A Bit of Eaton Bray History

Extract from:

Post office directory of Berkshire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, with Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Huntingdonshire [afterw.] The Post office directory of Northamptonshire, Huntingdonshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, and Oxfordshire

by Kelly’s Directories Ltd

Published in 1869

Page 347

EATON BRAY is a village and parish, of considerable extent, on the borders of Buckinghamshire, in the hundred of Manshend, union and county court district of Leighton Buzzard, rural deanery of Dunstable, archdeaconry of Bedford, and diocese of Ely, 4 miles north-west from Dunstable, and 4 south-east from Leighton Buzzard.

The church of the Virgin Mary is in the Early English style: it consists of a tower with 6 bells, nave, north and south aisles and chancel; the latter has recently been restored by Trinity College, Cambridge: there is a fine old tomb in memory of Lady Jane Bray. The register dates from the year 1559. The living is a vicarage, yearly value £190, in the gift of Trinity College, Cambridge, and held by the Rev. Gregory Edward Whyley, M.A., of that college. Here is a National school, also a Wesleyan chapel, and a Baptist chapel.

A market is held here every Friday for the disposal of straw plait.

A great many of the inhabitants, particularly the children, are employed in the straw business.

Mrs. Macnamara is the lady of the manor and the principal landowner.

The soil is arable, with portions of rich meadow for the grazing of cattle; subsoil, chalk.

The population in 1861 was 1,440; the area is 2,000 acres.

Parish Clerk, William Brown.

POST OFFICE.

William Gurney, receiver. Letters arrive through Dunstable at 7.45 a.m.; dispatched at 5.30 p.m.

The nearest money order office is at Dunstable. National School (mixed), Miss Jane Price, mistress.

Pratt Miss
Whyley Rev. Gregory Edward, M.A., J.P. [vicar]
Bird David, shopkeeper
Bird Jesse, cattle salesman
Bird William, farmer
Brinklow John, shopkeeper
Brown William, blacksmith & registrar of births & deaths for Eddleshorough district
Brown Wm. blacksmith & shopkeeper
Buckmaster John, farmer
Burchmore Sarah (Mrs.), Chequer
Burridge David, boot & shoe maker
Burrows Benjamin, farmer
Cobb John, shopkeeper
Costin Thomas, beer retailer
Filingham Daniel, farmer
Ellingham John, baker
Eustace Joseph, plait dealer
Fountain Richard, beer retailer

Gadsden Emma (Mrs.), shopkeeper
Gadsden Richard, shopkeeper
Gadsden Robert, farmer
Groom John & Abraham, wheelwrights
Gurney George, blacksmith
Gurney Wm. blacksmith & postmaster
Hawkins William, baker
Hedges Charles, farmer
Hedges John, farmer & shopkeeper
Hedges Robert, farmer
Henley Joseph, beer retailer
James Thomas, shopkeeper
Janes Samuel, beer retailer
Janes William, mealman
Lee Charles, shopkeeper
Mead Benjamin, miller
Mead Hannah (Mrs.), plait dealer
Partridge Thomas, Plough
Pearson Thomas, whiting manufacturer
Peek John, boot & shoemaker
Peppiatt John, beer retailer

Pratt Thomas, farmer
Puddephatt Michael, grazier
Roberts Frederick, maltster & farmer
Roe Samuel, shopkeeper
Rollings Robert, tailor
Rollings William, carrier & whiting manufacturer
Rumble John, beer retailer
Sharratt Samuel, carpenter
Simmons Frederick, miller
Simmons Jesse, Five Bells
Smith Caleb, plait dealer
Thorn Charles, baker & grocer
Thorn George, butcher
Thorn Joseph, farmer
Thorn Robert, farmer
Tingey John, farmer
Travell William, beer retailer
Varney Robert, shopkeeper
Wood Fanny, shopkeeper
Wood William, farmer