Hanson & Allen Families

Great Burstead Church, Essex

St Mary Magdalene

The following information is a mixture of historical and architectural detail compiled from the internet, and especially from the church's own website, which is also the source of this photo. Other source links are recorded in the text below.

George Loudon Hanson was vicar at Great Burstead Church in his latter years, and both he and his wife Fanny were buried there in 1879 when they died five months apart. George was vicar there from 3 November 1856 until his death in 1879. He had previously been at Felstead Church, Essex, in 1840 when Caroline was born and in 1842 when William was born.

St Mary Magdalene, the Great Burstead Church's name, is located a few hundred yards east of the A176 Billericay to Basildon road (Map reference TQ 681923), and its landmark shingle steeple atop the 14th century Kentish Ragstone tower can easily been seen by passers by. 

In 1828-9, the medieval church was described as being two miles from what  was then described as "the small market town" of Billericay. 

Archaeological evidence remains in the area from the bronze and iron ages, and thereafter remains of the period of Roman and Saxon rule are also present. The History of Billericay webpage records: 

"The Saxons eventually settled, not in the area of Billericay High Street but two miles south at great Burstead, which in the late tenth century was known as 'Burgestede', a Saxon name signifying a fortified place. This was a fortified settlement with a market and its own civil administration and became one of the most important villages in the area.

Prior to the Norman conquest 'Burgestede' belonged to Ingvar and what we now know as Little Burstead was part of Earl Godwin's estates. He was the father of King Harold.

The importance of Great Burstead lasted until the 19th century when Billericay, which was originally in the parish of Great Burstead, grew and became the commercial centre. Between AD 527 and 839 there were twenty-one Kings of the East Saxons. King Sæberht ruled AD 604 to 616 and is rumoured to be buried in Great Burstead churchyard (among other places)."

The Pigot's Directory of Essex of 1828 - 9 described the Great Burstead (or Burghstead) Church as being a neat building, with a tower and five bells, however, it evidently "contained nothing to compensate the inquirer for his time in viewing the interior." This, of course, was in the days long before 'heritage tourism' became a key economic aspect of the 'yet-to-be-expanded-from-the-dalliances-of-the-bored-wealthy' tourism industry of that time. 

Although it is not clear from the available material just when work on this church began, dated architectural details from the church's website indicate stonework from the 13th century, although the nave dates to Norman times. What is clear though, is that many additions and alterations over the centuries have added a wide variety of architectural styles to the church.

The church's website records the following historical details of the church:

"Unusually, St Mary’s has two porches. Enter by the north porch and in the stonework over the 14th century doorway are the heads of a King and Queen and a scene depicting the Annunciation. There is a stoup in the porch.. Watch the steps down, your first impression is of white walls, a light and a spacious interior crowned by a wonderful array of 15th century king post trusses supported by heavy tie beams. A spiral staircase in the choir vestry leads up the bell tower to the ringing chamber. 

The only remaining part of the Norman structure is the nave which has a narrow Norman window, and further along is a squat Tudor window. In the chancel is a blocked in door and in the other wall a piscina, now used as an Aumbry.

An arcade of five bays separates the nave from the south chapel, which again, has beautiful roof timbers. This 16th century chapel contains the Tyrell family tombs and ten 16th century carved pews. It has a 13th century piscina with a drain and close by on the wall is a 15th century painted altar curtain. 

The windows here contains some ancient glass and there is a Royal Coat of Arms with an unusual crouching lion. The Font is 15th century. Go out through the 16th century south porch and look for the medieval scratch dials (Primitive sundials) on the stonework of the doorway."

Other non-structural items in the church give light to aspects of the church's history:

"A 12th century oak Crusader chest, (and) Registers which tell of the burning at the stake, in Chelmsford, of a local man and the marriage of Christopher Martin, who sailed to America on the Mayflower. 

The most recently discovered treasures are early 14th century wall paintings in the south aisle including the Nativity, the Annunciation, and St Catherine on her wheel. All the paintings are well documented in the booklet available in the Church."

Meanwhile: "The Churchyard contains some early 17th century headstones and an ancient yew tree."

Click here to see another (1999) photo of the church from the other end