Abbess Roding

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Abbess Roding
Abbess Roding village sign
Abbess Roding is located in Essex
Abbess Roding
Abbess Roding
Location within Essex
OS grid referenceTL571113
Civil parish
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townONGAR
Postcode districtCM5
Dialling code01279
PoliceEssex
FireEssex
AmbulanceEast of England
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Essex
51°46′44″N 0°16′33″E / 51.7788°N 0.2759°E / 51.7788; 0.2759

Abbess Roding is a village and former civil parish that is located in the west of the county of Essex, 5 miles (8 km) north from Chipping Ongar, and 9 miles (14 km) west from the county town of Chelmsford. The village is one of the hamlets and villages called The Rodings. In 1891 the parish had a population of 240, but by 1931 it had decreased to 169.[1][2]

History

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According to A Dictionary of British Place Names, Roding derives from "Rodinges", as is listed in the Domesday Book and recorded earlier as such at c.1050, with the later variation 'Roinges Abbatisse' recorded in 1237. The 'Abbess' refers to the manorial possession by a man called 'Aitrop' held under the ownership of the Abbess of Barking Abbey.[3][4]

In the Domesday account Abbess Roding is listed as in the Hundred of Ongar. The manor held 18 households, seven villagers, two smallholders, five slaves, and one freeman, with 2 lord's plough teams, 3.5 men's plough teams, 20 acres (8 ha) of meadow, and a woodland with 20 pigs.[5] In 1066 there were 10 cattle, 40 pigs, 100 sheep and a cob. In 1086 there were 14 cattle, 60 pigs, 131 sheep, and three cobs. Before the Conquest, lordship was held by Wulfmer of Eaton Socon; after given to Eudo Dapifer who was also Tenant-in-chief to William the Conqueror.[5] A further source, the Domesday Book: A Complete Translation, gives a Domesday record of Abbess Roding being held by Geoffrey Martel as part of the land of Geoffrey de Mandeville.[6] Other traditional names for the village and its previous parish were 'Abbott's Roothing' or 'Abbots Roding'. It was in the Hundred of Ongar. At the Dissolution, Henry VIII sold the Barking Abbey's estate to Robert Chertsey.[7]

Ordnance Survey map 1805 showing 'Abbots Roding'

The parish is recorded as having two windmills during its history. The first was a sunk post mill, and was located in the manor of Barwick Bernes, but in the farming records of 1382 the mill was reported to have been broken.[8] A second later windmill, a Post mill was built upon top of a small mound, quarter of a mile north of the church.[8] In 1578, Elizabeth I visited Rookwood Hall as a guest of the then owner Wistan Browne.[8] A nonconformist congregation started in a barn at Rookwood Hall during 1698, and a permanent chapel was built in 1730.[9]

In 1845, authorisation from parliament was sought to build the Dunstable, London and Birmingham railway, which would have run from Leighton Buzzard to Maldon running through the Rodings, but authorisation was only granted to connect Dunstable to the line at Leighton Buzzard (8 & 9 Vict. c. xxxvii).[10] In 1882 Abbess Roding was in the Ongar Union—poor relief provision set up under the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 —and part of the Rural Deanery of Ongar. The registers of the church of St Edmund date to 1560. The church, restored in 1867, had attached an 1882 benefice of a rectory with residence, in the gift of and held by Rev. Lawrence Capel Cure of Balliol College, Oxford. Sir Henry Selwin-Ibbetson, Bt was Lord of the Manor and principal landowner. There was 1,393 acres (5.6 km2) of parish land supporting a population of 237. Crops grown at the time were chiefly wheat, barley and beans, on a heavy soil with a clay subsoil. Parish occupations included seven farmers, a beer retailer, and the licensee of The Anchor public house.[7]

During World War I, non-conformists were sent to an interment camp as conscientious objectors. The camp had been set up at the Old Rectory, and was linked to the Chipping Ongar Agricultural Depot.[11][12][13] During World War II, the lane leading from Abbess Roding to the Matching to Peartree Green road was closed to allow for the construction of RAF Matching within the parish boundary.[14]

Former control tower at RAF Matching

On 1 April 1946 the parish was abolished to form the new parish of "Abbess Beauchamp and Berners Roding".[15][16]

Geology

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The soil is made up Glacial Sand and Gravel, Head Gravel and Alluvium on the London Clay formation, which bore holes opposite St. Edmunds church recorded the depth at 37.5m.[17][18][19] Further studies have shown that a fragment of the former floor of the Thames Estuary was found 145 feet below the village.[20] The Rodings area is regarded as the second best ploughing country, second only to the Holderness in Yorkshire.[21]

Governance

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Parliamentary seat

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The village is in the parliamentary constituency of Brentwood & Ongar, with Alex Burghart serving as the MP since 2017.

Local government

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Abbess Roding sits within the non-metropolitan county of Essex, governed by Essex County Council; and the non-Metropolitan district of Epping Forest, which is governed by Epping Forest District Council. The village is within the ward of Rural East.[22] The village is locally served by Abbess, Beauchamp and Berners Roding Parish Council.[23]

Demographics

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Population

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The population of the parish was recorded from the first census in the United Kingdom in 1801, until the final census in 1951, which was after the parish was dissolved.[8]

Census Population
1801 205
1811 215
1821 236
1831 234
1841 254
1851 216
1861 220
1871 259
1881 231
1891 240
1901 213
1911 206
1921 175
1931 169
1951 228

Occupations

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Over the censuses between 1841 and 1951, the records show the parish residents working in the following occupations:[8]

Occupation 1841 1901 1951
Professions 1 4 7
Farmers 5 7 8
Agricultural workers 51 34 30
Private domestic servants 16 14 4
Carpenters / Carpenter's Journeymen - - 2
Cooper 1 - -
Grocer 1 - -
Shoemaker and assistants 1 - -
Bricklayers and assistants - - 1
Baker - 1 -

Hamlets

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Abbess End

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Abbess End is a hamlet close to the southern end of Abbess Roding, and north of the former site of the moated country house Rookwood Hall,[24][25] in the county of Essex, England.[26]

Horsecroft at Abbess End

Berwick Bernes

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Berwick Bernes, also known as Barwick Bernes, was a hamlet in the parish of Abbess Roding.[27][28] It was formerly one of the manors of the parish, along with Rockwood Hall, and owned by the Berners family who also owned the manor at Berners Roding.[29][8] It is now regarded as part of the village of Abbess Roding.[30]

Pond at Berwick Bernes Hall, which may have been part of a moat

Nether Street

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The hamlet of Nether Street probably gained its name as being the home of Sir Walter de Netherstrete.[31] The hamlet is now regarded as part of the village.[32]

Buildings, structures and attractions

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St. Edmund's Church

The village has several properties that are listed on the National Heritage List for England. An area around St. Edmund church is a local designated conservation area.[33][34]

The Three Forests Way footpath runs through the village.

Title List entry number Date first listed Grade Listing Description National Grid reference Reference
Abbess Roding Hall, including Pump and Garden 1337213 29 June 1984 II 16th century, possibly earlier, timber framed and plastered 'U' shaped house TL 57212 11582 [35]
Granary to north of Abbess Roding Hall 1111332 29 June 1984 II 16th century, possibly earlier, timber framed, 3 bay building TL 57222 11606 [36]
Barn to South West of Abbess Roding Hall 1337214 29 June 1984 II 16th century 7 bay timber barn TL 57194 11512 [37]
Church of St Edmund 1111331 20 February 1967 II 14th, 15th and 19th century parish church. TL 57178 11438 [38]
Clare House 1111339 29 June 1984 II Circa. 1600 timber framed and plastered house TL 57127 11244 [39]
Fairlands including attached garden wall and pump 1165784 29 August 1984 II* 15th and 16th century timber framed and plastered house, with red brick garden wall, a cast iron pump and the remains of a moat. TL 55794 11455 [40]
Falkners 1337219 29 June 1984 II 16th century, possibly earlier, timber framed and plastered house TL 56578 10843 [41]
Granary, Barn and Outbuilding west of Green Hill and pump 1165801 29 June 1984 II 18th and 19th century weatherboarded granary TL 57195 11954 [42]
Longbarns Farmhouse 1337220 27 August 1957 II 17th and 15th century, possibly earlier, timber framed and plastered farmhouse. TL 57825 10878 [43]
The Old Post Office 1111333 29 June 1984 II 17th century, possibly earlier, timber framed and plastered former Georgian post office. TL 57207 11316 [44]
Pump, 3m to the west of the Old Post Office 1337215 29 June 1984 II 19th century cast iron pump TL 57195 11310 [45]
Post Cottages 1111334 29 June 1984 II 17th century, possibly earlier, timber framed and plastered cottages TL 57207 11309 [46]
Barn north east of Rookwood Hall 1111340 20 February 1967 II* 15th century timber framed and weatherboarded barn that was originally a dwelling. TL 56084 11006 [47]
Barn North East of Rookwood Hall and South East of Item 2/4 1251306 20 February 1967 I 15th century 8 bay timber framed barn, part weatherboard, part plastered. Moated site TL 56092 10987 [48]
Sparrows 1165528 29 June 1984 II 14th century, possibly earlier, timber framed and plastered house TL 56767 10867 [49]

Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ "Population statistics Abbess Roding CP/AP through time". A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  2. ^ Census of England and Wales: Administrative and ancient counties. 2. Registration areas and sanitary districts. Great Britain. Census Office. 1893. p. 102.
  3. ^ Mills, Anthony David (2003); A Dictionary of British Place Names, Oxford University Press, revised edition (2011), p.392. ISBN 019960908X
  4. ^ Abbess Roding Archived 23 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ a b "Abbess Roding", Open Domesday, University of Hull. Retrieved 9 February 2018
  6. ^ Williams, Ann; G H Martin (24 September 2004). Domesday Book: A Complete Translation. London: Penguin. pp. 1012, 1303. ISBN 978-0-14-143994-5.
  7. ^ a b Kelly's Directory of Essex1882 pp.245-247
  8. ^ a b c d e f History of White Roothing and Abbess Roothing (PDF). White Roothing Women's Institute. 1957.
  9. ^ "ROOKWOOD HALL BARNS AT ABBESS RODING-AN UNRECORDED MALTING?". Essex Archaeological and History News. No. 113. Autumn 2000. p. 5-6.
  10. ^ H.M. Stationery Office (1 July 1845). "The Dunstable, London and Birmingham railway". The London Gazette. p. 3521-3522.
  11. ^ Michael Foley (2017). Prisoners of the British.Internees and Prisoners of War during the First World War. Fonthill Media. ISBN 9781781554791.
  12. ^ The Victoria History of the County of Essex. Constable. 1956. p. 195.
  13. ^ Sarah Paterson (2013). Tracing Your Prisoner of War Ancestors. The First World War. Pen & Sword Books. p. Appendix 8. ISBN 9781783376582.
  14. ^ The Victoria History of the County of Essex. Constable. 1983. p. 197.
  15. ^ "Relationships and changes Abbess Roding CP/AP through time". A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  16. ^ "Abbess, Beauchamp and Berners Roding"[usurped], Abbess, Beauchamp and Berners Roding Parish Council. Retrieved 10 February 2018
  17. ^ The sand and gravel resources of the country between Hatfield Heath and Great Waltham, Essex. INSTITUTE OF GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES/Natural Environment Research Council. 1980. p. 10.
  18. ^ "London Clay: Geology and Geotechnics by EGGS & HNCRG". The Geology Society. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  19. ^ D. Millward (1987). Geology of the Country Around Epping. British Geological Survey. p. 15. ISBN 9780118844000.
  20. ^ Transactions and Papers - Institute of British Geographers Issues 20-22. Institute of British Geographers. 1954. p. 26.
  21. ^ R.F. Ball, T. Gilbey (1896). The Essex foxhounds. p. 22. ISBN 9785871334348. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
  22. ^ "Map referred to in the Epping Forest (Electoral Changes) Order 2023". The Local Government Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  23. ^ "Abbess, Beauchamp and Berners Roding Parish Council - Key Contacts". www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2007.
  24. ^ Historic England. "Rookwood hall moated site (1016879)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  25. ^ Powell, W.R., ed. (1956). A History of the County of Essex: Volume 4, Ongar Hundred. London: Victoria County History. pp. 190–193. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  26. ^ Geographers' A-Z Map Co Ltd (Revised ed.). UK. 20 August 2002. ISBN 978-0850399370.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  27. ^ Kelly's Directory of Essex 1915. Kelly's Directories. p. 477.
  28. ^ "Berwick Berners Hall, Berwick Fm". University of Nottingham. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
  29. ^ "BERNERS, Sir James (1361-88), of Berners Hall, Essex and West Horsley, Surr". History of Parliament. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
  30. ^ "Berwick Berners Hall, Berwick Lane, Abbess Roding, Ongar, Epping Forest, Essex, CM5 0JS". The Move Market. 3 June 2025.
  31. ^ English Place-Name Society. Vol. 12. The University Press. 1935. p. 75.
  32. ^ "Area Information for Nether Street, Abbess Roding, Ongar, CM5 0JT". Street Check. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
  33. ^ ABBESS RODING CONSERVATION AREA. Epping Forest District Council. 15 April 2015.
  34. ^ "Conservation Areas". Epping Forest District Council. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  35. ^ "ABBESS RODING HALL INCLUDING PUMP AND GARDEN WALL". Historic England. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  36. ^ "GRANARY TO NORTH OF ABBESS RODING HALL". Historic England. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  37. ^ "BARN TO SOUTH WEST OF ABBESS RODING HALL". Historic England. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  38. ^ "Church of St Edmund". Historic England. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  39. ^ "CLARE HOUSE". Historic England. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  40. ^ "FAIRLANDS INCLUDING ATTACHED GARDEN WALL AND PUMP". Historic England. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  41. ^ "FALKNERS". Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  42. ^ "GRANARY, BARN AND OUTBUILDING WEST OF GREENHILL AND PUMP 10 METRES TO THE NORTH OF GREEN HILL". Historic England. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  43. ^ "LONGBARNS FARMHOUSE (NOW 2 RESIDENTIAL UNITS) INCLUDING OUTHOUSE RANGE AND GARDEN WALL". Historic England. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  44. ^ "THE OLD POST OFFICE". Historic England. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  45. ^ "PUMP 3 METERS TO WEST AND IN FRONT GARDEN OF THE OLD POST OFFICE". Historic England. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  46. ^ "POST COTTAGES". Historic England. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  47. ^ "BARN NORTH EAST OF ROOKWOOD HALL". Historic England. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  48. ^ "BARN NORTH EAST OF ROOKWOOD HALL AND SOUTH EAST OF ITEM 2/4". Historic England. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  49. ^ "SPARROWS". Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  50. ^ "CAPELL, Sir Gamaliel (1561–1613), of Rookwood Hall, Abbess Roding, Essex". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  51. ^ Venning, Timothy (3 January 2008). "Thurloe, John". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/27405. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  52. ^ Reginald Pole, Thomas Frederick Mayer, Courtney B. Walters (2002). The Correspondence of Reginald Pole. Vol. 4. Ashgate. p. 98. ISBN 9780754603290.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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