Bromham
General History 
Kelly's Directory 1903 (Extract)

Places > Bromham

BROMHAM (or BRUMHAM, anciently Bromeham or Bromehal.) is a parish and beautiful village, on the north bank of the river Ouse, which is here crossed by a stone bridge of 26 arches, restored in 1793, and on the Northampton road, miles south from Oakley station on the Midland railway, ;and 3 north-west from Bedford, in the Northern division of the county, Willey hundred, Bedford petty sessional division, union and county court district, rural deanery of Bedford, archdeaconry of Bedford and diocese of Ely. The church of St. Owen, situated in Bromham Park, is an ancient edifice of stone, in the Gothic style of the 13th century, and consists of chancel with vestry on the north, nave, north aisle, north .and south porches and a lofty embattled tower containing 6 fine-toned bells, bearing the motto of the Dyve family, who were the donors of both the bells and the communion plate: in the Dynevor chapel is an elaborate memorial window to the late Lord Dynevor ; in the south wall of the chancel is a piscina, and on the opposite side an aumbry ; on a slab in the chancel pavement is a fine palimpsest brass, originally representing a man and his two wives of the early 15th century, but, as now reversed, it commemorates Sir T. Wilde, his wife and mother, with the date 1535: there is also a monument to Thomas (Trevor), Ist Baron Trevor of that family, and Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, d. 19 June, 1730: against the wall of the aisle is a monument of alabaster, with recumbent effigy, clad in armour, under a canopy supported by Ionic columns, and assigned to John Dyve esq. who married a Walcot, and on the monument is a shield impaling the two Coats : there are also other interesting monuments : over the south porch is a small library, and inserted in the wall outside the room is an incised slab, recording the foundation of the library by Thomas Lord Trevor in 1740: against one of the piers of the nave is an ancient alms box : in 1868 the church was restored by the parishioners, the chancel rebuilt at the cost of the Hon. Miss Rice-Trevor, and a chapel erected over the Dynevor family vault by the late Lord Dynevor: in 1902 the roof and walls were repaired. The register dates from the year 1570, and the list of incumbents from the year 1225. The living is a vicarage, with that of Oakley annexed, joint net yearly value 283 including 19 acres of glebe, with residence, in the gift of Eton College, and held. since 1901 by the Rev. Charles William Browning M.A. of Corpus Christi College, Oxford. There is an endowment, consisting of 13 acres of land, with houses, producing about, 40 yearly, left for the repair of the church by an unknown donor. Bromham Hall, the property of. the trustees of Charles Wingfield (a minor), who are lords of the manor and principal landowners, and the residence of Henry Gillibrand esq. is an interesting gabled, building of brick, situated in a valley on the north side of and immediately adjacent to the river Ouse; the approach is through a long and picturesque avenue of elms and sycamore trees 3/4 mile in length; the mansion stands in an. extensive park of about 150 acres, planted with a great variety of shrubs and stately trees. Bromham House, the property and residence of William Henry Allen esq. J.P. is about 1 mile west, was erected in 1897, and stands at an elevation of 215 feet in grounds of 200 acres; this mansion was held by the Royalists during the Civil wars and captured by the Parliamentary troops under Sir William Luke, when Sir Lewis Dyve escaped by swimming across the river; there are several portraits here of the Trevor and. Hampden families, armour used in the Civil Wars anal some curious Roman relics found in Bedwell. The soil is clay, gravelly and stone brash, with a strong clay subsoil, mostly cold. The chief crops are wheat, barley, beans, mangold wurzel turnips and seeds.Pillow lace is made here. The area is 1,798 acres of land and 29 of water; rateable value, 5,760; the population in 1901 was 321.

Parish Clerk, John Church.

Post Office.-John Odell, sub-postmaster. Letters received through Bedford at 7.35 a.m. & 5 p.m.; Sundays, 7.35 a.m.; dispatched at 4.55 & 6.25 p.m.; sundays 3.55 p.m. Postal

Orders are issued here, but not paid. Bedford is the nearest money order & telegrah office, 4 miles distant. Wall Letter Boxes on a cottage near the Vicarage, cleared at 4.50 & 6 p.m. on week days & 3.30 p.m. on sundays & opposite the Swan. P.H. cleared at 5.10 & 6.35 p.m. on week days & 4.5 p.m. on sundays

County Police Station, Albert Dennis, constable

Free School (mixed), built in 1861, with master's house, at the expense of the Countess of Longford & the Hon. Miss Rice-Trevor, daughter of the late Lord Dynevor for 120 children; average attendance, 75 ; John Thomas Grandey, master

Allen William Henry J. P. Bromham house
Browning Rev. Charles William M.A. Vicarage
Carrier Joseph, The Studio
Gillibrand Henry, Bromham hall; & Cavalry club, Piccadilly & Baldwin club, London sw
Grandey John Thomas
Johnstone Mrs. Park cottage

COMMERCIAL:

Allen Maria (Mrs.), dairy
Carrier Joseph, portrait painter, The Studio
Church George, shopkeeper
Church John, carter & parish clerk
Dennis Albert, police constable
Grandey John Thomas, schoolmaster
Harrison Eliza Maria (Mrs.), Swan P.H. & farmer
Harrison Frederick Chibnell, farmer & miller (water); Bury farm
Harrison Thomas farmer. Grange farm
Howkins Benjamin, farmer, Malliver's frm
King Samuel, grazier
Odell John, baker & subpostmaster
Prentice Rose (Mrs.), cowkpr & shopkpr
Prudden Wm. shoeing & general smith
Rust James, Crown P.H
Skevington Edward, farmer, Park farm
Stafferton Charles Edward, carpenter
Stafferton William, gardener to Henry Gillibrand esq
Whiteman George shopkeeper

Page last updated: 23rd January 2014