TAKELEY (Holy Trinity), a parish, in the union of Dunmow, hundred of Uttlesford, N. division of Essex, 4 miles (W.) from Dunmow; containing 899 inhabitants. This parish, which had formerly a very extensive forest, comprises 3155a. 4p., whereof about 2408 acres are arable, 486 meadow, and 106 wood. The living is a vicarage, valued in the king’s books at £11; patron and appropriator, the Bishop of London. The great tithes have been commuted for £654. 10., and the vicarial for £220; £105. 10. are paid to certain impropriators; a glebe belonging to the appropriator and impropriators contains 22a. 38p., and the vicar has 1a. 1r. 22p. The church is an ancient edifice of stone, with a south aisle, in which is a sepulchral chapel belonging to the Bassingbourne estate. A small priory was founded here in the reign of Henry I., as a cell to the abbey of St. Valery, in Picardy. Dr. Robert Fowler, Archbishop of Dublin, was buried here October 19th, 1801.
Source: A Topographical Dictionary of England by Samuel Lewis Fifth Edition Published London; by S. Lewis and Co., 13, Finsbury Place, South. M. DCCC. XLV.
