AND

HISTORIC SETTLEMENT ASSESSMENT REPORT

by Maria Medlycott

January 2005

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION ...... 3 2 LOCATION AND TOPOGRAPHY ...... 3 3 EVIDENCE ...... 4

3.1 DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE ...... 4 3.2 ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE ...... 4 3.3 LISTED BUILDINGS ...... 5 4 SYNTHESIS...... 5

4.1 PREHISTORIC AND ROMAN PERIODS ...... 5 4.2 SAXON PERIOD ...... 6 4.3 MEDIEVAL PERIOD ...... 6 4.4 POST -MEDIEVAL AND MODERN PERIOD ...... 9 5 SURVIVING ELEMENTS OF THE HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT...... 14 6 RESEARCH PRIORITIES AND POTENTIAL ...... 14 7 BIBLIOGRAPHY ...... 14

Appendix 1: Cartographic sources Appendix 2: Summary of Historic Environment Record

FIGURE LIST Cover: Chapman and André map of Lambourne 1 Lambourne - Location and topography 2 Lambourne parish - Historic Environment Record

1 3 Historic Environment Record - Abridge village and Lambourne Hall 4 Lambourne parish – Medieval interpretation 5 Lambourne parish – Post-medieval interpretation 7 Abridge village - Post-medieval interpretation 8 Lambourne - Surviving historic landscape elements

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LAMBOURNE AND ABRIDGE

HISTORIC SETTLEMENT ASSESSMENT REPORT

1 INTRODUCTION

This Historic Settlement Assessment Report of Lambourne has been prepared by the Heritage Conservation Branch of County Council in order to inform and advise the planning process. This report has been compiled using a number of sources, including the Historic Environment Record (HER), the List of Buildings of Architectural and Historical Interest and various cartographic and documentary records. The preparation of this report has involved the addition of information to the HER database and the digitising of spatial data onto a Geographic Information System (GIS). The report is modelled on those of the Essex Historic Towns Project, however this was developed to deal with nucleated settlements and it should be borne in mind that the historic character of District was of dispersed settlement.

The importance of archaeological remains is clearly recognised today. They are an irreplaceable source for the study of the past, a resource for education, leisure and tourism and they contribute to the quality and interest of the contemporary environment. In particular, the past will often have directly affected the contemporary settlement layout in the form of the settlement pattern, field-systems and open spaces.

For the purposes of this study the Neolithic period is the time-span between 4,00-2,00 BC, the Bronze Age is 2,00-700 BC, the Iron Age is 700 BC- 43 AD, the Roman period is 43-410 AD, the Saxon period is 410-1066 AD, the medieval period is 1066-1536 AD, the post-medieval period is 1536-1900 AD and the modern period is 1900 to the present day. This corresponds to the period divisions used by the HER.

2 LOCATION AND TOPOGRAPHY Lambourne parish is sited on the southern edge of Epping District. From an early date most of the population has been concentrated in the village of Abridge in the extreme north-west of the parish, at some distance from the church and the manor-houses. The land rises from 30m OD in the north to 110m OD in the centre of the parish before sloping down to 65m OD in the south. The forms the northern boundary of the parish. Abridge derives its name from the crossing of this river by the road. Lambourne End in the south contains most of what remains of .

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3 EVIDENCE

3.1 DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE

The place-name Lambourne probably derives from the Old English for ‘loam-stream’ and refers to the River Roding, it is first recorded in 1066. However Abridge itself derives from Æffa’s Bridge, a personal name first referenced in the area in 813 in the Codex Diplomaticus.

The earliest description of Lambourne is in the Domesday Book which records the state of the manor in 1066 and 1086 ((Rumble 1983, 20.48)

Lands of Count Eustace in Essex David holds Lambourne from the Count, which Leofsi held as one manor, for 2 hides and 80 acres. Always 1 villager. Then 10 smallholders, now 12. Always 1 slave; 2 ploughs in lordship; 1 men’s plough. Woodland, 100 pigs; meadow, 20 acres. Value then 40s; now 60 [s]. In lordship 9 cattle and 80 sheep.

It is possible using the place-name evidence to establish when some of the principal farms and manors were in existence.

Young’s Farm 1206 Associated with the family of John Juvenis. Dews Hall 1248 Associated with the family of Richard Deu. Priors 1273 Land granted to the Prior of Dunmow in 1273 by Roger Byssop. St Johns 13 th century Land granted to the Knight’s Hospitallers in the 13 th century by Edward Bisshop. Hillside 13 th century Probably the home of Gilbert de la Helle. Bishops Hall and Moat 1334 Said to be the house of a manor which belonged to the Bishop of Norwich. Also referenced as the Norwich maner vocat’ Sheepeshalle. Harmes Farm 1337 Associated with the family of Robert de Hageham Gelmans 1410 Associated with the family of John Galman. Patches Park 1498 Associated with the family of John Patche. Arnolds 1556 Formerly Arneways, taking its name from the family of Adam Arneway, an owner. Clark’s Wood 1633 Associated with the family of Richard Clarke Table 1: Place-names listed by order of earliest reference

3.2 ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE No archaeological fieldwork has taken place no date in Abridge. It is evident however form chance finds within the Abridge area that there is archaeology present and experience from

4 elsewhere in Essex has demonstrated the widespread survival of archaeological deposits and features beneath the plough-soil. The Lea valley is noted for the importance of its early prehistoric evidence, particularly the palaeoenvironmental data from the buried peat beds and their associated Mesolithic artifacts. The Lea valley has been extensively quarried, but there are surviving areas, particularly under the Abridge Mill Caravan Park and to the north of the village, where important deposits may exist. In addition, the surviving elements of the historic landscape, such as hedgerows, woodland and field boundaries form an intrinsic part of the heritage of the Abridge area. Within the village it is anticipated, on the basis of comparison with similar settlements, that archaeological deposits and features can be anticipated to survive within the historic settlement, in addition the Listed Buildings form an important heritage resource. The soil type is conducive to good bone and ceramic survival, there may also be waterlogged deposits in the Roding valley.

3.3 LISTED BUILDINGS The schedule of listed buildings provided in this report (see Appendix 2 and Fig. 2) is derived from the List of Buildings of Special Architectural and Historical Interest. The List for was amended in 1984 and can be considered to be of good reliability. The more significant buildings are discussed within the main body of the text.

Century Number 12 1 13 1 14 1 15 - Medieval 4 16 4 17 6 18 9 19 2 20 1 Table 2: Listed Buildings by century

There are 28 Listed Buildings in Lambourne. Three buildings, Lambourne Place, the Parish Church of St Mary and All saints and the medieval hall-house that comprises Abridge Motor Spares and Robert Chappell Butchers, are Grade II*. The remainder are Grade II*. White Hall (HER 34037) has been recommended for de-listing as it was demolished in 1983.

4 SYNTHESIS

4.1 PREHISTORIC AND ROMAN PERIODS It is well known that there are extensive prehistoric settlements of all periods associated with the lower Lea and Roding valleys. There is only slight evidence for the prehistoric and Roman periods in Lambourne, and this largely comprises crop-marks of uncertain date. However the

5 absence of evidence is more probably a consequence of the dearth of archaeological work in the area rather than a reflection of a genuine absence of activity during that period.

4.2 SAXON PERIOD The place-name Abridge itself derives from Æffa’s Bridge, a personal name first referenced in the area in 813 in the Codex Diplomaticus. It can be probably be safely assumed that the building of a bridge at this point implies the presence of inhabitants. The Domesday Book which records the state of the manor in 1066 ((Rumble 1983, 20.48). Prior to the Conquest Lambourne had been held as a single manor by Leofsi. There was a total population of 13 households, including that of Leofsi. There was sufficient arable land for 3 plough-teams and the woodland of 100 pigs, this was probably concentrated on the southern edge of the manor either in or adjoining Hainault Forest and 20 acres of meadow, probably largely along the river valley.

4.3 MEDIEVAL PERIOD

The medieval landscape The Domesday Book records one entry under Lambourne for a manor held by David, from Eustace, Count of Boulogne. It is thought that the portion of the later parish which comprised the manor of Arneways originally formed part of the manor of Battles Hall in neighbouring Stapleford Abbots. Later in the medieval period land ownership in Lambourne was divided amongst eight principal landowners, the manors of Lambourne Hall, Dews Hall, Bishops Hall, St Johns, Hunts, Pryors, Arnolds and 6 acres called Mynchynlands held by the Priory of Stratford Bow. Until the 16 th century few of the principal land-owners actually lived in the parish, with the manors instead being occupied by tenant farmers, this in turn had an affect on the relative poverty and isolation of the area.

The cartographic evidence shows a system of meadows, sub-divided into strips along the Roding River. To the south of Abridge was an area of strip fields, possibly representing common fields belonging to the village. The fieldscape elsewhere is more varied, with regular fields of square or rectangular shape interspersed with small clusters of small irregular fields. Certainly in the south of the parish, in the areas bordering Hainault Forest this pattern may reflect piecemeal encroachment on the forest. It is evident however that the general grain of the fieldscape runs from north to south, thus enabling each landholder to have access to the maximum amounts of resources from the riverside meadows, the higher arable ground and the forest verges. The common fields and meadows appear to have been largely enclosed before the 18 th century and possibly by the end of the medieval period. The exception is a small area of strip meadow in Rye mead shown on a 1740 map.

The Victoria County History notes that the road system in Lambourne has never been satisfactory. There was no direct road from Abridge to the parish church, however there was an ancient right-of-way by footpath to the church used for ‘time out of mind’ until its blocking in 1589 by the owner of Dew’s Hall. Until about 1800 there was no road from Lambourne End to Row and the roads in the north and centre of the parish were prone to serious flooding.

6 It is evident from the cartographic evidence that the woodland was more extensive in the medieval period. The southern portion of the parish consisted of the northern (and only surviving) portion of the Royal Forest of Hainault. The Chapman and André map of 1777 shows three additional areas of woodland, one called Leasereding wood at Lambourne End, a large wood to the west of the post-medieval Bishop’s Hall and a smaller wood to the west of that close to St Johns manor. These three woodland are depicted as having a much denser tree cover than that of Hainault Forest. There were also further woodlands shown on the estate maps and the tithe maps that maybe medieval in origin. However their extent has to be considered with caution as it is evident from analysis of the Battles Hall woodlands (J. Hunter pers. comm.) that there has been considerable change in their extent and layout reflecting the varying requirement of the landowners.

Abridge (TQ46619681; HER 45716) The village of Abridge is located on the northern edge of the parish at the crossing of the River Roding. The extent of the medieval village is based on the information on the 1777 Chapman and André map. This shows the settlement concentrated on the junction of Ongar Road, Abridge Road, Hoe Lane and Road. On the right-hand side of Hoe Lane is Abridge Motor Spares and Robert Chappell butcher (HER 34038; TQ46639680) a 14 th century hall house, converted to two shops and a house in the 19 th century. The Roding Restaurant (HER 34035; TQ46629685) is a medieval and later group of three buildings combined to form restaurant. On the Ongar Road (HER 34043; TQ46769691) is a late medieval hall house with later alterations. Study of the cartographic evidence raises the possibility that the original market-place was sited to the east of the current market-place (see below).

Possible market-place (TQ4671896875: HER 45718) Analysis of the cartographic evidence suggests that the original market-place may have been sited to the east of the current market-place. Here there was a gap in the buildings on the northern side of the Ongar Road leading down to the river and the buildings on the southern side of the road appear to have been set back from the road leaving a roughly rectangular widening of the road that may have served as a market area.

Historic settlement of Lambourne (TQ476954; HER 45717) The extent of the historic settlement of Lambourne is largely derived from the 1777 Chapman and André map, which is generally regarded as a good indicator of the distribution of settlement in the later medieval period (Hunter 1999). This shows the nucleated village of Abridge on the northern edge of the parish, the manor houses of St John’s, Dews Hall, Lambourne Hall, Bishop’s Hall, Arnolds, Pryors and Hunts (the latter is wrongly labeled on the 1777 map). Interspersing these are a number of smaller farms and cottages, these are largely concentrated along the northern fringe of Hainault Forest, spread out in a line from Lambourne End to Chigwell Row.

Parish Church of St Mary and all Saints (TQ47859609; HER 13948, 34028) The Church of St Mary and All Saints consists of a nave, chancel and west bell-tower, it formerly also had north and south porches. The walls are of flint rubble with stone and brick dressings, externally now coated in cement. The bell-tower is timber-framed, weather-boarded with a lead spire. The nave dates from the mid-12 th century. It had north and south doorways which were

7 blocked and reset in the 18 th century. The chancel also originated in the mid-12 th century, but was largely rebuilt in the 13 th century. The nave roof dates from the 15 th century. Timber porches were added in the 15 th or 16 th century, these have been removed.

Lambourne Hall manor (TQ47779621; HER 4026, 34024) The manor of Lambourne Hall is thought to be that held by David, tenant of Eustace, Count of Boulogne, in 1086. The Hall is located roughly in the centre of the parish, adjacent to the parish church. Isolated church/hall complexes are a very common feature of the medieval Essex landscape. It has been suggested that the site may represent a deserted medieval village, presumably on the basis of its isolated position from the village, but there is little evidence for this. In 1300 the manor comprised 140 acres of arable, 7 acres of meadow and 2 acres of wood, the latter was described as wasted and valueless. The current building on the site was built in 1571 and must have replaced a medieval predecessor.

St Johns manor (TQ47069520; HER 45711) St John’s manor, originally known as the manor of Lambourne-and-Abridge, originated as an estate in the north and west of the parish acquired by the Knights Hospitallers in the 13 th century from various donors. It remained in the Hospitallers hands until the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

Arneways manor (TQ4938897625; HER 45712) The manor of Arneways, now known as Arnolds, probably took its name from Adam Arneway who held land in Lambourne in the time of Henry VI, under the Earl of Oxford, who held the neighbouring manor of Battles in Stapleford Abbots. This tenure suggests that Arneways was originally part of Battles manor. The current house incorporates a 15 th century open hall, with two-storey cross-wings to the east and west.

Bishops Hall manor (TQ48409570; HER 4031) The manor of Bishops Hall originated in an estate in Lambourne held by the Bishop of Norwich. The estate originally extended into . In 1250 Walter and Maud le Blunt granted to Walter de Suffield, Bishop of Norwich, a messuage, 60 acres of land, 6 acres of meadow and 1 acre of wood in Lambourne. In 1252 the Bishop was granted the right of free warren in his demesnes at Lambourne. In 1384 an Inquisition recorded 80 acres of arable, 12 acres of wood that were cut on a 20 year cycle and 17 acres of meadow and pasture. The medieval manorhouse was located at Bishops Moat, which in 1606 was ‘wasted and overgrown’. The moat is complete and rectangular moat, 8-11m wide, 1-1.5m deep and partly dry. Tiles have been found on the surface.

Dews Hall manor (TQ47809560; HER 4028-9) The manor of Dews Hall took it from the family of Deu or Dew who held land in Lambourne in 1248. A John Deu was verderer for the regards of and Ongar in 1285 and a juror at the perambulation of the Forest of Essex in 1301. In 1333 the estate consisted of a messuage, 220 acres of land, 7 acres of meadow, 20 acres of pasture, 20 acres of wood, 24s. rent and a ½ messuage. The 1 st edn. OS map shows the site of old Dews Hall to the east of the present Dews Hall, this presumably marks the location of the medieval manorhouse.

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Hunts or Patchs Park (TQ48409690; HER 34042) The farm formerly known as Hunts derived its name from the family of Richard le Hunte who held land in Lambourne in 1306. In 1360 John Hunte and his ‘parceners’ (joint heirs) held ½ knight’s fee in Lambourne from the Earl of Oxford. The name Patch Park probably refers to the family of John Patche of Lambourne, a woodward of the bailiwick of Ongar in Waltham Forest in 1498. The estate and the farm-house were known as Hunts until 1714.

Pryors (TQ4848797110; HER 45713) In 1273 Roger and Alice Bishop and Geoffrey and Rose Sleybrond conveyed to Hugh, Prior of Dunmow, 43 acres of land and 2 acres of meadow in Lambourne. Hence the name of the manor. In 1311 the priory was granted licence to acquire a further small property in the parish. A small timber-framed and weatherboarded cottage, now known as Patch Park Cottage, is thought to be on the site of the medieval manorhouse of Pryors. The current structure incorporates 17 th century features.

Rectory (TQ4815397015; HER 45714) The advowson (right to grant a vicar) for the church originally was held by the manor of Lambourne. It was given by Robert of Lambourne to , a grant which was confirmed by the Bishop of London in 1218. The rectory was valued at £6 13 s. 4 d in about 1254. When the tithes were commuted in 1841 there were 35 acres of glebe. The site of the medieval rectory is now called Lambourne Place.

Hainault Forest (TQ483941; HER 45715) Hainault Forest was a Royal hunting-forest, 200 acres of which extended into Lambourne parish. In 1305 William de Sutton, Lord of Battles Hall in Stapleford Abbots, who also owned land in Lambourne, was granted license to fell and sell the great trees and underwood in his wood at Lambourne, which was in the Forest of Essex. The nature of Hainault Forest was similar to that of Epping Forest comprising open areas, wooded areas and a long tradition of woodland pasture.

4.4 POST-MEDIEVAL AND MODERN PERIOD

The post-medieval landscape In 1801 there were 501 inhabitants of the parish, this rose steadily to 904 in 1841. In 1951 the population had risen to 1,371, mainly due to the provision of council housing. Agriculture was the primary occupation in the parish, although there were also shop and inn-keepers in Abridge and of course servants working ion the larger properties in the area. The principal land-holdings of the medieval period appear to have begun a process of combining by the middle of the 16 th century. By the 18 th century there were only three large estates, Lambourne Hall, Dews Hall and Bishops Hall, which accounted for most of the parish. There was also a change in the 16 th centuries in the nature of the occupation of the principal dwellings, in that there was a greater tendency for them to be occupied by the owner rather than a tenant. In addition in the 18 th century the area became popular with the gentry, possibly because of its proximity to London and its sporting possibilities. This introduction of a moneyed class led to improvements for the parish

9 as a whole. By 1850 most of the parish was owned by the Lockwood family of Bishops Hall, this estate was broken up in 1929. In 1841 there were three farms of over 200 acres. In total in the parish there were 750 acres of arable land, 1,300 of meadow and pasture and 350 of woodland and forest in 1841. The parish also owned two pieces of land in the common meadow of Theydon Bois.

The problems with routeways continued in the post-medieval period. In 1589 Henry Palmer of Dews Hall blocked the footpath to the church, when he ‘enclosed abowte with a great pale a chace waye which is our church waye and hath been time out of mind’. By 1624 this path was overgrown through disuse and damaged by flooding. Edward Palmer, then owner of Dews Hall, granted a new right of way in exchange for the old, this is the route of the present footpath from Abridge to the church. The parish had to maintain the gates and the bridge on the new route. In 1734 a new road was built across glebe lands to improve access from the rectory to the church. The route from Lambourne End and the church was impassable by 1841and the northern end of this road is now defunct. Manor Road between Lambourne End and Chigwell Row was built in about 1790, mainly at the expense of Admiral Sir Edward Hughes, of Bishops Hall and Luxborough, Chigwell. By the beginning of the 19 th century there was a regular service of coaches from Abridge to London and Ongar.

In 1630 six unauthorised inclosures of Hainault Forest were said to have been recently made, one on the waste and the remainder on old inclosures. In 1851 Hainault Forest was disafforested. In 1858 the Hainault Forest Allotment of Commons Act provided that 317 acres in Chigwell, Lambourne and Dagenham should be allotted as common to the parish of Lambourne. There was already a small existing inclosure at Lambourne End, possibly that inclosed by the parish vestry in 1832-3. In 1903 the lord of the manor was authorized to sell Lambourne Common to the London County Council to become a public park.

A particular feature of the Lambourne landscape in the 17 th and 18 th century was the planting of springs or shaws (narrow strips of woodland along the edges of fields). This is particularly evident in the 1655 map for Battles Hall, hall itself was in Stapleford Abbots but the estate extended into Lambourne. The map depicts a complex landscape of interlocking shaws surrounding small open areas of pasture dotted with artificial ponds ringed by trees, the woodland had also incorporated an area of ancient woodland, Old Lands Grove. This form of landscape was essentially intended as a fashionable amenity and for the shooting of game-birds. This landscape had largely disappeared by the time of the 1841 tithe maps.

Abridge (TQ46619681; HER 45716) The 1777 Chapman and André map shows the settlement concentrated on the junction of Ongar Road, Abridge Road, Hoe Lane and London Road. It had grown only a little by 1841, with the principal change being the infilling of the putative medieval market-place. At that date Wrights Directory for Essex states that many good houses had been built in Abridge in the previous thirty years, a statement which may be illustrated by the number of Listed 19 th century buildings within the village. The 1881 1 st edn. OS map shows only moderate expansion, chiefly along the Ongar toad. It was in the 19 th century that a number of the more important buildings were added to the village, these include the Congregational Chapel, Holy Trinity Church and the School, these are all discussed below. Hillman’s Cottages on the main road to the east of the village were built in

10 1935 for the employees of the nearby airfield. The Pancroft estate, in east Abridge includes a group of prefabricated houses and 50 post-1945 council houses.

Historic settlement of Lambourne (TQ476954; HER 45717) The extent of the historic settlement of Lambourne only changed slowly in the post-medieval period. The principal change being the rebuilding of both Bishops Hall manorhouse and Dews Hall manorhouse on new sites, and the development of a landscaped park and garden around Dews Hall. The remainder of the principal dwellings remained on their medieval sites. There was however some further development along the fringes of Hainault Forest at Lambourne End. However the ‘gentrification’ of the area in the 17 th and 18 th centuries and the growth in owner, rather than tenant, occupation did lead to some changes in the overall landscape, particularly in relation to the planting of woodland and the development of estates intended for sporting pursuits (see above). The proximity of Lambourne to London and to Hainault Forest led to it being used as a site for outdoor recreation for organised groups from the inner cities during the first half of the 20 th century, this included the development of ‘Retreats’ or for the purposes of camping, the erection of timber chalets and dormitories or conversion of existing farm buildings for the same purposes, and ancillary structures such as outdoor swimming pools and playing-fields.

Parish Church of St Mary and all Saints (TQ47859609; HER 13949, 34028) The timber-framed and weatherboarded bell-turret was added early in the 16 th century. In 1704- 5 the west gallery was built at the expense of William Walker of Bishops Hall and a new chancel screen added soon after. The church was restored and altered in 1726-7, the renovation was so thorough the interior is essentially that of a Georgian church. In 1889 a new organ was installed. In 1933 a new vestry and entry were constructed.

Lambourne Hall (TQ47779621; HER 4026, 34024) Lambourne Hall was built by Thomas Barfoot in 1571. The central hall and the Oak Room adjoining it are part of the original timber-framed building. The house was re-roofed and much altered in the 18 th century. A new east wing was built in 1937. The farmyard appears to have been built at the same date, a timber-framed granary (HER 34026) and barn (HER 34027) and red brick wall (HER 34025) of late 16 th century date survives.

St Johns Manor (TQ47069520; HER 45711) Following the Dissolution of the monasteries St Johns manor was granted as the manors of Lambourne and Abridge to Richard Morgan and John Carpenter in 1553. It then passed to the Taverner family, who held the estate from 1556-98. It dwindled to the status of a farm and first became part of the Dews Hall estate and then of Lambourne Hall.

Arnolds Farm (TQ4938897625; HER 45712) Arnolds Farm, which incorporates part of the 15 th century Arneways manorhouse is a timber- framed and weatherboarded structure, with three gables to the front. It has been successively added to and altered in the 16 th , 17 th and 18 th centuries.

Bishops Hall (TQ47459543; HER 45725) The manor of Bishop’s Hall passed from the Bishop of Norwich to Sir Thomas Audley in 1536 as a consequence of the Dissolution of the Monasteries. From there it passed to the Hale family.

11 By 1606 it was held by Clement Stoner, and along with land in Stapleford Abbots it formed the estate of Knolls Hill. It was at this time that the site of the original manor-house was described as being ‘wasted and overgrown’. It again became an independent manor in the 17 th century. In the 18 th century it was held by the famous dandy, Edward Hughes Ball, or ‘Golden Ball’. The post- medieval Bishop’s Hall was built about a kilometre to the west of Bishops Moat by William Waker or his son Thomas in the early 18 th century. It subsequently became the seat of the Lockwood family. It was much enlarged by Lord Lambourne in 1900. After the break-up of the estate in 1929 the house was demolished in 1936. The present Bishops Hall was built about 150 yards to the east in the grounds, it incorporates a number of architectural fixtures and fittings from its predecessors.

Dews Hall (TQ47699543; HER 45725) In 1735 a Richard Lockwood acquired Dew’s hall, at that date it was ‘an old brick building’, which he enlarged and added a classical front to. A print of 1824 shows a fine three-storey mansion with seven windows across the front, a central bay with a pediment and a first-floor balcony, and arcaded one-storey side-wings. The house was demolished shortly before 1841. The site is now occupied by a red-brick stable court belonging to Bishops Hall dating to about 1900. A formal garden was laid out prior to 1841, containing two large square ponds and a walled garden. The area to the north and west of this was subsequently expanded into large landscaped park.

Hunts or Patchs Park (TQ48409690; HER 34042) In 1525 Hunts was held along with Arneways by Sir William Fitzwilliam. In 1716 it was described as ‘a parcel of pasture or marsh known as Patch Park’, at this date it belonged to Thomas Luther, lord of Suttons in . After Pryors farm was added to the Suttons estate the two farms were worked as single unit. The present farmhouse was originally timber-framed and may be of 17 th century date or earlier. It consisted of a central block with cross-wings projecting to the south and was jettied. It has been much altered, particularly by the encasing of most of the ground floor in brick in the mid-19th century.

Pryors (TQ4848797110; HER 45713) In 1536, following the Dissolution of Dunmow Priory, Pryors was granted to Robert, Earl of Sussex. It was subsequently sold to Robert Taverner. A sketch map of Pryors made in 1714 appears to show that the farm comprised 35 acres and that a further 11 acres belonging to the glebe were also farmed as part of Pryors. After the farm was added to the Suttons estate of Stapleford Tawney, the Pryors and Patch Park were worked as single unit. A small timber- framed and weatherboarded cottage, now known as Patch Park Cottage, is thought to be the former manorhouse of Pryors. Externally it is of 18 th or early 19 th century appearance, but the interior incorporates 17 th century features, it is possible that the structure was originally larger.

Rectory (TQ4815397015; HER 45714) The Old Rectory, now called Lambourne Place was a timber-framed house of 17 th century date. It was faced in red brick in about 1740 in the classical style. The present rectory was built in 1925 on a site given by Lord Lambourne, it is of red-brick construction.

12 Holy Trinity Church (TQ4670996865; HER 45722) Holy Trinity Church was built in 1836 as a chapel-of-ease to the Parish Church. Originally it was a plain rectangular building of gault brick with red brick dressings. The gabled street front dates to 1877. A new chancel and vestries were added in 1938.

Congregational Chapel (TQ4656696739; HER 45721) A Wesleyan Chapel was opened in 1833. About 1844 it was taken over for Congregational use. In about 1905 the Church became the Parish Room.

School (TQ4664596452; HER 45723) By 1833 a day school had been founded at Abridge, the girls were taught in the Chapel-of-ease and the boys in the Wesleyan Chapel. In 1838-9 subscriptions were raised for building a new school at Abridge, and work began in 1941-2 on a site given by the Lockwood’s of Dews Hall on the west side of Hoe Lane at Abridge. In 1878 a new board school was constructed on or near the site of the earlier National School. It was a single-storied building of brown and red brick with an attached teacher’s house.

Workhouse (TQ4834294922; HER 45724) Church House, Lambourne End, was repaired and extended in about 1810 to act as the parish workhouse, until the formation of Ongar Union in 1836.

Brewery (TQ46609680; HER 15279) There was a brewery in Abridge in 1729. In the late 19 th century the brewery became the Abridge Brewery Co. It was later purchased by Whitbread and Co. and used as a store.

Airfield (TQ49209710; HER 16633-8) Stapleford Tawney airfield opened in 1934 as a civil airfield for Hillman's Airways who built 3 hangars, an administration building and passenger terminal. The landing area remained as grass strip. At the outbreak of the Second World War the airfield was requisitioned. The site was enlarged from the original 180 acres and a perimeter track laid. 12 protected aircraft pens were located on the western side along several technical and administrative buildings. This included a watch office (type 17658/40, 1536/42) located at TQ4891 9695 and NFE store (Night Flying Equipment) nearby. On the eastern side, 4 blister hangars were built. The airfield ground defences included a Pickett- Hamilton Fort in the middle of the landing ground and an underground Battle HQ at Hammonds farm (TQ498 969). The airfield became a night fighter satellite station for North Weald housing mainly Hurricanes. After the war the airfield reverted to agriculture until it was bought by a flying club in 1953. Two grass strips have been laid out and only the perimeter track remains of the WWII phase and one civil hangar. The dispersed sites were located west of the airfield, these are no longer extant.

Abridge Brickworks (TQ46039660; HER 15553) Two brick kilns were in use on this site between 1830s and 1912.

Swimming pool (TQ46799708; HER 45727)

13 An open air swimming pool was located next to the river, and presumably fed from the river to the north-east of Abridge. It is late 19 th century or early 20 th century in date and was intended for the public recreation of the inhabitants of Abridge.

Fairbairn and Mansfield House Boys’ Clubs (TQ48089472; HER 45728) The Fairbairn and Mansfield House Boys’ Clubs reused some of the buildings of Young’s Farm, the main structure of which was demolished in about 1935. In the grounds were a camping site and an open-air swimming pool.

5 SURVIVING ELEMENTS OF THE HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT

The landscape of Lambourne is still predominately rural and retains many elements of the historic environment including the farms, hedgerows, meadows along the Roding and woodland. In particular the western and southern quarters of the parish are remarkably unchanged in terms of hedgerow and, woodland and boundary survival. The eastern and north-eastern portion have undergone most boundary loss, partially due to the construction of Stapleford Tawney Airfield in the 1930s. Due to the nature of the cartographic evidence it is only possible to state that surviving boundaries are re-1841 in date, the field pattern is however considered to be largely medieval in origin and it is possible that the hedgerows may have their origins in that period.

6 RESEARCH PRIORITIES AND POTENTIAL

The understanding of the development and function of the medieval and post-medieval settlement and the testing of theories on social action, economy, politics etc. have been highlighted as an important area of study at the national level (English Heritage 1997; MSRG 1999) and at regional and local level (Wade and Ayres in Brown and Glazebrook 2000; Ward in Bedwin 1996). Study of smaller settlements, such as Abridge, has been highlighted as a priority by the Medieval Settlement Research Group (MSRG 1999).

The immediate research priorities are:- • To date there has been no archaeological fieldwork in Abridge. If the opportunity should arise fieldwork should particularly target the Church and manorial sites as well as street frontage sites within Abridge. The opportunity should be taken to examine the fabric and footprint of existing buildings. • The historic landscape represents an important archaeological resource and one of the most tangible elements of the historic environment of Lambourne parish. Field survey of the boundaries and woodland would help elucidate patterns of survival, dating and management.

7 BIBLIOGRAPHY

14 Bedwin, O. 1996 The Archaeology of Essex: Proceedings of the Writtle Conference , ECC Planning Dept. Bedwin, O. 1991 ‘Asheldham Camp – an early Iron Age hill fort: excavations 1985’ Essex Archaeol. And Hist. 22, 13-37 Brown, N. and 2000 Research and Archaeology: A framework for the Eastern Glazebrook, J. (eds.) Counties, 2 research agenda. East Anglian. Archaeol. Occ. Pap. 8 Department of the 1990 Archaeology and Planning, Planning Policy Guidance Note 16 Environment (PPG16) Department of the 1994 Planning and the Historic Environment, Planning Policy Environment and the Guidance Note 15 (PPG15) Department of National Heritage Eddy, M.R. and 1983 Historic Towns in Essex: An archaeological Survey of Saxon Petchey, M.R. and Medieval towns, with guidance for their future planning, Essex County Council English Heritage 1992 Managing the Urban Archaeological Resource, English Heritage limited circulation document English Heritage 1997 Sustaining the historic environment: new perspectives on the future, English Heritage discussion document Fowkes, R. & 1988 A pictorial review of Old Epping, Theydon Bois and Abridge, Lawrence, P. pub. Old Woodford and District Times Gem, R. 1995 ‘Anglo-Saxon Minsters of the Thames Estuary’ in Thames Gateway: Recording Historic Buildings and Landscapes on the Thames Estuary, RCHME Green, S. (ed.) 1999 The Essex Landscape: in search of its history Hunter, J. 1999 The Essex Landscape, Essex Record Office Morant, P. 1768 The History and Antiquities of the County of Essex MSRG 1999 Medieval Rural Settlements – A policy on their Research, Survey, Conservation and Excavation Reaney, P.H. 1935 Place-names of Essex, Cambridge Rodwell, W. and 1977 Historic Churches: A wasting asset , CBA Res. Rep. 19, 92 Rodwell, K. Abridge Society 1984 Abridge: A guide to the village and its surroundings, Abridge Rumble, A. 1983 Domesday Book: Essex, Phillimore: Chichester

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APPENDICES

APPENDIX 1: CARTOGRAPHIC SOURCES

Archive Classmark Date Description ERO D/DFa/E1 1606 Knollishill, property of Clement Stanard ERO T/M 374A/1 (also 1655 Battles Hall, Stapleford Abbots and Lambourne D/Dmy/17m/55-4) ERO D/DU 1367/1 1669 Piggetts Farm , Theydon Bois and ERO D/DSd/P1 1714 Priors and parsonage, Lambourne ERO D/DU 345/1 1716 Lambourne ERO D/DU 354 1716 Priors and parsonage, Lambourne ERO T/M 227/1 1746 Arnolds Farm ERO D/Dsa 119 1750 Chigwell and Lambourne ERO D/Dlo/P1 1752 Lambourne ERO T/M6/1 1775 Hangharnes and Withers Farm HER - 1777 Chapman and André map of Essex ERO D/CT 1841 Abridge tithe map ERO D/Dlo/P3 1845 Lockwood Estates ERO Q/RDc 42B 1851 Enclosure map HER - 1881 1st edn. OS map, 6”

16 APPENDIX 2: SUMMARY OF HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT RECORD

HER Name NGR Period Summary 1927 Marchings TQ46309550 Undetermined Stone columns bases on lawn, origin unknown. 4026 Lambourne Hall TQ47909620 Medieval Lambourne Hall-DMV? Presumably from isolated location? 4028 Deux Hall TQ47809560 Medieval Deux Hall (site of). 4029 Deux Hall TQ47809560 Post medieval 18 th century staircase from Deux Hall is now at the Old Rectory (Lambourne Place now), Lambourne. 4030 Not given TQ48109570 Undetermined Conduit Well. 4031 Bishops Moat TQ48409570 Medieval Homestead moat, about 700yds south east church. 4034 Knowles Hall TQ49309490 Post medieval C17-C18 landscaping, comprising earthworks of garden layout and house terraces. 4064 Not given TQ45809590 Undetermined Cropmarks-ring ditch? Or tractor marks? 4066 Not given TQ46009600 Undetermined Cropmarks-part of a trackway? Indistinct ring ditch with central pit? 4067 Not given TQ46009710 Undetermined Cropmarks of an enclosure, pit, post hole, site 4068 Not given Prehistoric A barbed and tanged arrowhead was found in the upper fill of the inner ditch of a supposed ‘henge 4070 Not given TQ48209740 Undetermined Cropmarks-pits and boundaries, recent agricultural? 4080 Not given TQ47809440 Undetermined AP-cropmarks in the “Lambourne End Area”. 4086 City of London Coal Duty Post, S side TQ45899628 Post medieval London Coal duty boundary post. of A113, Abridge. 13948 Lambourne Church TQ478961 Medieval 12 th century parish church 13949 Lambourne Church 478961 Post-medieval 18 th century alterations to parish church. 15279 Anchor Brewery, Market Place, TQ46609680 Post medieval Late C19 brewery. 15553 Brickworks at Abridge TQ46039660 Post medieval Two brick kilns, in use between 1830s and 1912 15554 Brick field, Abridge TQ45889035 Post medieval Brick field at Abridge 15952 Coach House, Turnours Hall TQ49209710 Post medieval Mid to late 19 th century coach house to S. of Turnours Hall 16633 Stapleford Tawney Airfield TQ49209710 Modern RAF airfield 1934 to 1953

17 16634 Stapleford Tawney WWII Airfield – TQ47769737 Modern Ancillary site associated with the WWII airfield Dispersed site 16635 Stapleford Tawney Airfield TQ48259711 Modern Ancillary site associated with the WWII airfield 16636 Stapleford Tawney Airfield – Mess Site TQ48039745 Modern Ancillary site of the former WWII airfield 16637 Stapleford Tawney Airfield – Dispersed TQ48609707 Modern Ancillary site associated with the WWII airfield Site 16638 Stapleford Tawney Airfield – Dispersed TQ47859705 Modern Ancillary site associated with the former WWII airfield Site 17164 TQ49409730 Undetermined Cropmarks 18099 Lambourne TQ46809630 Undetermined Cropmarks of double ditched linear feature 18100 Lambourne TQ48609730 Undetermined Cropmarks of linear features (field boundaries) and extraction pits 18113 South of Spurgate Brook TQ49909380 Undetermined Partially visible sub-rectangular cropmark enclosure 19848 Knoll’s Hill Farm TQ49089488 Post medieval C18 and later complex of farm buildings 20301 WWII bombing decoy, Lambourne End TQ49409380 Modern WWII Starfish Decoy to draw bombers away from the capital. 33971 K6 Telephone kiosk in car park of Blue TQ46619678 Modern Mid/late C20 Type K6 telephone kiosk, designed in 1935. Grade II Boar Public House 34019 The Blue House TQ48699486 Post medieval C17 lobby entry house. Grade II 34020 Forest Lodge TQ48349497 Post medieval C17 timber framed house. Grade II 34021 Barn approx 25m NNE of Pryors TQ48529714 Post medieval Early C17 timber framed barn. Grade II Farmhouse 34022 Road bridge over the River Roding TQ46639689 Post medieval Late C18/early C19 red brick bridge. Grade II 34022 Road bridge over the River Roding TQ46639689 Post medieval Late C18/early C19 red brick bridge. Grade II 34023 Lambourne Place TQ48149702 Post medieval C17 timber framed house with substantial mid C18 alterations. Grade II* 34024 Lambourne Hall TQ47779621 Post medieval Mid/late C16 timber framed Manor house. Grade II 34025 Wall extending SE from Lambourne Hall TQ47789620 Medieval C16 and later red brick wall. Grade II 34026 Granary approx 50m SE of Lambourne TQ47819617 Post medieval Late C16 timber framed granary, extended in C18. Grade II Hall 34027 The Cow Barn approx 70m E of TQ47859619 Post medieval Late C16 timber framed barn, converted to a house in 1983. Grade II

18 Lambourne Hall 34028 Parish church of St Mary and All Saints TQ47859609 Medieval C12 and later parish church. Grade II* 34029 The Maltsters Arms Public House TQ46599674 Post medieval C18 pair of houses combined to form a public house. Grade II 34030 Barn approx 40m E of Great Downs TQ46439613 Post medieval Early C17 timber framed barn. Grade II Farmhouse 34031 Small barn approx 20m NE of Great TQ46409616 Post medieval C18 farm building. Grade II Downs Farmhouse 34032 Barn approx 25m NNW of Harmes TQ47549416 Medieval C13 aisled barn, rebuilt C15/C16. Grade II Farmhouse 34033 Harmes Farmhouse TQ47569412 Medieval Medieval timber framed house with mainly C17 and C18 surviving elements. Grade II 34034 Blue Boar Inn TQ46609682 Post medieval Early C19 public house. Grade II 34035 Roding Restaurant TQ46629685 Medieval Medieval and later group of three buildings combined to form restaurant. Grade II 34036 Building immediately NE of Roding TQ46639686 Post medieval C18 timber framed house. Grade II Restaurant 34037 White Hall TQ46669680 Post medieval C18 house. Demolished c.1983. Grade II 34038 Abridge Motor Spares and Robert TQ46639680 Medieval C14 hall house, converted to two shops and a house in C19 and early C20. Chappell butcher Grade II* 34039 New Farmhouse TQ47249658 Post medieval Late C17 red brick house. Grade II 34040 Blackboarded Cottages TQ47039713 Post medieval Late C18/early C19 pair of timber framed houses. Grade II 34041 Grove Cottage TQ47199727 Post medieval Early C19 timber framed houses. Grade II 34042 Patch Park TQ48409690 Medieval Late medieval hall house with later alterations. Grade II 34043 Roding House TQ46769691 Medieval Late medieval hall house with later alterations. Grade II 34044 River Cottage TQ46849693 Post medieval C18 timber framed house. Grade II 45529 Apes Grove, Lambourne Hall Estate TQ47609639 Post medieval Possible ancient semi-natural woodland 45531 Great Wood, Lambourne Hall Estate TQ48409630 Medieval Ancient woodland 45532 Half Moon wood, Lambourne Hall TQ47709590 Post medieval Small woodland, possibly pre-1845 Estate

19 45534 Mutton Corner, Lambourne Hall Estate TQ48209620 Post medieval Ancient semi-natural woodland 45711 St John’s Manor, Lambourne TQ47069520 Medieval Site of medieval and post-medieval manor of St Johns, Lambourne 45712 Arneways Manor, Lambourne TQ4938897625 Medieval Site of medieval and post-medieval manor of Arneways (Arnolds), Lambourne 45713 Pryors Manor, Lambourne TQ4848797110 Medieval Site of medieval and post-medieval manor of Pryors, Lambourne 45714 Old Rectory, Lambourne TQ4815397015 Medieval Site of medieval and post-medieval rectory at Lambourne 45715 Hainault Forest TQ483941 Medieval Surviving portion of the Royal Forest of Hainault 45716 Abridge village TQ46619681 Medieval The medieval and post-medieval village of Abridge 45717 Lambourne TQ476954 Medieval The medieval and post-medieval dispersed historic settlement in Lambourne parish. 45718 Abridge market-place TQ4671896875 Medieval Possible location of medieval market-place in Abridge. 45719 Bishops Hall, Lambourne TQ4744095641 Post-medieval Site of the post-medieval Bishops Hall, Lambourne 45721 Congregational Chapel, Abridge TQ4656669739 Post-medieval 19 th century Congregational Chapel, Abridge 45722 Holy Trinity Church, Abridge TQ4670996865 Post-medieval 19 th century chapel-of-ease , Abridge 45723 School, Abridge TQ4664596482 Post-medieval 19th century school, Abridge 45724 Church House, Lambourne TQ4834294922 Post-medieval Early 19 th century parish workhouse, Lambourne 45725 Dews Hall, Lambourne TQ47699543 Post-medieval Site of the post-medieval Dews Hall and landscaped park and gardens. 45727 Swimming pool, Abridge TQ46799708 Modern Early 20 th century open-air swimming pool 45728 Youngs Farm, Lambourne TQ480899472 Modern Farm used by Fairbairn and Mansfield House Boys Clubs in early 20 th century for outdoor recreation, included a swimming pool

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