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People and Places

White Colne Buildings

114 Colchester Road

Numbers 112 and 114 Colchester Road are a terrace of brick and flint rubble cottages. Number 114 was said to have been four cottages at one time but is now one house. It consists of a house and out-shut, all built of brick and flint rubble. One surviving partition wall is timber framed with wattle and daub infill. The sill to this wall has pegged mortices suggesting that it is a re-used timber from an earlier timber framed house. The joists and upstairs partitions a made from timbers of small scantling. On the ground floor, next to number 112, a passageway through the building, has been created by building a brick wall. This enables the householder to move rubbish,etc., from the back garden to the front without going through the house. There is a well in the yard behind the house. The terrace was probably built in the 18th century to house agricultural labourers.

112 Colchester Road

This house is in two sections, the rear section is part of the same terrace as number 114, with the same materials and type of construction. The front section is a new house of 1901. This section is at a higher level than the terrace and there are three steps leading down into the rear section. This part of the house is built of red brick with a slate roof.

The deeds of the house go back to 1838, when Sarah Fairhead was admitted as a copyhold tenant to the Manor of Berwick Hall. In 1869 the house was enfranchised and became freehold. The house may have been built to house the owner or foreman of a local gravel quarry.

Baptist Chapel, Colchester Road, White Colne

The Particular Baptist Refuge Chapel was built in 1843 and had a resident minister by 1848. In the 1851 census it attracted up to 120 people to its afternoon and evening services. There was also a Sunday School, which attracted 70 children. The congregation was mainly made up of poor agricultural workers and their families.

The building is mostly made of brick but:some of the external walls are made of flint. The low pitched roof is covered in slate.

Inside there used to be rows of simple wooden benches. The last service was held there in 1971 and the building was converted into a house in about 1987. The land in front of the chapel is a graveyard and when a survey was made in about 1985 there were about twenty gravestones.

A record of the legible gravestones has been deposited with the Essex Society for Family History. The brick house next to the chapel, which was demolished in 2006, was probably built as the house of the resident minister.

Village Hall

The current use of the building dates from 1976, when planning permission was first sought to convert the old stationmaster's cottage for use as a parish hall. The building itself dates from about 1860, the original station building being part built from pale stone and brick. Believed to be the first station built and opened for the Colne Valley and Halstead Railway (CVHR), and smallest on the line, the later extension (in red brick) was added to give accommodation for the station master.

Originally known simply as Colne, the station served the two villages of White Colne and Earls Colne until a new station (known as Ford Gate) was built between Earls Colne and Colne Engaine in about 1898. The station in Bures Road was closed at this time but reopened in 1907 as White Colne Station. The line closed to passengers in 1961 and to goods traffic in April 1965.

The present building is all that remains of White Colne Station, although the car park, football and basketball areas are on the site of the goods yard. The platform itself, now removed, was situated across Bures Road, in the grounds of what is now a private residence. A programme of work is now underway to improve the standard and appearance of the hall to provide better facilities for residents and other users.

White Colne Points of Interest

Railway

The Colne Valley and Halstead Railway (CVHR) opened in April 1860, running over six miles of track between Chappel and Wakes Colne Station to the east and Halstead to the west. The line was then extended in stages, eventually reaching Haverhill in 1863. This provided a rail connection between Colchester and Cambridge, although plans to run ‘through trains’ between these never materialised. In an age of considerable competition, when the rail network was expanding rapidly, vested interests often prevented new investment and  the construction and completion of the line was a considerable achievement by local businessmen and investors.

As a single track,. local service the railway was not financially successful and went through several periods of financial hardship, even entering receivership in the 1870s.   Later  improvements in its fortunes were short lived as competition from the new bus services following the First World War, hit its passenger traffic. Freight traffic remained more robust and eventually the line only ran freight trains prior to its closure in 1965.

During World War II the line, and White Colne Station, were important in supplying local RAF and USAAF air stations with munitions. Ammunition trains were unloaded at White Colne, their loads destined for Earls Colne  Airfield, just two miles to the South West, and other local airfields.

Running broadly from east to west, the line entered White Colne, crossing Reedings Brook and Boley Road where Colne Valley Nursery now stands. The route then took a gentle curve running roughly parallel to the main A1124 road, crossing Bures Road where the first station was built. Further on, the route crossed Colne Park Road, where the bridge supports remain, and followed the River Colne into the parishes of Colne Engaine and Earls Colne.  Although much of the route is now private land, the section from Colne Park Road westwards is now a footpath open to the public. (for more detailed information on the Railway click here )

The Meadows

Over a period of four years, the Parish Council and residents of White Colne have transformed a six acre site from agricultural land into an attractive amenity area for use and recreation by all, as well as providing new habitats for wildlife. Located just a few hundred metres from the Village Hall, the site was originally given to the village by the Hunt family of Earls Colne, and used as allotments, about a dozen of which still remain and are under cultivation

With generous funding from both national and local agencies and with practical support from the River Colne Countryside Project, local volunteers have planted over 1000 trees and hedging plants, erected barn owl and bat boxes, built insect habitats and a pond dipping platform, and installed a beacon and art feature.

The Meadows were officially opened in June 2006 with a Medieval Revel, one the successful village events which have introduced many people to the site. The primary purpose of The Meadows, however, is to enable visitors to enjoy the beauty of the area and its surroundings, and as the plants develop enjoy the wildflower meadows and trees, and the increasing number of birds and animals visiting or living on the site.

Old Railway Line

This section of the old track bed is now a footpath joining White Colne with neighbours, Earls Colne and Colne Engaine, This part of the old railway was until recently managed by Essex Wildlife Trust as a nature reserve. There have been plans to improve and incorporate this section into a long distance, multi-access path along the Colne Valley.

Old Boundaries

There are two areas covered by these walks where boundary changes have had a significant impact.

Colneford Hill: The river has long formed the southern boundary of the parish to the point where it crosses the main road at Colneford Hill. White Colne Village Green, formerly known as Colneford Green, adjoining properties, the meadow to the west of the green and part of Colchester Road was transferred to White Colne in 1985 from neighbouring parishes. This resulted in a population increase for white Colne from 273 in 1981 to 445 in 1991.

Colne Park: the present parish boundary runs along the driveway from the gatehouse in Colne Park Road, turns eastwards before reaching Colne Park House and then northwards between the house and Insteps farm. The map of 1744 shows the boundary running further west and north with Home Farm and Colne Park House within White Colne. By 1840, the boundary had be redrawn to run south and east of the house, migrating to its present line 1985.

Soane's Monument

Colne Park was created from the ancient manor of Sherives by Michael Hills, who bought the estate in 1762. He and his heirs rebuilt the house and created the park, although little of either remain in their original form. In 1791. Phillip Hills erected to the north of the house, a memorial 23 metres in height, an ionic column topped by a copper urn. Although bordered by mature woodland, the top of the column is visible for some distance around. The inscription on the plinth reads:

                                                                     Michael Roberto Hills

                                                                                    AMR

                                                                             Phillipus Hills

                                                                   Observantaei Ergo 1791

The memorial was designed by Sir John Soane, an eminent architect of 18th Century, whose major works included the Bank of England, State Rooms in 10 and 11 Downing Street and, more locally, Tendrinq Hall in Suffolk. His own house and collection are preserved as  the Sloane Museum in  Lincoln's Fields, London.

Roman Remains

Although just outside the present boundary of the parish, the site of a Roman find was within White Colne until 1985. Located in Colne Park, in the field just beyond the cattle and where the footpath crosses the entrance drive, a Roman Dressel type 1B amphora was discovered in the 19th Century. This type of vessel is believed to have been produced in the first century BC principally for storing wine. Although this is believed to be an isolated find, the extensive use of Roman brick in the 11th century church indicates local Roman settlement.

School (Colchester Road)

At the top of White Colne Green, now two private houses, is the building which housed the Colnes United British School, established in 1850. ‘The Society for Promoting the Lancastrian System for the Education of the Poor’ was formed in 1808, supported by a number of prominent evangelical and non-conformist Christians, including William Wilberforce. In 1814 the Society was renamed 'British and Foreign School Society’, and throughout the 19th century set up 'British Schools' and teacher training institutions on non-sectarian principles in Britain and overseas. The Society now administers various trusts and funds in pursuit of its educational aims. The White Colne school existed for only 24 years, closing in 1874. At its peak, attendance was about 60 pupils. It is almost certain that this building became the Friends Meeting House shown on the 1881 map.

School (Bures Road)

In 1863, a National School was built on the corner of Bures Road and what is now Boley Road. It seems this was largely due to the work of the curate of the nearby St Andrew's church, G J Taylor. Two years earlier he had opened  a church school in a cottage. By the 1870s the school had 70 pupils, and a new infants class. It declined in the 1900s and by its Closure in 1932 only 25 pupils were on the roll.

References

Victoria County History of Essex, volume 10 . page 138.

Living in

the Landscape

White Colne Buildings

White Colne

Points of Interest

Evidence of Human Occupation

Roman period

Anglo Saxon & Medieval periods

England after 886 AD

Medieval White Colne Manors

Medieval Life

Living & Working in White Colne

Twentieth century and beyond

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Long Melford

White Colne

Colchester

Halstead

Braintree

Dunmow

Chelmsford

R Colne

Major Roman Roads

Known

Known/speculative

Speculative

Stane Street

Via

Devana

Essex

Suffolk

White Colne Parish  c1750

Note:

Detached part of White Colne to

        the North East.

Detached parts of Colne Engaine

        and part of Earls Colne to

        South side of Colchester Road

        and East of Colneford Green.

2 Inns recorded in Parish

       Red Lion and George.

Baggaretts

Berewyck

Hall

Colne Park

Insteps

Bart

Hall

Lamarsh

Bures

Colne

Engaine

Wakes

Colne

Colne

Engaine

Part of

Earls Colne

since 1676

Earls Colne

Colne

Engaine

Colne

R

Insteps

Colneford

Green

< Earls

   Colne

Chalkney

Mill

Church

Little

Catleys

Farm

Readings

Berwick

Hall

Bart

Hall

Brook

Chappel >

Reedings

Colchester  >

Brook

Farm

White Colne

Green

Whites

Farm

Great

Catleys

Farm

Cambridge Brook

Brambles

Farm

Baggaretts

Farm

Bures

Colne

Engaine

Wakes

Colne

Colne

Engaine

Part of

Earls Colne

since 1676

Earls Colne

Colne

Engaine

Colne

R

Insteps

White Colne

Green

< Earls

   Colne

Chalkney

Mill

Church

Little

Catleys

Farm

Readings

Berwick

Hall

Bart

Hall

White Colne

Green

Whites

Great

Cambridge Brook

Brambles

Baggaretts

Farm

Catleys

Farm

Farm

Inn

White Colne

Station

Chapel

Fox &

Pheasant

Farm

Farm

Areas  formerly part

of Wakes Colne or

Colne Engaine

Areas formerly part

of White Colne

Countess

Cross

Brook

Chappel >

Reedings

Colchester  >

Bures

Colne

Engaine

Wakes

Colne

Colne

Engaine

Part of

Earls Colne

since 1676

Earls Colne

Colne

Engaine

Colne

R

Insteps

Colneford

Green

< Earls

   Colne

Chalkney

Mill

Church

Little

Catleys

Farm

Readings

Berwick

Hall

Bart

Hall

Brook

Chappel >

Reedings

White Colne

Green

Whites

Farm

Great

Catleys

Farm

Cambridge Brook

Brambles

Farm

Baggaretts

Farm

Lamarsh

Foxes & Pheasants

Farm

Colchester  >

School

<   Halstead

Bures

Colne

Engaine

Wakes

Colne

Colne

Earls Colne

Colne

Engaine

Colne

R

Insteps

White Colne Green

< Earls

   Colne

Chalkney

Mill

Church

Little

Readings

Berwick

Hall

Bart

Hall

White Colne

Green

Whites

Great

Cambridge Brook

Brambles

Baggaretts

Farm

Catleys

The Meadows

Village Hall HallWhite Colne

Pheasant

Farm

Farm

Countess

Cross

Brook Chappel >

Reedings

Colchester  >

Fox &

Line of disused railway

White Colne Parish c1850

Note:

Detached parts of Colne Engaine and Earls Colne to South side of Colchester Road and Colneford Green.

New Baptist Chapel in Colchester Road.

United British School established 1850, closed 1874, in Colchester Road to become Quaker Meeting House.

Site in Bures Road near church for new National School built 1883, closed in 1932.

Kings Head only inn recorded in village.

Railway opened in 1880.

Colne

Engaine

White Colne Parish c1950

Note:

Detached part of Earls Colne to the south side of Colchester Road and east of Colneford Green, now known as White Colne Green.

White Colne Parish 2008

Note:

Colneford Hill and area south of Colchester Road now within

White Colne Parish.

Catleys

Farm

Engaine

Farm

  Population 2001: 480  Households:  179

1876: Quaker Meeting House established

1863: National School opened (near Church)

1860: Colne  Valley & Halstead Railway opened

1850: Colnes United British School established, closed 1874

1841: 1 inn (Kings Head) recorded

Population  1801: 221,  1851: 459

1853 - 6

Crimean War

1805 - Battle

of Trafalgar

1800 - Bill to unite Great Britain & Ireland

1672: Presbyterian meeting

              house licensed

1638: A “great mortality”

1671: 20 households assessed for

     hearth tax    -   further 27 exempt

1650 - 61 - Commonwealth/Protectorate

1605 - Gunpowder Plot

1603 - Union of England and Scotland

1997  Last inn in village closed

1978: Parish Hall opened

1965: Railway closed to all traffic

1932 School closed (25 pupils)

White Colne residents killed in action

WW1: 11    WW2: 4 (per War Memorial)

Population 1901: 312   1951: 369,   1891: 273,   1991:445 (boundary change)

1778 & 1790: only about 40 houses recorded in

       the parish

1765: Road from Colchester to Cambridge through

     White Colne turnpiked

1754: 2 inns (Red Lion & George) recorded

1776 - American

Declaration of

Independence

   1966 - England win World Cup

1900 AD

1800 AD

1600 AD

1700 AD

Source: www.visionofbritain.org.uk

 Annual Census Data 1801 - 2001

3500

3000

2500

2000

1500

1000

500

0

800

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

0

White Colne population

Earls Colne population

Social Status                                                                      Industry

Census 1831  White Colne

Comparative percentages for England & Wales:

Labourers & Servants                          42                            Agriculture                               33

Middling Sorts                                       43                            Manufacture                            10

Employers & Educated Men                10                            Retail/Handicrafts                   30

Others                                                      5                            Others                                     27

Labourers

and

Servants

Others

Agriculture

Middling

Sorts