cold held the mayoralty and all the the Colne Fishery Company it (it sold extensively when the aldermanic seats for the first did not technically offend the Thames froze over) perhaps two years, setting up a Fisheries Municipal Corporation Act. recalled the much chillier Committee to treat this asset in Then, early in July (not August), ‘Shutting’ ceremony formerly a more businesslike way. Nor is also financed by the Colne held in March.
EssexJOURNAL 53 4. Mayor Wally Porter hauling the first dredge in 1962, a task he found quite demanding. (Author’s collection.) The company now settled tivism, the one anxious to make building of the Borough’s down to a 3 hour sailing of the a profit on an asset, the other to gigantic new water tower, soon boundaries of the Fishery, punc- further their livelihood. nicknamed ‘Jumbo’, whose tuated by a substantial lunch The annual sailing of the initial shortcomings were blamed when, in 1858 for example, ‘the bounds appears to have suffered. on the ruling Liberals. Finally, consumption of pale ale, Dublin From 1868 to 1884 only one wise voices secured a ‘Municipal stout and sherry was on a par press report of the ceremony can Compromise’ between the two with the more solid ingredients be traced. This was in 1879 at the political parties to protect the of the feast’ and ‘an agreeable specific urging of the Borough’s rising responsibilities of the addition was made by Alderman Estate & Finance Committee Council from such party bicker- Wolton in the shape of a hamper that ‘it was expedient that the ing, one outcome of which of champagne.’ Much frivolity corporation should go the bounds was to alternate the mayoralty followed as crabs and jellyfish of their Fishery every year.’ As a between the two political parties. found their way into several visible assertion of the borough’s Business acumen was mean- councillors’ pockets.14 rights, sailing its fishery and while directed at the Oyster Before long, however, the reading a proclamation remained Fishery. Alderman Henry Laver, borough decided their oyster a rational measure, but the 1879 the Conservative mayor for fishery was being run as a benefit sailing took place a month later 1886, a local doctor and man club for the oystermen, whose than usual, and was called, in a of wide learning, gained an leaders ran private businesses on Council bill, ‘Opening and intimate understanding of oyster the back of it, and whose many beating the bounds of the Oyster cultivation, and uncovered secret relatives became ‘apprentice’ Fishery.’ The ‘Closing’ had meetings and questionable book- oystermen at an accelerating rate: become an ‘Opening’ ceremony.15 keeping by the dredgermen, who from 73 registered dredgermen Matters were now complicated had found it easy to bamboozle in 1807 to 413 in 1866. A long, by the return to power of the their Corporation colleagues. expensive, legal challenge to the Liberals, after ’42 years of Tory Laver installed a full-time profes- Colne Fishery Company led to tyranny’, as one of them put it. sional manager, who could not an 1870 Act of Parliament, which Starting with the town clerk, be bamboozled, established river made the Company a legal entity, key Conservative officials were police and transformed the jointly run by six borough and sacked, and acrimony marked fishery’s income.16 six oystermen representatives. borough affairs for the next few From 1884 the newly named But the underlying antagonism years. This political confrontation and newly timed ‘Opening of the continued. This is not surprising. coincided with a rising pro- Fishery’ became once more an It was a contest between landlord gramme of ‘Municipal Socialism’ annual reported event. A new capitalism and dregermen collec- which came to a head over the dignity, as became the late
EssexJOURNAL 54 5. Town Clerk Wanklyn and Colchester's first lady mayor, Catherine Alderton, 'taste the first oyster', a ceremony invented a few years before for the benefit of press photographers. (Reproduced by courtesy of Colchester & Ipswich Museum Service.) Victorian period, prevailed. When sailing the bounds, a year, Edwin Sanders, somewhat Like the Oyster Feast it became dredge (Figs. 3&4) had often been surprised councillors by turning up a statement not of party politics thrown overboard at lunchtime for the ‘Opening’ in his official but of consensual civic pride and, such was the still relative robes, accompanied by the Town among council members. As abundance of oysters, fresh Sergeant in his, and the town Laver himself put it, `instead of oysters were hauled aboard to be clerk in full robe and wig. A few the rough horseplay which had eaten with lunch. Now ‘hauling years later a photo opportunity characterised it, many improve- of the first dredge’ was directly was created by inviting the mayor ments have been made.’ Firstly, linked to the proclamation, loyal in full regalia to ‘taste the first the sailing of the bounds, once toast, and gin and gingerbread oyster’ (Fig. 5). This soon became the main purpose of the exercise, ceremony which now took place the stock photo of the event and ceased to be obligatory, some- in Pyefleet Creek, home to the remains a key element in the times being retained for a second Pyefleet oysters, on a site not far ceremonial today. Finally, since ‘outing on the waters’ in the from Mersea Stone, followed by proclaiming an order closing the summer months. Secondly, the lunch in that modern blockhouse, fishery until August 1st was no midday meal took on greater the oyster packing shed on Pewitt longer appropriate, the solemn significance and length, its Island. history of the event was under- speeches being fully reported The final flourish of the lined by the town clerk reading a in an enlarged press coverage. revised ceremony came with proclamation ‘made in Colne Thirdly, a new element to the photographing the event for the water’, said to date from 1256, ceremony was institutionalised. press. In 1905, the mayor for that concerning the borough’s fishery
EssexJOURNAL 55 rights and the dredging of events has been remarkable. It Ef1/3, 4, Colchester Borough, oysters.17 remains to be seen whether the Colne Oyster Fishery Oath and Thus, soon after 1900, an twenty-first century will sustain Minute books, 1788-1809, 1810- updated oyster fishery ceremony, them with equal tenacity. 1840. which had evolved and fluctuated 13. The events of these 4 paragraphs over the past 100 years, based on are covered in detail in the Essex References Standard see esp. 28/08/1835, precedents that were perhaps 350 1. The best discussion of the Oyster 12/09/1839 & 16/08/1844; years old, no more muddied by Feast is D. Cannadine, ‘The A.F.J. Brown, Essex People party political conflict, became Transformation of Civic Ritual in 1750-1900 (Chelmsford, 1972), fixed and little modified over the Modern Britain: The Colchester pp.175-6. next 100 years. Such ossification Oyster Feast’, Past & Present 94 14. These four paragraphs are based was partly achieved by continuity No 1 (1982), pp.107-30. on annual reports in the Essex (the event even took place during 2. A.B. Phillips ‘How Old is the Standard. Key entries are in the First World War), and partly Oyster Feast?’ Essex County 03/06/1836, 24/02/1837, by the loss of all the legal tensions Standard 07/10/1983; Colchester 28/02/1840, 18/06/1847, which had modified its form Recalled Oral History tape 1001 02/08/1850, 02/07/1852, (Colchester Oyster Feast 1973). down the years. 09/07/1858 & 05/07/1867. 3. For discussion of Associations 15. ERO, D/B 6 M14/1, 2; Essex Meanwhile the oyster against Thieves see P. King, Standard, various annual fishery has been anything but ‘Prosecution Associations and accounts – or their absence, esp. unchanged. After a golden and their impact in Eighteenth 16/11/1878 & 15/11/1879 remunerative era from the 1890s Century Essex’ in D. Hay & (town council). to the early 1920s, pollution and F.G. Snyder, Policing and 16 ERO, D/B 6 M14/1-3; D/B 6 the invasion of foreign species Prosecution in Britain 1750-1850 Fi1/1/1, Colchester borough, decimated the number of oysters (Oxford, 1989) 131ff. The Minutes of Colne Fishery Board maturing. After the Second Colchester ‘Thieves’ still hold ‘1’, 01/28/1870-05/06/1891; World War cold winters almost their annual dinner today. D/B 6 Fi4/1/2, Colchester wiped out the native oyster. 4. Cannadine; W.G.B. Benham, Borough, Notes on Colne Oyster The Colchester Oyster Feast American and Portuguese oysters Fishery, c.1914; A.B. Phillips, (booklet, n.d.). Ten Men and Colchester were introduced to the oyster 5. The best history of the Fishery (Chelmsford, 1985), pp.108-29; beds and Scottish oysters were is in J. Cooper (Ed.), Victoria For the rapid assumption of new served at the Oyster Feast. As County History Essex, 9 (Oxford, powers by the Borough Council losses mounted, an industry that 1994), 264-9. see A.B. Phillips, Colchester: had once employed hundreds 6. W. R. Powell, ‘Lionel de A History (Chichester 2004), now scarcely employed ten. The Bradenham and his siege of pp.85-100. infamous winter 1962-3 delivered Colchester in 1350’, Essex 17. For these 2 paragraphs see Laver, the coup de grâce. In 1964 the Archaeology & History 22 (1991), pp.77-80; Phillips (2004), pp.85- Colne Fishery Company ceased pp.67-75; Essex Record Office 100; Essex Standard 09/07/1858, to exist. In the 1980s a new para- (ERO), D/B 6 M14/1, Minutes 13/07/1860, 23/08/1884, of Colchester Borough Fishery site, bonamia, caused devastation 22/08/1885,14/08/1886, Committee, 16/05/1836– 10/09/1887, 09/09/1899, again. Today the ‘hauling of the 24/08/1836. 27/09/1902, 13/09/1905 & first dredge’ is preceded by the 7. ERO, D/B 5 R5 f.111, 04/09/1920. sight of an official not very Colchester Borough Liber 18. H. Benham, Essex Gold secretly placing a handful of Ordinacionum, 1561-73; (Chelmsford, 1993), pp.112-8. oysters in the dredge before the Cooper; Benham. mayor hauls it out, the chance of 8. P. Morant, History of Colchester Acknowledgements casually dredging oysters being (1748) Book 1, p.86; Benham. I would like to acknowledge the now non-existent.18 9. H. Laver, Colchester Oyster Fishery help of Bruce Neville and the staff And the proud Borough (Colchester, 1916), pp.12-17; of the Essex Record Office, and Council of 1884, masters of all P. Jones, The Siege of Colchester the Colchester & Ipswich Museum 1648 (Stroud 2003), pp.62-3; Service for the use of photographs. they surveyed, are no more. VCH Essex Vol 2 (1907), Their powers decimated by local pp.432-3; 31 Geo. II, c.71. The Author government reorganisation and 10. Morant; Ipswich Journal, Andrew Phillips was formerly the actions of central govern- 06/03/1779. Head of Humanities at the ment, today’s councillors and 11. The Colchester Gazette has a Colchester Institute and is now a mayor nevertheless look forward report of these events in August Visiting Fellow at the Department to two ‘jollies’, two moments of or September of most years. See of History, University of Essex. ceremonial tradition: the esp. 12/08/1814, 05/09/1818, He has published many articles Opening of the Oyster Fishery in 21/08/1819, 26/08/1820, and eight books on Colchester August and the Oyster Feast in 01/09/1821, 16/08/1824 & and Essex topics. October. The twentieth century’s 09/09/1828. 12. Geo. II, c.71; ERO, D/B 5 slavish perpetuation of both
EssexJOURNAL 56 ‘Made of Sheeps Wooll Onely’ by Christine Jones
n the second half of the process appear in a volume Overseers of the Poor in writing seventeenth century the among the documents of the and they within eight days were British woollen industry was parish of Little Warley for the to go to the Justice of the Peace I 2 struggling in the face of imports period 1680 to 1687. Each who would grant a warrant for of foreign cloth, particularly entry gives the name of the levying a forfeiture on the goods linen. The manufacturers and deceased, the name of the person and chattels of those responsible merchants petitioned the King swearing the oath and often their for making the affidavit. for legislation to protect their relationship to the deceased, the Certificates from the vicar to interests and in August 1678 names of the two witnesses and church wardens can be seen the Burial in Woollen Act came the name of the Justice. A high among the papers of Sir into force.1 As with much recent proportion of the people swear- William Holcroft, a Justice for legislation the Burial in Woollen ing the oath were female, as Walthamstow, relating to parish- Act resulted in a great deal of were quite a number of those ioners from West Ham in 1686.5 paper work. In fact had the paper witnessing the oath. It would Some overseers and wardens makers, stationers and printers usually have been female relatives kept lists separate from the burial of Britain wanted protection who laid out the corpse and registers of those bodies buried for their industry they could could reliably vouch for the in woollen. Those from Ramsey not have devised a better method. shroud material. Perhaps it was for the period 1726 to 1752 and No one parish in Essex has less costly in terms of time for the from Dedham for the period examples of each document, female members of the family 1707 to 1757 have survived.6 but searching across the county rather than wage-earning males to Since it was what the body was much has survived to demonstrate make the journey to the Justice. wrapt in rather than who the the workings of the Act and Other unrelated names appear body was that was important, which this article will consider. repeatedly; maybe that of the these lists include still-born Initially each parish would parish ‘nurse’. The surnames of infants, often missing from have received a copy of the Act, the witnesses suggest that some- burial registers since they were which was to be read publicly times they were relatives of the un-baptised. The lists were after Divine Service ‘upon the Justice, perhaps a wife. Other submitted to the Justices each first Sunday after the Feast of names occur repeatedly for the year. The opposite end of the St Bartholomew’ every year for same Justice suggesting that they same process can be seen among seven years. As there were over were members of his household, the papers of the Mildmay Family 18,000 parishes in England and perhaps servants. relating to burials in Hornchurch, Wales and each copy consisted It was actually the verbal oath Romford, Noak Hill and Collier of five double-sided sheets the that was an affidavit, but the term Row for the period 1681 to 1700.7 printing involved was not incon- was usually applied to the piece The act also made provision siderable. The surviving copy of paper on which the details for non-compliance by those who in the Witham register is in were recorded, which then had were determined not to be buried suspiciously good condition. to be returned within eight days in wool, those preferring linen or Most copies would have rapidly to the clergyman of the parish the more exotic silk, fur, gold become dog-eared with repeated where the deceased was buried. and silver. They were to pay a usage and, when the parish chest In London and large towns such fine of five pounds, half of which became full with later registers, as Luton these certificates were went to the informer and half were probably thrown away; printed forms completed by to the poor of the parish. By hence few copies have survived. hand.3 No examples of printed ensuring that the informer was The Act stipulated that forms appear to have survived a member of the family the fine relations of the ‘party deceased, from Essex. There are three was effectively reduced to 50 or some other credible person’ examples of handwritten certifi- shillings. Many gentry families should swear an oath before a cates, one from St Mary at Walls regarded this as a small price to magistrate or Justice of the Peace, Colchester 1678 (Fig. 1), one pay and the registers abound in who could be the clergyman from Horndon on the Hill 1761 entries including the words of a neighbouring parish, that and one from Moreton 1793.4 ‘buried in linen’ sometimes with the body was wrapt, wound up The act made provision the addition ‘penalty paid’ for or buried in nothing but sheep’s for what should happen if the example from Wanstead ‘13 May wool. The oath was to be wit- clergyman failed to receive the 1774 Miss Letitia Morris in the nessed by two further persons. certificate in due time. He was Family Vault paid to the poor of Records of the oath making to notify his Church Wardens or the Parish £2/10/0’.8
EssexJOURNAL 57 Litten cites the case of Hannah We can sympathise with Mary example, for example a Garter Deane of High Ongar who speci- Graygoose, who was buried at & Principal King at Arms, fied in her will that she wished to Roydon on 7th July 1745, a Sir Thomas St George, was be buried in linen and set aside widow aged 74 ‘who being buried in a vault at the east-end the appropriate amount from her according to her own desire of the chancel in woollen at St estate.9 Examination of the will, buried in Linen contrary to Mary the Virgin Woodford in written in 1769, reveals that she Act of Parliament in ye case y March 1702/3, the Honourable also specified who she wanted to forfeiture of 50 shillings was paid Sir Stephen Langham at Stanstead make her coffin and that she by her son (who informed) for y Mountfitchett in 1709, and the wanted to be buried at Stanford use of y poor of this parish’, since Reverend Edmund Manning MA Rivers near her parents. A tran- she was a Linen Draper and Rector of Colne Engaine in script of the registers for Stanford would have had as much interest 1765.13 Rivers shows Hannah, the in supporting the linen trade as in The act stated that there was daughter of John and Mary Dean, supporting the now defunct Essex to be no charge for administering baptised 19th April 1718. She had woollen industry.11 On 2nd May the oath; despite this there is a several siblings, most of whom 1802 Thomas Kershman Esq of note in the register of Kelvedon died in infancy. John Dean was Church Hall Paglesham was Hatch in 1799 that the fee for buried 11th March 1720. Mary buried in his military clothes, an affidavit for burying was six Dean, widow of John, was buried being a Captain of a Volunteer pence.14 A six pence fee was also 23rd May 1767.10 Hannah Dean Corps.12 On the other hand indi- charged at Rivenhall sometime of Ongar was buried 20th April viduals of some standing in the between 1733 and 1796, at 1784. community might set a good Romford in 1771, at South 1. Certificate from St Mary on the Walls, Colchester, 1678. (Reproduced by courtesy of the Essex Record Office, D/P 246/18/2.)
EssexJOURNAL 58 Benfleet in 1772, at Springfield date columns were ruled, one for By 1678 entries were sup- All Saints sometime between the date of burial and the second posed to be in English but some 1774 and 1809, at Tendring for the date of affidavit.22 clergy persisted in using Latin. around 1790 and at Woodham Rivenhall ruled four columns: Usually the word ‘affidavit’ can Walter in 1801.15 Person buried, Affidavited [sic] be deciphered.31 At Hornchurch The act further stipulated by, Before, Date.23 In other Essex the expression fecit fideren was that the clergyman was to keep parishes this aspect of the law used.32 At Purleigh the baptisms, a register of all the burials and appears to have been ignored and marriages and burials had been of all the affidavits, and make a the register continues much as mixed and entered in Latin. memorial in the register when before. For Goldhanger there is a Suddenly in 1678 the burials the certificate failed to be pro- gap in the burial entries between are entered in English while the duced and the time when he 1678 and 1695, and similarly for baptisms and marriages continue notified the wardens or overseers. East Tilbury for 1678 to 1687, in Latin. Maybe the writer didn’t Clergy interpreted this in various which may indicate that they know the Latin for what he was ways. In 1678 there were no started new registers but then required to enter.33 printed parish registers and no abandoned them and they have Initially there seems to have uniform style of entries. In some since been lost.24 been some improvisation, on 4th large parishes opposite ends of The wording with which September 1678 someone was the same register book were used clergy and parish clerks made buried in ‘flannell’ and on 18th for baptisms and burials, with the entries varied from parish to September another body ‘was marriages being inserted in the parish, from writer to writer, buried in an old woollen middle. In smaller parishes they and even from page to page. blanket’.34 At Lawford between might be entered in blocks on Many refer to the affidavit 1678 and1702 the Rector of facing pages or entered chrono- having been brought, filed, Little Bromley and the Curate logically without regard for made, received, provided or of Mistley were doing much of which type of event was regis- sworn, often referring to the ‘late the certifying.35 tered. In several parishes a new Act of Parliament’. Others refer The Act made provision for register was indeed purchased to being buried according to Law exemptions for those dying of specifically for burials.16 In the or contrary to Law; some merely contagious diseases and four register for Stock there is an ‘legally interred’. Some use the people dying of smallpox in entry ‘A Register Book for word certificate and others the Canewdon in 1748/9 are marked burying in woollen was bought word oath. Many mention ‘no affid’; two people dying in at the Parish charge 1678’. woollen, but some specify ‘not High Laver in 1772 are marked In Broomfield the old register linen’. Felstead used the term ‘the aforementioned persons continued to be used for baptisms ‘Woollen Apparellage’.25 Some dying of the smallpox the until 1812. In Rivenhall the old invoke the Justices and may be in affidavits could not be procured register continued to be used the form: AB made oath before in due time’. However, many for baptisms and marriages until CD date that EF was not buried dying of smallpox in Broomfield it was full and then they were in any thing but what was made in 1719 were still listed as buried included in the new burial of sheeps wool only’.26 At in woollen.36 register.17 Blackmore each affidavit was Initially mention of the In other parishes a fresh page listed in detail from 1678 to affidavit was made against each was started in an existing register 1717.27 Some of the early entries burial but, again in the larger and there was an attempt to be are so detailed and so lengthy that parishes, over time there was a more systematic in writing up they took up half a page in the tendency to group the burials the entries.18 At Bocking St Mary register.28 Not surprisingly this did and account for the affidavits at the whole opening was used, not last, particularly in parishes the end of each page or each burials on the left hand page and with a large number of burials, year, or sometimes vertically affidavits on the right hand page; and a range of abbreviations was down the margin.37 In similarly at Colchester St James, introduced: Affd Recd; Affid; Corringham the certificates Colchester St Nicholas, Danbury, Affd; Aff. However, the tran- were noted retrospectively in East Hanningfield, Sandon and scriber of the Twinstead registers 1680 ‘A Certificate was delivered White Roding.19 At Chelmsford a thought that ‘afd’ meant and special session holden at separate column was ruled for ‘affirmed’.29 A note in the Brentwood on July 29 1680 of all details of the affidavits.20 By 1682 Coggeshall register dated 1811 the foregoing Burials since begin the amount of detail had been states ‘The letter A annexed to Act for burying in woollen’.38 reduced and by 1684 the column the name signifies that the From 1714 the Langham register was headed ‘certificate dated’ or Affidavit was made’.30 This occurs lists who the affidavit was made ‘date of certificate’. Several other either in the left hand margin before and at the end of each parishes began ruling columns in or at the end of the entry and year gives the date when an their registers.21 At Wimbish two continues to March 1812. account was given to the Justice.39
EssexJOURNAL 59 them in observation because of gaps in the registers. In smaller parishes in the early years it was quite common to find no burials in a given year, for example in the parish of Lamarsh in 1692 ‘This year Thanks be to God no Burials’.50 The number of parishes in observation at any one time ranged between 203 and 257. Any mention of woollen or of an affidavit in a year counted 2. Certificate from Moreton, 1793 (ERO, D/P 72/1/2.) as observation of the act. It is further argued that any mention It even gives details of the and clergy ignored the act for the of linen or unlawfully buried or a affidavit when it omits the details first 28 years that it was on the penalty also counts, since these of the person buried. There is less statute book and only in 1706 are evidence that the majority of detail from 1723 to 1743, but it adopted it? There is a burial in parishioners were observing the still records ‘Affidavit account was linen with the penalty paid in act by being buried in woollen, given to ye Justices’ until 1735. 1759, so some aspects of the act even when it is not recorded in In at least 16 parishes there is were still in use at that time, ten the register. no mention at all in the registers years after the last mention of an It was found that in 1678 just of affidavits or certificates, of affidavit.45 It is true that the other over 61% of Essex parish registers woollen or linen. It is as if the documents apart from parish recorded an observation of the Act was totally ignored, even registers, described in this article, act. It never rose higher than that though in the case of Great all date from well before 1814. in subsequent years. This could Canfield a new register was The records of the oath making be taken to show that, even in a begun in 1678.40 At Wivenhoe process at Little Warley cover county with a woollen textile there was no mention of the act the period 1680 to 1687; the industry, over a third of parishes until 1726 when there is a signed Holcroft papers date from 1686; were not observing the act. statement ‘I do hereby certify the Mildmay papers date from However, as I hope to show, this that the Affidavits were made 1681 to 1700; the Ramsey lists was not necessarily the case. By according to y Act of Parliament date from 1726 to 1752 and 1681 the proportion recording for burying in Sheeps Wool only. the Dedham lists from 1707 to observation of the act had fallen Witness my hand.’ But then there 1757.46 All these are over 50 to just below 60% and continued is no further mention until 15th years before the act was repealed. at this level until 1685. It then Dec 1772 when one was ‘buried However, the latest surviving fell to just under 55% and in Linen and the Penalty paid certificate of affidavit is dated remained at this level until 1694. according to Act’.41 1793 (Fig. 2), only 20 years It may be that some parishes A note in a register of Little before the act was repealed.47 thought the act had been repealed Canfield, probably written Fees for affidavits were still being after seven years when it no between 1930 and 1952, claims charged at Woodham Walter longer had to be read publicly that the act had fallen into disuse (contrary to the act) in 1801.48 annually. In 1697 observation of long before its repeal in 1814.42 To assess the extent and relia- the act dropped below 50% and In 1946 William Tate wrote, bility of the register entries, all in 1700 dropped below 40% for ‘to judge by the register entries, those registers deposited at the the first time, though there was for some years before its repeal Essex Record Office and available a rally during the first half of the the act had been generally disre- on microfiche for the period eighteenth century. It finally garded’.43 Don Steel repeated the 1678 to 1813 were examined dropped below 40% in 1751 and same statement word for word in for evidence of burial in woollen below 30% in 1761. It did not 1976.44 Is this assertion true and or affidavits and each year in drop below 20% until 1782. are the register entries reliable or which this occurred was noted An Act of Parliament for indeed the only evidence for the on a spreadsheet. Parishes whose paying a duty upon Christenings observance or disuse of the act? registers have not survived, or and Burials came into force from Take the case of the Little have not been deposited, or are 2nd Oct 1783. Printed registers Canfield registers themselves: the not available for the entire were produced, though few Essex earliest mention of an affidavit is period, or are not decipherable parishes used them. The instruc- in 1706 and the last in 1749. Can on microfiche were not tions for entries and the example we assume that it was only during included.49 A total of 265 parishes provided do not include any those 44 years that the act was were included in the study. mention of woollen or affidavits. observed? That the parishioners However, for no year were all of A dozen parishes managed to
EssexJOURNAL 60 and Buttsbury, with populations in 1811 of 353 and 474 respec- tively.54 Although there is a concentration in the northeast of the county, possibly reflecting the area of the seventeenth century woollen industry, there is also the parish of Debden in the far southwest and Ingatestone in the southeast. At Chelmsford where there were about 30 burials per page, by 1688 there are some gaps in the affidavits, by 1694 only about half were completed, and by 1700 between a third and a quarter completed. Procedures seem to have been tightened up in 1706 when most are again dated. In 1729 only five out of 253 burials were without affidavits.55 The last mention of burial is linen occurs at Shellow Bowells only four years before the act was repealed ‘Mary wife of the Revd Rich Birch of this Parish buried in Linen 15th Feb 1810 aged 78’.56 Thomas Brooksby, the rector of South Hanningfield deserves special mention as his recording of affidavits continues into the printed Rose’s register, the last entry being for 23rd November 1813 (Fig. 3).57 Often the cessation of recording affidavits occurs when there was a change of clergyman or clerk, frequently followed by his burial recorded in another hand.58 But equally recording of affidavits could start or re- start with the appointment of a new clergyman or clerk.59 At Radwinter it restarts following the burials of the clerk and the rector within five months of each other in 1745/6.60 On the other hand, recording could continue despite the death of a 3. First page of burial register from South Hanningfield, 1813-15. clergyman and the appointment (ERO, D/P 378/1/10.) of his successor.61 Conversely recording could stop without administer both tax and Not all of these 18 parishes had a change of handwriting or affidavits.51 Half a dozen parishes been observing the act continu- clergy.62 This might be when administered the tax but no ously since 1678 but 13 of them starting a new register, as at longer mentioned affidavits.52 had observed the act consistently Rickling in 1778, or merely The proportion of registers from 1800 to 1813.53 These range turning a page, as at Stanstead observing the act dropped below from the densely populated urban Mountfitchet in 1725, or when 15% in 1789, but in 1800 was parishes of Chelmsford and the pattern was interrupted by a still over 11% and in 1813 was Colchester St Nicholas to the high social status baptism, as at only just under eight per cent. tiny villages of Great Maplestead Waltham Holy Cross in 1688.63
EssexJOURNAL 61 The suspicion therefore is that been no mention of the presence me of her being buried in it is the recording of the affidavits of affidavits since 1696.69 woollen only. Except in this rather than burial in woollen that At Shenfield there was no one instance I know not that was falling into disuse. The only mention of affidavits from 1678 there has been any omission register in which there is evi- to 1749 for local burials but there of this sort since I have been dence of the parishioners ignoring is a note against a ‘trafficked’ Rector of this parish’.74 the act, and then possibly only corpse on 30th March 1750, the requirement to produce an ‘Buried John Williams brought At Springfield All Saints there had affidavit rather than the choice from Chelmsford by Richard been no mention of affidavits of shroud material, is Stanford le Bishop carpenter in Fenchurch between 1748 and 1799, then in Hope. There are many mentions St, near Aldgate, London, who 1800 there is a very full entry for of affidavits not being brought made oath that the Corpse was William Sturdy and a similar one (1713, 1727, 1737, 1741, 1742), wrapt in Order to its Burial in in 1811 for Eliz Sturdy: as if the clergyman was more Nothing but Sheep’s Wool’. zealous than the parishioners, but There is no further mention until ‘Affidavit made relative of was having difficulty enforcing another ‘trafficked’ corpse in June the body of Eliz Sturdy the act. However, from 1748 1757, ‘Buried Elizabeth the Wife being enwrapped in material to 1769 there are mentions of of Wm Clarke of Arnolds in made of Sheeps wool only as affidavits for all burials and from Mountnessing and Sarah Porter the Act of Parliament in that 1805 to 1810 affidavits are noted of Much Haddam swore to have case provided directs. This at the bottom of each page.64 been wrapp [sic] in nothing but Affidavit was made by John In Braintree in the late seven- sheeps wool’.70 At the beginning Bartlett before H Gretton, teenth century occupations were of a new register by a new rector rector, in the presence of Wm given for the people being buried in January 1772 is the statement Sharping Sexton and Parish and a lot of them were weavers. ‘N B Affidavits of being buried Clerk (Romford) bur Jan 14 It might be expected that they in wool according to Act of 1811 age 64’.75 would be eager supporters of the Parliament regularly brought Act, but there is no mention in except where expressed to the Also in the Springfield All Saints the registers of burial in woollen contrary’. This register continues register is a note about a burial or of affidavits. The only negative to 1812 without mention of linen in Danbury ‘28th August 1803 reference is on 27th May 1684 or payment to the poor or non- affidavit made by Elizth Pennel of Mrs Margaret Maryon ‘buryed production of affidavits. The for Thos Matthews age 76 and in Lining’.65 same rector made the entries in sent to the Officiating Minister In the Manningtree register the Rose’s register from 1813 at Danbury where he was buried’. the comment ‘Thus far sworn to without mentioning woollen However, on checking the the Justices’ appears in September or the repeal of the act.71 Danbury register there is no 1705, June 1706, March 1710, At Newport the register was mention against Thomas September 1712 and April 1715 still noting burials in linen in Matthews’ burial entry of an although there is no mention 1772 and affidavits not being affidavit.76 Similarly there is a of woollen or affidavits in the brought in1737, long after last note that ‘Mary Mills who died intervening months.66 Can this mention in 1713 of an oath in this Parish was buried in the be taken to imply that all the given.72 At South Weald there parish of Boreham. Ann Bass intervening burials were in was no mention of affidavits made Affidavit of Her Body woollen with individual affidavits? between 1756 and 1778, then in being enwrapped in Material There is no mention in the 1779 there is an entry of an affi- made of Sheeps Wool only Steeple Bumpstead register davit for ‘a person unknown’.73 according to Act Of Parliament. between 1689 and 1749 except At Great Hallingbury in 1780 The above oath was made before for an entry on 31st July 1711 Thomas Lepyatt, who had proba- me H Gretton 26 July 1811’. ‘No affidavit within eight days’.67 bly been Rector since 1758 when The corresponding entry in the At Hadstock in 1727 there is a the previous Rector was buried, Boreham register for 21st July comment against the burial of the and who had never mentioned 1811 says ‘Brought from relict of the late rector that no affidavits during those 22 years Springfield’ but there is no affidavit was brought and notice commented: mention of woollen or affidavit.77 was given to churchwardens, but Where documents other there had been no mention of ‘No affidavit of the burial than registers for a parish have affidavits since her husband died of the above Sarah Prior survived it is possible to compare in 1720.68 Does this mean that all having been brought to me the recording from the two the intervening ones had brought within eight days I certified sources for the same periods. We affidavits? At Ridgewell there are the Churchwardens of the have an affidavit from Horndon entries marked ‘no affidavit’ in same. But on the ninth day a on the Hill for 1761 (Fig. 4) and 1729 and in 1762 but there had proper Affidavit was brought one from Moreton in 1793, but
EssexJOURNAL 62 there is no mention of affidavits archaeological evidence from 4. D/P 246/18/2; D/P 56/1/2; at those years in either register.78 Christchurch, Spitalfields, con- D/P 72/1/2. We have the certificates from firms that the bulk of textiles 5. D/DCv 2/8, 9. the vicar to the church wardens excavated in the eighteenth 6. D/P 7/8/1; D/P 26/8/1. when affidavits had not been century were woollen, with 7. D/DMY/15M50/673/1-45. produced among the papers of cotton only making an appearance 8. D/P 292/1/2. 9. Litten, p.74; D/AEW 39/1784; Sir William Holcroft, a Justice after 1815. The archaeologists Hannah’s surname is spelt Deane for Walthamstow, relating to conclude that this confirms that in her will. parishioners from West Ham in that parish the act was 10. T/R 67/1; the surname is spelt in 1686 but there is no mention complied with.83 From this Dean in the registers. of affidavits or their absence in we can conclude that the parish 11. D/P 60/1/2. the West Ham registers.79 The registers are not wholly reliable 12. D/P 219/1/2. Overseers’ Memorandum book as evidence for the observance 13. D/P 167/1/3A; D/P 109/1/2; from Dedham mentions affidavits of the Burial in Woollen Act. Far D/P 193/1/3. for most years between 1707 and from being ‘generally disregarded’ 14. D/P 296/1/4. 1719, and also burials in woollen as Tate asserted, there is sufficient 15. D/P 107/1/3; D/P 346/1/3; for 1727-8 and 1730-60, periods evidence to suggest that the spirit D/P 300/1/3; D/P 211/1/2; D/P 353/1/3; D/P 101/1/4. when they are not mentioned of the Act was being observed, 16. Beaumont cum Moze 80 in the registers. Individual in that bodies were buried in D/P 285/1/2; fragments from the parish of woollen, even when the letter Blackmore D/P 266/1/2; Fingringhoe supply the gaps in of the law was being gradually Broomfield D/P 248/1/2; the Fingringhoe registers for 1741 ignored, in that affidavits were no Gt Baddow D/P 65/1/3; and 1745.81 The overseers’ longer being recorded and may Gt & Lt Henny D/P 367/1/1; records of Ramsey cover the not even have been made. Kelvedon D/P 134/1/2; period 1678 to 1752 with Lt Bromley D/P 5/1/2; frequent mentions of affidavits References Lt Burstead D/P 100/1/1; where there is no mention in 1. W. Cunningham, The Growth of Margaret Roding D/P 309/1/2; English Industry and Commerce in Margaretting D/P 235/1/1; the registers.82 The same source Modern Times (Cambridge, 1917), Messing D/P 188/1/2; provides the cost of a ‘burying pp.393, 903. Copies of the full Mile End D/P 410/1/2; suit’ as five shillings and five wording of the Act can be seen Stambourne D/P 24/1/3; pence, while the cost of a in the registers of Gt Henny and Theydon Garnon D/P 152/1/28; ‘coffing’ was two shillings and of Witham, D/P 367/1/1 & Wanstead D/P 292/1/2; six pence in 1728. By 1744 the D/P 30/1/2. All references West Horndon D/P 380/1/2. cost of a coffin had risen to four are for documents held at 17. D/P 54/1/1; D/P 248/1/1; shillings, but in 1750 the cost of Essex Record Office. D/P 107/1/2. laying out and making a burying 2. D/P 6/8/1. 18. Cranham D/P 118/1/1; suit was only five shillings. 3. W.E. Tate, The Parish Chest Gosfield D/P 165/1/1; This article has only looked (Cambridge, 1946), p.67; Gt Leighs D/P 137/1/4; J. Litten, The English way of death: at the situation in Essex. Newport D/P 15/1/2; the common funeral since 1450 North Ockendon D/P 308/1/2; The custom in other counties (London, 1991), p.74. Rayne D/P 126/1/3; may have been different, but Romford D/P 346/1/2; South Ockendon D/P 159/1/1; 4. Certificate from Horndon on the Hill, 1761. (ERO, D/P 56/1/2.) Stapleford Tawney D/P 141/1/2; Theydon Mount D/P 142/1/2. 19. D/P 268/1/3; D/P 138/1/8; D/P 176/1/3; D/P 114/1/1; D/P 250/1/4; D/P 253/1/1; D/P 304/1/1. 20. D/P 14/1/7. 21. Colchester St Peter D/P 178/1/3; Fryerning D/P 249/1/1; Good Easter D/P 57/1/2; Gosfield D/P 165/1/1; Gt Horkesley D/P 205/1/2; Gt Leighs D/P 137/1/4; Gt Parndon D/P 184/1/2; Hadstock D/P 17/1/2; at Gt Baddow in 1720 D/P 65/1/2; at Finchingfield in 1746 D/P14/1/2; and at Gt Bentley 1776-1806 D/P 171/1/4. 22. D/P 313/1/2.
EssexJOURNAL 63 23. D/P 107/1/2. 47. D/P 72/1/2. Rettendon 1694 D/P 251/1/1; 24. D/P 19/1/1; D/P 92/1/1. 48. D/P 101/1/4. Chappell 1702 D/P 87/1/1; 25. D/P 99/1/3. 49. It is possible that using the Romford 1706 D/P 346/1/2; 26. Cranham D/P 118/1/1. digitised images now available St Osyth 1709 D/P 322/1/1; 27. D/P 266/1/2. through ERO’s Essex Ancestors White Roding 1710 28. East Horndon D/P 260/1/1; that more registers could have D/P 304/1/2; Rayleigh 1720 Fyfield D/P 144/1/2. been included. D/P 332/1/5; Theydon Garnon 29. T/R 252/1. 50. D/P 222/1/2. 1721 D/P 152/1/4; Rettendon 30. D/P 36/1/9. 51. Broomfield D/P 248/1/2; 1723 D/P 251/1/1; Stanford 31. Elmstead D/P 168/1/2. Broxted D/P 19/1/1; Rivers 1733 T/R 67/1; Feering 32. D/P 115/1/1. fecit = he made; Castle Hedingham D/P48/1/4; 1736 D/P 231/1/2; Ingrave 1736 fider = faith; fiderem = trust; Chelmsford D/P 14/1/7; D/P 187/1/1; Great Tey 1746 the actual Latin for affidavit is Chignal Smealey D/P 351/1/1; D/P 37/1/2; Mount Bures 1752 adfirmator but the clergyman may Fingringhoe D/P 369/1/2; D/P 281/1/1; Wickham Bishop not have known that and used Gt Burstead D/P 139/1/4; 1755 D/P 236/1/9; St Osyth the nearest word he could think High Laver D/P 111/1/1; 1769 D/P 322/1/2; Radwinter of. With particular thanks to the Lindsell D/P 110/1/1; 1771 D/P 22/1/10; Gt Bardfield ERO Archivists’ team for their Ramsey D/P 7/1/2; 1773 D/P 67/1/2; Wrabness advice on this point. Rayleigh D/P 332/1/6; 1785 D/P 6/1/1. 33. D/P 197/1/2. Wimbish D/P 313/1/4. 60. D/P 22/1/9. 34. Grays Thurrock D/P 382/1/1. 52. East Tilbury D/P 92/1/4; 61. Matching 1685 D/P 411/1/1; 35. D/P 347/1/1. Fobbing D/P 414/1/5; Woodham Mortimer 1693 36. D/P 219/1/1; D/P 111/1/1; Good Easter D/P 57/1/2; D/P 274/1/1; Witham 1724- D/P 248/1/2. Gosfield D/P 165/1/2; 1755 D/P 30/1/2; Sandon 1803 37. Canewdon D/P 219/1/1; Rainham D/P 202/1/5; D/P 253/1/2. Colchester St Martin Rochford D/P 129/1/3. 62. Upminster 1753 D/P 117/1/1. D/P 325/1/2; 53. Buttsbury, Chelmsford, 63. D/P 1/1/3; D/P 109/1/2; Colne Engaine D/P 193/1/3; Coggeshall, Colchester D/P 75/1/6. Elmstead D/P 168/1/2; St Nicholas, Debden, 64. D/P 404/1/1. Dedham 26/1/2; Gt Baddow, Gt Maplestead, 65. D/P 264/1/3. Epping All Saints D/P 302/1/4; Gt Oakley, Ingatestone, 66. D/P 265/1/1. Gt Burstead D/P 139/1/3; Langham, Lawford, Lt or 67. D/P 21/1/1. Gt Holland D/P 396/1/1; Bardfield Saling and Tendring. 68. D/P 17/1/2. Mashbury D/P 352/1/1; 54. Census of Great Britain, 1811, 69. D/P 405/1/1, 2. Mountnessing D/P 73/1/2; Abstract of the answers and 70. D/P 295/1/2. Pebmarsh D/P 207/1/1. returns made pursuant to an Act, 71. D/P 295/1/3, 8. 38. D/P 402/1/1. passed in the fifty-first year of 72. D/P 15/1/2. 39. D/P 154/1/3. His Majesty King George III. 73. D/P 128/1/4. 40 Gt Canfield D/P 364/1/2, 3; intituled “An act for taking an 74. D/P 27/1/5. Gt Chishall D/P 210/1/1, 2; account of the population of 75. D/P 211/1/2. Gt Easton D/P 232/1, 2; Great Britain, and of the increase 76. Ibid. Gt Yeldham D/P 275/1/2; or diminution thereof”. 77. Ibid. Heydon D/P 135/1/2, 4; Preliminary observations. 78. D/P 56/1/2; D/P 72/1/2 Langley D/P 335/1/1; Enumeration abstract BPP 1812 79. D/DCv 2; D/P 256/1/2. Lt Baddow D/P 35/1/1, 2; XI (316) pp.98 and 101. 80. D/P 26/8/2; D/P 26/1/2. Lt Chesterford D/P 398/1/1, 2; 55. D/P 14/1/7 81. D/P 369/12/4; D/P 369/1/1. Marks Hall D/P 61/1/1; 56. D/P 339/1/2. 82. D/P 7/8/1; D/P 7/1/1. Sheering D/P 370/1/1; 57. D/P 378/1/10. 83 M. Cox, ed. Grave concerns: death Takeley D/P 225/1/1; 58. Upminster 1685 D/P 117/1/1; and burial in England 1700-1850 Thaxted D/P 16/1/2-5; Moreton 1687 D/P 72/1/1; (York, 1998), pp.24-5, 115. Wendens Ambo D/P 389/1/2, 3 Theydon Mount 1699 West Ham D/P 256/1/1-4; D/P 142/1/3; Gt & Lt Henny Acknowledgments Wicken Bonhunt D/P 2/1/1, 2; 1708 D/P 367/1/1; To the staff of the ERO for their Wormingford D/P 185/1/2, 3. Bradwell juxta Mare 1722 & assistance during the research of this 41. D/P 277/1/2, 3. 1770 D/P 51/1/3, 5; article; and Anne Kemp Luck for her 42. D/P 227/1/2. North Weald Bassett 1729 helpful comments on an earlier draft 43. Tate, p.69. D/P 84/1/1; Twinstead 1730 of the manuscript. 44. D. Steel, General Sources of D/P 212/1/2; Margaretting 1731 Births Marriages and Deaths D/P 235/1/1; West Mersea 1731 The Author before 1837, (National Index D/P 77/1/1; Fyfield 1733 Christine Jones worked on the of Parish Registers Volume I) D/P 144/1/2; Stapleford Tawney Integrated Census Micro-data (London, 1976), pp.72-3. 1753 D/P 141/1/2; Feering 1770 project at Essex University and has 45. D/P 227/1/1, 2. D/P 231/1/2; Lambourne 1776 now retired to Bristol, where she 46. D/P 6/8/1; D/DCv 2; D/P 181/1/3; Terling 1796 is a volunteer with an oral history D/DMY/15M50/673/1-45; D/P 299/1/4. project on the Old Market Street D/P 7/8/1; D/P 26/8/1. 59. Rainham 1685 D/P 202/1/2; area.
EssexJOURNAL 64 Some Memorials in Essex Churches
relating to the Sub-Continent of India by Alan Tritton
or over 250 years the HEIC was established. BACSA which relate to the British Honourable East India estimates that about two million connection with South Asia FCompany (HEIC) Europeans, mainly British, which is maintained at the India conducted and regulated the soldiers, civilians and their Office Library, now subsumed trade between English merchants families are buried in the Indian into the British Library. Its and countries from the Red Sea Sub-Continent alone. There is House Journal – Chowkidar 1 – to the China Coast but most a belief that the Commonwealth is published twice a year and importantly the India subconti- War Graves Commission cares deals with news, queries about nent. This trade was an attractive for all military graves abroad, ancestors and topics of South proposition to generations of but this is not the case – their Asian interest.2 Britons hoping to share in its remit only covers the two wealth and many joined in World Wars. Peter Curgenven hoping for success. Along with BACSA undertakes several The earliest Indian Memorial the natural cycle of life, the functions; firstly it records the in Essex is dated 1729. It is to rigours of overseas climates and locations of all cemeteries and Peter Curgenven (1684-1729) diseases took their toll on those monuments and the inscriptions and is situated in Great Waltham abroad and with no option for on head stones in South Asia; Church (Fig. 4). The wording of repatriation of bodies back for secondly it supports local people the Memorial; burial cemeteries were established interested in the restoration in the countries with an HEIC and conservation of European ‘Near this Place lyeth presence. However, burial graveyards; thirdly it publishes the Body of PETER abroad did not mean that these cemetery and church records CURGENVEN Merchant individuals were necessarily containing names, inscriptions, He was sent in his forgotten in their native country. and biographical notes on Youth to the East Indies In Essex alone there are nearly individual tombs, memorials where attaining a thorough 50 Churches with memorials and gravestones; it also records knowledge of the INDIA commemorating around 200 memorial and monumental trade in all its Branches he individual men, women and inscriptions in the British Isles acquired a plentiful fortune children who died or were killed and who are buried, or 1. The Old Protestant Cemetery, Penang, Malaysia. The tomb of in many cases not buried, in just Penang’s founder Francis Light in centre. (BACSA.) the Sub-Continent. This article will look at the role of the British Association of Cemeteries in South Asia (BACSA), the organisation charged with main- taining and recording overseas resting grounds and memorials, as well as looking at some of the memorials that are closer to home in Essex. BACSA is the only established organisation responsible for looking after the many hundreds of former mainly British cemeter- ies, isolated graves, monuments and memorials in the area from the Red Sea to the China Coast (Figs 1-3) – in fact wherever the
EssexJOURNAL 65 in Misery. At last, having CURGEVEN a Gentleman of freed himself and the rest good Family in Cornwall and by his own Industry and married FRANCIS Daughter Management, he embarked of JOHN ROTHERHAM for England in the hopes of of the Parish Esq whom he sitting down in quiet and left his sole Executrix having enjoying the Fruits of his no issue and who Erected this Labours; but see the Monument over his Grave as Uncertainty of all things a Token of her Affection and here Below; Just before his Gratitude.’4 Landing, a Violent Fit of the Cramp seizing his Thigh His family name was Lean and and bursting his Veins, tho’ that family came from Lelant the Effects were barely in Cornwall – not far from discernable, yet soon after Penzance, but the Reverend his Arrival at London to Thomas Lean – his uncle - have his thigh first laid changed the name to Curgenven. open and then cut off almost His brother William married close to his Body. Scarce Rachel Rich in 1667 and they ever was the like Operation had nine children. After their performed; Never any under- death the Reverend adopted the gone with more Resolution youngest of their children and he and Firmness, without so was named Peter Curgenven. 2. The BACSA restored tomb much as a Groan or the What is interesting is that the of Major Gonville Bromhead VC least Motion to express his brother-in-law of the Reverend in the New Cantonment Anguish; he outlived this was Thomas Pitt, who made Cemetery, Allahabad, India. Operation 12 days when such a success of his first voyage Bromhead was the Lieutenant the wound bleeding afresh to South India that his employer commanding the detachment he resigned his last Breath the HEIC appointed him later at Rorke’s Drift in 1879 with a surprising Sedateness as Governor of Madras. He which was nearly but not and unconcern at leaving this remained as Governor for 11 quite overwhelmed. In the world, being fully persuaded years – a long time in Company film Zulu he was played he was going to exchange terms – during which he made by Michael Caine and thus became quite famous. (BACSA.) his Perishable for everlasting an enormous fortune, retiring Riches. in 1709.5 and withal what is more He died June 20th 1729 Thomas Pitt had a son Robert valuable the universal in the 47th year of his Age. and it is interesting to note Character of a Man of great He was son of WILLIAM that in one of his letters to his Honour and Honesty of invictable Faith and Integrity 3. The tomb of Major Francis Shirref, Gwalior, India, who was killed which Virtues he adorned in the Mutiny of 1857. (BACSA.) with an uncommon Affability and Politeness. Preparing after a twenty five years absence to return to his Native Country, he unfortunately fell into the hands of Connajee Angria,3 Admiral to the SOU RAJAH then at war with the English at Bombay, and remained in a miserable Captivity about five years during which he behaved with an unparalleled Patience, Generosity and Greatness of mind, not only comforting, assisting and Supporting his Fellow Sufferers but even refusing his own Deliverance with- out that of his Companions
EssexJOURNAL 66 father after he had married, were lovely and pleasant in he wrote ‘You have always their lives and in their death advised me against a disreputable they were not divided.’ marriage, which I have avoided by marrying a lady of family Robert and Henry were brothers and character, with the approval in the service of the Honourable of my mother and my uncle East India Company, of which Peter Curgenven!’6 For the their father, John Thornhill, sake of completeness, it should was a Director.7 be remembered that Thomas However, let us concentrate Pitt was also the grandfather on the first Thornhill family and of William Pitt (the Elder), their massacre at Cawnpore as 1st Earl of Chatham (1708-1778). the events leading up to that massacre are well documented. Robert and Henry Thornhill Fatehgarh, where they were The next monument for consid- stationed, lies about 80 miles eration is the Thornhill Memorial upriver from Cawnpore now in Liston Church (Fig. 5). It is Kanpur in the then District of remarkable in that it is set in Farrukhabad. It was the Sudder marble and positioned at the rear or Chief Civil Station of the of a piscina in the nave of the District, which the British had church adjacent to the Victorian acquired from the Nawab Vizier Palmer Chapel. It is unusual for a of Oudh. Fatehgarh was regarded piscina to be positioned in a nave, as more or less the dead end of but there must be some reason. most military and civil careers, However, much more remarkable whilst the morale of the Sepoys, is that it commemorates two fam- there was notoriously low and 4. Peter Curgenven’s memorial ilies – fathers, mothers, children from time to time there were in Gt Waltham Church. (C. Starr.) and their children’s nursemaids, minor mutinies. Furthermore, who were all massacred during the Regiment stationed there Foreign Missions of the the Indian Mutiny in 1857. Let at that time was the 10th Native Presbyterian Church of the us now look at the words of the Regiment, whose Sepoys had United States of America, which Memorial. lost caste as a result of their being enthusiastically preached the made to cross the ‘black water’ Gospel, ran Christian schools, ‘In Memory of Robert Bensly (the Bay of Bengal) as it was distributed Gospel tracts and Thornhill And Mary White called–to fight in Burma for the argued with the local Brahmins – his wife Who after 66 days British. Nobody had apparently without much success. Most and nights Of extreme suffer- thanked them and when they Hindus found Christianity bewil- ing Were with their infant arrived at Fatehgarh, the whores dering and they noticed that children Charles Cudbert and pahn8 sellers jeered at them hardly any British went to and Mary Catherine And for being a ‘Christian’ Regiment. Church and that many drank their faithful nurse Mary The Fatehgarh Magistrate heavily. They also believed that Long Cruelly massacred Robert Bensly Thornhill from the American Presbyterians On the 15th July 1857. Liston, Essex, was so fed up with wanted to undermine not only At Cawnpore. India and Indians that he saw fit their faith but also their caste to recite the following offensive system, despite the disavowal of The Righteous perisheth doggerel in open Court; the Government of India, who and no man layeth it to hearts enjoined the newly joined British and merciful men are taken ‘With a Puggree on his head subalterns, in particular, not to do away none considering that and a Talwar on his thigh anything to inflame the suspicions the righteous is taken away The stinking nigger mounts of the local populace and, in from the evil to come. his gat to turn his back particular, the disaffected Sepoys and fly; of the 10th Native Infantry. Henry Bensly Thornhill And Then let the conches blast It did not help the residents Emily Heathfield his wife And To the loud tom tom reply at Fatehgarh that the Colonel their infant child Catherine A nigger must his hookah commanding the Station was a Who with their faithful nurse smoke certain George Acklom Smith, Eliza Jennings Were ruthlessly Or without his hookah die.’9 who was 60 years old and regard- murdered At Seetapore ed as somewhat of a mediocrity. Outside the Station, as it happens, He had spent most of his career On the 3rd June 1857 They was an outpost of the Board of in India with the 47th Native
EssexJOURNAL 67 time. When they arrived at Bithur – about 12 miles from Cawnpore, thinking they were Cawnpore and here once more safe, they found to their horror they were attacked. By now, of that Cawnpore was now in the the 100 who had set off from hands of the Nana Sahib and the Fatehgarh, only 60 remained Cawnpore mutineers They were alive. Soaked to the skin, many seized, bound with ropes, forced of the refugees were by now to sit down in a ditch exposed to wounded or ill. They were taken the heat of the Indian mid-day in bullock carts covered with sun and after two volleys were thatch to the old Residency, discharged at them, were slaugh- where there was temporarily an tered by the jullads – low caste element of normality with even butchers - with swords and breakfast being offered to them, knives. Afterwards their bodies but this did not last long. Their were stripped of their clothing arms were tied behind their backs and thrown into the river. and they were hurried to a train Meanwhile, at Seetapore of bullock carts for the 12 mile (Sitapur) thirty miles west of journey to Cawnpore, where Lucknow, the 41st Native they were decanted in front of Infantry had mutinied and had the Old Cawnpore Hotel in front then gone on to massacre the of the Nana Sahib. The women 5. The Thornhill memorial officers and civilians including and children remained in the carts in Liston Church. Henry Bensly Thornhill and his to be taken to the Bibighar of (Diana Tritton.) family. They then sent a message subsequent fearful fame.11 Infantry so that when he was put to the 10th Native Infantry at While Robert Thornhill and in command of the disaffected Fatehgarh instructing them to kill Colonels Smith and Goldie were 10th Native Infantry, he did little their officers but the latter replied led away also to the Bibighar, to soothe their wounded pride at that, while they were unwilling being glimpsed by their tem- having had, against their caste, to to do this, they had no objection porarily relieved wives and cross the ‘Black Water’. It was if the 14th Native Infantry did children, the remaining men also the case that, unlike hardly so. The European military and were shot, but a few survived any other Station in northern civilians and their families then and as was customary in these India, there were no European moved into the Fort, but the matters, the jullads, whom we soldiers stationed at Fatehgarh. only trained fighting men were have mentioned before, then When the Fatehgarh residents officers and many of them were moved in to sever their heads and heard that some mutineers from quite old including Colonel strip the corpses, which were left up country were approaching the Smith. The Fort, which was lying on the ground – this was to Station to join up with the men constantly being attacked, in enable the Muslim mutineers to of the 10th Native Infantry, most the end became indefensible and practice their sword strokes on made a rush for the boats, which they, therefore, decided to make the dead bodies, even instructing had already been prepared, to a run for the river to see if they their children how to do so. take them down river to what could get down to Cawnpore, The Bibighar was situated they thought was the safety of being unaware that Cawnpore close to Sir George Parker’s Cawnpore. However, the Senior was now in the hands of the ruined compound and, as its name Civil and Military residents mutineers.10 suggests, had been originally built together with their wives and It was now midnight - the for an officer’s bibi – that is to say children generally, including women and children boarded his native mistress. The Bibighar Robert Thornhill, who, as the the remaining boats first, together itself was quite small and stiflingly Magistrate was the senior Civil with the pensioners, the wounded hot and into this building were Officer of the Station, had stayed and the ayahs and servants laden herded at least 180 women and behind, either in Fatehgarh or with all their baggage. The noise children – another Black Hole Dharampur to the east, doing of their departure alerted the of Calcutta but even worse. everything they could to pacify mutineers who started firing But there was some hope as the men of the 10th Native at them and from now on the they could now hear the guns Infantry, but with little success. journey down river was a night- of Havelock’s approaching relief The civil residents numbering mare – again there is not sufficient army. Equally there was trepida- 126 European fugitives – the space to give a full description of tion as to what might happen to majority of whom were women their terrible journey. Eventually, them given the unpredictability and children - had a difficult and on the 9th July, the Colonel’s of the mutineers.12 dangerous journey down the river boat arrived at Fatehpur Chaurasi Meanwhile the three Burra - being fired on from time to opposite the Nana’s palace at Sahibs13 – that is to say the now
EssexJOURNAL 68 wounded Robert Thornhill and It is this story, which the Service Medal; Army Long Colonels Goldie and Smith Memorial Tablet at the back of Service and Good Conduct including a young boy Frank the piscina in the nave of Liston Medal. Greenaway were marched away Church, commemorates. But what was happening at and made to stand against the Maiwand in Afghanistan in 1880? wall of a commissariat godown, Patrick Mullane VC Maiwand, which is roughly 100 or warehouse, looking out We now move from the Essex miles south-west of Kandahar, towards the Theatre and the Suffolk border to Leytonstone was the scene of one of the Assembly Rooms and the and to St. Patrick’s Roman worst military disasters, which damaged tower of Christ Church. Catholic Cemetery and there the British ever suffered in the While Robert Thornhill held in this Cemetery you will see a Sub-Continent, when a British Frank Greenway’s young hand, large Gravestone and on it are Expeditionary Brigade was Tatya Tope14 waved to the inscribed the following words; destroyed by the Afghans. jemadar15 to open fire. Robert This British invasion of Thornhill fell first, followed by ‘Sergeant-Major Patrick Afghanistan resulted from their young Frank and then the two Mullane V.C. worries over Russia’s expansion Colonels. Royal Horse Artillery into Central Asia in the 1860s As it happens, the Sepoys Victoria Cross and 1870s and we all know about were reluctant to massacre the Awarded at the Battle of the ‘Great Game’. Afghanistan, women and children, particularly Maiwand 27th July 1880 which was then independent, was bearing in mind the imminent Buried nearby. caught between the advancing arrival of Havelock’s relieving ‘Thank you for your bravery Russians and the British Indian force, but they were over-ruled and service for Queen and Empire and when a Russian by Tatya Tope and they followed Country. Honouring you on delegation called on the Emir the Begum to the door of the the anniversary of the Battle in Kabul, the Afghans dismissed Bibighar, where she and Tatya of Maiwand 1880 where you a British delegation. This was Tope berated the Sepoys for not earned the Victoria Cross. too much for the nerves of the killing them. Once again, two God Bless you and rest in British. They, therefore, immedi- volleys were fired and once again peace – a hero. You will ately declared war on Afghanistan, the jullads moved in and after never be forgotten.’ invaded the country and captured an hour, it was nearly all over the key cities of Kabul, Kandahar, and 180 women and children The Citation for his VC reads Jalalabad and Khost. The Emir were dead or dying, watched thus: fled, having put his son on the by hundreds of spectators. A few throne and died soon afterwards survived and rather than being ‘For conspicuous bravery in north Afghanistan at Mazir-e- slaughtered, they threw them- during the action at Maiwand Sharif – a now familiar name. selves into the Bibigarh well, into on the 27th July 1880, in The Emir’s son failed and the which were also thrown many of endeavouring to save the life British, therefore, put his nephew the dead and dying, including of Driver Pickwell Istead. This on the throne in Kabul and then Mary Thornhill and her two chil- non-commissioned Officer, effectively divided Afghanistan dren Charles Codbert and Mary when the battery to which he into three separate provinces – Catherine and the children’s belonged, was on the point of that is to say Kabul, Kandahar nursemaid Mary Long.16 retiring and the enemy were and Herat in the west of the within ten or fifteen yards, country close to Persia. A British ‘These are they who come unhesitatingly ran back and Bombay army was stationed in out of great tribulation. picking up Driver Istead Kandahar along with an Afghan They cried but there was placed him on the limber, army commanded by its none to save them; even unto where, unfortunately, he died Governor, whilst the Herat the Lord but He answereth almost immediately. Again, province was governed by Ayub not. during the retreat, Sergeant Khan the son of the late Emir. Sacred to the perpetual Mullane volunteered to The British began to think in Memory of a great company procure water for the terms of leaving. of Christian people, chiefly wounded and succeeded in However, in spring 1880, it women and children, who doing so by going into one of became apparent that Ayub Khan near this spot were cruelly the villages, in which so many was raising a large army with a murdered by the followers of men had lost their lives.’18 view to seizing Kandahar. When the rebel Nana Dhundu Pant the British heard this, a Brigade and were cast , the dying with In addition to the Victoria Cross, Column was ordered to advance the dead, into the well below, he was awarded the following from Kandahar to the banks of on the 15th day of July decorations; Afghanistan Medal the Helmand River, the name of 1857.’17 1878-1880; Kandahar Meritorious which is now familiar to all of us,
EssexJOURNAL 69 to prevent Ayub Khan from ries, never forgot it and from ingredients – areca nut and crossing. It is worth noting thereon, the British were deeply tobacco, making it a mild the names of the Regiments of distrusted and hated particularly narcotic. this British Indian Army brigade in the Helmand, which makes 9. A. Ward, Our Bones are Scattered – – there were two Cavalry one wonder why the British in the Cawnpore Massacres and the Regiments – the 3rd Bombay the current Afghan War were Indian Mutiny of 1857 (London, 1996), pp.88-9. The Author and Light Cavalry and the 3rd Sind sent to the Helmand. Do we not Hon. Ed. would like to state that Light Horse, the 1st Bombay have long memories like the they do not condone the use of Grenadiers, the 30th Bombay Helmand Afghans?19 the offensive word in this passage (Jacob’s Rifles), supported by the These are the stories behind but reproduce it verbatim in the British 66th Infantry Regiment, a just three of the many Memorials original form it was used. Company of the Bombay Sappers in Essex Churches which relate 10. Ibid., pp.87-93, 207. and Miners and particularly for to the Sub-Continent – there are 11. Bibigarh was the name of the our purpose E Battery, B Brigade, many more and behind most of homes of the European’s’ Indian Royal Horse Artillery to which them lies a fascinating story. mistresses, from which they were Mullane belonged. escorted at nightfall into the beds This Column was ordered to References of the usually infatuated and besotted European masters and link up with an Afghan army led 1. (In South Asia) a watchman or gatekeeper, Oxford English from which they had to be by Sher Ali Khan the Governor escorted out at first light in the of Kandahar, which was now Dictionary (OED). 2. For more information on the morning. Bibi, sometimes spelt already across the Helmand organisation see its website: Beebee, is a Hindu word derived River. However, the infantry www.bacsa.org.uk which sets out from the Persian and at this time and artillery of this Afghan the organisation’s aims, examples it denoted an Indian mistress. army mutinied – although, as it of restoration and conservation 12. Ward. happens, not the cavalry – and work along with information on 13. A title of respect used by Indians then deserted to join the Herat the cemeteries it looks after as in referring to the head of a army led by Ayub Khan which well details on publications and family, the chief officer in a now comprised 7000 infantry and how to subscribe. station, the head of a department, OED. cavalry including the mutineers 3. Conajee Angria was a famous pirate Captain who operated on 14. Tatya Tope (1814-59), whose and 3500 irregular volunteers. real name was Ramchand The British Indian Army Brigade the high seas between Goa and Bombay. Curgenven was held Pandurang, was the leader of the Column moved forward to attack captive by him at Gheriah (now mutineers at Cawnpore. See – the temperature was 120 Vijaydurg) on the west coast of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ degrees Fahrenheit – and the heat India. See: Tatya_Tope. haze severely limited visibility. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ 15. A native officer in a Sepoy The British were outmanoeuvred Kanhoji_Angre (28/04/14). regiment, ranking next below a and the final attack on the British 4. The author is indebted to subahdar, and corresponding to a column was led by thousands of Dr Christopher Starr for the lieutenant, OED. Ghazis dressed in their suicidal transcription. 16. Ward, p.411. 17. John Murray, A Handbook for white shrouds – the then equiva- 5. This fortune included the famous Pitt Diamond, which weighed Travellers in India, Burma and lent of the Taliban. The British Ceylon (London, 1901), p.264. were routed and Maiwand was over 136 Carats and caused him endless anxiety. He sold it even- 18. Citations given to the author by one of the major military disasters tually to the Duc d’Orleans for 2 the Victoria Cross and George of the Victorian era. million livres – in the value of Cross Association. It was during the British money at that time £125,000. It 19. A. Jalali & L. Grau, retreat that, as the left flank of the became one of the Crown jewels Expeditionary Forces: Superior Column started to disintegrate, of France, in the ornamentation Forces Defeated – The Battle the Royal Horse Artillery battery of the Crown that was made for of Maiwand’, Military Review, began to withdraw and it was the Coronation of King Louis May-Jun (2001). XV in 1722. during this withdrawal that Acknowledgements 6. C. Lawson, Memories of Madras Mullane won his Victoria Cross I would like to thank Dr C. Starr (London, 1905), pp.23-4. and we have set out the Citation for his photograph and translation 7. John Thornhill was Director above. of the Curgenven Memorial and to between the following dates: C. Whitehead of BACSA who As a footnote, the remains of 1815-6, 18-21, 23-6, 28-31, provided me the list of Churches the Column fled to Kandahar and 33-6 & 38-40. in Essex which have Memorials Ayub Khan was able to contain http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ relating to the Sub-Continent. them there, until he, himself, was List_of_East_India_Company_ decisively defeated on September directors (09/10/2014). The Author 1st 1880. Thus ended the Second 8. Pahn or Paan is a Hindi word Alan Tritton, CBE, DL, is the Anglo-Afghan War but the derived from Sanskrit for a betel President of BACSA as well as Afghans, who have long memo- leaf which combines two basic a Friend of Essex Churches.
EssexJOURNAL 70 Book Reviews
Michael Fox, Chelmsford Diocese – the first 100 years, pp.126. No ISBN. Chelmsford Diocesan Board of Finance, no date, £5. & Tony Tuckwell, Coming of Age: the life and times of Chelmsford Cathedral 1914–2014, pp.420. ISBN 978-1-47977-746-4, Xlibris, 2013, £25 hardback, £15 paperback; also available as an e-book Both available from the Diocesan Bookshop, 53 New Street, Chelmsford CM1 1AT omeone born in Essex in 1845 and who enjoyed contrast to Blomfield, the last bishop to wear his wig Sthe prescribed threescore years and ten would in the House of Lords), moved to Danbury Park have lived in four dioceses without leaving his native (renamed Danbury Palace), as described by Noel county. This is a surprising circumstance, given Beer in the Essex Journal, Spring 2014. To modern that Essex had been part of the diocese of London eyes this seems a daft arrangement, but Danbury since 604, when Mellitus was consecrated Bishop was approximately in the centre of the new large of London by St Augustine in St Paul’s Cathedral. diocese, and it was relatively easy to get from there The links are strong and enduring. It was probably to Rochester, crossing the Thames from Tilbury to in 608 that the parish of Tillingham was granted Gravesend – the railways were not yet sufficiently to Mellitus by King Ethelbert of Kent. In 2014 the developed for it to seem obvious to go up to London Dean and Chapter of St Paul’s applied for planning and down again, as would soon be the case. permission (later withdrawn) to build houses on In 1867 the diocese of Rochester was augmented land in Tillingham that they still own. by the addition of the nine Essex parishes retained by To have changed dioceses three times in 70 years London in 1846. This greatly changed the character (Rochester 1846, St Albans 1877, Chelmsford 1914 – of diocese, and was one of the factors which led in the years are those in which the changes came into 1877 to the creation of the diocese of St Albans, effect, rather than when the necessary decisions were comprising the counties of Essex and Hertfordshire. taken) looks remarkably like bad management, but Rochester was given the London parishes south of in large part the changes were the result of the rapid the Thames, which it held until the formation of growth in the population of London in the 19th the diocese of Southwark in 1905, at which point century. Charles Blomfield, Bishop of London 1828- Rochester reverted to its original boundaries, those 56 (and earlier Bishop of Colchester), took the first that had existed for 1,200 years up to 1846. As far step. He was generally conservative, but is also as Rochester was concerned, all the changes of the remembered as the first bishop to give up wearing a previous 60 years had apparently been for nothing. wig. He built a number of new churches in London The first Bishop of St Albans, T.L. Claughton – ten in Bethnal Green alone – but that did nothing (1877-90), continued to reside at Danbury; his to reduce the geographical extent of his diocese, successor, J.W. Festing (1890-1902), lived in which included the county of Middlesex and part of St Albans. Meanwhile the nine suburban parishes Hertfordshire, as well as Essex. It lay entirely on the (known as ‘London-over-the-border’, i.e. over the north side of the Thames; the south side of the river border in Essex) continued to grow. It is no wonder was divided between Winchester and Rochester. that Edgar Jacob, who succeeded Festing as Bishop Blomfield decided to focus his efforts on the of St Albans, drove forward plans that had already urban parts of his diocese, in effect acknowledging been mooted to split St Albans into its constituent the status of London as a metropolis long before the counties. The result was an act of parliament in civil authorities did the same by setting up the 1913 enabling the creation of the see of Chelmsford; London County Council in 1889. He took parishes Sheffield and Suffolk (known as St Edmundsbury and from Winchester and Rochester, as well as some Ipswich) were created at the same time. peculiars of Canterbury, and in exchange shed This decision did not, of course, come out of the the Hertfordshire parishes and all of Essex save nine blue. It was anticipated, for example, by the Revd J. suburban parishes – Barking, Chingford, East and Charles Cox’s book The Cathedral Church and See of West Ham, Little Ilford, Low Leyton, Walthamstow, Essex, published in 1908; at that stage the inevitability Wanstead, and Woodford. Most of Essex and all of the new diocese was accepted, but it had not yet of Hertfordshire were then assigned to Rochester, been given a name. It had, however, been decided to make up for those parishes it had lost. George that the cathedral should be in Chelmsford, and Murray, Bishop of Rochester 1827-60 (and, in Cox’s book includes a plan by Chancellor & Son
EssexJOURNAL 71 EJ Book RevieBwosok Reviews
showing a proposed eastward extension of the parish have borrowed from the subtitle of Tony Tuckwell’s church (St Mary’s) and the addition of an octagonal book, ‘the life and times’, because a large proportion chapter house leading off enlarged vestries. of it is spent giving the national background, both The process of choosing the cathedral town, political and religious, to what was happening in described in fascinating detail by Tony Tuckwell, Essex. Fox acknowledges his debt to Gordon had been started by Bishop Jacob in 1906. There Hewitt’s History of the Diocese of Chelmsford (1984) were seven candidates: Barking, Chelmsford, and anyone wanting the complete picture will need Colchester, Thaxted, Waltham Abbey, West Ham, to read that book as well. and Woodford. Competition was intense. One Whereas Fox’s book hardly mentions the desideratum was that people should be able to Cathedral, the centre of Tuckwell’s narrative – travel to the cathedral and back from any part once the fateful decision had been taken – is firmly of the diocese in a day, clearly a problem for deeply situated in Chelmsford. This may be symptomatic rural Thaxted. Its supporters extracted a promise of a division that exists in many dioceses between from the Great Eastern Railway to link the village what goes on in the cathedral, a somewhat unreal, to the Cambridge line, but by the time this had other-worldly institution with a life of its own, and been achieved (in 1913) it was too late; the honour what goes on in the diocese at large. This is more had already gone to Chelmsford, and by a large apparent in ancient dioceses with enormous medieval margin. It might be thought that it was a foregone cathedrals than in Chelmsford and other dioceses conclusion, given Chelmsford’s location in the centre with cathedrals that are still, in many respects, parish of the county and its status as county town. How churches. Much of Coming of Age might indeed be different things would be if Waltham Abbey had about a large-ish parish church in a large-ish market become a cathedral at the Reformation, instead of town, with its parochial problems of churchwardens being largely demolished. and parish magazines, and Chelmsford still does not The modest additions suggested by Chancellor quite convince as a cathedral in the way that the & Son in 1908 were superseded in 1920 by very corresponding building in Bury St Edmunds so much more ambitious ones proposed by Sir Charles triumphantly does. Nicholson, whose family came from South Benfleet Michael Fox shows us that the diocese of (he is buried in the churchyard there) and who lived Chelmsford has experienced all the difficulties in Southend at Porters (now the Civic House and that faced the Church of England as a whole in Mayor’s Parlour). Nicholson’s idea was for the nave the twentieth century, which might be summarised of the church to become the south aisle of a new as declining numbers of worshippers and consequent cathedral, with the addition of another west tower declining income, set against the need to bring to balance the existing one. In the end he was clergy salaries up to something approaching a confined to extending the chancel, by only two living wage, and managing the expensive legacy bays as opposed to the Chancellors’ three and with of historic churches and parsonages. Chelmsford, no flanking chapels, as well as enlarging the vestries. however, faced the additional particular challenge The decision not to embrace Nicholson’s grand of the discrepancy between London-over-the- scheme may have been forced on the diocese by border and the rest – a problem that Fox, who the Depression, but it was nonetheless a wise one. grew up in Barking, served his curacy on the Nicholson prepared a similar scheme for Sheffield in Becontree estate, and ended up as Archdeacon 1922 that was started, stopped by the Second World of West Ham, is in a good position to appreciate. War, and brought to an unsatisfactory conclusion in The precise nature of the problem may not be 1966. Chelmsford Cathedral reached its present size quite what it was in 1846, 1877, or 1914, but it’s in 1929 (with just a small addition to the vestries in still there. 2003-4), and those who have the responsibility for Anyone interested in the centenary of the looking after it are, on the whole, grateful that it is diocese will want to read both these books, which no bigger. are complementary. Michael Fox’s book is published Few readers of the Essex Journal will fail to have by the Diocesan Board of Finance, with a grainy noticed that in 2014 the diocese of Chelmsford photo of St Peter’s Chapel on the cover, and a map has been celebrating its centenary. Some of the of the archdeaconries and deaneries split between celebrations have been focussed on the cathedral, the two inside covers, but no other illustrations. most obviously the visit by the Queen on 6th May; The price reflects this. Tony Tuckwell’s book is others have embraced the diocese as a whole, notably produced to higher standard, with a number of the whirlwind tour later in May by the Archbishop black-and-white photographs and other illustrations, of Canterbury that took him from Stratford and but printed (as is currently the fashion) on the same Canning Town in the west to Bradwell in the east, matt pages as the text, with resulting loss of quality. with many stops in between including a car boot In both cases the lack of good illustrations is a sale at Boreham. So it is with the two books under missed opportunity, given the wealth of interesting review. Michael Fox’s Chelmsford Diocese – the first material available. 100 years is almost exclusively concerned with the life of the diocese as a whole, and might usefully James Bettley
EssexJOURNAL 72 EJ Book RevieBwosok Reviews Adrian Corder-Birch, Moreover none of the sources quoted are Bricks, Buildings and Transport: private or personal A History of Mark Gentry, the documents, no doubt Hedingham red brick industry, no relevant ones buildings, road and rail transport, survive. So we never really hear Gentry’s pp.192. ISBN 978-0-95672-191-4. own voice. Perhaps Published by the author, 2013, £14.95. the most revealing item is his portrait his book is a follow-up to the author’s Our photograph, which is TAncestors were Brickmakers and Potters, A history the frontispiece to the of the Corder and related families in the clayworking book, and also the industries, incorporating the results of additional image that he chose to research. At its core is a biography of Mark Gentry put on his campaign (1851–1912), but there is much else. The title is literature when he a fair summary of the contents. stood for re-election Gentry was a typical middle class entrepreneur to the RDC in 1907. It is the face of a man who of his time. He was active both in the London seems not quite in charge of his own destiny. fringes and in rural Essex. He began his business An interesting section of the book details career as a builder and contractor in Stratford. (If significant buildings constructed with Mark Gentry’s any trade could be said to epitomise late nineteenth bricks from Hedingham. They share the same dark century urban life in Britain, it would be that of red colouration and moulded brick decorative work, builder.) The book includes details of the significant and are in a recognisable turn of the century style. buildings that he constructed. He was also involved They include Claridge’s Hotel in London and the in two apparently unrelated businesses, ‘impermeable’ former Barclays Bank building in Chelmsford, collars and cuffs, and proprietorship of a local now Jamie Oliver's Trattoria. newspaper. A fascinating chapter is devoted to steam Gentry moved to Sible Hedingham in 1884, transport. It describes Gentry’s traction engine. having bought the Langthorne brickworks, to which He purchased it to replace horses to take bricks he later added the Highfield brickworks. He was from his works to the railway. The front cover, one of several brick makers in the area. and six photographs inside, depict it being borrowed He also bought the Rookwood’s estate for his and used to transport a huge boiler to Courtauld’s home. No doubt he wished to lead a rural life. This factory in Halstead. Also described are the narrow was, however, no peaceful retreat. He was heavily gauge tramway used to transport clay from the pits involved in local politics. His position as a substantial to the Langthorne brickworks, and an intriguing local business man and employer made this virtually home-made steam locomotive, nicknamed the ‘tin inevitable. He was a Rural District Councillor (and pot’, which ran on it. at this date this meant also a member of the Board of Another chapter tells of abortive proposals to Guardians), a candidate (unsuccessful) for the County build additional light railways in Essex, one of the Council, and supporter of Conservative parliamentary functions of which would have been to carry bricks candidates. The section of the biography covering more speedily to London. these activities provides an insight into how local Details of other brickworks in Hedingham, and power structures worked in the late nineteenth and biographical information Gentry’s son, a number of early twentieth centuries. It was rougher than we his employees, and other local residents are included. tend to think, as incidents related in the book show. The most lengthy of these is a brief biography of Although his fortunes suffered a major blow H Greville Montgomery (1863-1951), a one-time with his bankruptcy in 1892, which marked the Hedingham resident (although MP for Bridgewater), end of his building activities, and forced him to and best remembered as the organiser, for many sell Rookwood’s and move to a smaller house, years, of the annual Building Exhibition. he continued in the brick making business, and in One of the appendices describes archaeological local politics, until his death in 1912. excavations on the site of the Langthorne brickworks. The arrangement of chapters in the book is The book is well illustrated with almost one by topic. Thus the outline of Gentry’s life and hundred photographs, as well as reproductions of political activities is in chapter 2, his history of maps, plans, advertisements and documents. It is an property ownership in chapter 3, and his activities indispensable addition to the local history of an as a builder and brickmaker in chapters 4 and 5. It industry that by its nature linked town and country, is in chapter 3 however, that we find the account and whose products are still to be seen in buildings of his bankruptcy. This makes it more difficult to everywhere. see his personal, political and business life as a single chronological story. Richard Harris
EssexJOURNAL 73 Book Reviews
Brian G. McAllister (editor), vegetarian diet. All the letters have been thoroughly edited, and Lost Letters of Edward Maitland, annotated with footnotes identi- pp.353, ISBN 978-0-95737-152-1, fying individuals referred to. The Imagier Publishing, Bristol, 2014, editor has contributed a very £17-50. useful introduction as well as brief biographies of Maitland and dward Maitland (1824-97) was a writer, a his main sympathisers. Maitland’s Etheosophist, a religious mystic and a vegetarian. relationship with one of these – a He corresponded extensively with several women married woman, Anna Kingsford, sympathisers, one of whom (Eliza Sophia Smith) with whom he shared accommodation in Paris while was a cousin of the historian John Horace Round. supporting her medical training – seems somewhat These letters must have been gathered up by Round surprising for the nineteenth century. The editor after his cousin’s death in 1903 and ultimately found makes no attempt to examine this aspect of their way into the Essex Record Office. Though Maitland’s life, though, judging from the letters, he doubtless of considerable importance to historians remained an accepted member of the London social of theosophy and Christian mysticism, they contain scene. The book is well indexed and will be a useful, no Essex material. General readers will find some if somewhat specialised, resource. incidental details of interest, such as the first use of a typewriter in 1876, and details of Maitland’s Michael Leach
Richard Morris, William D’Oyley knew south east Essex, William D’Oyley 1812-1890, having been born in pp.56 & viii pages of colour illustrations. Epping and having a ISBN 978–1–90526-919–8, father, primarily a Loughton & District Historical Society, London surveyor, 2013, £5. who had acted for the Available from Earl of Mornington http://www.theydon.org.uk/lhs/lhs%20pages/publications.htm at Wanstead House surveying his estates his is a fascinating account of the central role throughout Essex. Tplayed by William D’Oyley, land surveyor and Along with other map maker, in the shaping of the Epping Forest we clients work he pro- now know through his role as Superintendent from duced many maps 20 1876–9. Having lived for a decade on the southern of which are held by edge of the forest it drove this reviewer back to the ERO. William discover how we very nearly lost the last remains moved to Loughton in of the great Essex Royal Forest. the mid 1850’s so The final phase of enclosures in the nineteenth knew at first hand the trials and losses of the century was only stopped because, by purchase commoners. of part of Aldersbrook farm (in order to create a This beautifully produced and illustrated vast cemetery) by the City of London Corporation, study published by the Loughton and District they became forest commoners. This gave them Historical Society tells the whole story of the commoners rights to Forest waste and cattle grazing battle and D’Oyley’s role in the process from and made them aware just how much the new the early plan of 1867 right through to his work landowners were denying to local residents. As a from ‘76-9. Full details of where his maps are result they fought through parliament both recent now held are included and could lead you on and proposed enclosures finally resulting in the a major tour of the ERO and the London Epping Forest act of 1878. By 1876 the Corporation Metropolitan Archives. I, for one, will not had purchased from nineteen Lords of the manors take the forest for granted in the future. the near 3000 acres that remained for around £250,000 thus ensuring the forest would be there Michael Fox for the recreation and enjoyment of all people.
Your Book Reviewers are: James Bettley, Chairman of the Friends of Essex Churches Trust, and the author of the revised Pevsner Architectural Guide to Essex; Michael Fox, retired Archdeacon of West Ham and long term resident of Colchester; Richard Harris, the former Archives Service Manager of the Essex Record Office; Michael Leach, a retired GP and local historian.
EssexJOURNAL 74 EJ 20 Questions? Alison Rowlands
Alison Rowlands was born in 1965 and grew up in Derbyshire. She completed a BA in History at St Hilda’s College, Oxford, and then went to Clare College, Cambridge to do a PhD in early modern ( P
German history. This involved about 18 months of h o t o
archival research in Rothenburg ob der Tauber g r a and Nuremberg. Alison taught part-time at the p h ,
University of Durham and has taught European A . history full-time at the University of Essex since R o 1992, first as a Lecturer, then Senior Lecturer, w l a n and now Professor. Her specialist areas of d s research include the history of Rothenburg ob der ) Tauber; witchcraft and witch-trials in early modern Europe; and the commemoration of Leeds United won rather than lost the 1970 and witch-persecution in the modern age. 1973 FA Cup Finals and the 1975 European Cup Final. 1. What is your favourite historical period? 11. Which four people from the past would you The early modern period (1450-1700), because so invite to dinner? Queen Elizabeth I; Katharina von much was going on (the Reformation, state-building; Bora (Martin Luther’s wife, about whom we know civil and religious wars and popular rebellion across very little); 19th-century writer Elizabeth Gaskell; Europe; witch-persecution and so on). and the late 18th-century diarist and country parson, 2. Tell us what Essex means to you? Home, James Woodforde (who was always keen to get a since moving here in 1992 to work. It is a wonderful good dinner!) county with a rich history, beautiful coastline, lovely 12. What is your favourite food? For a main countryside, and a great University. course, fish and salad. Pudding would involve 3. What historical mystery would you most like chocolate or raspberries (but ideally both). to know? What happened to the sons of Edward IV 13. The history book I am currently reading after they were lodged in the Tower of London by is... For work, Dämonische Besessenheit (essays on the Richard III. I have happy memories of acting as the history of demonic possession). defence lawyer for Richard in his mock trial for their 14. What is your favourite quote from history? murders which we held at school when I was 12. ‘It is rating one’s conjectures very highly to have 4. My favourite history book is... Round About a someone burned alive for them’, by 16th-century Pound a Week, by feminist/socialist Maud Pember French philosopher Michel de Montaigne. Reeves (1913). It’s a study of working-class poverty This completely encapsulates my view on in Lambeth and helps to remind me that for most religious/political persecution, then and now. people in history, daily life was dominated by the 15. Favourite historical film? I don’t have one, struggle to feed their families. but love historical comedy, especially Blackadder, 5. What is your favourite place in Essex? My Monty Python’s ‘historical’ films, and (with my kids) home-town of Wivenhoe. It is on the Colne estuary Horrible Histories. and I love the water, boats, big skies, independent 16. What is your favourite building in Essex? bookshop, and great sense of community. Colchester Castle; it’s an imposing building set in the 6. How do you relax? With difficulty, but I run, beautiful Castle Park, and one of the few buildings play netball, watch football, read fiction, and spend that we can definitely link to the East Anglian Witch time with my family. Hunts of 1645 (accused women were held there 7. What are you researching at the moment? before being taken to Chelmsford for trial). I’m writing an article on a ‘witch-family’ in 17th- 17. What past event would you like to have century Germany and a book on the discovery of the seen? The immense popular rebellion known as the St Osyth ‘witch’ skeletons in 1921. German Peasants’ War in 1524-5, which tried (but 8. My earliest memory is... Spending time with failed) to achieve greater social equality for ordinary my Mum before I started school; she taught me to people (from a safe distance, of course!) read and write and we also watched Gilbert and 18. How would you like to be remembered? Sullivan operas on telly (no CBBC in those days!) For a very long time by my loved ones, and as a 9. What is your favourite song/piece of music good historian and teacher professionally. and why? The 16th-century Christmas carol, 19. Who inspires you to read or write or Gaudete. I am not religious but hearing my kids sing research history? Ordinary people who lived in the it in the school choir sends shivers down my spine. past; I find their lives and fates endlessly fascinating. 10. If you could travel back in time which 20. Most memorable historical date? event would you change? I’d try and ensure that 1517; the start-date of the German Reformation.
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