Faulkbourne
Encyclopedia
Faulkbourne is a civil parish
in the Braintree district
of Essex
, about 2 miles (3 km) north-west of Witham
.
According to Faulkbourne's Victorian era
rector
, the Rev. Frederick Spurrell
, the name of the village (which was also spelled "Faulkbourn") is probably derived from the Old English words "falk" or "folc" (meaning "folk") and "burn" (meaning "well").
The parish church, along this those of Fairstead & White Notley
are administered by the Rector of Terling
.
, after the Norman Conquest, and was in the possession of various families over the following centuries (Bohun, Montgomery, Fortescue).
The present Hall dates from 1440 and is a red-bricked building with turrets and incorporates an earlier Norman
tower. It has been suggested that a Roman
villa originally stood on the site.
In 1637, the Fortescues sold the Hall to Sir Edward Bullock. The Bullock family lived at Faulkbourne until the late 19th century, and included Colonel John Bullock, Member of Parliament
for Maldon
from 1754 to 1774. In April 1885, Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll
(Queen Victoria
's daughter) stood as sponsor at the christening of a member of the Bullock family. There are several memorials to the Bullock family inside the Church.
and was restored in 1886 by the Rev. Frederick Spurrell, with the assistance of the architect Sir Arthur Blomfield
. Rev. Spurrell presented a history of the church to the Essex Archaeological Society on 30 August 1877, a transcript of which can be found in their records. He dates the church as Norman
, built towards the end of the reign of William I of England
, and suggests that the reason for the building being dedicated to Saint Germanus is probably that it was consecrated on 31 July, his feast day.
...
Rev. John Harrison (1746-1798)
Rev. John Watson (1798-1818)
Rev. John Bullock (1818-1845)
Rev. Robert Burdett Burgess, M.A. (1845-1847)
Rev. Walter Trevelyan Bullock, M.A. (1847-1853)
Rev. Frederick Spurrell
, M.A., A.K.C. (1853-1898)
...
Rev. John Michael Hall (current Rector of Fairstead with Terling
and White Notley
with Faulkbourne)
A guide to Saint Germanus Church Faulkbourne, (Ed. David Andrews) compiled by the Parochial Church Council (2000), Faulkbourne Press, ISBN 978-0953802814
Faulkbourn Church, a paper by the Rev. Frederick Spurrell published in the Essex Archaeological Society Transperiodical (1878)
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in the Braintree district
Braintree (district)
Braintree is a local government district in the English county of Essex. Its main town is Braintree.The main centres of population are Braintree, Witham and Halstead....
of Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, about 2 miles (3 km) north-west of Witham
Witham
Witham is a town in the county of Essex, in the south east of England with a population of 22,500. It is part of the District of Braintree and is twinned with the town of Waldbröl, Germany. Witham stands between the larger towns of Chelmsford and Colchester...
.
According to Faulkbourne's Victorian era
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
, the Rev. Frederick Spurrell
Frederick Spurrell
The Reverend Frederick Spurrell was the second son, and seventh of eight children, of Charles Spurrell and Hannah Shears . He was descended from the Spurrell family of Thurgarton, Norfolk....
, the name of the village (which was also spelled "Faulkbourn") is probably derived from the Old English words "falk" or "folc" (meaning "folk") and "burn" (meaning "well").
The parish church, along this those of Fairstead & White Notley
White Notley
White Notley is a parish in Essex, England. The settlement lies equidistant between the towns of Witham and Braintree amongst arable farmland, 4 miles in each direction...
are administered by the Rector of Terling
Terling
Terling is a village in the county of Essex, England, between the town of Witham and the villages of Great Leighs and Hatfield Peverel. The village was mentioned in the Domesday book...
.
Faulkbourne Hall
The manor of Faulkbourne was given to Hamo Dapifer by his uncle, William the ConquerorWilliam I of England
William I , also known as William the Conqueror , was the first Norman King of England from Christmas 1066 until his death. He was also Duke of Normandy from 3 July 1035 until his death, under the name William II...
, after the Norman Conquest, and was in the possession of various families over the following centuries (Bohun, Montgomery, Fortescue).
The present Hall dates from 1440 and is a red-bricked building with turrets and incorporates an earlier Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
tower. It has been suggested that a Roman
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
villa originally stood on the site.
In 1637, the Fortescues sold the Hall to Sir Edward Bullock. The Bullock family lived at Faulkbourne until the late 19th century, and included Colonel John Bullock, Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Maldon
Maldon, Essex
Maldon is a town on the Blackwater estuary in Essex, England. It is the seat of the Maldon district and starting point of the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation.Maldon is twinned with the Dutch town of Cuijk...
from 1754 to 1774. In April 1885, Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll
Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll
The Princess Louise was a member of the British Royal Family, the sixth child and fourth daughter of Queen Victoria and her husband, Albert, Prince Consort.Louise's early life was spent moving between the various royal residences in the...
(Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
's daughter) stood as sponsor at the christening of a member of the Bullock family. There are several memorials to the Bullock family inside the Church.
Faulkbourne Church
The church, which stands close to Faulkbourne Hall, the former residence of the Bullock family, is dedicated to Saint GermanusSaint Germanus
Saint Germanus may refer to:*Germanus , Spanish martyr-saint *Germanus of Auxerre , bishop of Auxerre who founded the Carolingian abbey of Saint-Germain en Auxerre named for the same saint...
and was restored in 1886 by the Rev. Frederick Spurrell, with the assistance of the architect Sir Arthur Blomfield
Arthur Blomfield
Sir Arthur William Blomfield was an English architect.-Background:The fourth son of Charles James Blomfield, an Anglican Bishop of London helpfully began a programme of new church construction in the capital. Born in Fulham Palace, Arthur Blomfield was educated at Rugby and Trinity College,...
. Rev. Spurrell presented a history of the church to the Essex Archaeological Society on 30 August 1877, a transcript of which can be found in their records. He dates the church as Norman
Norman dynasty
Norman dynasty is the usual designation for the family that were the Dukes of Normandy and the English monarchs which immediately followed the Norman conquest and lasted until the Plantagenet dynasty came to power in 1154. It included Rollo and his descendants, and from William the Conqueror and...
, built towards the end of the reign of William I of England
William I of England
William I , also known as William the Conqueror , was the first Norman King of England from Christmas 1066 until his death. He was also Duke of Normandy from 3 July 1035 until his death, under the name William II...
, and suggests that the reason for the building being dedicated to Saint Germanus is probably that it was consecrated on 31 July, his feast day.
List of rectors
Some of the Rectors of Faulkbourne include:...
Rev. John Harrison (1746-1798)
Rev. John Watson (1798-1818)
Rev. John Bullock (1818-1845)
Rev. Robert Burdett Burgess, M.A. (1845-1847)
Rev. Walter Trevelyan Bullock, M.A. (1847-1853)
Rev. Frederick Spurrell
Frederick Spurrell
The Reverend Frederick Spurrell was the second son, and seventh of eight children, of Charles Spurrell and Hannah Shears . He was descended from the Spurrell family of Thurgarton, Norfolk....
, M.A., A.K.C. (1853-1898)
...
Rev. John Michael Hall (current Rector of Fairstead with Terling
Terling
Terling is a village in the county of Essex, England, between the town of Witham and the villages of Great Leighs and Hatfield Peverel. The village was mentioned in the Domesday book...
and White Notley
White Notley
White Notley is a parish in Essex, England. The settlement lies equidistant between the towns of Witham and Braintree amongst arable farmland, 4 miles in each direction...
with Faulkbourne)
Further reading
For more information on the church, seeA guide to Saint Germanus Church Faulkbourne, (Ed. David Andrews) compiled by the Parochial Church Council (2000), Faulkbourne Press, ISBN 978-0953802814
Faulkbourn Church, a paper by the Rev. Frederick Spurrell published in the Essex Archaeological Society Transperiodical (1878)