Universal British Directory - Ongar
The following article comes from an entry for the market town of Chipping Ongar in Essex, that I copied from the "Universal British
Directory of Trade Commerce and Manufacturing". This entry is from volume 4 published in 1798...
Ongar, Essex
Ongar, or Chipping Ongar, is a small market town, twenty one miles North East of London; its market day is on
Saturday and it has two fairs for pedlars annually, viz, on Easter Tuesday, and the 11th October.
This town has no manufactory, but chiefly consists of traders. Here is a small castle which stands upon a mount,
surrounded by a mout of three quarters of a mile, it was formerly the seat of RHA Benett, Esq. but is now in a state
of delapidation, so that no family lives there. In the reign of Henry II Richard de Lucy, grand justiciary of England,
had a castle here, supposed to have been built of the materials left by the Romans; very little of its ruins are now
visible; in memory of which the small one above-mentioned was built. The Church is an ancient structure built with Roman
brick; some of the family of Oliver Cromwell lie buried in its chancel. Here is a free school that stands in the centre
of the town, under which is a market-place. It is a nice little building of brick built by -- Benett, Esq. who was
lord of the manor. The principal inns are, the Lion, kept by Thomas Nicholls, the Crown, by Geo. Williams, and the Bull,
by William Cooper.
The post comes from Epping everyday, except Mondays, and goes to thence every day, except Saturdays.
The Ongar coach sets out from the Red Lion, at Ongar, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at nine o'clock in the
morning, to the Three Nuns,Whitechapel, where it arrives about one o'clock the same day; and returns to Ongar every
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, by the half past three in the afternoon. It sets out from Whitechapel at eleven o'clock
on each respective day.
The waggon goes to the three Nuns, Whitechapel, every Monday and Thursday, from the Red Lion Ongar, by nine in the
morning; and returns from the Nuns every Tuesday and Friday, at ten in the morning. The turnpike-road does not go through
Ongar.
The following is a list of the princial inhabitants
Gentry
- Adams Mrs.
- Denn Robert, Esq (F.)
- Evans Samuel,Esq (F.)
- Elliot Mrs.
- Hornsby Thomas, Esq (F.)
- Herrot Mr.
- Lenham Mrs.
- Prince John, Esq.
- Sandford Mrs.
Clergy
- Bingham Rev Mr. Dissenting-Minister
- Edwards Rev. Andrew, Rector
- Henningham Rev. --, Curate
- Scost Rev. Peter Barker, Curate
Physic
- Boodle John, Surgeon
- Walker Thomas, Surgeon
Law
Traders, &c
- Adams Thomas, Miller and Baker
- Awcock Richard, Gardener
- Ainsworth William, Town Crier
- Brockes Joseph, Grocer and Tea Dealer
- Brockes Mrs. Schoolmistress
- Burrel George, Collar-maker
- Bright Peter, Victualler (Anchor)
- Bickett Jonathon, Hair Dresser
- Barrard John, Staymaker
- Biggs Thomas, Victualler (Cock)
- Battle Isaac, Shopkeeper
- Binches, Susan and Hannah, Ladies Boarding School
- Brockies Andrew, (F.)Maltster
- Balls Mrs. slopseller
- Banallion Mrs. Postmistress
- Barnes John, Breeches maker
- Carey Richard, (F.) Cornfactor
- Cooper William, Inkeeper (Bull)
- Carter Elias, Butcher
- Crabb Robert, Farmer
- Dodd Cornelius, (F.) Tallow-chandler
- Davey Richard, (F.) Grocer
- Eve Benjamin, linen-draper, grocer and tallow-chandler
- Edney Joseph, Farrier
- Freshwater John, (F.) Draper and taylor
- Finch William, Brandy merchant
- Finch Richard, Butcher
- Gardener Edw. fen (F.), Schoolmaster
- Giffen Joseph, Shoemaker
- Hendry Thomas, Victualler and post office keeper (White Horse)
- Irwin Richard, Shoemaker
- Miller Daniel, Linen and woolen draper
- Moore William,(F.) Carpenter, Joiner, and Land Surveyor
- Munday Samuel, Bricklayer
- Matthews William, Butcher
- Merrington James, Gardener
- Moss John, Excise Officer
- Nichols Theo. innkeeper (Lion) and loaded waggon maker
- Nichols Geo. sadler and collar-maker
- Nicholls James, Victualler (Kin's Head)
- Osborne Joseph, Victualler (Brewers)
- Patmore William, (F.) Carpenter, Joiner and auctioneer
- Porter Charles, Shoemaker
- Playle Mrs
- Reynolds Peter, Taylor and Draper
- Rayner Edw and Sam, Pig Butchers
- Ross Mrs, Tanner
- Sadler Frances, (F.) Baker, Miller, Cornfactor
- Scruby James, (F.) Turner, Chairmaker and cooper
- Skidmore John, Painter, Glazier &c
- Smith George, Sadler &c
- Turner Thomas, Blacksmith
- Till Pearson, Linen and Woolen draper
- Thorrowgood Thomas, Shopkeeper
- Wiltshire Joseph, (F.) Plumber and Glazier
- Williams Geo. (F.) Inkeeper and Farmer
- Westwood John, (F.) Brandy merchant
- Wood William, sen. Shoemaker
- Wood William, jun. Shoemaker
- Wastson Samuel, Brazier
- Whitham John, (F.) Wheelwright
- Wright Wm. Clock and Watchmaker
Transcribed by AB 27/2/2008