North Stifford Village

North Stifford Village

Interesting Anecdotes

Facts and a little bit of Folklore.

'Doomsday' for Stifford

The area, known as Stifford, is mentioned in the Domesday Book as having an overall acreage of approximately 1500 acres at that time.

Pilgrims.

Since 13th century Pilgrims travelled to Canterbury Cathedral to visit the holy shrine of Thomas Becket who had attained sainthood.

Before going to Tilbury to cross the river on their journey to Canterbury, Pilgrims crossed the Mardyke Bridge, and walked along

Pilgrims' Lane and thence up the hill to St Mary's Church where they prayed for a safe journey.

An alternative local route took them along Pilgrims' Lane to St. Clement's Church in West Thurrock before crossing the Thames on foot at the ford which used to exist there at low tide.

A Pilgrim's Seal lay buried at Stifford for 600 years before it was discovered in 1980. Pilgrims collected these seals to show where they had been on their travels. Finding the Seal raised a question? How did the Pilgrim, who had been to Rome in the 14th century, come to lose his Seal in Stifford? It is the only complete example of this type of Seal found in England. Others have been found in Scandinavia and Ireland.

Crime and punishment

From medieval times to the 19th century, Stocks and a Whipping post could be found on the grass verge opposite Coppid Hall. An example of punishment dealt out is as follows:- On 10th May 1601 two men from Dagenham came to Stifford and stole 8 hens, 2 cats, a turkey and 2 capons belonging to Robert Hearde. The total value of their haul was 5 shillings and 8 pence (approximately 27p in today's money). One man pleaded "not guilty" and was acquitted, the other confessed and was hanged for his sin!

War Times

Like most of the southeast, the Village had its fair share of devastation caused by the last world war.

On December 14th 1940, a German Junkers 88 plane crashed in the cabbage field behind Ardale School (in the far south west corner of the Village), missing the houses in Warren Terrace by only a few yards.

People ran out to see what they could do, but the plane had exploded and pieces of wreckage were strewn over a large area. All four members of the crew were killed.

In December 1944 a V2 rocket landed in a field on the east side of Clockhouse Lane.

The blast virtually destroyed seven houses but luckily there was little serious injury.

A plaque can be seen in St Mary's Church near the west Window, dedicated to a small girl aged 11 years who was killed whilst playing on her toboggan in the snow,

Incendiary bombs (designed to cause fire), were the main cause of damage in the village and one evening the whole of the village green and the field behind it was set ablaze.

The Stifford Lodge (now Lakeside Moat House) was commandeered for use as a Canadian Military Hospital, with nissen huts placed throughout the grounds.

At Coppid Hall (which became a Warden’s Post), a large stone jar holding about 2 gallons of fresh water was kept for the village in case the mains supply should be contaminated.

On the night of 31^st January 1941, Josef Jakobs, a German Spy, was dropped by parachute and landed near a wood close to Ardale School. Under his flying suit he wore civilian clothes and he was equipped with a wireless transmitter, English money, food, brandy and a traditional German sausage. He also had a forged identity card in the name of James Rymer. Several people saw him land and informed the Home Guard. He was quickly captured by the army.

Josef Jakobs was taken to Brixton prison and was found guilty of being a spy at a Court Martial in August. He was taken to the tower of London and shot.

Sport

Stifford Cricket Team in the 1920's displaying the cup they have just won.

In the 1920's Stifford also had its own

football team called 'The Wasps.'

Thatchers Charms - wealth and witches.

During their lifetime, many of the cottages in the Village have been thatched on several occasions.

A recently re-thatched cottage is “The Cottage” at the beginning of Well Lane.

At the time of the re-thatch some old coins were found.

It is believed that the coins and morsels of bread found under the thatch on several of the cottages in the village

were put there to ward off poverty, and to ensure that the inhabitants always had enough money to buy food. It is also said that the sharp pointed stick on the highest part of a thatched cottage roof is there to stop witches from landing on the roof!

The Village Ghost

Legend has it that at certain times, but mostly at night, an apparition has been seen crossing the road from St Mary's Church to Well Lane. It is not known who it is or where it is going. It just appears!

The spirit is supposed to reside in one of the old cottages near the church on the same side of the

road, and it is said that in order to keep the spirit happy, a small window should always be kept open to allow the spirit freedom of passage in and out of the cottage. In the past, when the window has been closed, a disturbing presence has been felt. Local Yokel