History of Bowers Gifford

Smithy, Bowers Gifford
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History of Bowers Gifford >> White's Directory 1848

White's Directory of Essex 1848

BOWERS GIFFORD, or Bures Gifford, a small village, 4 miles West South West of Rayleigh, has in its parish 249 souls, and 2606 acres of land, partly in low marshes, extending southward to South Benfleet creek, and including part of Canvey Island. Before the Conquest it belonged to Westminster Abbey, but at Domesday Survey it was held by Ralph Peverell and Walter the Deacon. It afterwards passed to the Leyborn, Sutton, Bigod, Gifford, Vere, Lewen, Honyhurch, and other families Capt. Spitty and the Rev. T.S. Scratton own a great part f the soil, and the former is lord of the manor. The estate, called Earl's Fee, the seat of the Read family, who sold it in 1747, to G. Montgomery, Esq.

The Church (St. Margaret,) is a neat structure, with a nave and chancel of one pace, and a tower containing three bells, and crowned by a shingled spire. The rectory, valued in K.B.at £25, and in 1831 at £571, is in the patronage of Mrs. Curtis, and incumbency of the Rev. W.W. Tireman, M.A., who has 33A. of glebe, and a commodious residence, with pleasant grounds.