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Stifford (St. Mary)

STIFFORD (St. Mary), a parish, in the union of Orsett, hundred of Chafford, S. division of Essex, 10 miles (S. E.) from Romford; containing 402 inhabitants. The parish is on the Horndon road, and takes its name from a ford over a stream that flows into the river Thames; it comprises 1547a. 3r. 9p., of which about 1271 acres are arable, 241 pasture, and 35 woodland. Extensive chalk pits have been worked for the last two centuries. The village is pleasantly situated, and has many well-built houses. The living is a rectory, valued in the king's books at £15, and in the gift of R. Wingfield, Esq. and the Embroiderers' Company in fee: the tithes have been commuted for £450, and the glebe comprises 26 acres. The church is a neat structure of the time of Edward I., with a spire; it contains an altar-tomb to David Percy with a Norman inscription in Saxon characters, and the effigy of a monk in brass with an inscription in Latin to Randulph Peachey, formerly rector of the parish.

Transcribed from A Topographical Dictionary of England, by Samuel Lewis, seventh edition, published 1858.

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