History of Writtle

St John's Green, Writtle, c.1955
Reproduced courtesy of The Francis Frith Collection.

History of Writtle >> Writtle Snippets

Writtle Snippets

When researching for this website we often find a little snippet of information on a location or subject which may be of interest. Some are quirky, some show that there is nothing new in this world, and some about the attitudes and morals of the time. [index to snippets] Here is one for Writtle about the troubles brought by the new railway.

The Essex Standard 19 April 1839

Railroad Workmen
On Monday a complaint was laid before Magistrates, in this town, against eleven of the brickmakers employed in the neighbourhood, by the Eastern Counties' Railway Company, for having struck and quitted their work, a dispute having arisen respecting their wages. Warrants are issued gainst the whole of them.

Another of the brickmakers, named William Hearn, was also charged before the Revds. Dr Penrose and C.A. St. John Mildmay, with creating a disturbance in the street, at Writtle, on Sunday, and fighting during Divine Service with a man named Robert Bright.

He was ordered to find surities to keep the peace for three months, and Mr Midlmay told him that the labourers would not be allowed to pursue that riotous and disorderly course which they had done at some other places, for a strict eye would be kept upon their proceedings by the police of the neighbourhood.

[End of article]

Newspapers could provide a wealth of information about your ancestors or where they lived. See our article on exploring newspaper archives.

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