22 Jul 2006
Transcribed by Stacey Gardner
Birdham is a parish 4 miles south-east from Chichester, in the south-western division of the county hundred of Manhood, rape, petty sessional division and county court district of Chichester, union of Westhampnett, and in the rural deanery of Selsey, and archdeaconry and diocese of Chichester. The Arundel and Portsmouth canal pass through this parish and terminates at Chichester Harbour. The church supposed to have been dedicated to St James is an ancient edifice of stone, 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, and has sittings for 250 persons. The register dates from the year 1538. The living is a rectory, net yearly value £279, with residence and 11 acres of glebe, in the gift of the Bishop of Chichester, and held since 1901 by the Rev William George Hunter L.Th. Of Hatfield Hall, Durham. The Ecclesiastical Commissioners are lords of the manor, and the Duke of Richmond and Gordon K.G, G.C.V.C., C.B. is the principal landowner. The soil is loam; subsoil, Bracklesham clay. The chief crops are wheat, barley, and oats. Area 1,806 acres of land and 5 of water, 37 of tidal water and 138 of foreshore; rateable value, £2,516; the population of 1901 was 389. Clerk Henry Creese.
Post, M. O. & T Office Mrs Emma Mant, sub-post mistress. Letters arrive from Chichester at 7.25am; dispatched at 12.30 & 6.40pm
Letter Box, Hotel corner, cleared at 12.35 & 6.45pm weekdays; Sundays 10.45am
Public Elementary School (mixed), built in 1817, enlarged in 1874 & an infant school built in 1885, for 220 children; average attendance, 140; Alfred John Nixon master; Mrs Nixon, infants mistress
Carriers to Chichester, George Robinson, mon, wed, fri & sat. & Charles Petter, mon, wed, fri & sat
Private Residents
Dawtry Mrs
Farne Mrs. Court Barn House
Hobgen Francis
Hunter Rev. William George, L.Th (rector) rectory
Kerwood Miss
Wilson Mrs. The Bunk
Commercial
Bayley George, farmer, Batchmeres
Balchin Maurice, farmer
Balchin Wm. Farmer & shopkeeper
Boughton Henry, farmer
Carpenter Reuben, bricklayer
Clayton Ellen (Mrs), Bell P.H
Farne & Sons, millers (water) & farmers
Farne William, farmer Holt’s farm
Harding Alfred, farmer
Harris William, farmer, Lippering farm
Haskins Cornelius, Wheelwright
Haskins Eli, farmer
Haskins Henry, farmer
Hoare Chas. (Mrs), The Hotel P.H
Hobgen Arthur Percy, farmer
Jarman Hugh, farmer
Mant Emma (Mrs), grocer, Post Office
Mills William, farmer
Napper Gilmore, blacksmith
Robinson John, shopkeeper
Shrubb Henry, farmer
Smart William George, farmer
Spiers Edward, farmer
Wilkins Harry W, farmer, Manhood End farm
22 Jul 2006 | Transcribed by Stacey Gardner |
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