Twinstead
| Twinstead | |
| Essex | |
|---|---|
 Church of St John the Evangelist | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | TL8588236642 |
| Location: | 51°59’49"N, 0°42’40"E |
| Data | |
| Population: | 155 (2011) |
| Post town: | Halstead |
| Postcode: | CO9 |
| Dialling code: | 01787 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Braintree |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Braintree |
| Website: | Parish council |
Twinstead is a village and a parish in the Hinckford hundred of Essex. The village is made up of many farms, a riding school, a manor house and an Essex Volvo's business. It has one place of worship which is the Church of St John the Evangelist, which is listed as a Grade-II building.[1]
The Church
On this site it is the fourth church to be built, the first being ruined in 1790, the second being pulled down, the third having no ecclesiastical character, finally a fourth rebuild was necessary. The church was built around the 1860s, it reflects the work of William Butterfield and was constructed by Henry Woodyer.[2] It is comparable to the model church of All Saints, Margaret Street. The exterior is made from red bricks with stone dressings, however the interior is far more richly decorated. Black and red brickwork runs along each wall with orange-brown lattice above it.[3] This is what makes this church different from those in the surrounding area as it is more contemporary. However, the bell is the oldest part of the church dating back to the early 16th century, which was then rehung in 1976. What makes it even more special is that:
“Twinstead Church is thought to be one of only three churches in England featuring three equal arches of stone in the entrance to the chancel from the nave and certainly the only one if its kind in a rural setting.” [4]
History
In the 1870s, Twinstead was described as:
"TWINSTEAD. Acres, 1,008. Real property, £2,179. Houses, 48. T. Hall is the seat of B. Sparrow, Esq. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Rochester. Value, £250.* Patron, the Lord Chancellor."[5]
Etymology
The name Twinstead was first recorded in the Domesday Book as Tumesteda and since the 12th century has been called various names such as Tumstead or Tunstead.[6] Twinn is Old English for double, while stede is a place, thus Twinstead can be defined as double homestead.[7]
The Manor House
This belonged to Richard Fitz-Gilbert in 1086 as he was the lord of the area, and then during the reign of Henry the Second was passed to Steven de Beauchamp. After his passing he was succeeded by his son Stephen who then went on to pass it to his three sisters as he bore no children. After many years of changing ownership by 1374 it was passed on to Simon Sudbury, the archbishop of Canterbury. After his murder, many others came into possession of this property, and many additions have been made for example the arms of Issac Wyncoll appears in one of the windows. This house was previously surrounded by a deep moat, with a light bridge that connected the surrounding gardens and meadows. However, since then the moat has been destroyed but the bridge remains, with some ancient characteristics also remaining, however most parts of the house have been modernised and it is now a hotel.[8]
Sport
The two main sports in this area are riding and cricket. Since 1956, Twinstead Riding School has offered riding tuition for everyone and having 40 horses and 135 acres of land helps them accommodate all ages and abilities.[9] Twinstead Cricket Club, also known as Twinstead CC, are a group of cricket enthusiasts who have an active social calendar with year-round events.[10]
References
- ↑ "Church of St John the Evangelist, Twinstead, Essex". http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101306308-church-of-st-john-the-evangelist-twinstead#.WNz2-zvyvIU. Retrieved 2017-03-30.
- ↑ Bettley, James; Pevsner, Nikolaus (2007). The Buildings of England: Essex. New Haven: Yale University Press. pp. 794.
- ↑ "Twinstead". http://www.english-church-architecture.net/essex%20t/twinstead/twinstead.htm. Retrieved 2017-03-30.
- ↑ Watson, Rachel. "Twinstead Church of St John the Evangelist | Open Doors, Sacred Doorways" (in en). http://www.explorestourvalley.co.uk/place/?id=14. Retrieved 2017-03-30.
- ↑ Wilson, John Marius (1870-72). Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales. Edinburgh: A. Fullerton & Co.. http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/6952.
- ↑ "The village of Twinstead in Essex". http://www.twinstead.org.uk/. Retrieved 2017-03-25.
- ↑ "Key to English Place-names". University of Nottingham. http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/map/place/Essex/Twinstead. Retrieved 2017-03-25.
- ↑ Wright, Thomas (1836). The History and Topography of the County of Essex. London: George Virtue.
- ↑ "Horse Riding School - Twinstead | Twinstead Riding School". http://www.twinsteadridingschool.co.uk/home. Retrieved 2017-03-25.
- ↑ Cricket, Imagine. "Twinstead CC , Suffolk - Imagine Cricket". http://www.imaginecricket.com/cricket-clubs/twinstead-cc/. Retrieved 2017-03-25.