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Hundred Of Chafford
"History and Topography of The County of Essex
Comprising its Ancient and Modern History"
1895, Vol 2, page 527. Submitted By: Sue Wright
The small parish of Cranham is about three miles in length, and not more than half a mile broad. The village is distant from Brentwood five, and from London sixteen miles.
This parish, with the two Okendons, were formerly united, forming a district named Okendon, or Wokendon; and, at the time when the division into three lordships took place, this portion was named Wokendon Episcopi, on account of its belonging to the bishop of London; its name of Cranham is not found in records till the time of Edward the fourth.
Cranham Hall: The mansion of Cranham Hall is an ancient building, near the church. The manor, after having belonged to the families of Curson, Trendle, Selman, and Mordaunt, was purchased by sir William Petre, who died in 1571; and Francis Petre, esq. His descendant, sold it to Nathan Wright, esq. Son of John Wright, of Kelvedon Hatch, who died in 1657; and his family retained this possession till it was conveyed in marriage with Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of Nathan Wright, to James Oglethorp, of Westbrook Place, in Surrey, general of his majesty's forces. The general, after having witnessed the establishment of the independence of America, which he has assisted to accomplish, and having himself settled that of Georgia, in 1732, died in 1785, aged on hundred and three. He was survived by his widow, on whose decease the estate became the property of sir Thomas Hussey Apreece, bart. Of Washingley, in Huntingdonshire.
The church is a plain ancient building, dedicated to All Saints. There are inscriptions in the church to the memory of many of the family of Wright. Sir Nathan Wright gave two almshouses in St. Mary's Lane.
In 1821, the population of this parish amounted to two hundred and eighty-nine; and in 1831, to three hundred.
Please place in the Subject Line:
WEBPAGE-HISTORY
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