Stratford

"STRATFORD-LANGTHORNE, a ward in the parish of WEST-HAM, hundred of BECONTREE, county of ESSEX, 4 miles (N. E. by E.) from London. The population is returned with the parish. The village, which is situated on the high road to Harwich, is well lighted with gas by the trustees of the road, and supplied with water from the East London water-works. It is in contemplation to erect a new church in this part of the parish, his Majesty's commissioners having proposed a grant for that purpose. There are places of worship for Independents, Wesleyan Methodists, and Roman Catholics. The printing and dyeing of calico and silk are extensively carried on. There are also two chemical establishments, and a porter brewery, on the river Lea, which is navigable to the Thames. A charity school was founded in 1802, and is supported by voluntary contributions and the work of the children, for clothing and educating thirty girls. John Hiett, in 1719, bequeathed £5 a year for apprenticing one poor boy. About 1135, a Cistercian abbey, dedicated to the Virgin Mary and All Saints, was founded here by William of Montfichet, the society of which, being in danger from the floods, the abbey occupying a low situation in the marshes, removed to a cell at Burghstead, near Billericay; but the damages sustained from the waters being repaired, they returned, and continued here till the dissolution, at which period the revenue was valued at £573. 15. 6." [From Samuel Lewis A Topographical Dictionary of England (1831) - copyright Mel Lockie 2016]