History of Chappel (Pontisbright)

Chappel
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History of Chappel (Pontisbright) >> White's Directory 1848

White's Directory of Essex 1848

CHAPPEL, or PONTISBRIGHT, is a picturesque village and parochial chapelry, on the south bank of the river Colne, 7 miles West North West of Colchester, and 6 miles East South East of Halstead. It contains 429 inhabitants and 996A.3R.21P. of land. The Colchester and Stour Valley Railway will cross the Colne valley here by a stupendous viaduct of which the first stone was laid in September, 1847. This viaduct will be 1066 feet long, and will cross the valley by 30 semi-circular arches each 30 fret in span. The height of the rails above the river will be 80 feet. Extensive embankments, 50 feet in height, formed of earth brought from deep cuttings on each side of the valley, will join the viaduct. It is said the latter will cost about £20,000, and will require from 5 to 6 million bricks. This great work is expected to be finished, and the line opened, about the close of 1848. Chappel, or Chapel, was anciently called Pontisbright, and was part of the parish of Great Tey. A chapel was built here by the inhabitants in 1355, and they had afterwards many disputes with the vicar of Great Tey, till 1533, when the Bishop of London, with the consent of all parties, ordered that the inhabitants of Pontisbright should provide a priest for their own chapel, and that he should have the vicarial tithes of the chapelry, and also 20s. a year from the vicar of Great Tey. A fair for toys, etc., is held here on the Tuesday after June 11th. The copyhold lands belong the manors of Great Tey, Bacons, Bourchier's Hall. The principal land owners are T.B. Western, Esq., C.W. Crickett, Esq., and Messrs. J. and W.M. Farrow, J. Hills, J.J. Mechi, W.Dean, etc.

The Church, or chapel, is a small ancient edifice, with a wooden turret and spire. The benefice is a perpetual curacy, valued in 1831 at only £70. It is in the patronage and incumbency of the Rev. J. Clarryvince, M.A., who has the rent of a copyhold tenement and 8A. of land given by John Leving, in the reign of Henry VIII. The great tithes belong mostly to the sinecure rectory of Great Tey, and both them and the vicarial tithes have been commuted for rent charges. The poor have £30 a-year as the rent of a cottage, and 14½ of land, called Machon's, and given by Robert Hoolde, in 1454.