Some Essex Closing-Rings 5

Fred Brand's project from the 1930s to locate closing rings on ancient Essex church doors. These examples are all from Saffron Walden, and are published by the Essex Society for Archaeology and History for the first time.

Colchester Castle Museum: Fenwick Treasure on Public View from 24 March 2016

Fenwick Treasure set to be unveiled at Colchester Castle

The Fenwick Treasure is set to be unveiled to the public from Thursday 24 March 2016. Visitors to the Castle will be able to view first hand a fascinating display of these captivating archaeological finds, which are of international significance. The objects and their stories really bring the vivid tale of the Boudican uprising to life. Find out more about making a visit here: www.cimuseums.org.uk/fenwickhoard

High Country History Group: Zeppelins Over Essex, 31 March 1916. Thursday 31 March 2016.

Zeppelins over Essex: 31 March 1916

Blackmore residents had a very close shave a hundred years ago when the German Zeppelin L14 dropped bombs in the parish.  The stained glass in what is now the kitchen of St Laurence Church commemorates the night with these words: “This window is erected as a thank-offering to Almighty God for the protection in the Great Air Raid of March 31^st 1916” (see illustration).

Andrew Smith has researched what happened that night and tells the story in a presentation to be given to the High Country History Group on 31 March 2016 (8pm Toot Hill Village Hall), and this summer at the Friends of St Laurence Church Blackmore AGM.

  

The Rector of Stondon Massey, Revd. Reeve recorded details in his ‘Notes for a Parish History’:  He lived at the Rectory, what is now Stondon Massey House.

“At 11.45[p.m.] a Zeppelin dropped a series of bombs at the point where is the junction of Stondon with the parishes of Blackmore and Kelvedon Hatch: within easy distance of Soap House Farm.  A machine-gun had been lately established at Kelvedon Hatch to watch for the raiders … causing it to drop the bombs hurriedly.

“Large numbers of persons from Brentwood and the surrounding district visited the spot next day, and the large craters caused by the bombs, some 15 feet in diameter and varying from 3 to 9 feet in depth, were the astonishment of all.  The whole saucer-like cavities were left entirely clean by the explosion. … Nine of the thirteen holes were quickly found: and fortunately no life was lost or building injured. … Our windows at Stondon Rectory were violently shaken and considerable alarm was naturally caused.

“Further enquiry shows that the bombs dropped on March 31^st fell between the Soap House and the corner of Blackmore between the Church and Miss Barrett’s house.  Two were dropped in the lane near the site of the old Blackmore Mill.  The remaining holes were to be found in a straight-line across the fields to Miss Barrett’s at very short intervals.  Many panes of glass were broken in the house by the concussion.”

Four people were killed in Braintree that night by the same Zeppelin crew.  To hear the full story come along to Andrew’s talk.

Some Essex Closing-Rings 4

Some Essex Closing Rings

This is the title of an unpublished portfolio of photographs taken by Fred Brand and S E Lloyd, sent to Revd. G Montagu Benton in 1935.  These examples are from Little Totham, Little Waltham and Purleigh. 

Book Sale at Morant Lecture: 19 March 2016

Members coming to the Morant Lecture at Stebbing this Saturday will be able to browse and buy the latest selection we have of surplus books.  To see the list go to www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/esah.html

Philip Morant (1700-1770)

The biography of Philip Morant (1700-1770), written for the dedication of memorials to the Essex historian on 15 March 1966.

PHILIP MORANT, younger son of Stephen Morant and Mary nee Filleul, was born in the St. Saviour's parish, Jersey, on the 6th October, 1700.

Proceeding from the Grammar School, Abingdon, Berks., he matriculated at Pembroke College, Oxford, 17th December, 1717, and was admitted to the degree of Bachelor of Arts, 21st September, 1721. Although Philip Morant passed for the Master of Arts degree at Oxford he arranged to be incorporated at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, taking his M.A. from that University, 10th October, 1729.

By Letters-commissory from the Bishop of London the Bishop of Norwich admitted him to Deacon's Orders, at St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, Westminster, on 23rd September, 1722. Edward  Gibson, Bishop of London, ordained him Priest,  20th  December,  1724.                                                                                           ·

From September 1722 till August 1732, Nicholas Tindal, Vicar of Great Waltham, was assisted in his cure by the young Morant, as the account books of the Black Chapel show, but then Caroline, Queen Regent, nominated him to the chaplaincy of the English Episcopal Church at Amsterdam.

In quick succession there followed these preferments:

Rectory of Shellow Bowells.  From 20 April 1733, to November 1734

Rectory of Broomfield: From 17 January 1734, to April 1738

Rectory of Chignal Smealey: From 19 September 1735, to April 1743

Rectory of St. Mary's, Colchester: From 9 March 1738, to April 1770

Rectory of Wickham Bishops: 21 January 1743, to October 1745

Rectory of Aldham: from 14 September 1745, to October 1770.

In November,  1735, Mary, Dowager Countess of Cassillis, appointed  him her private chaplain.   Never did he hold more than two benefices at one time.

On 6th February, 1739, he married Anne, daughter of  Solomon  Stebbing of the  Brook  House,  Great Tey. Their only daughter, Anna Maria, was born 25th November, 1739; she afterwards married Thomas Astle, Keeper of the Records in the Tower.

When Mrs. Morant died, 20th July, 1767, aged 69, Morant moved to his daughter's home at Battersea Rise, London, and it was while returning by water from the Temple to Vauxhall, en route for South Lambeth, that he caught the chill from which he died, 25th November, 1770. He was buried beside his wife in the Old Church at Aldham and the stone marking that spot is now re-erected in the present Aldham Church with the Tablet presented by the Society near to it.   In the chancel of the Aldham church is the Latin Epitaph penned by Thomas Astle, his son-in-law, while the east window of the church was placed there as a memorial to his memory in 1854.

It was on 20th November, 1755, that the Historian of Essex was elected to the Fellowship of the Society of Antiquaries of London. He had published his History of Colchester in 1748 and was preparing The History and Antiquities of Essex, 2 vols., folio, 1760-1768.

The Essex Archaeological  Society has cared for the grave of the historian for some years now but so that the stone might be preserved was pleased to assist in saving this by placing it in the present Aldham Church. To mark his long association with the Borough of Colchester an armorial tablet is placed in the church of St. Mary-at-the Walls, Colchester.                                                          ·

Aldham's Church of Morant's day and the former Rectory of St. Mary-at-the-Walls, Colchester, have been demolished but work which the historian initiated goes on and almost two hundred years after his death his hand still  guides  researchers.

JOHN S. APPLEBY, F.R.Hist.S.

Hon. Secretary, E.A.S.

Morant Anniversary.

Morant Commemorations Fifty Years Ago

From the Society’s Annual Report 1966: “The work of the Revd. Philip Morant, M.A., F.S.A., was further remembered by the events of Tuesday, 15th March, 1966, when, at Aldham Church, The Patron of the Society [Sir John Ruggles-Brise] unveiled a memorial tablet in Stone, commemorating the removal of the tombstone of the historian and his wife from the older churchyard to the sanctuary of the present church. At St. Mary-at-the-Walls Church, Colchester [now Colchester Arts Centre] Sir John Ruggles-Brise, unveiled a carved memorial tablet of oak; this tablet, bearing the arms of Morant, is placed in the tower entrance. The Rt. Revd. Dr. Roderic Coote, Bishop of Colchester, Vice-President of the Society, dedicated the tablets. The Revd. C. Philip Gilman, Rector of Aldham, and the Revd. Ralph Stevens, Rector of St. Mary-at-the-Walls, conducted the services in their respective parishes. The Orders of Service [now available in digital format] included a biography of Morant written by the Hon. Secretary [John Appleby].”

Morant Lecture at Stebbing. Saturday 19 March 2016

Friends Meeting House, Stebbing

The next meeting of the Essex Society for Archaeology and History will be held at 2pm on Saturday 19 March 2016. The venue: The Friends Meeting House, Stebbing.  This will be the annual Morant Lecture held in honour of the great Essex historian.  It will be a talk about the village of Stebbing and the various projects that are happening, followed by a tour of the village then refreshments.  Stebbing is a small village in north Essex situated to the north of the Roman road - Stane Street. Stebbing has a Grade I listed church and the earthworks of a medieval castle.

Some Essex Closing-Rings 3

Some Essex Closing Rings

This is the title of an unpublished portfolio of photographs taken by Fred Brand and S E Lloyd, sent to Revd. G Montagu Benton in 1935.  In February 2016 it was given to the Society by the family of the late Kenneth Mabbitt and added to our archives pro tem (as S/LIB/9/51).  Thirty-one items have been digitised, 29 of which are photographs of closing rings on Essex church doors with a sketch showing measurements alongside. Frederick Joseph Brand (1857-1939) had been a member of EAS since 1899. His obituary appeared in TEAS n.s. 23, p192-195, in which Benton mentions his enthusiastic interest in the topic. “He was engaged on this survey, which was nearing completion, practically up to the outbreak of war”.  He took many photographs on the Society’s excursions and was “usually the last to regain his seat on the motor-coach”.  Stanley E Lloyd, of Goodmayes, has been a member of EAS since 1923. 

Examples here from Great Yeldham, Hempstead and Heybridge.

Some Essex Closing-Rings 2

Some Essex Closing Rings

This is the title of a portfolio of photographs taken by Fred Brand and S E Lloyd, sent to Revd. G Montagu Benton in 1935.  In February 2016 it was given to the Essex Society for Archaeology and History by the family of the late Kenneth Mabbitt and added to our archives pro tem (as S/LIB/9/51).  Thirty-one items have been digitised, 29 are photographs of closing rings on Essex church doors with a sketch showing measurements alongside. Frederick Joseph Brand (1857-1939) had been a member of EAS since 1899. His obituary appears in TEAS ns XXIII p192-195, in which Benton mentions his enthusiastic interest in the topic. “He was engaged on this survey, which was nearing completion, practically up to the outbreak of war”.  He was often busy taking photographs on the Society’s excursions and “usually the last to regain his seat on the motor-coach”.  Stanley E Lloyd, of Goodmayes, has been a member of EAS since 1923.

Illustrated here: East Horndon, Eastwood, Elsenham, Great Waltham.