NOTE
Readers are reminded of the historical facts which lie behind this publication.
Philip Benton (1815- 1898 ), a farmer of North Shoebury, Shopland, Little Wakering and Southend, began writing his History of Rochford Hundred in 1867. This work was published parish by parish in alphabetical order starting with Ashingdon. He completed Volumes 1 and 2 and began Volume 3 with North Shoebury. Due to paralysis of his hands he was unable to proceed and died with his work unfinished.
Nearly a century later and searching hopfully for any sign of his notes, Mrs Jerram-Burrows found them in the Essex Records Office where they had been deposited in an old hat box many years before which Benton kept under his bed and used as his filling system! She transcribed Benton’s notes of the unfinished parishes and added her own to bring the work up to date. The first of these, South Shoebury, was published in 1978 followed by North Shoebury, Shopland, the Smaller Islands of the River Crouch and Sutton.
To distinguish between the work of the two authors, Benton’s notes are in larger type, while Mrs. Jerram-Burrows’ are in smaller, and, where possible, slightly indented. The footnotes are the work of the later author.
ROCHFORD HUNDRED
GREAT STAMBRIDGE
DERIVATION OF THE NAME – MANORS AND ESTATES – JOHN WINTHROP – LE BRETON FAMILY – CAPTAIN JOHN HARRIOTT – CHURCH – EXTRACTS FROM THE REGISTERS – SMUGGLING &C. Great Stambridge is written in records variously as Stanbruge (1086 D.B.) Stanbrig (ge) Magna (1196, 1206 F.F), Stambrigge (1428), Muche Stambridge (1578), Great Standbridge (1552), the name meaning “Stone-bridge”. The Village of Great Stambridge lies on the north bank of the River Roach. On its northern boundary it joins Paglesham, and on its western boundary, Little Stambridge. It has numerous creeks and inlets interspersed with saltings and old oyster pits. With its water meadows, landscapes and riverside walks, Stambridge is one of the most picturesque areas of Rochford Hundred – tranquil, and in parts – lonely and desolate, its scenes of natural beauty untouched by time.
In Edward the confessor’s reign, this parish belonged to Osward and at the Domesday Survey to Odo, Bishop of Bayeux and Swain. Swain held it under the Bishop and Wicard held it under Swain. The Manor of Great Stambridge was afterwards divided into three Great Stambridge, Hampton Barns and Barton Hall. Swain’s grandson forfeited this property as before frequently mentioned. In King John’s time the ancient family of Musters held land here under Richard Fitzwilliam. The De Tarry family became possessed of this property through marrying the aforesaid Richard’s grand-daughter and gave the name to Stapleford Tawney and Chignell Tawney. Thomas Sutton Esq. settled this property on Charterhouse in the reign of James I. He had previously bought them off Thomas Lawson alias Edmonds, in 1604. The Governors of Charterhouse paid the sum of £500 to Charles I for disafforesting this and several other Manors in 1638.
In 1579, (Queen Elizabeth’s reign) this Manor and advowsom were sold for £800. In 1670 the Govenors of Charterhouse at a Court held before the Chief Justice of the King’s forests, claimed within this Manor the right of pillory and gallows and examination of weights and measures.
Extracts from the Domesday Book are as follows;- “Hundred of Rochford 1. Ref. 18/14Swein holds Great Stambridge from Bishop, whichOsward held before 1066, for 31/2 hides and 30 acres. Then 7 villagers, now none; then 5 smallholders, now 10;then 3 slaves, now none. Always 2 ploughs in lordshiop. Then3 men’s ploughs, now 4. Pasture, 300 sheep, 1 mill. Now 1 cob; then 4 cattle, now2; then 15 pigs, now 25; then 100 sheep now 58. Value always £6. 2. Ref. 24/27Wicard holds Great Stambridge from free man held before 1066 as one manor, for 11/2 hides and 71/2 acres.Always 2 smallholders; 1 slave, 1/2 plough then, now 1. Pasture 100 sheep. Value then 10s; now 25s.” At some distance down the lane by the river past the church stands “Waldons”. It is a modern house set on a peninsular, south of Bartonhall creek and north of the River Roach. Built between two sea walls, it former name was, appropriately “Wallsend”. It is known that in earlier years a farmhouse stood on the site. The present house was built in 1953 to replace an old wooden structure, and although the East Coast floods of that year caused considerable damage to property in the vicinity of the water, Waldons stood above flood level and was unaffected. “Hampton Barns”, one of the three manors in Great Stambridge in earlier times, stands on Hampton Barns creek. In 1517 it was known as “Hampton Barons” and from 1549 “Hampton Barnes”. At the time Benton was writing his notes on the parish, “Hampton Barns” belonged to Daniel Scratton of Prittlewell Priory. Evidence that Great Stambridge existed as a settlement some five-hundred years fefore Christ, in the Iron Age, and again in Saxon times, has been confirmed, following excavations in recent years at “Hampton Barns” when it was found that at one time a creek had formed there and two distinct village settlements of huts had developed. Hut doors were discovered as also was pottery dated from 500 B.C. when the occupants were forced to move to the Continent due to deteriorating weather conditions and variations in the water table.
The Stockade that defended the Saxon villagers at Great Stambridge over one-thousand years later, against attack from the sea and river, was interesting because of the extreme care and attention shown in building it. The Saxons cleared about 30 ft. of turf and proceeded to cut a ditch. Timbers were carefully placed, stakes driven in on both sides and the centre filled with turf. A palisade was then built on top. The attention given to this building proved that it was carried out by an intelligent work force and was not just a family effort. Photograph of Hampton Barns by Charles Bruce Great Stambridge, 1990, home of the Rankin Family “Barton Hall” or “Bartons”, once a mediaeval mansion, now long since demolished, stood at the extreme eastern end of Great Stambridge parish overlooking the water on an arm of Bartonhall Creek. Little is known of its early occupants, save one, Sir Richard Le Breton, who gave the house its earlier name of “Bretons” or Breton” and has been remembered as either “Bartons” or “Barton Hall” ever since. William the Conqueror gave this Manor to Sir Auvrai Le Breton who had come over from Normandy with the King and fought valiantly at his side at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, together with the manor of Sanford in Somerset (the village being sometimes called “Sanford Bret” after this family). Simon Le Breton lived there with his two sons, Richard and Edmund, both boys becoming joint heirs to the two estates. At their fathers decease they inherited both Sanford and Great Stambridge. They were courtiers and well liked and spent much of their time at the court of Henry II. At this time, Sir Richard Le Breton was the close friend and confidant of Prince William, the King’s brother. Stambridge, being nearer to the Court. Richard chose to live there in preference to the family seat in Somerset. Besides, The Royal Forest of Essex, stretching as it did to the extreme boundaries of Rochford Hundred, included Stambridge and frequently as with all the Plantagenet monarchs, the King with Prince William and their courtiers would hunt this way, passing the night in the conveniently situated, out-of-the-way, Barton Hall. In the first year of his reign (1154), Henry II introduced certain measures to restore order to the Kingdom following the anarchy, misery and bloodshed of the previous reign of King Stephen. At this time, a certain Thomas a Becket, son of a London citizen, was brought to the King’s notice by the Archbishop of Canterbury. So impressed was Henry II with Becket’s obvious abilities, he appointed him Chancellor and Chief Clerk of the King’s Court. As time went by, Henry wishing to make reforms in the Church, particularly among the clergy and believing that Becket would assist him in carrying out these measures, appointed him Archbishop of Canterbury. At first, the King and Becket were close and Henry loaded Becket with riches and honours so that he outshone his royal master in magnificence. But Becket stood up as the champion of the Church and opposed the King. He openly defied the King’s authority and fearing for his life, fled by night to France disguised as a monk where he remained for six years, the end of which resulted in a reconciliation between the two men. Becket returned to England, only to renew the struggle by excommunicating the Archbishop of York who in his absence had crowned the King, the prerogative and privilage of the Archbishop of Canterbury as Primate of All England. On hearing this, Henry in a burst of passion exclaimed: “will no-one rid me of this turbulent priest?”. Whereipon four knights of French descent and strong supporters of the King, namely, Hugh de Morville, Reginald FitzUrse, William de Tracey and Richard Le Breton, took the King at his word, hurried to Canterbury and after an angry interview with Becket, murdered him on the alter steps of his own cathedral. 
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