" The situation of this parish is generally on low grounds, but in some parts rising to a considerable height. The soil varies from a deep clayey loam, similar to the neighbouring parishes of Toppesfield and Stambourne, to the light and gravelly pasture ground bordering the river Blackwater. * The circumference is computed to be thirty five miles.

" Stambourne and Toppesfield form its northern boundary, and it extends eastward to Weathersfield and Sible Hedingham; on the south it joins Gosfield and Shalford; and its western boundary is the river Pant, or Blackwater , on the borders of which some hops have been grown.

" The hill on which the village and the church are situated is of a gravelly soil, and the neighbourhood abounds with a fine white sand, in which many fossil shells are found, mixed with veins of white and blue clays, particularly in the high grounds called Justice Hill.

" The name in records is written Fincingfelda, Phincingfelda, and Phincingefelda. The dissenters of the Independent denomination have a chapel here. The village is distant from Braintree eight, and from London forty-five miles.

" This extensive lordship, in the time of the Saxons, belonged to Algar, the celebrated earl of Merciant who had also, in this county, Gestingthorp, Lammarsh, Weathersfield, Felsted, Southhall, in Dunmow, Great Baddow, and Shalford: it afterwards belonged to Queen Edith, or Edeva; and, at the time of the general survey, was in the divided possession of Alan, son of the earl of Bretagne, who held those parts which in the reign of Edward the Confessor belonged to three freemen, and were afterwards named Spains Hall, Jekells, Wood Hall, and Belcumber Hall: the share of Richard Fitz-Gilbert, holden in the Confessor's reign by two sochmen, and afterwards named Cornet Hall, Nortofts and Sculpins, Brent Hall, Justices, and Cockfields: the same Richard had also Boyton Hall, which, in the Confessor's reign, had belonged to a freeman named Colsege. There are also estates here named Woburns, or How Hall, and Ashwell Hall.

" The manor of Spains Hall, at the time of the general survey, was held, under Count Alan, by Hervey de Hispania, or Spain ; and has retained the name given to it on this account.

" Alan Fergent, one of the Conqueror's favourite chiefs, was rewarded for his services by several lordships, and particularly the earldom or honour of Richmond, in Yorkshire, * of which this lordship was holden.
His two brothers, Alan the black, and Stephen, earl of Penthievre, and Alan the savage, son of the latter, were successively possessors of this estate. The last of these died in 1166. But, previous to his decease, he gave this lordship to Alberic de Vere, and his heirs, t by the title of the service of William de Hispania, of three knights' fees, and the service of William, son of William of Giechrell, of one knight's fee, and the service of Richard Mascle. (footnote)

" The family of Spain were seated here , or in the neighbourhood, from the time of the Conquest, to the reign of King Edward the Second. Ralph de Hispania witnessed a grant of Adeliza de Vere to Colne priory: (footnote) Richard had land in this parish in 1263.

" Gilbert is mentioned as father of William, and grandfather of Sir Richard; whose two sons were Richard, and John, rector of Ging Ralph: to which last Sir Richard gave Old Hall, in 1312, by a deed witnessed by William de Wanton, William Ralph , and John de Nortofts , knights ; Robert Jekell , and William de Finchingfield, living here at that time. || By marriage, or otherwise, this estate was conveyed to the Kemp (footnote) family at an early period. ** John Kemp, of this place, in the reign of King Edward the First, by his wife, Alice Gunter, (footnote) had Nicholas, who married Margaret, daughter of Richard de Hispania. This lady was living in 1310 : John Kemp , their son , married a daughter of (unknown) Reymond, son of John de Lincoln, and had with her a considerable estate, in this parish, called Reymondys. John, their son, had also a son of the same name, who, by his wife, whose maiden name was Armesbury, had Richard, living in 1371. His first wife's name was Catharine, of whom no offspring is recorded: his second wife , Margaret, daughter of Robert Jekell , mercer , of London , brought him in marriage, in 1406 , the manors of Jekells and Justices.

" William Kemp, Esq. their son and heir, had, by his wife Alice Miles, a son named Robert, who, dying in 1524, was buried in Kemp’s chapel, in this church; having had, by his wife Anne Apulder field, of Kent , seven sons and three daughters , none of whose names occur in records, except that of William , the eldest son : he married Mary , daughter of John Colt , and sister to Jane , wife of the celebrated chancellor , Sir Thomas More . The offspring of this marriage was Robert , Arthur , Henry , John , George , seated at Cavendish , in Suffolk ; also Margery , married to George Cavendish , of Glemsford , in Suffolk ; Anne , wife of Thomas Wright , of Norwich ; and Margaret , married to Thomas Downes , after whose decease she was married to a second husband , named Rush borough . The second wife of William Kemp , the father , was Mary , daughter of John Maxey , Esq . and widow of - Yardely ; their marriage settlement bears the date of 1542. Robert Kemp , Esq . the eldest son , married Elizabeth , daughter of Clement Higham , of Barrow Hall , in Suffolk, chief baron of the exchequer , and had by her William and Robert; Bridget , wife of Clement Paman , of Chevington , in Suffolk ; and Dorothy , married to Ralph Lee , of Sussex. William , the eldest son , was rendered remarkable by the voluntary punishment of himself , for some impropriety of speech which he considered highly criminal , and for which alleged offence he imposed a vow of silence during the term of seven years, to which he strictly submitted , with most extraordinary and undeviating perseverance : he died in 1628, having , in 1558 , married Philippa , daughter and co-heiress of Francis Gunter, of Aldbury, in Hertfordshire, and had by her his only daughter , Joan , married to John Burgoyne , Esq . of Sutton, in Bedfordshire. His brother Robert , who was of Gessing , in Norfolk , married Frances Mingay , and had by her Robert , Edmund , Elizabeth , wife of - Outlaw ; Isabel , whose husband's name was Coulter , of Aylsham ; and Mary , married to Nicholas Osborne , of Heydon , in Norfolk . Robert, the eldest son, on his uncle William's decease, without male issue , came to the family inheritance of Spains Hall, and other estates . He received the honour of knighthood in 1641.

" By Elizabeth, his wife , daughter of Nicholas Miller, Esq . of Kent, he had Robert, William, and Joan, married to Sir Thomas Gardiner, son of Francis Gardiner, Esq. of Tollesbury . The second wife of Robert Kemp was Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Kemp, Esq. of Gessing ; by her he had his daughter Frances : his third wife was Elizabeth Steuart; by her no issue is recorded. After his decease , she was married to Captain King.

" Sir Robert , the eldest son , dying without issue , William Kemp , Esq . his brother , succeeded : he married Ruth , daughter of Sir Gilbert Gerrard , of Harrow - on - the Hill , and had by her Mary , his only daughter , who became the wife of Sir Francis Tibbalds . On the death of William Kemp, without issue male, Spains Hall descended

" The family removed from Lavenham, about 1680, to Bocking, where and when John Ruggles, gent . purchased Headwell Hall, and the family also possessed the manor of Goddinge , in that parish , as mentioned by Morant, so late as 1678: and, in 1760, Samuel Ruggles, Esq. of Bocking, purchased Spains Hall , from whom it descended to his nephew , Thomas Ruggles , Esq . in 1784 , who , like his collateral ancestor , was distinguished for his literary acquirements and authorship; like him also he was educated at Lavenham school, where he formed a friendship with his school fellow, Arthur Young, Esq . the eminent agricultural writer, which terminated only with the death of Mr. Ruggles, in 1813. From Lavenham school he went to Sidney College, Cambridge, and, after taking his degree, was called to the bar by the society of the Inner Temple, of which he afterwards became a bencher and treasurer. "

" Finchingfield Parish (in Hinckford Hundred).

The Tithe Award of Finchingfield (Essex Record Office D/CT 139a), dated 1840, shows a rent-charge £733-10-0 payable to the vicar (Rev James Westerman), £1406-5-0 to John Marriott, £1-5-0 to John Roberson (of Bardfield Saling) and John Smith (of Stisted), and 7/6d to James Turner: total £2141-7-6. Richard Marriott esq was impropriator of Great Tithes except those of the 2nd and 3rd schedules, and impropriator of glebe of the 1st schedule. William Hulbert Sheppard esq was impropriator of the Great Tithes of 1st and 2nd schedules.

First Schedule: The whole parish subject to tithes measured 8394 acres, of which 6463 acres were arable, 996 acres meadow and pasture, 520 acres wood, 32 acres hop grounds, 39 acres rectorial glebe, 2 acres vicarial glebe, 176 acres buildings, roads, waste etc. Ashwell Hall, 166 acres, was owned by the President and Governors of the Hospital.

Second Schedule: (a) William Hulbert Shepherd owned Daw Street Farm, 122 acres, and Robjohns Farm, 54 acres. (b) James Pettitt owned Garlands Farm - Further Town field, 8 acres 1 rood 29 perches, Hither Town field 7a 3r 2p, Homestead 3r 33p, Home field 5a 3r 22p, Six Acres (pt) 2acres. (c) Thomas Pollett owned Park Hall 44 acres. Third Schedule: Lands of the Great Tithes of the Vicar measured 1579a 1r 20p. An Addendum shows an additional tithe levy of 13/6d per acre was due for Hop Grounds. The Tithe Commissioners were William Blamire and J.W. Buller, the Assistant Commissioner John Maurice Herbert of Lincolns Inn, the Valuer Robert Franklin of Thaxted. "

" The Tithe Map (ERO: D/CT 139b), dated 1834, was surveyed by James Beadle of Witham at a scale of 13.3” to a mile and measures 79”x54”. It was countersigned by Roger Kynaston, Assistant Tithe Commissioner.

In Domesday Book, 1086, Picot held Phincinghefelda in the king’s hand with two mills which Algar, earl of Mercia, had held before 1066 as a manor for 2 hides less 15 acres. Guy held Phincingefelda from Count Eustace which Norman had held as a manor for half a hide and 10 acres. Guy also held from him Phincinghefelda with one mill which Wulfric, a free man, had held for 37 acres. Hervey held Phincingefelda(m) from Count Alan which three free men had held under Edeva (the Fair) for 2½ hides. This became the manor of Spain’s Hall. The Count held 38½ acres in lordship in Phincingefelda which 2 free men and one free man had held before 1066. This may have become Jekylls (Powell, 1964). Elinant held Phincinghefelda from Richard son of Count Gilbert which two free men had held for 48 acres. Arnold held under Richard 38 acres in Fincinghefelda which two free men held under Withgar. Two men-at-arms held 36 acres at Fincingefelda from Richard which 3 freemen had held under Withgar before 1066. In Phincinghefelda Richard had eleven free men with half a hide. Of Richard’s Annexations, Arnold held 80 acres in Phincinghefelda which Brictric, a free man, had held (Reaney, 1935; Morris, 1983). Watts (2004) translates this from Old English feld, ‘open country of the people called after Finc’. Smith (1956) gives Old English finca, ‘a finch’.

" Richard son of Count Gilbert held Boituna, Boyton Hall, which Colsege, a free man, had held for half a hide and 10 acres. Richard had acquired it and Bures by exchange. This is translated from boia tun, ‘servant’s or Boia’s settlement’ (Kemble, 2007). Germund held from Richard 32½ acres of Weninchou, perhaps Howe Hall alias Obourns, and of his Annexations Germund held 37½ acres of Weninghou which Colman, a free man had held before 1066 (VCH, 1903). The second element is probably Old English hoh, ‘promontory or spur’. Walter Cook held Assuella, Ashwell Hall, in 1086 which Felaga had held as a manor for half a hide. This is æsc wielle, ‘ash-spring’.

" There were these manors: A. Lands of Count Alan: 1. Spains Hall was held by Hervey de Ispania under Count Alan who was awarded the earldom of Richmond, Yorkshire. c.1166 Alan the Savage gave the lordship to Alberic de Vere. 2. Jekells was part of Alan’s estate given to Alberic of the Honour of Castle Hedingham by William Juekell. 3. Wood-hall, moated, 2 miles from Spains Hall. William Crocheman held it t.Edward III under the Earl of Oxford. 4. Belcumber Hall belonged to the owners of Brent-hall, William Bendloes a messuage with appurtinences called Belcombers and Ferrors of the Queen.

" B. Lands of Richard fitz-Gilbert: 1. Cornett Hall (alias Norton), 2 miles north of the church, was held t.Henry III of Richard of Clare, earl of Gloucestershire and Hertfordshire, by Richard de Cornherth. 2. Nortofts, 1 mile southeast of the church; William de Nortoft was here in 1229. Edmund de Northtoft (died 1375) held Hildershams and Shaldfords with other parcels. Sculpins was a messuage of Nortofts 1½ miles northeast of the church. 3. Justices was held of the Honour of Clare bought by Edmund Helyon in 1370. 4. Cockfields, t. Henry VIII, was held by William Clopton esq of Queen Catherine. 4. Brent-hall, northwest of the church, was held of Queen Catherine by William Ayliffe (died 1517).

" C. Land of Richard son of Count Gilbert: 1. Boyton was held by Julian de Boyton t.Edward I. 2. Woburnes alias How Hall t.Henry VIII belonged to Thomas Tillesdon (died 1562). Ashwell Hall, 1½ miles southeast of the church, was held by Henry le Somenur t.Edward I (Morant, 1768).

" Belcumber Hall and Spains Hall contain Norman or Anglo-Norman name-elements (Kemble, 2007). The church of St John Baptist has a square Norman tower. Cabbaches, east of the church (John Caboche, 1437, ECP), is a 15th century hall-house with cross-wings, as has the 15th century Old Parsonage. The Guildhall is c.1500. Bridge House is timber-framed and plastered, c.1600. Finchingfield House is mostly a 16th century hall-house. The post mill is weatherboarded, mid-18th century on a 19th century brick base surround (Pevsner, 2007).

Place-and field-names from the Map (ERO: D/DU 155/1), dated 1736, of land in the occupation of Thomas Brand for Mr John Daniel by Jer. Nicholls, and from other documents are shown against the Tithe Award names.