History of Ramsden Bellhouse
History of Ramsden Bellhouse >> White's Directory 1848
White's Directory of Essex 1848
RAMSDEN-BELLHOUSE is a pleasant village from 3 to 4 miles East of Billericay. Its parish contains 462 inhabitants, and 2685 acres of land, and is bounded on the south by the river Crouch, and has a strong and heavy soil, generally fertile and well cultivated. It extends two miles North of the church, to Ramsden Heath, near the source of the Sandon Brook, where it has an open common of 300A. Before the Conquest, it was held by Godric and three freemen; and at the Norman Survey, it belonged to the Bishop of London and Robert Gernon. It is now in two manors. That of Ramsden Bellhouse belonged to Sir Thomas de Belhouse, or Belhus, in 1375, and afterward passed to the Castelayn, Knivet, Gerard, Steed, and Downing families. The manor of Ramsden Barrington passed from the Belhouse to the Barrington family at an early period, and was afterwards held successively by the families of Bohun, Woodstock, Devereux, Tyrell, Wright, Cheek, Archer, and Francis.
The Church (Virgin Mary,) is a small ancient structure, with a tower and spire; and the rectory, valued in K.B. at £14, is consolidated with that of Stock. The Church Land, 2A., is said to have been left for supplying sacramental bread and wine. The poor parishioners have 25s. yearly from Lady Caesar's Charity.