1867: Writtle is an ancient town near the River Can on the road from Chelmsford to Ongar. It formerly belonged to King Harold II. The church of All Saints is an old and spacious building, rebuilt in 1802. The register dates from 1634. It has a National school, partly endowed and alms houses for 6 poor people. Within this manor a curious custom in early times prevailed, called Leppe and Lasse, under which every cart coming to a part called Greenbury, except the cart of peers, paid 4d to the lord of the manor. In the thirteenth century it is said that King John founded a palace which is now the site of a farm called the "Lordship". Writtle Park Farm, containing from 400 to 500 acres, the property of Lord Petre, lies two and a half miles south west from Writtle. The arable land in the parish produces the best of wheat, etc. The area of the parish, the largest in the county, is 8672 acres, and the population in 1861 was 2364. Listed under Private Residents included: Mrs Lucy Blyth, St Johns Green. Listed under Commercial included: Samuel Blyth, farmer and landowner, Sturgeons Farm.
	1881: Sturgeons Farm - Samuel Blyth, his son, William, William's wife, Alice, their 3 children and a visitor, Catherine Blyth. William was farming 500 acres, he employed 12 men and 6 boys.
	Sources: 1818 = Excursions through Essex 1818. 1851 = 1851 Post Office Directory for Essex. 1867 = 1867 Post Office Directory for Essex. 1881 = 1881 Census.
	Back to Essex Map