Post by jo on Jul 27, 2021 8:16:16 GMT
HEAD MAN ON BASILDON FARM GOT £12 A YEAR!
By J.K. Payne
During the Georgian period, 1714-1837, the New Town area was entirely farmland. The population of Basildon parish was only 142 in 1821.
There were only about eight farms and half-a-dozen cottages in Basildon. In 1777 the Jerry family lived at Basildon Hall. Only the dry moat remains that formerly surrounded the manor house near Rayside and East Thorpe. At the same time James Arser kept the Bull Inn.
During this period some farmers rebuilt their ancient farmhouses. Fobbing Farm off Nether Mayne was built early in the nineteenth century. The farmer at Great Wasketts, possibly Daniel Archer, who lived there in 1833, built a new house on the front of his small five-roomed Tudor house. In 1828 Thomas Spitty rebuilt Bowers Gifford Hall outside the moat that had surrounded an older house, and placed the Spitty arms on the front.
The wages of a head man on a Basildon farm in 1795 were only £12 a year with board and lodging. Women servants had £5 per year with board, washing and lodging.
The parish provided the very poor with clothing. Paupers, however, had to obey the regulations or suffer. Elizabeth Beckham, a widow, of Langdon Hills, in 1784 was ordered to live in the poor house and wear the badge of the parish (a cloth badge with a large Roman P for pauper and the first letter of the name of the parish on it), if she refused she was to have no more relief for her children. There were free doctors for the poor at Langdon Hills and Bowers Gifford.
Well-to-do farmers could bank their money with local bankers. A banknote issued by George Crisp and Joseph Charles Butler, of Billericay, was on show at the ‘Georgian Essex’ exhibition held at Ingatestone Hall this year.
Apart from Basildon Fair held on September 14th and 15th, of which little is known, there were two annual cattle fairs at Billericay in August and October. These events were looked forward to and enjoyed. In 1832 there were swing boats, a roundabout, a ‘show’ from London and Mr Atkin’s wild beasts, also stalls for ginger bread, fancy goods,...(remainder of last sentence illegible).
Photo 1 Basildon Hall
