Matching, Essex
Encyclopedia
Matching is a village and civil parish in the Epping Forest
district of the County of Essex
, England
.
The village of Matching lying on undulating land is separated from Stort valley by the parishes of Harlow and Sheering. It is a very old settlement and little is known of its early history but the name is of Saxon origin, being derived from the people or tribe of Moecca (Match) who settled in an open area of pasture called an "Ing", hence 'Matching'.
By the time of the Victoria Country History of Essex
, Matching had four manor houses standing on or near their medieval sites; namely Matching Hall, Housham Hall, Parvilles and Stock Hall. Watermans Hall is also mentioned but where abouts is obscured, there is a deserted moated site where a manor house could possibly sited at Gunnetts Green but nothing remains there today.
All the owners of Down Hall
just north of the church in Hatfield Heath
parish played a major part in Matching.
The Church of St Mary the Virgin, there is no mention of this church in the Domesday book
but a Norman church was probably built on an old Saxon site. The tower was added in the 15th Century. It is plain, square and embattled and surmounted by a low tiled spire and weather clock. It retains its original 13th Century doorway.
There are 6 bells which were restored in 1990.
Originally there were 5 bells in the tower the 6th bell was added in 1887 to celebrate the Jubilee of Queen Victoria. It is inscribed "God Save the Queen". The 2nd and 3rd bells were originally cast about 1500 by William Culverden of Houndsditch and inscribed "Sancte Thoma ora pro nobis" and "Sancta Anna ora pro nobis". Bells number 4 and 6 are inscribed "God Save the King. 1615" and "God Save the King. 1640" They were both made by Robert Oldfield of Hertford.
The clock was removed from the old church at Epping
when the church was pulled down and set up in Matching in memory of Henry Selwin-Ibbetson, 1st Baron Rookwood
of Down Hall
.
On the south wall the first window commemorates the restoration of the church by Henry Selwin-Ibbetson, 1st Baron Rookwood
and Lady Selwin-Ibbetson later Lord & Lady Rookwood. The other stained window on the south wall is dedicated by parishioners and friends to the memory of Sir Henry Selwin-Ibbetson, 1st Baron Rookwood who died on 15 January 1902. The east window, which commemorates Edan, Lady Rookwood of Down Hall
are by Powell of Whitefriars.
The Organ is a rare Bevington with pipe work over the console. A brass plaque commemorates the erection of the orgam by Mrs. Calverley of Down Hall
in memory of her brother, Sir Frederick Henniker, of 60th Rifles, who died 19 August 1908.
A memorial plaque remembers the American Airmen who lost their lives in World War II
when stationed at Matching. They came from the 391st Bombardment Group
of the U.S Ninth Air Force
.
A World War II
airfield, RAF Matching
, was located nearby in Matching Green
.
The Welsh
poet and clergyman, John Morgan
, was curate
(1713 –1728) and then vicar (1728–1733 or 1734) here, and as a result gained the nickname "John Morgan Matchin".
Epping Forest (district)
Epping Forest is a local government district of the county of Essex, England. It is named after Epping Forest, of which the district contains a large part...
district of the County of Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
The village of Matching lying on undulating land is separated from Stort valley by the parishes of Harlow and Sheering. It is a very old settlement and little is known of its early history but the name is of Saxon origin, being derived from the people or tribe of Moecca (Match) who settled in an open area of pasture called an "Ing", hence 'Matching'.
By the time of the Victoria Country History of Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, Matching had four manor houses standing on or near their medieval sites; namely Matching Hall, Housham Hall, Parvilles and Stock Hall. Watermans Hall is also mentioned but where abouts is obscured, there is a deserted moated site where a manor house could possibly sited at Gunnetts Green but nothing remains there today.
All the owners of Down Hall
Down Hall
Down Hall is a Victorian country house and estate near Hatfield Heath in the English county of Essex, close to its border with Hertfordshire.- History :...
just north of the church in Hatfield Heath
Hatfield Heath
Hatfield Heath is a village located in the county of Essex, UK with a population of approximately 1500 people. The village sits close to the border of Hertfordshire and Essex and is within close proximity of the towns of Bishop's Stortford and Chelmsford...
parish played a major part in Matching.
The Church of St Mary the Virgin, there is no mention of this church in the Domesday book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
but a Norman church was probably built on an old Saxon site. The tower was added in the 15th Century. It is plain, square and embattled and surmounted by a low tiled spire and weather clock. It retains its original 13th Century doorway.
There are 6 bells which were restored in 1990.
Originally there were 5 bells in the tower the 6th bell was added in 1887 to celebrate the Jubilee of Queen Victoria. It is inscribed "God Save the Queen". The 2nd and 3rd bells were originally cast about 1500 by William Culverden of Houndsditch and inscribed "Sancte Thoma ora pro nobis" and "Sancta Anna ora pro nobis". Bells number 4 and 6 are inscribed "God Save the King. 1615" and "God Save the King. 1640" They were both made by Robert Oldfield of Hertford.
The clock was removed from the old church at Epping
Epping
Epping is a small market town and civil parish in the Epping Forest district of the County of Essex, England. It is located north-east of Loughton, south of Harlow and north-west of Brentwood....
when the church was pulled down and set up in Matching in memory of Henry Selwin-Ibbetson, 1st Baron Rookwood
Henry Selwin-Ibbetson, 1st Baron Rookwood
Henry John Selwin-Ibbetson, 1st Baron Rookwood , known as Sir Henry Selwin-Ibbetson, Bt, from 1869 to 1892, was a British Conservative politician...
of Down Hall
Down Hall
Down Hall is a Victorian country house and estate near Hatfield Heath in the English county of Essex, close to its border with Hertfordshire.- History :...
.
On the south wall the first window commemorates the restoration of the church by Henry Selwin-Ibbetson, 1st Baron Rookwood
Henry Selwin-Ibbetson, 1st Baron Rookwood
Henry John Selwin-Ibbetson, 1st Baron Rookwood , known as Sir Henry Selwin-Ibbetson, Bt, from 1869 to 1892, was a British Conservative politician...
and Lady Selwin-Ibbetson later Lord & Lady Rookwood. The other stained window on the south wall is dedicated by parishioners and friends to the memory of Sir Henry Selwin-Ibbetson, 1st Baron Rookwood who died on 15 January 1902. The east window, which commemorates Edan, Lady Rookwood of Down Hall
Down Hall
Down Hall is a Victorian country house and estate near Hatfield Heath in the English county of Essex, close to its border with Hertfordshire.- History :...
are by Powell of Whitefriars.
The Organ is a rare Bevington with pipe work over the console. A brass plaque commemorates the erection of the orgam by Mrs. Calverley of Down Hall
Down Hall
Down Hall is a Victorian country house and estate near Hatfield Heath in the English county of Essex, close to its border with Hertfordshire.- History :...
in memory of her brother, Sir Frederick Henniker, of 60th Rifles, who died 19 August 1908.
A memorial plaque remembers the American Airmen who lost their lives in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
when stationed at Matching. They came from the 391st Bombardment Group
391st Bombardment Group
The 391st Bombardment Group is an inactive United States Army Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Army Service Forces stationed at Camp Shanks, New York...
of the U.S Ninth Air Force
Ninth Air Force
The Ninth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina....
.
A World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
airfield, RAF Matching
RAF Matching
RAF Station Matching is a former World War II airfield in Essex, England. The airfield is located approximately east of Harlow; about northeast of London...
, was located nearby in Matching Green
Matching Green
Matching Green is a village which forms part of the civil parish of Matching, in the County of Essex, England. It is located east of Harlow, north west of Chipping Ongar and south east of Sawbridgeworth....
.
The Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
poet and clergyman, John Morgan
John Morgan (poet)
John Morgan was a Welsh clergyman, scholar and poet.-Life:...
, was curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
(1713 –1728) and then vicar (1728–1733 or 1734) here, and as a result gained the nickname "John Morgan Matchin".
Matching Parish make-up
- Matching
- Matching GreenMatching GreenMatching Green is a village which forms part of the civil parish of Matching, in the County of Essex, England. It is located east of Harlow, north west of Chipping Ongar and south east of Sawbridgeworth....
- Matching TyeMatching TyeMatching Tye is a village which forms part of the civil parish of Matching, in the County of Essex, England. It is located 2.3 miles East of Harlow, 2.9 Miles South-East of Sawbridgeworth and 6.3 miles North-East of Epping....
- Hobbs CrossHobbs Cross, MatchingHobbs Cross is a hamlet in the parish of Matching and the Epping Forest district of Essex, England.- Nearby settlements :Nearby settlementsinclude the large new town of Harlow, but it is still a rural area despite this.- Transport :...
- The farm Harlow Tye is sometimes referred to as a hamlet in its own right.