THAXTED, a small town, a parish, and a sub-district, in Dunmow district, Essex.
The town stands on the river Chelmer, 6½ miles NE of Elsenham r. station, and 7 SE of Saffron-Walden; was a borough from the time of Mary till 1687; and has a post-office under Chelmsford, a later English church with a spire rebuilt in 1814, three dissenting chapels, an endowed school with £48 a year, national and British schools, alms houses, a town estate £160, other charities nearly £800, a weekly cattle market on Friday, and fairs on the Monday before Whit-Monday, and 10 Aug.
The parish comprises 6,219 acres. Real property, £11,043. Pop. in 1851, 2,556; in 1861, 2,302. Houses, 546. The property is much subdivided. The manor belonged to the Clares; and passed to the Audleys, the Badlesmeres, the Mortimers, and the Cuttses. Horham Hall was built by Sir John Cutts, who died in 1520; is a fine castellated Gothic edifice; and is now the seat of F. G. West, Esq.
The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Rochester. Value, £460. Patrons, the Executors of the late Viscount Maynard. Purchas, the author of “the Pilgrim,” was a native.
Source: The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales [Wilson, John M]. A. Fullarton & Co. N. d. c. [1870-72].