Havering. This district, anciently forming part of the demesnes of the Saxon kings, from its northern extremity, where it meets the hundred of Ongar, extends to the river Thames on the south; and is separated from Chafford on the east by a rivulet, whose source is in Navestock and South Weald, pursuing its course by Raynham to the Thames at Wennington. It is in length from north to south nine, and from east to west four miles and a half, in its greatest width; but, at the Thames, not more than three quarters of a mile. It anciently formed a part of Becontree hundred, as appears from the survey of Domesday; but there being a royal palace here, this district was erected into a liberty, independent of that hundred, and of the civil and ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the county, having in itself a tribunal for life and death; the origin of this arrangement has been generally supposed to have been from the kings of England having had a hunting house here, which was frequently the place of their residence; and having ordered that officers should take cognizance of crimes within the verge of their court, and that offenders should receive sentence under their more immediate inspection: probably at that time this was an usual privilege belonging to royal palaces.

The name of this liberty is supposed from the Saxon Hoecening[?], the Goat's Ing. But the more general belief is, that its origin has been from a ring given to Edward the confessor by a pilgrim, according to an ancient romantic legend, the substance of which is, "that St. John the Evangelist, disguised as an old beggar, asking alms of king Edward, received from him a ring, as the only possession he had at that time to bestow; and which, some years afterwards, was returned to him by two English pilgrims, with an intimation that he should die within six months; and this message and ring were delivered to him here at his Bower, which, on that account, was named Have-Ring."

This occurrence is in the legend stated to have taken place at the consecration of the church of Clavering, in this county, which was dedicated to Christ and St. John the Evangelist, when king Edward the confessor riding that way, alighted, out of devotion, to be present at the ceremony. During the procession, a fair old man came to the king and begged alms of him, in the name of God and St. John the Evangelist. The king having nothing else to give, as his almoner was not at hand, took the ring from his finger, and gave it to the poor man. Some years after, two English pilgrims having lost their way as they were travelling to the Holy Land, saw a company clothed in white, with two lights carried before them; and behind them a fair ancient man.

The pilgrims joining them, the old man inquired who they were, and whence thy came. After hearing their story, he brought them to a fine city, and into a room furnished with all kinds of dainties; with which having well refreshed themselves, and rested there all night, the old man set them again in the right way: and a parting told them he was John the Evangelist; adding, as the legend goes on, "Say ye untoe Edwarde your king, that I grete hym well by the token that he gaaf to me this ryng with hys own handes, at the hallowyng of my chirche; which rynge ye shall deliver hym agayn, and say ye to him, that he dyspose his goodes, for wythin six monethes he shall be in the joye of heven wyth me, where he shall have his reward for his chastite and for his good lyvinge."

At their return home, the two pilgrims waited upon the king, who was then at his Bower, and delivered to him their message, and the ring. The whole story is represented in sculptured figures, on the screen which separates the chapel from the altar in Westminster Abbey, where the Confessor lies buried. The statues of the king and the pilgrims are also over the courts of the King's Bench and Common Pleas in Westminster Hall; and over the gate going into Dean's Yard. His picture was also on the glass of the east window of the south aisle of Romford chapel, with two pilgrims, and under it, "Johannes per peregrinos misit regi Edwardo ." There is a good picture of this king on the glass of the window of the chancel of that chapel, which was renewed in 1707. The ring, said to have been given to St. John, was deposited among the relics of his abbey at Westminster, and there was granted to this sacred relic an indulgence for six years, and three hundred and sixty days.

In one of the windows of the ancient church of Ludlow, in Shropshire, there are splendid remains of stained glass, portraying this story of the ring presented to the Confessor, who, it is stated, " was warned of his deth, 'by certain pilgrimes comming from Hierusalem,' these pilgrims being men of Ludlow ."

The authorities quoted are - Ailred Rievanlliensis, col. 397,398. Legenda Aurea, printed by William Caxton, fol.308. Dart's Hist. Of Westminster Abbey, vol. I. p. 51. Weever, p. 647. Camden's Remains, p. 483. Wright's Hist. Of Ludlow, 1826, p. 148.

This liberty, on the death of king Edward, became the royal possession of his successor, Harold, and of King William after the conquest; under whom some parcels of it were holden by Robert, son of Corbutio, Hugh de Montfort, and John, son of Waleram: these had in Saxon times been holden by five freemen and one sochman; and to this portion of the liberty there belonged twenty acres in Lochetund, or Loughton. Afterwards Havering was divided into numerous manors.

Havering Bower: Havering Bower was a favourite retreat of some of our Saxon kings, particularly of that saintly monarch, Edward the confessor, who found this woody and solitary place perfectly congenial to his retired habits and devotional spirit. The legend says, it abounded so with warbling nightingales, that they disturbing him in his prayers, he earnestly petitioned their absence; and the credulous have been led to believe the report that they have never since been heard to sing within the park, though abundantly numerous in the neighbourhood.

Shady walks and beautiful grove of trees have given the name of Bower to this place; and some remains are yet to be seen of the ancient palace said to have been built or improved by the Confessor, and afterwards inhabited by several kings. It is delightfully situated, with a fine extensive prospect over a great part of Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Middlesex, and Surrey; also a view of the Thames, on which the ships are seen in constant motion, with the cathedral of St. Paul's perceptible in the distance. The park contained one thousand acres.

The manor-house of Havering Bower is on the north-west end of the ward, adn not far from the chapel; the principal front is opposite to Sevenoaks, in Kent, which is distinctly seen as the distance of forty miles. Gentlemen's houses are there thickly strewed in every direction; the fields generally rich grass lands, covered with a verdure refreshing to the eye.

The Chapel: The ancient royal chapel of Havering is near the site of the palace; it is dedicated to St John the Evangelist. The living, a perpetual curacy in the peculiar jurisdiction of the court for the liberty, is endowed with four hundred pounds private benefaction, and six hundred pounds royal bounty.

The whole of the family of Cheke, and all of the Archer family, buried in Pirgo Chapel, were removed and buried here, by order of loard Archer, in his will. There are also some monumental inscriptions, amon which are, one to the memory jof John Baynes, esq. Serjeant-at-alaw, who died 26th Feb 1736, aged sixty: and of Matthew Kenrick, of Harold's Park, who died Mrch 21, in the year 1712, aged fifty-eight.

A free-school was erected on Havering Green, wtih an endowment by dame Anne Tipping, daughter and heiress of Colonel Thomas Cheke, of Pirgo, governor of the Tower of London in the reign of Charles the second. But the house has become ruinous, and the trust has not been renewed.

Later to come will be more on "Pergo" of Havering Liberty and how the Cheke family is relate to the Kelvedon Wrights . Not ready at this time.

In 1821, the population of Havering Bower amounted to three hundred and fifty-two, and in 1831, to three hundred and thirty-two.

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