Fryerning

History

Fryerning and nearby Ingatestone have always been closely entwined. The earliest surviving signs of their ancient past can be seen on the Fryerning Lane, which connects with Ingatestone High Street, where two large Sarsen Stones mark either side of the lane.

Saxon Period

The name Fryerning derives from the Saxon period. The syllable "ing" denoting possession, probably during the sixth century, thus Saxon territories each distinguished by the owners name; these were usually prefixed by "ing" or "ging", a principle shared with neighbouring villages: Margaretting, Mountnessing and Ingrave. It is thought that the various "ing" places formed part of a single territory in Saxon times which subsequently fragmented into smaller parishes and manors.

Norman Period

After the Norman conquest, the "ings" or "gings" were divided up. Fryerning and Ingatestone were collectively known as Ging-at-the Stone and was given to the Norman Baron Robert de Germon. Later on, his grandson Gilbert Mountfitchet granted half the manor called Ginges, along with the church St Mary's, to the Knights Hospitaller and that part was known as Ging Hospital. It subsequently became known as the Ing of the friars (fryern), referring to its ownership by the Knights Hospitallers, giving rise to the modern name Fryerning.

The Knights Hospitallers constructed a barn at North Hall Farm, which survives to this day; the 13th-century barn is comparable to the better-preserved barn of Cressing Temple in Witham.

Tudor Period

In 1540, the Knights Hospitallers were suppressed by Henry VIII when the Ging Hospital was transferred to Sir William Berners, the Royal auditor; the area then became known as Ging Berners. Later, in the 16th century, part of the area came into the possession of the De Vere family, Earls of Oxford.

Three generations later, William Berners great-grandson sold Fryerning to Sir Nicolas Wadham, whose daughter, Dorothy Wadhams, married Sir William Petre. William and Dorothy later went on to found Wadham College in Oxford, which still owns land in Fryerning and is the Patron of the parish.

Modern Period

In 1936, a Spanish oak tree was planted on in the centre of the ancient Church Green to commemorate the Coronation of King Edward VIII. At the time, there was a debate in the village due to the fact that the Oak was not a native English specimen. Local resident, Charlie Cox who was eight at the time, remembers that the green was about 50 yards long on each side forming a triangle.

In 1948, the Ingatestone and Fryerning Dart League was set up between Pubs Anchor A, Anchor B, British Legion, Crown Hotel, Spread Eagle, Woolpack Hotel Fryerning and Viper Hotel Mill Green.

In 2011, Brentwood Borough Council asked Essex County Council to commission a conservation area in Fryerning, which was subsequently enforced. Many historical buildings, ranging from the 12th century to the late 20th century, were included in the conservation area, along with 3 trees having a preservation order placed upon them: the Coronation Oak and the West and East Ancient Yew Trees at St Mary's Church.

On the 11th of September 2021, Lord Petre visited local residents and dignitaries of Fryerning, at the Church Green, to officially open the recently renovated Fryerning Parish Room; it was built in 1904, extended in 1924 and renovated in 2021.

Administrative history

Fryerning was an ancient parish in the Chelmsford Hundred of Essex. The parish had complicated boundaries with the neighbouring parish of Ingatestone. A large part of the built up area of Ingatestone was actually in Fryerning parish, and through the centre of Ingatestone village the boundary followed the main street. Ingatestone parish also had a large detached rural exclave to the north of Fryerning parish. The complicated boundaries likely arose from them having anciently been created from the subdivision of an earlier territory.

In 1889 the two parishes were merged into a new civil parish called Ingatestone and Fryerning. At the 1881 census (the last before the abolition of the civil parish), Fryerning had a population of 704.

When elected parish and district councils were established in 1894, Ingatestone and Fryerning was given a parish council and included in the Chelmsford Rural District. The parish was transferred to Brentwood district in 1974.

References

References

1. (2022). "Territoriality and the Early Medieval Landscape: The Countryside of the East Saxon Kingdom". Boydell Press.
2. "Fryerning". University of Nottingham.
3. "Your Forum".
4. https://document.brentwood.gov.uk/pdf/05092012170002u.pdf {{Bare URL PDF. (March 2022)
5. (1881). "Essex Sheet LX". Ordnance Survey.
6. "Ingatestone Parish". University of Portsmouth.
7. "Local Government Board's Provisional Orders Confirmation (Poor Law) (No. 6) Act 1888". The National Archives.
8. (1921). "An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Essex, Volume 2". His Majesty's Stationery Office.
9. "Population statistics Fryerning AP/CP through time". [[A Vision of Britain through Time]].
10. (22 December 1894). "Parish Council Polls: Ingatestone and Fryerning". Essex Newsman.
11. "Ingatestone and Fryerning Parish". University of Portsmouth.
12. {{cite legislation UK. (1972)
13. {{cite legislation UK. (1973)