Birchanger Essex

Extract from the Post Office Directory 1855

BIRCHANGER is a small parish containing 1051 acres of land, with a population, in 1851 of 371 ; situated 2 miles east-north-east of Bishop's Stortford station, in the Hundred of Uttlesford and Stortford Union, North Essex.
The church of St. Mary is an old building, with a stone bell turret ; the inside is very neat, and in good repair ; the chancel is in the early English style, the doorway is Norman. The living is a rectory, value £218 , in the gift of New College, Oxford and incumbency of the Rev. Robert Andrew Bathurst M.A.

Extract from Kelly's Directory 1882

BIRCHANGER is a parish on the borders of Herts, situate 1¾ miles from Stansted station, 2 east-north-east from Bishop's Stortford, in the Western division of the county, hundred of Uttlesford, Bishop's Stortford union and county court district, rural deanery of Newport, archdeaconry of Colchester and diocese of St. Albans. The church of St. Mary is a small building and consists of a chancel and nave with a stone bell-turret containing 1 bell ; the chancel is Early English and the doorway Norman. The register dates from the year 1688. The living is a rectory, yearly tithe rent-charge £310 with 33 acres of glebe and residence, in the gift of New College, Oxford and held by the Rev. Frederick Rowden M.A. and fellow of that college.
A hospital for a master and two chaplains was founded here by Richard, son of Serlo de Newport, in the reign of King John and was dedicated to St. Mary and St. Leonard, being under the peculiar jurisdiction of the dean of St. Martin's, in London.
In 26 Hen. V111 its revenues were stated at £31 13s 11d in gross and after its suppression it was granted to Sir Martin Bower.
The warden and scholars of New College, Oxford, are lords of the manor and the principal landowners are W. Fuller-Maitland, T Harrison and Charles Spencer esqs.
The soil is clay and loam ; subsoil, clay. The crops are wheat and barley. The area is 1051 acres ; rateable value £3268 ; The population in 1881 was 468.

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