31 Aug 2006
Transcribed by Stacey Gardner
Birdham is a parish, 4 miles south-west from Chichester, in the south-western division of the county, Manhood hundred, rape and county court district of Chichester, Westhampnett union, rural deanery of Box grove (3rd division), and archdeaconry & diocese of Chichester and 4 ½ miles south-west from that city. The Arundel & Portsmouth canal passes through the parish and terminates at Chichester harbour. The church (supposed to have been dedicated to St. James) is an ancient edifice, in the Early English and Perpendicular styles and has a tower containing 2 bells; the church was restored in 1883 at a cost of £819 there are sittings for 250 persons. The register dates from the year 1538. The living is a rectory, net yearly value £260, with residence and 11 acres of glebe, in the gift of the Dean & Chapter of Chichester and held since 1882 by the Rev. Richard Espinasse M.A. of Christ Church, Oxford. The ecclesiastical commissioners are lords of the manor. The principal landowner is the Duke of Richmond & Gordon K.G. The soil is loam; subsoil, Bracklesham clay. The chief crops are wheat, barley and oats. Area 1,810 acres of land and 7 of water, 31 of tidal water and 144 of foreshore; rateable value, £???; the population in 1891 was 453.
Clerk, Henry Creese
Post & Telegraph & Express Delivery Office - William Mant, sub-postmaster. Letters arrive from Chichester at 7.10am; dispatched at 6.40pm. Postal orders are issued here, but not paid. The nearest money order office is at West Wittering.
Letter box, Hotel corner, cleared at 6.45pm week days; Sundays, 11.50am
National School, (mixed), built in 1817, enlarged in 1874 & infant school built in 1885, for 220 children, average attendance, 175; Alfred John Nixon, master; Mrs Nixon, infants mistress
Carrier to Chichester, George Robinson, mon, wed, fri, & sat.
Dawtrey William
Espinasse Rev. Richard M.A., Rectory
Francis William
Kerwood Mrs. Mary
Commercial
Baker William, The Hotel P.H.
Balchin George, sen. Farmer & market gardener
Balchin Maurice, farmer
Balchin William, farmer & shopkeeper
Carpenter Reuben, bricklayer
Chaffer Samuel, farmer
Clayton James, Bell P.H.
Farne William, miller (water) & farmer
Farne William, jun. farmer, Holt’s farm
Habin Harry, farmer
Haskins Mrs Albert & Eli, farmers & dealers, Broomer farm & chaffinch farm
Haskins Cornelius, wheelwright
Jarman Hugh, farmer
Mant William, grocer & post office
Napper Gilmore, blacksmith
Peachey William, farmer, Lippering farm
Shrubb Henry, farmer
Smart William, farmer
Stoveld George, Egremont Arms P.H.
Vine James, farmer, Manhood End farm
31 Aug 2006 | Transcribed by Stacey Gardner |
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