Reaney P H early Essex Clergy the Essex Review 51

Outlying parts of the Liberty: Lexden

Pages 391-401

A History of the Canton of Essex: Volume ix, the Borough of Colchester. Originally published by Victoria County History, London, 1994.

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In this section

• LEXDEN
• MANORS.
• ECONOMIC HISTORY.
• LOCAL Regime.
• Church building.
• NONCONFORMITY.
• EDUCATION.
• CHARITIES FOR THE POOR.

Footnotes

LEXDEN

The ancient parish comprised an irregular surface area of 2,334 a. (945 ha.) w of the town. (fn. 1) The Lexden hundred courtroom presumably originally met within the parish, perchance in the north-due west quarter on state owned by the Mott or Mote family from the 14th century, only it had moved to Empford, later Stanway, bridge past 1581. (fn. ii) In 1086 Lexden was an outlying estate of Stanway, but the burgesses claimed it had belonged to Greenstead and been rateable with the borough in 1066. It was within the civic and liberty of Colchester by 1296. (fn. 3)

Lexden'south western boundary with Stanway followed an earthwork and a lane northwards earlier turning north-west at Chitts Hill to take in a triangular area, which contained a detached office of Westward Bergholt. The area, which was outside the bounds of Colchester liberty, was perhaps the land in Stanway acquired by John de Burgh before 1243. (fn. 4) The name Chitts Hill, recorded as Shitte, Shyt, and Shet Street in the Center Ages, may derive from sciete, a nook or corner. (fn. 5) The northern boundary wound along the river Colne and St. Botolph'due south brook, turning northwards at Botolph's bridge, said in 1304 to exist in Mile End, and skirting a small expanse of inclosed woodland in Westward Bergholt parish, earlier turning south-east along field boundaries to join and follow Braiswick Road to a betoken north of North bridge on the edge of the boondocks. The natural language of Lexden intruding northwards betwixt W Bergholt and Mile End was inside Lexden by 1360 and may derive from the clearance of Cestrewald in the 13th century. (fn. 6) An commutation of tithes between Lexden and St. Mary'due south-at-the-Walls c. 1699 altered the southern boundary, which thereafter ran from the western earthwork north-east, and then southeast along field boundaries to Maldon Road which it followed for a brusque way before turning due north along field boundaries around intermixed, discrete parts of the parishes of Holy Trinity, St. Mary-at-the-Walls, St. James, and St. Peter. In 1817 those parts were consolidated and their boundaries adapted. (fn. 7) A detached area of Lexden comprising ten a. lay in St. Mary's-at-the-Walls parish. (fn. 8)

The state rises from 10 metres by the river Colne to 35 metres nearly the northern and western extremities. A ridge runs eastwards from Chitts hill for c. 1½ mile, roughly following the line of the river. The soil is silty clay with sand and gravel, some London dirt and, forth the Colne near the eastern boundary, an area of soft alluvial soil. (fn. nine) Lexden springs, a group of strong springs ascent where sand and gravel beds run into London clay, form a stream which feeds the Colne. In the 19th century the springs were exploited to supplement the town's water supply. (fn. 10) Much of the parish is skillful abundant state, with meadow along the Colne. Forth its western boundary, nonetheless, lay Lexden heath (290 a.) which with the adjoining Stanway heath formed a big area of crude grazing. Before 1237 the lords of Lexden estate created a park betwixt the Colne and Bergholt Road; the Lexden Park which survived in 1990 south of Lexden Street was made in the later 18th century. (fn. eleven)

The route from Colchester to London, turnpiked in 1696 and 1707, (fn. 12) crossed the parish from east to due west every bit Lexden Colina and Lexden Street. A branch from it ran due north-w towards Aldham, crossing Chitts Hill, which led from the London road to New bridge. Roads from Colchester to Maldon, West Bergholt, and Mile End class parts of the former southern, northern, and eastern boundaries. Lanes led from those roads to the heath, the mill, and outlying farms. One of them, New Lane, constructed across Lexden heath before 1564, was closed c. 1821. After inclosure of the heath in 1821 a lane running southward across information technology from the London route was extended to the Maldon route and named Straight Road. (fn. 13) In that location were four bridges over the Colne. New span, recorded from 1204, (fn. 14) carries the route from Lexden to W Bergholt near Chitts Hill. Its repair was the joint responsibility of the lords of the manors of Westward Bergholt, Lexden, and Abbotts in Stanway. (fn. 15) The wooden bridge recorded in 1866 was fabricated in three sections to simplify repair by the iii parties. (fn. xvi) The lord of Lexden estate had responsibleness for the repair of Lexden bridge between the two mills in Manufacturing plant Lane, Sheepen span carrying a lane to Sheepen Subcontract, and the lost Cheane bridge, which probably led to the medieval park. (fn. 17) Godholves, the name afterwards corrupted to Botolph's, bridge, recorded from the 13th century, carries the Colchester to Westward Bergholt road over St. Botolph's brook. (fn. 18)

There were three medieval crosses in the parish. Lamb's cantankerous, continuing where Chitts Hill meets the branch from Lexden Street towards Aldham, was said to accept been erected by William de Lanvalei. Rock cross stood almost opposite the junction of the London road with Horsey Lane, where its brick and stone pedestal was said in 1748 to have survived within living retentivity. Peddars cantankerous was at the south end of Lexden heath by a lane to Gosbecks in Stanway. (fn. xix)

The Eastern Counties railway from London was built across the north half of the parish in 1843, with a viaduct over the Colne about Motts Subcontract, and a station, Colchester North, merely inside the parish. (fn. 20) A postal receiving house had been established by 1848. (fn. 21)

Lexden c. 1838

Three major linear earthworks, office of the Iron-Age dyke system of Camulodunum, cross the parish from north to due south. 1 lies on the western boundary, another east of Directly Road, and the tertiary runs southward from Lexden Hill through Lexden park to a hollow style leading to Maldon Route. Numerous tumuli or mounts have been recorded. (fn. 22) The primeval known show of settlement is a Bronze-Age cemetery near Chitts Colina. (fn. 23) The Atomic number 26-Age Camulodunum extended over almost of the later parish. In the Roman menstruum temples and an industrial site were built on Sheepen subcontract. (fn. 24)

By 1066 a settlement had been established at which 16 or more than unfree tenants were recorded, besides four servi who worked the manorial demesne. (fn. 25) Lexden was the wealthiest and perhaps the virtually populous of the four outlying parishes, with 16 men asessed for subsidy in 1296, 23 in 1524, and 31 in 1604. (fn. 26) In the 16th century 25 houses were charged with repairing the churchyard fence. (fn. 27) At that place were eighty households in 1673, and 240 adults were rated to the poll tax in 1692. (fn. 28) By 1766 the number of houses had risen to c. 94 and remained at that level in 1801, when they were inhabited by 697 people. (fn. 29) Therafter, as Colchester expanded westwards, the population of Lexden rose rapidly to 1,603 by 1851 and 4,089 by 1901, the greatest increase occurring in the decades 1821-31 (27 per cent), 1861-71 (25 per cent), and 1881-91 (51 per cent). (fn. 30) From 1861 the totals were inflated past the inclusion of Essex Hall aviary, established in 1859. (fn. 31)

Lexden village grew upward around the church building and the springs. The position of a cluster of surviving medieval houses between the lost New Lane and Lexden Road (nos. 126, 128, and 130 Lexden Route) (fn. 32) suggests that they encroached on the heath. Amidst other surviving houses with medieval origins in Lexden Street are Church House, Manor House, (fn. 33) and Weavers. Church Business firm (no. 197), opposite the church, is a 15thcentury hall business firm with cantankerous wings. An upper floor was put into the hall in the 17th century and a stair with square newels and turned balusters was inserted behind the hall. A brick service wing was built at the back of the e end in the 19th century. A merchant's mark found in the house (fn. 34) was probably that of John Baldwin, tanner, who lived there in the mid 17th century. (fn. 35) Weavers (no. 187), perhaps formerly the Angel inn, has a late medieval cross wing. The residue of the firm was rebuilt in the early 17th century with a continuous jetty forth the street. The jetty was underbuilt, probably in the early 19th century when the interior was refitted, and opened up again in the 20th century. W of Church Firm a 17th-century timber-framed house survives as ii houses (nos. 205 and 207), encased in brick and remodelled internally in 1838. (fn. 36) Side by side to it on the w nos. 209 and 211 are timber-framed houses, originally built as one. East of Weavers a timber-framed house (Jacqueline Courtroom), probably of the 17th century, was fronted in brick in the early 19th century and completely remodelled and enlarged to provide flats in the late 20th century.

There were two small settlements along Shrub Terminate Road on the southern purlieus of the parish, Shrub Stop and Bottle End, both recorded from 1777. (fn. 37) They may have been the successors of the medieval settlement of Shrub Street, recorded from c. 1200. It was treated equally a carve up vill by the forest justices in 1276, and at least 11 holdings of arable and i firm in Shrub owed rent, called shrebgavel, to the borough in the late 14th century. (fn. 38)

Houses on outlying farms recorded in 1655 (fn. 39) included Coopers (afterward Prettygate), Sheepen, and West House (Westfields). The beginning two were pulled down in the belatedly 20th century, simply West House survives with a 17th-century primary range and cross wing. The house was remodelled and a service wing was added in the 19th century. At Maltings farm the surviving house is maybe a medieval hall with an inserted floor and 18th-century additions. A hedged and moated inclosure in a field called Summerhouse piece in 1838 may have been the site of Summertime Hall recorded in 1583 and 1601. (fn. xl)

In the 18th century, post-obit the turnpiking of Lexden Street, new houses were congenital in that location, including the Sun public house and two adjoining houses (nos. 108 and 110) on the s side, and, on the n side, 2 houses standing on an embankment and later on divided (odd nos. 221-233). Due west of them a cottage was apparently adjusted equally a tollhouse and a second tollhouse, stood on the corner of Church Lane and Lexden Street. Lexden Firm, on the north side of the London road, was enlarged and remodelled, probably by Isaac Green, in the after 18th century. (fn. 41) By 1800 4 alehouses or inns had been converted to private houses or demolished. The rectory house was rebuilt in 1814 and the church in 1820. Gentlemen'due south houses with parks or gardens were established at Lexden Park and Hill House. Corner House on the east side of Church Lane about its junction with Lexden Street, recorded in 1528, (fn. 42) had go a admirer's house renamed Crescent Business firm by 1813 and the tollhouse in its garden had been pulled down. Crescent House survived in 1875 but was demolished before long later. (fn. 43) Lexden Park was rebuilt in c. 1825. (fn. 44) In Water Lane on the eastern boundary of the parish terraces of workers' cottages had been built by 1838. (fn. 45)

Ten inns were recorded in the 17th century and some of them may have been long established. Five are known to take been in Lexden Street, reflecting its importance as part of the route to London. The Angel was recorded equally an inn in 1683 simply was a individual business firm by the mid 18th century. (fn. 46) Too in Lexden Street in the 17th century were the Ship, the Star, the Sun, and the King's Arms. The first ii were manifestly closed in the early 18th century, but the Rex's Arms survived in 1789 and the Dominicus until the 1790s, when it became a individual house. (fn. 47) It had reopened every bit a public house past 1837. (fn. 48) The King's Head, nigh the north-east corner of Lexden heath, was recorded in 1656; in 1721 it was out of repair but seems to accept survived as an inn into the late 19th century, when information technology became a temperance refreshment house. (fn. 49) In Bergholt Road were the Fox and Pheasant, recorded 1674-1772, (fn. l) and the Chequers, 1728-1837. The Chequers seems to have been renamed the Railway tavern when the railway was built in 1843 merely had closed past 1862. (fn. 51) At the south stop of Lexden heath the Leather Bottle survives from 1670 or earlier, and the Berechurch Arms, established past 1837 and all the same trading in the 1980s, may have been the successor of the Fighting Cocks, recorded 1702-40. (fn. 52) The Crown at the west end of Lexden Street and the Star in Straight Road opened as beerhouses c. 1851. (fn. 53) The Queen's Caput, mentioned in 1688 and 1701, may have been in St. Mary's-at-the-Walls parish equally was the 3 Crowns, recorded in field names 1678-1705. (fn. 54)

A bowling greenish in Lexden Street had go a garden by 1726. (fn. 55) In 1797 Colchester races were run on Lexden heath, where military camps were occasionally held in the 18th and early 19th century. (fn. 56) A hamlet hall was congenital by a local benefactor in 1884. (fn. 57)

A friendly order, the Aldham and United Parishes Insurance Society, founded in 1826, was open to Lexden men aged between 14 and fifty. The Lexden members, whose numbers rose from 38 in 1834 to 122 in 1848, included farmers, agricultural labourers, artisans, and servants. The gild survived until 1863 or later. (fn. 58)

MANORS.

Aelfflaed, widow of the ealdorman Brihtnoth, by will of c. 1000 ancestral to the rex land in Lexden which was probably the outlying estate of 4 hides belonging to the king'south manor of Stanway in 1086, and which became LEXDEN manor. (fn. 59) The 5 hides at Lexden claimed by the burgesses of Colchester in 1086 equally having belonged to Godric's land of Greenstead (fn. threescore) presumably included those 4 hides, maybe with other land after in Mile End. The implication that Lexden was transferred from Greenstead to Stanway between c. 1066 and 1086 seems to be supported past the statement that Stanway'due south value increased by one-half during that flow. (fn. 61)

Eudes the sewer (dapifer), to whom William II granted Colchester and its castle, probably acquired Stanway and Lexden by the same grant, for he certainly held lands in those places. (fn. 62) After his death in 1120 both manors descended in chief as function of the award of Walkern in the families of St. Clare, Lanvalei, and Burgh. (fn. 63) John de Burgh (d. 1274), who married Hawise de Lanvalei, was belongings Lexden in her right in 1227. (fn. 64) Their son John de Burgh (d. 1280) sold Stanway (fn. 65) but retained Lexden, which on his death fell to the share of his daughter Dervorguille, commencement wife of Robert FitzWalter, Lord FitzWalter (d. 1326). (fn. 66) Later Dervorguille's death in 1284, FitzWalter held by the curtesy of England. In 1313 he bought the reversion of half the manor from their daughter Christine, to whom it had been assigned as her purparty. (fn. 67) In 1315 he appears to accept bought the reversion of the other half from John Marshal, Lord Marshal, who was probably Christine's nephew. (fn. 68) Lexden, therefore, passed on FitzWalter's decease to his descendants by his 2nd married woman, (fn. 69) descending, like Roydon, with the barony of FitzWalter. John Radcliffe, Lord FitzWalter, was attainted and executed in 1496 and Lexden was forfeited to the Crown, merely in 1505 it was restored to Radcliffe'south son Robert, Lord FitzWalter, later earl of Sussex (d. 1542). (fn. 70) Lexden remained with the Radcliffes, earls of Sussex, until 1612 when Robert Radcliffe, earl of Sussex, sold information technology to Sir Thomas Lucas (d. 1625), who settled it on his bastard son Sir Thomas Lucas (d. 1650). (fn. 71) The last named Sir Thomas, sequestered as a Royalist during the Ceremonious War, was succeeded at Lexden by his son Charles, Lord Lucas of Shenfield (d. 1688). (fn. 72) Lord Lucas settled the manor on his wife Penelope for life, with remainder to their daughters, Anne, wife of Edward Cary, and Penelope, subsequently wife of Isaac Selfe. In 1700 Isaac Selfe bought Anne Cary's reversion of i half and the interest of Robert Lucas; in 1701 Selfe and his married woman and her mother sold the manor to Samuel Rawstorn of London (d. 1720). (fn. 73)

Thomas Rawstorn, son and heir of Samuel, past his volition proved 1768, devised the manor to his widow Sophia, with remainder to his daughter Ann (d. 1816). Ann devised Lexden to the Revd. John Rawstorn Papillon (d. 1837), a distant cousin, who left the manor for life to his sister Elizabeth Papillon (d. 1854), with rest to his neat-nephew Philip O. Papillon. (fn. 74) Philip O. Papillon, who was M.P. for Colchester 1859-65 and twice mayor, died in 1899, and was succeeded by his son Pelham R. Papillon (d. 1940). (fn. 75) In 1931 the Lexden estate estate was sold and broken up. (fn. 76)

The site of the medieval manor house was probably within the moated inclosure where a house known as Lexden Lodge survives. In 1313 the principal business firm, kitchen, granary and chapel stood within the inner courtyard, two barns, a byre, dairy and small-scale garden within the outer courtyard. The existing house, patently of the 16th century, was probably an add-on to an earlier and more substantial edifice, of which cypher remains. The eastern side of the moat was plain widened in the early 19th century. (fn. 77) In the early 17th century Sir Thomas Lucas acquired the tenter house in Lexden Street, a sometime copyhold tenement which was in ruins in 1561. (fn. 78) He apparently built a new house on that site, where part of an early 17thcentury range survives at the south-e corner of the existing house. Its north stop appears to take been built late in the same century. Additions were fabricated on the w side in the 18th century and, mayhap at the aforementioned time, gardens were laid out effectually and opposite the business firm, and Lexden springs were landscaped to give a prospect of ornamental water with plantations. The house was enlarged and remodelled in 1837. (fn. 79)

A chapel in or for the park recorded in 1201 was presumably that located in the inner court of Lexden manor house, although a Chapel field survived south of the moated site in 1838. (fn. eighty)

MOTTS, sometimes styled a manor from 1483, was plain a free tenement of Lexden manor, (fn. 81) which may have taken its proper noun from the family of Arnold de la Mott or Mote (d. by 1310). He gave to the abbey of Waltham Holy Cross country in Lexden, (fn. 82) where his son Thomas also held land in the early 14th century. (fn. 83) William Mott, who paid tithes in the parish in 1360, may have been Thomas's heir. (fn. 84) Clement Spice (fl. 1363) caused Motts and was succeeded by his sons Richard and Roger, and they in 1459 past Roger's son Clement (d. 1483). Clement'southward son and heir Humphrey Spice (d. 1485) (fn. 85) was succeeded past his girl Philippa (fl. 1542), whose son, Henry Fortescue, in 1547 conveyed the estate of Motts to George Sayer (fn. 86) whose family retained it until 1634, when John Sayer conveyed it to James Lemyng. Lemyng'southward daughter Mary married Sir Isaac Rebow (d. 1726) from whom Motts passed to his grandson Charles Chamberlain Rebow and Charles'southward daughter, who married a Capt. Adams. Known as Newbridge farm, it belonged to Thomas Wood in 1821. (fn. 87) It was bought soon subsequently by J. F. Mills and became part of the Lexden Park estate. (fn. 88) In 1990 information technology was known every bit Viaduct farm or Seven Arches farm from its proximity to the railway crossing over the Colne.

LEXDEN PARK ESTATE, named from a park laid out before 1768, lay mainly on the south side of London Road near the junction with Church Lane. Information technology originated in lands acquired by William Mott before 1598. (fn. 89) His family unit extended the manor, retaining it until 1714 when some other William Mott sold information technology to Charles Richardson (d. 1721). Charles devised it to his nephew John Richardson who seems to have laid out the park. By will proved 1768, John left the estate to trustees who sold it to Isaac Bevan. The estate passed to Isaac'south son Henry Ennew Bevan (d. 1777) and to Henry's sister Emerge, who married William Turner. It was caused c. 1821 past J. F. Mills (d. 1840). He enlarged the estate and devised it to his wife for life and to his son-in-law 1000. H. Errington (d. 1883), who sold some of the land. In 1889 the firm and 90 a. were sold to Sir Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff (d. 1906). In 1908 more state was sold for building and the house and park to Due east. J. Sanders. (fn. 90) They passed to his son Sir Percy Sanders and in 1955 were bought past Endsleigh private schoolhouse, which was taken over by the county council in 1965. (fn. 91) The bounds were used as the Endsleigh annexe of Colchester Institute (fn. 92) until 1990, when the park of c. 25 a. was bought past the borough council for public recreation.

The house for which the park was laid out may accept been Corner, afterward Crescent, House (fn. 93) but c. 1825 a villa was built on the due north side of the park to designs by D. Laing. (fn. 94) Some fittings, including fireplaces, and some of the walls were re-used in the mid-19th century villa which occupies the site. That house was enlarged and remodelled on more than one occasion in the 19th century and the early on 20th. Substantial additions were made to the due west end to provide classrooms. In the valley s of the house a small park survives surrounded by a boundary chugalug of trees and there is a lake close to the house.

ECONOMIC HISTORY.

In 1066 on the manor of 4 hides which became Lexden manor there were two ploughs on the demesne and 4 on land cultivated past the 6 villani and ten bordars, 18 a. of meadow, and woodland for 100 swine. In 1086 the five villani and 12 bordars had only 3 ploughs. (fn. 95) In 1280 at that place were on the demesne of Lexden manor 270½ a. of arable land, 22 a. of meadow, and c. 150 a. of park pasture and the total value of customary rents and services was 77s. 10½d. (fn. 96) By 1313 the tenants owed winter and autumn week-work, boosted ploughing and harrowing services in wintertime and spring, and renders of chickens and eggs at Christmas and Easter respectively. (fn. 97) Their holdings at that time ranged from eight a. to fifty a. and by the belatedly 14th century appear to accept been held in severalty. (fn. 98) In 1310 on Thomas Mott's estate, which lay west of Lexden manor, there were 160 a. of abundant, 10 a. of meadow, 10 a. of pasture, and 16 a. of alder. (fn. 99) Waltham abbey's Stanway manor included arable and meadow country in Lexden, west of Motts. (fn. 100)

Rye and oats were grown on the Lexden demesne in 1287 and wheat, oats, barley, and peas in 1351. Income from livestock, hay, and pasture exceeded that from arable crops in both 1287 and 1351. Amongst livestock cattle manifestly predominated; in 1287 the lactage of 40 cows was farmed at foursouthward. each and 25 calves were sold for 1south. each. By 1351 the value of the lactage had fallen to 2s. 6d. for each cow. (fn. 101) The name Sheepen, given to lands by the river in the south-eastward corner of the parish, is derived from 'scipen', cattle pens, (fn. 102) suggesting that it was an ancient identify for assembling cattle.

The park inclosed by the lord of Lexden manor before 1237 occupied much of the north-eastward corner of the parish between the river on the south and Bergholt Road on the north. It extended eastwards towards the town at Northward Street and westwards towards the manor business firm on the site of Lexden Lodge. (fn. 103) In 1287 the rents of its pasture alone amounted to £vi 17due south. ½d. (fn. 104) Walter FitzWalter, Lord FitzWalter, in 1375 granted to his parker iiid. a day, a livery robe every year, pasture for six cows, 12 swine, 12 sheep, and 4 mares with their foals, and pasture and hay for his horse. The parker was also keeper of the lord's warren, (fn. 105) which may accept been in the south-eastward corner of the parish, along the boundary with St. Mary'south-at-the-Walls, where the field names Upper and Lower Warren survived in 1838. (fn. 106) The lord of Lexden had a fishery between New span and Lexden manufactory by 1245, and stews on his demesne in 1342. (fn. 107)

In the Middle Ages Lexden independent numerous enclosed groves probably providing pasture and underwood. (fn. 108) Nigh 1276 the lord of Lexden laid waste part of the ancient wood of Cestrewald in the north-east quarter of the parish, probably the Chesterwelde field recorded in 1360. (fn. 109) By 1280 Popeshead (subsequently Cardy's) (fn. 110) and Ten Acre woods in the due north lay next to 2 demesne arable fields, West field and the Hide. (fn. 111) In the south-east woodland between Lexden and Stanway heaths had been cleared by 1416. (fn. 112) The heath was common, then was Gallow grove, which apparently lay to the northward of it and survived in the 1520s. (fn. 113) The burgesses of Colchester had half year grazing rights on lands in the south-due east quarter of the parish, adjacent to the Borough field in St. Mary'due south-at-theWalls. (fn. 114) The intermixed, detached parts of West Bergholt on the north-west boundary of Lexden may derive from intercommoning with that parish on the riverside meadows. (fn. 115) In the early 19th century only the heath remained common. (fn. 116)

The growth of sheep-rearing to serve the local cloth trade increased pressure upon grazing resources. In the 16th century the pasture rights of commoners were limited to 100 sheep, overseers of estovers were appointed, and a pound was set up in Lexden Street. (fn. 117) Some abundant country, including 50 a. or more in West field, had been converted to grass by 1599 when, of 538 a. of land surveyed, there were 290 a. of pasture, 172 a. of rye basis, and 76 a. of meadow. (fn. 118) In 1645 the tithes of Lexden church building glebe were payable on 44 a. of rye, 26 a. of oats, 6 a. of barley, five a. of flax, 4 a. of wheat, 3 a. of peas, 30 a. of meadow, 22 cows, and 140 sheep. (fn. 119) Flax cultivation gave rise to a field proper name of 1776, and there was a flaxman in 1649. (fn. 120) Turnips were being grown as a field crop by 1676, and by 1699 their use as forage had begun to devalue the meadows. (fn. 121) In 1711 a flock of 200 sheep and their lambs was recorded on the Lexden manor pastures. (fn. 122)

Much woodland was cleared in the 17th and 18th centuries. Braiswick wood, said to be 140 a. in 1437, (fn. 123) survived in 1621, (fn. 124) and Shrub wood may have extended into Lexden in 1649, (fn. 125) merely by 1729 simply c. 70 a. of woodland remained in the parish. (fn. 126) In 1767 another 25 a. was stubbed to make way for corn (fn. 127) and past 1821 only 20 a. remained. (fn. 128)

In 1729 there were v farms of 100-200 a.; three of them were amid the 751 a. endemic by Mrs. Rawstorn, lady of Lexden manor, i was owned by Charles Chamberlain Rebow, and the other by Nicholas Corsellis. In the early 18th century farmers were using chalk and town muck to meliorate the land; (fn. 129) leases of the Rawstorns' farms imposed a four-grade system of husbandry, with ii corn crops followed by summer fallow and clover, the utilise of farm manure or its equivalent in town muck, penalties for ploughing pasture without consent, and, occasionally, residence in the farmhouse. (fn. 130) Rye, which had been a major crop in the Middle Ages, had given mode to wheat past the 18th century and in 1801 returns included 294 a. of wheat, 226 a. of barley, 171 a. of oats and 10 a. of rye. (fn. 131) In the early 19th century c. 14 a. of hops were recorded. (fn. 132)

Lexden heath, comprising 290 a., was inclosed past Act of Parliament in 1821. (fn. 133) At that time J. R. Papillon of Lexden estate and J. F. Mills of Lexden Park were enlarging their estates; under the award Papillon acquired 151 a. by allotment and bought mutual rights on 18 a.; Mills caused c. xl a. by allotment and bought common rights on 41 a. of heath (fn. 134) and the burgesses' lammas rights on 39 a. of farmland adjoining his park. (fn. 135) By 1838 the Papillon family unit owned 1,216 a. and J. F. Mills 296 a. out of 2,312 a. in the parish. The titheable acreage then comprised 1,746 a. of arable, 430 a. of pasture, and 37 a. of woodland. At that place were 3 farms of over 200 a., three of 100-200 a., three of l-100 a., and several smaller holdings. (fn. 136) Some 40 a. of farmland were lost to the railway in the early 1840s. In 1876 there were one,637 a. of arable, 423 a. of pasture, and 57 a. of wood. (fn. 137)

A common market on the waste beside Lexden Street was mentioned in 1615, but nothing more is known of it. (fn. 138)

Henry and John Stow, tenants of Lexden manufactory in the mid 18th century, were well known locally for their auriculas and tulips. (fn. 139) Among nurserymen who flourished in the parish in the 19th century was Isaac Bunting, whose flower plant nursery in Lexden Road was founded in 1819. By the late 19th century his family had established a second nursery in North Station Road, and in 1935 the Lexden Road nursery was sold. (fn. 140) Frank Deceit established his rose plant nursery at Braiswick c. 1877. (fn. 141)

In 1086 there were two mills in Lexden, (fn. 142) probably on the Colne on the sites of the afterwards Lexden mill and N manufacturing plant. The mill in Lexden which Hubert of St. Clare granted to St. John's abbey before 1154 (fn. 143) was probably North mill, which by the early 14th century was considered to be in Colchester. (fn. 144) The other factory in Lexden remained in the hands of the lords of the manor, being held of John de Burgh in 1233. (fn. 145) It was probably the mill on the Colne below New span and obviously in Lexden mentioned in the 1240s, (fn. 146) and the Lexden manufacturing plant whose millers were regularly presented at borough lawhundred courts from 1334. (fn. 147) It was farmed for 40south. in 1352. (fn. 148) Thomas Godstone, the farmer in 1403, rebuilt Centre mill in Colchester and may have built the second mill which existed in Lexden past 1431. (fn. 149) By 1455 the mills stood on either side of a bridge, presumably the later Lexden bridge where the stream from Lexden springs feeds the Colne. (fn. 150) A lease of 1496 reserved the springs to the utilise of the mills and immune the lessee to build a dam for the corn mill. (fn. 151) From the late 15th century until the early 18th century the mills were farmed together and distinguished as the great or undershot corn factory, north of Lexden bridge, and the little or overshot fulling manufacturing plant, at the head of a pond south of the bridge. (fn. 152)

From 1719 the mills seem to have been farmed separately. The bang-up or undershot mill remained a corn factory until c. 1830 when it became an oil mill which was occupied by the Chaplin family unit until it burnt downward in 1878. (fn. 153) A corn manufacturing plant, congenital adjacent to the undershot mill by 1837 and later driven by an oil engine, remained in utilize until c. 1931 and was converted to a house in 1975. (fn. 154) The fulling mill was converted c. 1720 for burdensome seed for oil. From about the 1740s until 1772 information technology was occupied past John and Henry Stow. By 1775 information technology was a bay manufacturing plant and was leased that twelvemonth to the Colchester baymakers Tabor and Boggis. Their successor Peter Devall was the lessee in 1821. (fn. 155) The bay mill was withal working in 1822, but was in ruins past c. 1830 and shortly later was converted into a corn manufacturing plant, which was in use until 1898. The building survived in 1931. (fn. 156)

A mound south-eastward of New Lane, described in the 17th century as a former mill mound, may take been the site of the factory belonging to the tenter house. (fn. 157)

A medieval tenter house in Lexden Street, used for stretching newly-woven fabric, had fallen into disuse by 1561 and was falling downwards in 1652. (fn. 158) A few weavers were recorded in the parish in the 17th and early 18th century, (fn. 159) and there was a tenterfield of unknown appointment recorded in 1838 on the west side of H2o Lane. (fn. 160) A tailor lived in the parish c. 1568, three in 1588, and about the same number in the 17th century. (fn. 161)

A tannery with a bark mill at Church Business firm, Lexden Street, was in use in the 16th and 17th centuries and survived in 1790. (fn. 162) At that place is evidence of malting in the 17th century, (fn. 163) and a malthouse established on Maltings farm by 1729 was plainly in use until c. 1863. (fn. 164)

Gravel was sold from Parsons Hill, south-west of Lexden Park, in the late 17th and early 18th century; (fn. 165) throughout the 19th century various gravel and sand pits were exploited, including one on the western boundary known equally King Coel's kitchen. (fn. 166) The location of the tile kiln recorded in the belatedly 14th and early on 15th century is unknown. (fn. 167) There were brick kilns on various sites on or near Lodge farm throughout the 19th century; the final of them was worked in 1881 and closed by 1897. (fn. 168)

By 1841, although agriculture provided most of the employment within the parish, agricultural labourers and farmers were outnumbered by tradesmen and craftsmen, many of whom may have worked in the town although living in Lexden. (fn. 169) In the later 19th century there was much loftier-standard residential development and Lexden was increasingly seen every bit a wealthy suburb providing homes for many members of the boondocks's aristocracy. (fn. 170)

LOCAL Regime.

The lord of Lexden manor was belongings view of frankpledge by 1280. (fn. 171) In 1318 the borough court questioned his right to do so in the absenteeism of its bailiffs, (fn. 172) and the tenants were amerced frequently in the 14th and 15th centuries for declining to pay suit to the civic court. (fn. 173) Lexden gallows, mentioned in 1379, (fn. 174) may have been raised by the lord of the manor. The dispute over borough jurisdiction continued in the 16th century; the manor court, which elected constables and aletasters and maintained stocks, claimed in the early 16th century that Colchester serjeants had no right of arrest in Lexden. In 1571 that exemption was claimed simply on Lexden park, and it presumably ceased when the park was disparked in the earlier 17th century. (fn. 175)

Extracts from courtroom rolls 1511-1672, recording some leet business, (fn. 176) survive with rolls and books of courts baron 1702-1924. (fn. 177) In the 18th century courts were held at Lexden Lodge Farm. (fn. 178)

A poorhouse mentioned in 1592 was probably an unendowed almshouse, possibly St. Catherine's hospital which was in Lexden manor although in St. Mary'south-at-the-Walls parish. (fn. 179) A parish workhouse in Spring Lane, recorded in 1751, was sold in 1835 when Lexden became part of Colchester union. (fn. 180) A house on Parsons Loma was permit to poor people from 1672 until 1693 or subsequently. (fn. 181) In 1823 the parish helped Samuel Durrant to build a cottage on its land at Canteen Cease, granting him life tenancy at a token rent. (fn. 182)

Parish records include vestry minutes 1813-57 and overseers' papers 1746-1851. (fn. 183) The Easter meeting adamant the church building rate and elected two churchwardens and two overseers. In the early 19th century the vestry rarely held more than 4 additional meetings, determining the overseer's rate twice a twelvemonth, only in the menstruation 1820-40 there were half dozen-8 and occasionally x meetings a year, besides the Easter vestry. Their main business organization was to corroborate the poor charge per unit quarterly, to nominate a surveyor, and to corroborate his charge per unit and accounts. Local farmers, and occasionally gentry, served as churchwardens, overseers, and surveyors. George Preston, rector 1804-41, and his successor John Papillon, 1841- 90, took the chair at about every meeting. One or two inhabitants usually attended, workhouse matters and rating assessments attracting a few more. In 1830, although the Easter vestry was attended by only vii men including the rector and parish officers, 19 parishioners partook of the Easter dinner afterward and in 1834 many more attended a meeting to elect a new parish surgeon.

In 1673 poor relief was received by 48 of the 80 households assessed for hearth tax. (fn. 184) The annual cost of relief averaged £360 a yr in 1783-5, above boilerplate for the boondocks and liberty. It rose nearly 3-fold to £1,036 in 1813, the second highest payment in Colchester, then brutal to £876 in 1814 and to £646 in 1816, a steeper drop than in any other parish in the boondocks or liberty except Mile End. In Lexden as in the other outlying parishes costs rose thereafter, to £849 in 1818. In 1821 the overseers took a 21-year lease on sixteen a. of newly inclosed land on Lexden heath for spade husbandry; in that year the corporeality spent on the poor roughshod from £827 to £759, which and so represented c. 16south. per head of population, just below the average payment for the town and liberty. (fn. 185) Past 1833 the overseers employed an apothecary and subscribed to the infirmary. In 1836 they continued, with the sanction of Colchester union, to provide spade husbandry on Lexden heath for the term of the charter. (fn. 186) In 1867 the vestry set up upwards a fund to pay the expenses of poor parishioners willing to emigrate. (fn. 187)

Following local agricultural disturbances in 1830 the vestry raised a subscription, to exist supplemented by the poor rate, to select x special constables to provide nightly patrols of 5 men paid 2s. 6d. a night. The system seems to accept been abandoned by 1833. The parish was still appointing parish constables in 1837, but by 1841 the borough provided ii full-fourth dimension policemen to patrol Lexden, Mile Finish, and Greenstead. (fn. 188)

Church.

St. Leonard's church was established past the early 12th century when Eudes the sewer (d. 1120) gave a share of its tithes to St. John's abbey. (fn. 189) The advowson of Lexden was held in 1254 by John de Burgh (d. 1274) in the right of his wife (fn. 190) and descended with the manors of Stanway and Lexden in the FitzWalter, Lucas, Rawstorn, and Papillon families. (fn. 191) Robert FitzWalter (d. 1326) may have granted turns to others, for in 1328 his widow was to have the presentation on the 3rd vacancy. (fn. 192) The king presented in 1386 when Walter FitzWalter (d. 1406) was a pocket-size; Thomas Percy and others did so in 1398 when Walter was in Ireland. Henry Beaufort, bishop of Winchester, presented in 1422 as the heir's guardian and the bishop of London by lapse in 1442. In 1459 and 1461 Sir Thomas Cobham exercised the right of his wife, Elizabeth, widow of Walter FitzWalter (d. 1431). The king presented in 1499 when the manor was forfeit for rebellion. (fn. 193) The advowson passed from the Papillon family to the bishop of Chelmsford in 1978. (fn. 194)

The rectory was the richest living within the civic and liberty; information technology was valued at 40s. in 1254, £5 6s. 8d. in 1291, and £12 in 1535. (fn. 195) Eudes the sewer endowed St. John'south abbey with 2 thirds of the tithes from the demesne of Lexden manor. Two thirds of the great tithes from all new assarts and of the tithes of Calwood near Chitts Loma also belonged to the abbey by 1254. (fn. 196) The rector received the third share and, past understanding with the abbot of St. John's in 1360, all tithes from certain small estates and from the demesne lands in Lexden of Waltham abbey's estate of Abbotts in Stanway. (fn. 197) Afterward the Dissolution the Crown leased the abbey's share of tithes to Edward Cole for 21 years, (fn. 198) and in 1560 granted them to Sir Francis Jobson. (fn. 199) They were caused by the rector before 1810, peradventure between 1767 and 1776. (fn. 200)

In 1621 the rector successfully claimed tithes in kind from Braiswick wood (150 a.) which had belonged to St. John's abbey. (fn. 201) In 1650 his income included £8 from glebe, returned apparently in mistake as c. xx a., (fn. 202) and £fourscore from tithes. (fn. 203) Past 1676 most of the rector'south tithes had been commuted for money payments, and in 1692 some of the balance were farmed. (fn. 204) By 1810 the glebe comprised c. 30 a. (fn. 205) and the rector endemic all great and small tithes in the parish, except those from Jesus meadow (5 a.), formerly chantry land. A crown rent of £ane 13s. fourd. charged on tithes was redeemed in 1827. (fn. 206) The rector'south almanac income from tithes and glebe rose from £144 in 1705, (fn. 207) to £566 in 1835. (fn. 208) In 1838 the rector's tithes were commuted for a yearly rent of £660. (fn. 209) In 1880 the rector granted an annual rent accuse of £60 to the new church building of St. Paul'southward (fn. 210) and boundary changes of 1898 resulted in tithe rent charges of £48 beingness transferred to St. Mary'due south-at-the-Walls. (fn. 211) Most of the glebe was sold in 1918 and in 1922 only four a. remained. (fn. 212)

The rectory house mentioned in 1538 adjoined the glebe, which lay off Bound Lane. (fn. 213) The firm was 'little' in 1610, only in 1662 the rector was taxed on half-dozen hearths. (fn. 214) The timber and plaster rectory house that stood on the eastward side of Spring Lane in 1810 (fn. 215) was replaced in 1814 by a large new house built in Gothic fashion by George Preston, rector 1804-41. (fn. 216) That house was sold in 1910 and replaced by another in Lexden Road, which was replaced in 1975 past a house in Glen Artery. (fn. 217)

The names of rectors are known from 1291. Before the Reformation incumbencies were normally short. (fn. 218) Four successive rectors were recorded between 1382 and 1386 when the rectory was held at farm by a chaplain. (fn. 219) In 1491 the rector was licensed to hold another benefice in plurality, (fn. 220) and a curate was recorded in 1529. (fn. 221) Richard Gostelowe, rector 1537-67, resided on another living from c. 1548. (fn. 222) His successor, John Price, rector 1567-76, was a former fellow of St. Catherine's, Cambridge. By 1574 he failed to serve the benefice and procure regular sermons and may have resigned under pressure. Robert Searle, rector 1576-1610, was ane of the four Colchester ministers threatened with impecuniousness for non conformist practices later 1586, but survived to be designated 'diligent and sufficient' by his puritan brethren in 1604 and died in possession of the benefice. (fn. 223)

In contrast, his successor Stephen Nettles, who signed the petition for conformity in 1629, offended puritans by his Answer (1625) to John Selden's History of Tythes. (fn. 224) His contempt for the Covenant of 1643 and his adherence to the Prayer Volume led to the sequestration of his livings of Lexden and Steeple in 1644, (fn. 225) but he continued to officiate (fn. 226) refusing to surrender Lexden rectory to his successor, Gabriel Wyresdale, until he was forced to do so in 1647. (fn. 227) Wyresdale, harassed by parishioners who favoured a local clergyman for the living, had left the parish by 1650. (fn. 228) John Nettles, rector 1657- 69, whose relationship to Stephen is uncertain, (fn. 229) may have been assisted in 1657 by George Downs, who in 1669 was associated with the presbyterian Owen Stockton. (fn. 230) In 1711 the mayor chose Richard Skingle, rector 1706-29, to preach at the oath-giving ceremony but the town clergy denied him a pulpit; in 1715 Skingle preached at the ceremony in Lexden church and in 1716 the corporation gave thanks at that place for the suppression of the Jacobite rebellion. (fn. 231) In 1717 Skingle successfully challenged the borough's correct to poor rates on the rectory. (fn. 232)

From the early 18th century the rectors lived in the parish, serving the cure themselves for many years, commonly providing 2 Dominicus services and communion iv-half dozen times a twelvemonth, catechizing in Lent, and sometimes lecturing in winter evenings. (fn. 233) Samuel Sandys, 1769-1804, (fn. 234) and his nephew George Preston, 1804-41, sometimes employed assistant curates but both lived in the parish and established schools for the poor. (fn. 235) Preston also rebuilt the church and rectory house. (fn. 236) His successor John Papillon, a kinsman of the patron, served the church until 1890. (fn. 237) Although in 1845 part of Lexden was assigned to a new parish of All Saints, Shrub Terminate, (fn. 238) on Census Lord's day in 1851 Lexden church, with seats for 577, had a good congregation of different classes in the morn, and was full in the afternoon. (fn. 239) In 1869 a chapel of ease, dedicated to St. Paul and served by a curate from Lexden, was built for the growing population near North Street railway station. (fn. 240) Part of Lexden parish was assigned to information technology in 1879, when information technology became a parish church. (fn. 241) Lexden parish was consolidated past exchange of small detached parts with St. Mary'due south-at-the-Walls in 1898, the transfer of c. 41 a. to St. Paul's, and gains from Holy Trinity, St. James's, and St. Mary's in 1911. (fn. 242) In the 1930s young people's organizations and a branch of the Mothers' Union were started. (fn. 243) In 1990 the church building, with 270 on the electoral coil and seven clubs and societies, attracted regular Dominicus and weekday congregations. (fn. 244)

The medieval church building of ST. LEONARD, which was demolished in 1820, stood on the south side of Lexden Street. It comprised a chancel, a nave with north chapel or transept, a timbered n porch, a vestry, and a boarded west bellcot with shingled spire. (fn. 245) The church building and bellcot were in ruins in 1600 and, although some work was done, the church was yet decayed in 1607 and the chancel, north porch, and vestry in 1609. (fn. 246) A wooden clock tower had been mounted on the due north chapel past 1748. (fn. 247) A new church building was completed in 1822 to the designs of M. K. Thompson in the Early English style, several yards south of the old edifice, and in 1892 a larger chancel was added in Perpendicular mode. (fn. 248) The church comprises a chancel with northward chapel and south vestry with organ loft above, a nave with north and south porches, and a west tower. The chancel walls are of flint with Box rock bands and dressings; those of the nave and tower are cement rendered. The roofs of the nave and chancel are tiled; the spire is covered with copper. (fn. 249) In the period 1946-55 four memorial windows to the Papillon family were inserted on the northward side, including 1 depicting Lexden manor house. The church had one bell in 1683, (fn. 250) which may survive every bit the clock bong. A bell dated 1751, apparently i of a ring, was probably acquired for the new church in 1820. It was cracked by 1859 and in 1899 was recast; in 1901 a chinkle of xi small bells was added. (fn. 251) The plate includes an inscribed silver cup and paten given before 1683 past Charles Lucas, Lord Lucas, and a silverish flagon given in 1763. (fn. 252) A marble monument to Richard Hewett (d. 1771) stands against the south wall. The churchyard, enlarged in 1877 and 1926, was closed in 1946. (fn. 253) A columbarium for 300 urns was erected in the churchyard in 1950. (fn. 254)

NONCONFORMITY.

A Archaic Methodist chapel was built in Straight Road in 1859. It had 18 members and so and flourished in the later 19th century. (fn. 255) In 1972 information technology had a membership of 18, (fn. 256) and it was nevertheless open in 1990.

Lexden village mission hall was built in 1885 by Mrs. James Hurnard of Hill Firm. It was at first used mainly for temperance work, just was registered for services for protestant dissenters in 1890; a total-time missioner was appointed in 1927. In 1971 it became the Lexden Evangelical church. (fn. 257) It was still open up in 1990.

EDUCATION.

A Church Sunday school had been established by 1793, when a house in Manufactory Lane was provided for the main and mistress. (fn. 258) By 1817 2 daily matriarch schools, also maintained past the rector, had been added, and in that yr a National solar day and Sunday school for 100 children was built in Spring Lane, mainly with a legacy of Ann Rawstorn (d. 1816). (fn. 259) By 1819 the school, attended by c. 70 children and supported by subscriptions, taught all poor children anile 6-12 in the parish. (fn. 260) 4 minor matriarch schools, supported partly by subscriptions, were teaching c. 60 infants by 1833 and the National schoolhouse had 84 children with half dozen more on Sundays, only subscriptions were insufficient to utilise a master every bit well equally a mistress and only the daily attendance of George Preston, the rector, and his married woman enabled the National schoolhouse to survive. (fn. 261) John Rawstorn Papillon, by will proved 1837, gave £20 a twelvemonth to the school (fn. 262) and by 1839, when information technology had 70 children, more half of them received clemency wearing apparel. There were then c. 40 infants in the dame schools and several older children went to Colchester. (fn. 263) A new school and teacher's house were congenital in Spring Lane in 1842. (fn. 264) The school was enlarged in 1861 for 140 (fn. 265) and in 1893 for 200 children. (fn. 266) It received annual regime grants from 1866. Attendance rose slowly from 72 in 1866 to 120 in 1886, and more than rapidly to 182 in 1904. (fn. 267) The school was replaced in 1925 by Lexden council school. (fn. 268)

CHARITIES FOR THE POOR.

Mary Swinnerton and her son Sir John Swinnerton in 1610 charged their Stanway Hall estate with £5 4s. a year to provide staff of life for fourteen sometime, impotent poor of Lexden. In 1837 the charge, on Chitts Hill farm, provided 20 loaves distributed at church on Sundays to the poor, preferably widows. (fn. 269) In 1853 the trustees allocated three loaves to the new All Saints' church, Shrub End, for the poor of Lexden living within that chapelry. (fn. 270)

Thomas Love, by volition dated 1565, gave to Thomas Rich £120 to purchase country to provide a yearly hire of £6 for the poor of Lexden and 11 other parishes, and Rich, past volition dated 1570, endowed the charity with land in Lexden. The income was £half-dozen in 1626, £12 in 1676, £24 in 1786, and £xxx in 1828. (fn. 271) Lexden's share was unremarkably distributed in bread with Swinnerton's charity. (fn. 272) In 1964 Lexden received £11 4due south. eightd. from the two charities which was distributed in gifts, (fn. 273) and a similar sum in 1990. (fn. 274)

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Source: https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/essex/vol9/pp391-401

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