HOME


Ardleigh
Alresford
Beaumont cum Moze
Bentley, Great
Bentley, Little
Bradfield
Brightlingsea
Bromley, Great
Bromley, Little
Clacton, Great
Clacton, Little
Dovercourt
Elmstead
Frating
Frinton
Harwich
Holland, Great
Holland, Little
Kirby, Le Soken
Lawford
Manningtree
Mistley
Oakley, Great
Oakley, Little
Osyth, St
Ramsey
Tendring
Thorpe Le Soken
Thorrington
Walton On Naze
Weeley
Wix
Wrabness
      The following are extracts from the History, Gazetteer, and Directory of the County of Essex by William White published in 1848.


Great Clacton



CLACTON, (GREAT) a large village on an emminence about a mile from the sea beach, and 14 miles S.E. by E. of Colchester, and S.S.W. of Harwich, has in its parish 1296 inhabitants, and 3964 acres of land, including Copping Green, Magdalen Green, Clacton Wick and Clacton Cliffs, on the seashore, where there are three martello towers, erected for the defence of the coast during the late war, and now occupied as a signal station by the coastguard, though no guns are mounted. A fair is held in the village on June 29th., and a small customary market on Tuesday evenings. Wm. F. Nassau, Esq., is lord of the manor, anciently held by the Darcy and other families; but a great part of the soil belongs to Guy's Hospital, Danl. Howard, Esq., W. Nicholson, Rt. and Jas. Page, and several smaller owners. Can Hall, now a farm house, was so called from its belonging to the canons of St. Osyth. Aulton Park farm was left by S. Travers, Esq., for charitable uses. The Church (St. John) is an ancient structure, with a tower, containing five bells, and crowned by a shingled spire, which was rebuilt in 1810. The interior is neatly fitted up, and has three galleries, two of which were erected in 1837, when a number of free sittings were provided in consideration of a grant from the Church Building Society. The rectory was appropriated to St. Osyth Priory, and the great tithes now belong to the principal land owners. The living is a discharged vicarage, with the donative curacy of Little Holland, annexed to it, and valued in K.B. at £10, and in 1831 at £240. W. F. Nassau, Esq., is the patron, and the Rev. H. G. N. Bishop, B.A., is the incumbent, and has a good residence, and 4A. of glebe. The tithes were commuted in 1841, the rectorial for £954. 2s., and the vicarial for £240. Here is a small Wesleyan Chapel, built in 1824. In 1827, James Maskell, built and endowed a small Almshouse here, for three poor people, who have each 2s. 6d. and a quartern loaf weekly. The poor parishioners have a rearly rent-charge of £4 out of a farm called Pearles and Steylands purchased with £100 left by Hy. Rainsford, in 1738. They have also the dividend of £50 three per cent. Imperial Annuities, purchased with the benefaction of an unknown donor.

POST OFFICE at A. Maskell's. Letters desp. 3½ aftern. via Gt. Bentley and Colchester.


HOME