31 Aug 2006
Transcribed by Stacey Gardner
Birdham is a parish in the 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. Leonard) is an ancient edifice, in the Early English style, consisting of chancel, nave, south porch and a tower containing 2 bells; in the church is one monument; there are sittings for 250 persons. The register dates from the year 1538. The living is a rectory, net yearly value £256, with residence and glebe let for £21, 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. The soil is loam; subsoil, gravel. The chief crops are wheat, barley and oats. Area 1,808 acres of land and 140 of water; rateable value, £3,343; the population in 1881 was 463.
Parish clerk, none
Post Office - William Mant, receiver. Letters arrive from Chichester at 7.40am; dispatched at 6pm. The nearest money order office is at Sidelsham. Letter box cleared at 6.50pm week days; Sundays, 11am
Registrar of births & deaths, collector of rates & relieving officer of Manhood district, William Dawtry
National School, Edward Hoare, master
Espinasse Rev. Richard M.A., Rectory
Cordwell William Thomas, Hundredsteddle
Francis William
Commercial
Aburrow Augustus, farm bailiff to Miss Eliza Combes, Chichester
Balchin George, market gardener
Bard James Pelly, butcher
Carpenter Charles, stone mason
Carpenter Frederick, bricklayer
Creese Henry, Hotel
Dawtry William, registrar of births & deaths, & relieving officer & vaccination officer of Manhood district, & collector of rates
Edney Thomas L. cattle dealer
*Farne William, miller (water) & farmer
Haskins Albert & Eli, farmers & dealers, Broomer farm
Haskins Cornelius, wheelwright
Jones Frank, bricklayer
Mant William, grocer & post office
Napper Edwin & Frederick, farmers, Mill farm
Napper David, farmer, Chaffinch’s farm
Napper Henry, blacksmith
Novell Frances (Mrs), “Egremont Arms”
Penfold Hugh, farmer, Batchmere’s farm
Prior Sarah (Mrs), shopkeeper
Tier Frederick, Bell
Tier Frederick, jun. butcher
Vine James, farmer, Manhood End farm
31 Aug 2006 | Transcribed by Stacey Gardner |
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