Essex Journal. Autumn 2016. (Vol. 51. No. 2)

Following the absorption of the Essex Archaeological and Historical Congress into the Essex Society for Archaeology and History, the latter became owner of the title of the Essex Journal, and the Essex Review. So it is with pleasure that we announce, if belatedly, the content of the latest edition.

Editorial ... 47

Essex Archaeological and Historical Congress ... 48

News from the Essex Record Office ... 49

Hervey Benham Charitable Trust: the living legacy ... 50

The Origins and Early History of Southend: Ken Crowe ... 51

Thomas Hooker at Chelmsford, Essex, 1625-1631: Robert Charles Anderson ... 62

'The great progress of the place in modern times': the Chelmsford Planning Survey and the High Chelmer Development, 1945-73: James Bettley ... 72

Obituary, William Landels Wild (1936-2016) ... 85

Book Reviews ... 86

EJ 20 Questions? Robert Charles Anderson ... 90

Newsletter (Winter 2016)

Many members of the Essex Society for Archaeology and History will have today, Christmas Eve, received more holiday reading: Newsletter #180 (Winter 2016).  It has been quite a year for the Society with the absorption of the Essex Congress and a new website in preparation to be launched early in 2017. Items in this edition include:

- From the President

- Anniversaries

- The Morant Dinner and the Morant Lecture: about Revd. Philip Morant

- Reprint of the Letter to Members of Congress

- The Planning System

- DIY in the Seventeenth Century

- Looking to the future of a self-financing Essex Record Office

- Harlow Roman Temple Digitisation Project

- Nathaniel Salmon (1675-1742)

- Archaeology in the Dark

- Galant Glenway

- Expenses of Heybridge Captain in 1622

- The Fambridge Ferry over the Crouch

- An Excavated Basket Weaver in Bradwell-on-Sea

- Zeppelins' Centenary Commemoration

- St Osyth Planning Application Update

- What was John Booth's Source?

- The Society Archives: An Online Presence

- New Books of Essex Interest

- Readers Letters

- Book Reviews

- Christmas Publisher Offers

Historic Environment: Response from Castle Point Borough Council

Regeneration & Neighbourhoods 

Castle Point Borough Council Council Offices, 

Kiln Road, Thundersley, Benfleet, Essex SS7 1TF  

Adrian Corder-Birch, D.L. 

President 

The Essex Society for Archaeology & History  

Date: 16th December 2016 

Dear Mr Corder-Birch, 

HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT 

Thank you for your further letter of 11th November 2016 regarding the planning process and historic environment in Castle Point. I am pleased to learn that you acknowledge that there are effective procedures in place to consider historic environment issues. 

May I also reassure you that planning records relating to the historic environment are published and readily available and that planning officers are also able to call on specialist advice in appropriate cases, as and when necessary. 

Thank you for your continued interest in the historic environment of the Borough. 

Yours sincerely,  

Steve Rogers 

Head of Regeneration & Neighbourhoods 

Essex Record Office Self financing? A Response from the Leader of Essex County Council

Essex County Council 

Leader's Office 

PO Box 11, 

County Hall 

Chelmsford Essex CM1 1LX 

Mr A. Corder Birch 

President, Essex Society for Archaeology and History 

1 December 2016

Dear Adrian 

RE: ESSEX RECORD OFFICE 

Thank you for your letter regarding the financial challenges facing Essex Record Office (ERO). Let me say at the outset how much I value the interest of the ESAH on this issue and indeed the contribution you make across the County. 

At Essex County Council we remain determined to provide the best value for money to our tax payers. This means the provision of outstanding services within ever tighter cost constraints. I am sure you appreciate that the public sector is having to operate in an increasingly challenging financial climate and is having to make difficult choices as to how limited funding is used. Non tax revenue is increasingly important in balancing the equation and it does seem right that customers should pay for services where they can afford to do so. 

Accordingly, we are looking at many aspects of our operations to assess what revenue may reasonably be earned. ERO provide a wide range of services which are valued by those who consume them. It is entirely reasonable that we should set the goal of attracting revenues which fully cover the marginal cost of those services. But let us be clear — this will only be sustainable if we are providing services which are attractive to as many people as possible and which meet their needs. Achievement of a break even position purely through diminution of service will be at odds to our value for money criteria. 

You ask a series of detailed questions about income and costs. Our officers are currently developing the business plans which will enable the achievement of our aims over the coming years. The current trading deficit, even ignoring the cost of the building is approaching £0.5m. Please be assured that we will not ask our staff to perform the impossible; the eventual business plan will need to be realistic and they will be supported in their efforts. 

I wish you well for your council meeting in January. While we would not wish to publish detailed business plans, once they are developed (which will be towards the end of this financial year) I know that the Portfolio Holder for Heritage Culture & Arts, Cllr John Spence and/or our senior officers will be happy to meet with you and talk matters through. 

Kind regards. 

Yours sincerely 

Councillor David Finch 

Leader of the Council 

Self-financing Essex Record Office? The President writes to Essex County Council

The Essex Society for Archaeology & History 

Cllr. David Finch, Leader, 

Essex County Council, 

County Hall, 

CHELMSFORD, Essex CM1 1QH 

16th November 2016. 

Dear David, 

Many of our members have read with interest the following report by Stephen Dixon, Archive Service Manager at the Essex Record Office (ERO), in the autumn issue of the Newsletter of the Friends of Historic Essex: 

'We are credited with achieving an extra £100,000 income in the first year of the implementation stage of our business case but this year's target is much higher and we now know we are to become self-financing by about 2020' 

The Essex Society for Archaeology and History (ESAH) of which I am President, represents many users of the ERO who will be interested in hearing from ECC about what plans are in place to become 'self-financing', a position that I suspect other County Record Offices have not attempted. 

Following on from the reduction in opening hours that took place in the last few years, the local and family history community are naturally interested in what future plans there are for the ERO and any further restrictions on access to non-digitised historic archive material. Your 'business case' will be of interest at our next ESAH Council Meeting in January 2017, when this matter will be discussed. 

Initial questions that spring to mind are: 1. Current running costs 2. Current income 3. What was this year's (2016-2017) target and what is now the new target? What has changed? 4. Plans and implications on the service for how to achieve this year's target? 5. Projected 2020 running costs and plans for how to become self- financing 6. Implications on the service of the current and future income targets (for example, current and projected staffing levels and opening hours) 7. Will there be an opportunity for public consultation on plans? I look forward to receiving your detailed reply to the questions raised in this letter together with a copy of the business plan please. Thank you. 

Yours sincerely,

Adrian Corder-Birch, President, Essex Society for Archaeology and History 

Blackmore Post Office End of Era

Thursday 24 November 2016 is a sad day for local historians in Blackmore, as it marks the final day of trading at Blackmore Post Office which opened in 1888, and has above its door ‘JHA 1888’ where this is John Henry Arthy the first postmaster on the premises.  John Henry Arthy is recorded a churchwarden of the Parish Church and has his name inscribed on a bell recast in 1901.

Times change.  The Post Office moves to the local Cooperative Store on the following day.

Members of the Essex Society for Archaeology and History might be interested to know that all the books sold from the Online Shop have been posted from there.

Essex Archaeology and History News: Contents #89-130 (4) T-Z

Tendring, Hill Farm … 126.16, 128.15

Thames Water Authority Pipeline … 105.12

Thaxted, A Roman Lamp from … 113.10

Thaxted, Goddards Farm … 116.12

Thaxted, rear of 23 Town Street … 115.12

Thaxted, rear of 34 Town Street … 126.16

Thaxted, Weaverhead Lane … 118.16

Thorndon Country Park … 114.4

Thorndon Country Park, Contour Survey … 122.15

Thurrock, Recent Publications from … 116.7

Tidal Defences, Millbeach to Goldhanger, Evaluation … 123.15

Tilbury Fort, Great Armade Pageant at … 102.6

Tiptree, Wilkin & Son, A Fruitful Centenary … 92.13

Tollesbury Wick Marshes, Evaluation … 123.14

Tollesbury, Tollesbury Creek … 120.10

Transactions for Sale … 111.8

Transactions of the Essex Archaeological Society, From Past … 101.8

Transcripts A Caution … 115.6

Treasure Trove. Law Commission … 102.18

Tufnell, John Jolliffe, Obituary … 110.3

University of Essex History Day Schools … 129.9

University of Essex, Local History at … 123.3

University of Essex, Weekend Residential Course … 128.9

Valence House Museum, Improvements to … 115.6

Victoria County History … 101.8, 106.5, 109.6, 112.2, 115.4, 117.7, 120.4, 121.2, 124.5, 125.3, 126.5, 128.4, 130.5

Victoria County History Committee Report … 117.7

Victoria County History Report … 119.5

Volunteer Finds Processors … 119.11

Wadhams, Mike, Obituary … 111.3

Walkers of Hanningfield … 92.16

Waltham Abbey, Abbey Gardens, Cornmill Stream Footbridge … 110.15

Waltham Abbey, RARDE Site (north) Area P Gunpowder Factory … 119.15

Waltham Abbey, Recent Excavations at … 97.4

Waltham Abbey, South site … 124.15

Waltham Abbey, The Essex Gunpowder Industry and Edge Runner Incorporating Mills … 130.10

Walton on the Naze, Visit to … 97.2

Walton's Cast Iron Roots … 97.3

Wanstead, The Lost Roman Villa at … 91.10

Warley Hospital … 130.20

Warrior Association … 95.11

Wickford, Berne Hall … 128.15

Widdington, Priors Hall, A Pre-Conquest Building … 105.15

Wills, Pilgrim Trust Grant for Essex … 92.15

Wimbish, Parsonage Farm … 123.15, 130.20

Wimbish, Tiptofts Farm, Recorded … 123.15

Witham … 93.10

Witham, 157 Newland Street … 122.15

Witham, Gravel Quarry, Watching Brief … 118.16

Witham, Mike Wadhams and Cocksmiths (22-26 Newland Street) … 111.4

Witham, Mill House, Chipping Hill … 130.19

Witham, Mill Lane … 119.15

Witham, Smallands Farm … 118.15

Woodham Walter Hall … 129.6

Woodham Walter, Excavations at, and an Assessment of Essex Enclosures (Publication) … 100.13

World War II Defences on the East Coast … 116.12, 118.8

Writtle, Birch Spring … 119.16

Writtle, Hylands House … 126.16

Writtle, Hylands Park Ice House … 128.15

Writtle, Kitts Croft … 128.15

Essex Archaeology and History News: Contents #89-130 (3) M-S

M11 Wicken Bonhunt … 118.14

M11 Widening Scheme, Archaeological Evaluation of the Proposed … 117.13

Mabbitt, Kenneth, FSA, Death of … 107.2

Maldon Archaeological Group … 106.3

Maldon Friary … 110.13, 112.14, 113.14

Maldon Millennium Conference 1991, Battle of … 105.3, 109.4, 111.8, 112.3

Maldon Millennium Lecture Series, Battle of … 110.6

Maldon, 39 High Street … 113.14

Maldon, Elmcroft Development … 99.3

Maldon, Maldon Hall Farm … 106.9

Maldon, Mystery Pots from … 105.2

Maldon, New Friends for an Old Library. Thomas Plume's Library .., 102.11

Maldon, Origins of, Publication … 122.9

Manningtree High Street … 112.15

Mansion, The Mystery of the Missing … 92.4

Mapping Project, Essex … 129.13

Mary Rose Lecture … 91.3

Matthews, Early Career of Joachim … 93.13

Medieval Life, A New Magazine of the Middle Ages … 122.9

Mee, But Who Was? … 114.3

Members, New … 89.25, 91.17, 91.17, 92.25

Mid Anglia Conference … 112.6

Morant Dinner, 1984 … 90.3

Morant Dinner, 1985 … 93.4

Morant Dinner, 1986 … 96.1

Morant Dinner, 1990 … 109.3

Morant Dinner, 1991 … 112.2

Morant Dinner, 1992 … 115.4

Morant Lecture, 1985 … 91.3

Morant Lecture, 1986 … 95.2

Morant Lecture, 1987 … 99.1

Morant Lecture, 1988 … 103.3

Morant Lecture, 1991 … 112.6

Morant, The Omnipresent Philip Morant Connections Between Essex and Jersey … 112.10

Museums, Around the … 90.9

New Road Schemes, 1984 … 89.11

Newport … 93.10

Newport, Land adjacent to The Paragon Café … 120.11

Nonsuch Celebrations, Surrey, 1988 … 102.5

Officer Resignations … 119.4

Officers and Council … 115.3

Old Father Thames Visit … 95.4

Ongar Sewerage Scheme … 112.15

Orchard Press … 95.10

Orsett, Welling Road … 122.15

Othona, Excavations at … 117.14

Outings, Reports of … 93.4

Paleaography Course … 106.2, 110.6

Panorama Returns, Thurrock Local History Society … 113.9

Phyfe, Duncan (1768-1854) … 100.5

Pitsea Church … 93.11

Pleshey … 93.11

Pleshey Castle Watching Brief … 118.16

Pleshey Village Hall, Excavation … 100.15

Post Excavation Pottery Processing … 90.7

Prehistoric Pottery … 90.7

President, A Message from the … 100.1

President, John Appleby, Our New … 109.2

President, Our New: W R Powell … 100.1

Presidents Past and Present … 124.2

Pricklowe, The Wll of Nicholas, of Moreton, yeoman (ERO D/AEW 17/76) … 95.12

Programme Committee, Notes from the … 128.2

Programme Committee, Notes from the … 130.3

Programme for 1985 … 90.2, 91.2, 92.2

Programme for 1986 … 93.2, 94.1

Programme for 1987 … 98.1

Programme for 1988 … 102.3

Programme for 1989 … 105.3, 106.2

Programme for 1990 … 107.3, 108.2, 110.3

Programme for 1991 … 111.3

Programme for 1992 … 113.3, 114.3

Programme for 1993 … 116.2, 117.3

Programme for 1994 … 118.2

Programme for 1995 … 122.2

Programme for 1996 … 123.2

Programme for 1997 … 125.2

Publications … 105.13

Publications … 105.13, 107.12, 115.13, 123.9, 126.10

Publications Development Fund … 119.2, 124.2

Publications Development Fund 1992-1998, Paying for Essex History … 129.3

Publications Development Fund, 140th Anniversary … 120.3

Publications Development Fund, Donors to the … 117.2

Publications, New … 94.8, 100.8, 101.7, 102.9, 105.8

Purleigh, A Lost Pottery Kiln at, Rediscovered … 108.13

Quendon Park, Lost mound … 108.15

Quendon Park, Lost mound … 111.16

Rayleigh … 93.10

Rayleigh, Origins of, Publication … 118.9

Rettendon, A130 Stage II … 118.15, 119.14

Rewards of Searching in Dusty Places … 91.5

Rich, Studies of the Career of Robert … 105.6

Rivenhall Church, Investigation at, 1990 … 108.14

Rivenhall Churchyard … 130.19

Rochford and Rochford Hall … 93.10

Rochford Hall … 92.8

Rochford Hospital, Building Survey Phase II … 124.13

Rochford Hospital, Recorded … 123.15

Rochford Hundred, Getting More Out of Local History Philip Benton's History of … 112.7

Rochford, 3 East Street … 128.15

Rochford, Horners Corner … 96.6

Rochford, Millview Meadows … 118.14

Rochford, Origins of, Exhibition … 100.14, 102.13

Rochford, Origins of, Publication … 102.12

Roman Pottery … 90.8

Roxwell, Roxwell Quarry … 128.15

Roydon, Parish Registers, St Peter's Church (ERO D/P 60/1/2&3) … 91.8

Ryan, John, Death of … 130.4

Saffron Walden, 11 Park Lane … 119.14

Saffron Walden, 15 Gibson Close … 123.15

Saffron Walden, 33-35 High Street … 126.16

Saffron Walden, Fairycroft House, Excavations at, 1990 … 109.12

Saffron Walden, Friends School … 118.15

Saffron Walden, Park Lane … 124.13

Saffron Walden, Swan Meadow … 114.8

Salter, John Henry, The Good Doctor of D'Arcy … 102.19

Sampford Society … 90.4

Sandon Church, Watching Brief … 118.16

Sandon Quarry … 118.15

Scandalous Story with a Happy Ending … 117.4

Sellers, John Ezra 1923-1994, Obituary … 120.2

Shelley, Tithe Award 1837 … 128.9

Shenfield, St Marys Church extension to graveyard … 119.16

Sible Hedingham … 115.12

Sites and Monuments Record … 89.14

Sites and Monuments Record, Computerisation of the … 98.7

Smither, Philip A, Obituary … 108.2

SMR Progress and Development … 127.11

Society 100 Years Ago, The … 127.5, 128.9, 129.11

Society and County News … 90.3

Society Display, New … 124.2

Society Events … 89.2, 95.2, 96.1, 97.2

Society News … 91.3, 92.3

Society Officers … 89.25, 90.17

South Benfleet, Land to the rear of the Hoy and Helmet public house … 122.15

South East Essex Archaeological Society … 102.16

South Ockendon Hall Moat … 96.5

South Weald Camp … 111.16

Southend , Warner's Bridge … 124.13

Southend Museum Disovery Centre … 130.13

Southend Museum News … 89.15

Southend Museum, Recent Acquistion … 96.12

Southend on Sea Museum, Medieval Pilgrims Ampulla … 100.11

Southend, Fox Hall Farm … 114.7

Southend, New Record Office at … 123.8

Southend, Warner's Bridge … 124.13

Southminster Sewerage Scheme … 121.14

Spains Hall, Visit to … 92.3

Spalding, Frederick, photographs … 94.2

Sporting Essex … 112.9

Springfield Cursus … 94.11

Springfield Excavation Project … 89.8

Springfield Lyons … 93.9, 111.16

Springfield Lyons, The Bronze Age and Saxon Settlement at, An Interim Report … 100.13, 102.12

Springfield Project … 98.5

Springfield, Marconi School of Wireless, Recording … 130.20

Spy In The Sky … 116.7

St Aylott … 126.6

Stanford le Hope Pipeline… 121.14

Stansted Airport … 93.14, 94.11, 98.6

Stansted Airport Catering Site, Excavation … 100.14

Stansted Airport Expansion, Archaeology and … 90.16

Stansted Mountfitchet, Society Visit to Hole Farm and Hassobury Manor … 130.11

Stansted Project ... 96.7, 102.15, 103.9, 104.12, 105.12, 106.11

Stansted Project CIS Site (Car Park I) … 109.13

Stanway, Warrior Burial at … 116.9

Stebbing Church … 93.11

Stebbing Church, Watching Brief … 118.16

Stebbing, A Roman Mill at Blake Hall Farm … 104.13

Stebbing, Church Vestry or Chapel? … 119.9

Stebbingford … 118.13

Stock, Crondon Park … 114.8

Stondon Massey Church … 115.10

Stour Barge Restoration Project … 92.17

Stour Valley Steam, Visit to … 93.4

Strict Baptist and Calvinistic Indpendent Churches Archives … 119.9

Studies in Essex History … 113.7

Suffrage Centenary, NZ/UK New Zealand … 121.5