THE PLACE-NAMES
OF SHELLEY
Recorder: Michael Leach
Essex Place-names Project (Essex Society for Archaeology & History)
Essex Record Office e-book, 2nd edition, 2011. (1st edition in hard copy 1999).
www.essex.ac.uk/history/esah/essexplacenames
ESSEX PLACE-NAMES PROJECT.
The Essex Place-names Project is a County-wide survey to record place- and field-names from historical documents such as Tithe maps and apportionments, estate
maps, sale and auction catalogues, conveyances, terriers, deeds, rolls, inquisitions and surveys.
The second element of the Project is to investigate on-the-ground visible remains which correspond to the Place-names for actual or potential archaeological, agricultural and industrial
sites, and to record natural (topographical) and man-made features which may relate to the Place-name. This involves field-survey in rural and outside investigation in built-up areas.
It is anticipated that the Project will lead to identification of archaeological sites and lost historic buildings; it will enable analysis of indicators of early settlement, land holding, agricultural and industrial practices of the County. It will refine the more precise meaning of descriptive words and elements used by earlier settlers as they gave names appropriate to the topography of the landscape of their time.
For convenience the surveys are based on the parish, recognising that present civil parish boundaries are not necessarily identical to former ecclesiastical boundaries. Local Recorders
are supplied with templates of Record Forms to ensure consistency of recording across the County, and forward completed forms to a Central Coordinator for transfer to a county
computer database which is available at the Essex Record Office to researchers.
This publication presents part of the information recorded from the Tithe or Estate Award and Map, (and from other documents for this parish.) The full record is contained on the master
database in the Essex Record Office, Wharf Road, Chelmsford CM2 6YT and the website www.essex.ac.uk/history/esah/essexplacenames. Parish books are available from the ERO on disc or in hard copy or may be downloaded from the website. Please notify errors to the Project Coordinator at the Essex Record Office.
THE TITHE MAP AND APPORTIONMENT.
Since medieval times a tenth of the produce of land and stock had been paid by landholders to the church. At the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the property of many religious houses,
including the right to collect tithes, passed into lay hands. The Tithe Commutation Act which received Royal assent on 13th August 1836 abolished a rent payable in kind and
substituted rent-charges apportioned on each plot or parcel. The tithe-rent payable was assessed on the average value of wheat, barley and oats and was to fluctuate with price movements.
The commutation could be by voluntary agreement between the local owners and payers or, if agreement failed, could be compulsorily imposed by commissioners. A Valuer was to be
appointed to apportion the rent of each parcel of land and tenants could deduct that rent-charge from their rent paid to the landlord. The task fell to the Tithe Commissioners to produce a
map and an Apportionment (Award). A large-scale survey was produced for over 70% of England and Wales in the following 9 years, and about another 8% up to 1855. Most of the
parishes in Essex were surveyed. The map scales vary. The Award records ownership, tenancy and land-use, field by field and parcel by parcel (often quoting the field name) with the
ground area and rent-charge.
Land that was tithe-free tends to be less accurately mapped and contains few if any of the details recorded for those parcels subject to tithe. Rights of way and roads also tend to be
neglected. Boundaries of the tithe areas are shown as are some natural features such as streams, ponds, gardens, greens and commons. Buildings are often shown coloured red if dwellings
or grey if not. Because the Award may have been agreed only some time after the map was finished, discrepancies occur between the two. Enclosure Awards, when extant, usually date to the 18th and early 19th centuries. J.Kemble.
Shelley Parish (in Ongar Hundred).
The Tithe Award of Shelley (Essex Record Office D/CT 314a) shows a rent-charge of £192-13-0 payable to Rev Henry Soames including rectorial glebe of £9-7-6 and vicarial glebe of £3-5-6. The titheable acreage of the parish was 533 acres 3 roods 35 perches of which 330a 2r 10p were arable, 188a 25r 0p pasture, 2a 4r 0p wood and 13a 1r 25p common. The Tithe Commissioners were William Blamire and J.W. Buller, the Assistant J.M. Mathew, the Valuer Jonathan Lewis of Bobbingworth.
The Tithe Map (D/CT 314b) was surveyed by J. Barnard of Dunmow at a scale of 3 chains to an inch (26.6” to a mile), and measures 45”x37”. The north point is (wrongly) rotated 90 degrees.
In Domesday Book, Reginald held Senleiam from Geoffrey de Mandeville which Leofday had held before 1066 as a manor for 80 acres (Morris, 1983). Reaney (1935) translates this from OE scylf lea, ‘ shelving wood or clearing’. A tongue of land slopes down towards the south between the Cripsey Brook and River Roding from the 70m contour at Bundish Hall (parcel no 75) to the 50m contour at the Chipping Ongar boundary (now Tylers Green – High Ongar Road A414) (Kemble, 2007). Cripsey Brook was Northweldebrok, 1297, and the Laver, 1577, from the villages it runs through (Reaney, 1935).
The medieval church dedicated to St Peter was rebuilt in 1810, and again in 1888. Shelley Hall, a 14th century hall house, has a cross-wing on the north and a crown-post roof. In the attic is an early 17th century wall-painting (Pevsner, 2007).
References:
Kemble, J., 2007. Essex Place-names, Places, Streets & People. Historical Publications, London.
Morris, J., 1983. Domesday Book – Essex. Phillimore.
Pevsner, N., Bettley, J., 2007. Buildings of England – Essex. Yale.
Reaney, P., 1935. Place-names of Essex. Cambridge.
The Tithe Award Place-names of Shelley – by Parcel No.
Place-name / Alias / Fld No / Grd Ref / x / y / Acr / rd / pch / Land use / Owner / Occupier / Name of farm / Other information /Malting Meadow (pt) / 1 / TL / 545 / 056 / 3 / 2 / 37 / Pasture / CURE, CAPEL / CURE, CAPEL / MOTTS / NW Corner in Bobbingworth
Moreton Meadow (part) / 2 / TL / 545 / 056 / 0 / 3 / 25 / Mdw / Chaplin, Thomas, trustee of Chaplin, John dec’d / EVE, WILLIAM / BUNDISH HALL
Moreton Meadow / 3 / TL / 545 / 058 / 4 / 1 / 38 / Mdw / Chaplin, Thomas, trustee of Chaplin, John dec’d / EVE, WILLIAM / BUNDISH HALL
Wormsleys (part of) / 4 / TL / 547 / 058 / 9 / 2 / 28 / Arable / Chaplin, Thomas, trustee of Chaplin, John dec’d / EVE, WILLIAM / BUNDISH HALL
Bridge Meadow / 5 / TL / 547 / 055 / 4 / 2 / 31 / Mdw / Tomlinson, James / Tomlinson, Richard / MOTTS FARM
Brick Meadow / 6 / TL / 545 / 055 / 1 / 1 / 0 / Mdw / Tomlinson, James / Tomlinson, Richard / MOTTS FARM
Motts Homestead, gdn / Motes, 1777,C / 7 / TL / 545 / 045 / 0 / 3 / 35 / CURE, CAPEL / CURE, CAPEL / MOTTS / George Mott, 1633,Harl
Ashlings / 8 / TL / 545 / 054 / 7 / 0 / 1 / Pasture / CURE, CAPEL / CURE, CAPEL / MOTTS
Broom Field / 9 / TL / 545 / 053 / 5 / 0 / 0 / Arable / CURE, CAPEL / CURE, CAPEL / MOTTS
Guys Mead / 10 / TL / 545 / 052 / 2 / 0 / 17 / Mdw / White, Thomas Esq / Clark, William / Shelley Bridge
Long Croft / 11 / TL / 546 / 052 / 2 / 2 / 38 / Arable / White, Thomas Esq / Clark, William / Shelley Bridge
Six Acres / 12 / TL / 544 / 049 / 6 / 2 / 7 / Arable / White, Thomas Esq / Clark, William / Shelley Bridge
Upper Field / 13 / TL / 545 / 048 / 3 / 0 / 31 / Arable / White, Thomas Esq / Clark, William / Shelley Bridge
Andrews / 15 / TL / 545 / 047 / 1 / 2 / 16 / Pasture / White, Joseph / WHITE, SOPHIA / ANDREWS
Dockerills / 16 / TL / 545 / 048 / 3 / 3 / 20 / Arable / White, Thomas Esq / Clark, William / Shelley Bridge
Patience / 17 / TL / 546 / 049 / 2 / 0 / 37 / Pasture / White, Thomas Esq / Clark, William / Shelley Bridge
Brewers / 18 / TL / 547 / 052 / 3 / 0 / 31 / Pasture / White, Thomas Esq / Clark, William / Shelley Bridge
Cottage Gardens / 19 / TL / 547 / 052 / 0 / 0 / 16 / REDRICK, JAMES / SPOONER, ANN / Now Bumbles bungalow
Barn Field / 20 / TL / 547 / 054 / 3 / 3 / 3 / Mdw / Tomlinson, James / Tomlinson, Richard / MOTTS FARM
Long Meadow / 21 / TL / 557 / 054 / 2 / 1 / 25 / Mdw / Tomlinson, James / Tomlinson, Richard / MOTTS FARM
Bridge Pasture / 22 / TL / 548 / 045 / 1 / 3 / 36 / Pasture / Tomlinson, James / Tomlinson, Richard / MOTTS FARM
Lower Plumptons / 23 / TL / 549 / 057 / 12 / 0 / 29 / Pasture / Chaplin, Thomas, trustee of Chaplin, John dec’d / EVE, WILLIAM / BUNDISH HALL
Nineacre Plumptons / 24 / TL / 549 / 058 / 10 / 1 / 35 / Arable / Chaplin, Thomas, trustee of Chaplin, John dec’d / EVE, WILLIAM / BUNDISH HALL
Common Meadow / 25 / TL / 548 / 054 / 4 / 0 / 17 / Mdw / Chaplin, Thomas, trustee of Chaplin, John dec’d / EVE, WILLIAM / BUNDISH HALL
Bushey Leys / 27 / TL / 547 / 053 / 4 / 1 / 6 / Mdw / Tomlinson, James / Tomlinson, Richard / MOTTS FARM
Pot Ash / 28 / TL / 548 / 052 / 1 / 3 / 8 / Pasture / White, Thomas Esq / Clark, William / Shelley Bridge
Acre Piece / 29 / TL / 547 / 052 / 1 / 0 / 39 / Arable / White, Thomas Esq / Clark, William / Shelley Bridge / Moreton rd forms W bndry
Walnut Tree Field / 30 / TL / 548 / 047 / 6 / 3 / 19 / Mdw / White, Joseph / WHITE, SOPHIA / ANDREWS
Yard and Gardens / Bridge Farm, 1777,C / 31 / TL / 547 / 047 / 0 / 2 / 10 / White, Thomas / Clark, William / Shelley Bridge / Now Bridge House. William de Ponte, 1319, SubRoll
Great Meadow / 32 / TL / 547 / 046 / 6 / 0 / 33 / Mdw / White, Thomas / Clark, William / Shelley Bridge
Woodfield / 33 / TL / 547 / 045 / 2 / 3 / 32 / Arable / SOAMES, REV HENRY / Soames, Rev Henry / Glebe. Cripsey Brook N
Bridge Pasture / 34,a / TL / 546 / 045 / 3 / 1 / 13 / Pasture / White, Thomas Esq / Clark, William / Shelley Bridge
Shorthlands / 35 / TL / 546 / 044 / 2 / 3 / 17 / Arable / White, Thomas Esq / Clark, William / Shelley Bridge
Further Shortlands / 36 / TL / 544 / 042 / 3 / 1 / 10 / Arable / White, Thomas Esq / Clark, William / Shelley Bridge / Pt in Bobbingworth parish.
Cottage Graden / 37 / TL / 544 / 040 / 0 / 1 / 2 / REDRICK, JAMES / WOOD, HENRY / Now Auckingford Cottage
Upper Bushey Leys / 38 / TL / 544 / 040 / 2 / 1 / 18 / Pasture / Tomlinson, James / Tomlinson, Richard / White House Fields
Middle Bushey Leys / 39 / TL / 546 / 040 / 4 / 3 / 18 / Pasture / Tomlinson, James / Tomlinson, Richard / White House Fields
Spring / 40 / TL / 547 / 041 / 1 / 1 / 23 / Wood / White, Thomas Esq / Clark, William / Shelley Bridge
Seven Acres / 41 / TL / 545 / 042 / 7 / 1 / 26 / Arable / White, Thomas Esq / Clark, William / Shelley Bridge
Five Acres / 42 / TL / 546 / 043 / 5 / 1 / 9 / Arable / White, Thomas Esq / Clark, William / Shelley Bridge
Cottage Gardens / 43 / TL / 546 / 039 / 0 / 2 / 17 / Tomlinson, James / Tomlinson, Richard / White House Fields / Now Luppits
Lower Bushey Leys / 44 / TL / 547 / 039 / 2 / 1 / 10 / Mdw / Tomlinson, James / Tomlinson, Richard / White House Fields
Chase / 45 / TL / 550 / 040 / 0 / 0 / 14 / Pasture / CREW, WILLIAM / CREW, WILLIAM / SHELLEY HOUSE
The Meadow / 46 / TL / 549 / 041 / 2 / 1 / 29 / Mdw / CREW, WILLIAM / CREW, WILLIAM / SHELLEY HOUSE
Eight Acres / 47 / TL / 548 / 043 / 8 / 2 / 25 / Arable / White, Thomas Esq / Clark, William / Shelley Bridge
First Eight Acres / 48 / TL / 550 / 043 / 7 / 3 / 19 / Arable / White, Thomas Esq / Clark, William / Shelley Bridge
Spring / 49 / TL / 547 / 045 / 1 / 0 / 19 / Arable / SOAMES, REV HENRY / Soames, Rev Henry / Glebe.
Nicholls / 51 / TL / 550 / 047 / 1 / 0 / 31 / Pasture / SOAMES, REV HENRY / Soames, Rev Henry / Glebe. Anthony Nicholas (Nicholls in Newcourts Repertorium) Rector 1665-1686.
Hattons / 52 / TL / 549 / 047 / 3 / 3 / 33 / Pasture / SOAMES, REV HENRY / Soames, Rev Henry / Glebe. Ric. Hatton rector1558.
Berrymans / 53 / TL / 548 / 047 / 3 / 1 / 36 / Arable / SOAMES, REV HENRY / Soames, Rev Henry / Glebe. Joh. Berryman rector in 1568.
Bylls / 54 / TL / 548 / 049 / 1 / 1 / 24 / Pasture / SOAMES, REV HENRY / Soames, Rev Henry / Glebe. Nic. Byll rector 1574.
Pearsons / 55a / TL / 550 / 048 / 1 / 3 / 13 / Pasture / SOAMES, REV HENRY / Soames, Rev Henry / Glebe. Richard Pearson was Rector in 18th cent; John Pearson was Rector from 1686.
Woolnoughts / 55 / TL / 549 / 049 / 2 / 0 / 20 / Pasture / SOAMES, REV HENRY / Soames, Rev Henry / Glebe. Henry Woolnough was rector 1663-1664.
Stones / 56 / TL / 549 / 050 / 1 / 3 / 37 / Pasture / SOAMES, REV HENRY / Soames, Rev Henry / Glebe. Jac. Stone rector 1589.
Garden and Yard [Parsonage, 1777,C] / The Rectory, 1875,OS / 57 / TL / 549 / 050 / 1 / 1 / 24 / SOAMES, REV HENRY / Soames, Rev Henry / Glebe Farm & Rectory not extant on site.
Tanneys / 58 / TL / 552 / 051 / 8 / 1 / 31 / Pasture / SOAMES, REV HENRY / Soames, Rev Henry / GLEBE
Trebecks / 59 / TL / 551 / 048 / 6 / 2 / 2 / Arable / SOAMES, REV HENRY / Soames, Rev Henry / Glebe. James Trebeck was rector in 18th century.
Chequer Mead / 60 / TL / 551 / 047 / 6 / 2 / 22 / Pasture / Tomlinson, James / Tomlinson, Richard / SHELLEY HALL
Pooles Croft and Spring / 61 / TL / 550 / 045 / 9 / 1 / 26 / Arable / Tomlinson, James / Tomlinson, Richard / SHELLEY HALL
Fifteen Acres / 62 / TL / 551 / 041 / 16 / 0 / 20 / Arable / White, Thomas Esq / Clark, William / Shelley Bridge
Garden, Garden Meadow, Plantation / 63 / TL / 550 / 040 / 4 / 0 / 20 / Pasture, wd / CREW, WILLIAM / CREW, WILLIAM / SHELLEY HOUSE