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History of Layer Breton

St Mary's Church, Layer Breton, built 1923
©Robert Edwards
Photograph by kind permission of Robert Edwards,
contributor to the Geograph Project

History of Layer Breton >> White's Directory 1848

White's Directory of Essex 1848

LAYER BRETON, a village and parish in the vale of a rivulet, 6 miles South South West of Colchester, and East by South of Kelvedon, has 290 inhabitants, and 965 acres of land, including 37A. of heath, and 15A. of roads, etc. The Brito, or Breton family, who came with the Conqueror, had lands here. From them the manor passed to the Waldens, and in 1677 it became the property of Sir Isaac Rebow. J.G. Rebow, Esq., is now lord of the manor, but a great part of the parish belongs to Edward Gripper, Rev. B. Sale, C. Tiffin, and several smaller owners, mostly freeholders.

The Church is a small tiled building, with some remains of a chapel connected with the chancel. In the latter is a tombstone, robbed of its effigies, in memory of the wife of Nicholas Breton, who died in 1392. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £7, and in 1831 at £332, is in the patronage and incumbency of the Rev. R.W. Sutton, M.A., who has a handsome residence, and 39A. of glebe. The tithes were commuted in 1842, for £302 per annum. On the heath is an Independent Chapel, built in 1798, with a house for the minister. Here is also a small; Friends' Meeting House. The parish school is supported chiefly by the rector.