A Topographical Dictionary of England (1831) by Samuel Lewis

“CHIGWELL, a parish in the hundred of ONGAR, county of ESSEX, 6 miles (S.) from Epping, and 12 (N. E.) from London, containing 1696 inhabitants.

The living is a vicarage, in the archdeaconry of Essex, and diocese of London, rated in the king's books at £18, and in the patronage of the Prebendary of St. Pancras' in the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, London. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is an ancient structure, exhibiting in the south entrance and other parts some remains of early Norman architecture, with a wooden belfry and spire; on the north side of the chancel are the effigies in brass of Dr. Harsnet, Archbishop of York, many years vicar of this parish, and successively Bishop of Chichester and Norwich, and Archbishop of York, who was buried here, in 1631; on the south side is a monument in alabaster to the memory of Thomas Coleshill, Esq., an officer in the courts of Edward VI., Queen Mary, and Queen Elizabeth, inspector of the customs of the port of London, who died in 1595; there are also several other ancient monuments.

There is a place of worship for Particular Baptists at Chigwell-Row.

This place in ancient records is called Cingwella, supposed to imply the king's well, from which its present name is derived. In the forest adjoining the parish was formerly a royal mansion, called Potteles, or Langfords, the only memorial of which is preserved in the name of the site, now called King's Place Farm.

The village consists principally of one long street on the public road, containing many substantial houses: at the distance of a mile to the south-east of the church is a range of good houses, called Chigwell-Row, forming one of the most populous and respectable parts of the parish.

In 1629, Archbishop Harsnet, having previously built two school-houses, and a dwelling-house for a Latin master, purchased a house for another master, with a garden for each, and founded two free schools, one for the Greek and Latin languages, the other for writing and arithmetic, which he endowed with the impropriate rectory of Tottington, in Norfolk; and invested the advowson of the vicarage of that parish in trustees for presentation to such as had been educated in the grammar school of Chigwell, or, in default of such, to natives of this parish: the management of these schools he vested in governors, consisting of the Vicar of Chigwell, the Rector of Loughton, and ten of the most respectable inhabitants of the parish, by whom, with preference to such as have been educated in the school, or natives of the parish, the master is appointed; the election must take place within ten days after a vacancy occurs, otherwise the nomination lapses to the Bishop of London. William Penn, founder of the colony of Pennsylvania, was educated in this school.

A charity school for twelve girls, established in 1700, is supported partly by subscription, and partly by legacies of £100 each, bequeathed by William Scott, Esq., in 1725, and Mrs. Barbara Fisher, in 1808.

Almshouses were endowed by an unknown benefactor for three aged widows, who receive each an allowance of £1. 5. 8. per annum. There are several charitable benefactions for distribution among the poor; and, in 1357, Mr. John Sympson left lands,, producing £15 per. annum, foe. keeping in repair the foot-path from Abridge to Woodbridge, which passes through the parish.

At Chigwell- Row is a spring, the water of which possesses a cathartic property.”

From Samuel Lewis A Topographical Dictionary of England (1831) - copyright Mel Lockie 2016