The History of Hullbridge village 19th Century.

Hullbridge in the 19th century was a group of buildings that ran from the River Crouch up Hullbridge (Ferry) Road as far as Pooles Lane.
Around 1856 by public subscription a chapel was built and the Rev. John Harding, curate for the Hockley parish, would visit the chapel once a week to preach. The village was bordered by several large farms :-
Beeches, Copes, Cracknells, Hannover, High Elms, Lubbards Lodge, Marions (Malyons), Polleys, Sheepcotes, Walfords. Wadhams,
Further along Hullbridge Road was a community called High Elms, which was based around 2 large buildings High Elms and Marions farm houses.

In The Victoria History of the county of Essex vol:2 printed 1907 page334 " The Crouch is navigable to Hull bridge for vessels of 300 tons..." Why it was navigable to Hullbridge is unclear, it could be because of the bridge or a restriction in depth, it is unlikely to be because of the narrowing of the river because a turning point existed beyond the village by Long Reach (by the "Flats"). It is interesting that Hullbridge at this time was able to take larger boats than Maldon (200 tons). The normal craft to navigate Essex's rivers including the Crouch was the "Thames Sailing Barge" the average size of these boats as per http://www.bargetrust.org/shorthist.html" was 140 to 170 tons. Barges of 300 tons were known as "Coasters".

In the 19th Cent., Hullbridge had a small wharf for loading and unloading of goods. The Wharf was situated in front of "Gun Cottage" and to the side was a wooden constructed barn , this was later converted into the "Hullbridge Pavilion" and later the "Smugglers Den".

• Early times: Archaeological Reports
• Medieval: Doomsday Book (1066)- 1799 including village name variations.
• 19th Century: You are already here.
• 20th Century: Press clippings 1900-1999.
• 21st Century: Press clippings 2000-.