A Study of the Strood by W.E. Duane. Chapter 8. Page 44.

The Church and Strood Lands

There is some difference of opinion in the records as to the amount of land that is involved in the Church and Strood Lands Charity. At the first admission we know of in 1560 it was 30 acres but by the beginning of the 16th Century it was termed Strood Lands as well as Churchfields, so it can be assumed that the original grant was added to from time to time. An exhaustive search has been made of available records but no trace exists of the donor of these lands.

At the time of the Charity Commissioners' Report 1819 -1837 the land consisted of:-

[Note 1] "a copyhold 54 acres estate comprising 1 rood, 30 perches of arable land and 26 acres and 2 roods of woodland holden to the Manor of West Mersea, the rents and profits of which are appropriated to the repairs and amendment of the parish church and causeway called the Strood."

On the admission of Mr. Bennet Hawes 16th March, 1835, the description of the land is given as:-

[Note 2] "lands tenements containing 30 acres, called Strood Lands, and Church Fields and formerly called Strood Lands, Morses and Carters."

It has not been possible to trace the origin of "Morses and Carters".

Note 1 Essex Charities Page 431
Note 2 Essex Charities Page 432

Date: 1965