Danbury

"DANBURY, a parish in the hundred of CHELMSFORD, county of ESSEX, 5½ miles (E. by S.) from Chelmsford, containing, with the hamlet of Russels, which is in the hundred of Dengie, 1005 inhabitants. The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry of Essex, and diocese of London, rated in the king's books at £20. Sir B. W. Bridges, Bart, was patron in 1793. The church is dedicated to St. John the Baptist. The name is contracted from Danesbury, signifying the town or castle of the Danes. On the summit of Danbury hill is an ancient encampment, about six hundred and eighty yards in circumference; the glacis on the south side is still nearly thirty feet deep, and the lines may be distinctly traced on the other sides. In 1402, the body of the church, and part of the chancel, were destroyed by lightning; and in February, 1750, the upper part of the spire was struck down by a like cause. There is a fair for toys on the 29th of May." [From Samuel Lewis A Topographical Dictionary of England (1831) - copyright Mel Lockie 2016]

"RUSSELS, a hamlet in the parish of DANBURY, hundred of CHELMSFORD, though locally in that of Dengie, county of ESSEX, 1 mile (E.) from Danbury. The population is returned with the parish." [From Samuel Lewis A Topographical Dictionary of England (1831) - copyright Mel Lockie 2016]