1877 Post Office Directory

EVERSHOLT is a parish, in the hundred of Manshead, union of Woburn, county court district of Ampthill, rural deanery of Fleete, archdeaconry of Bedford, and diocese of Ely, situated 2 miles from Woburn, on the borders of the park, about 2½ south from Ridgmount station on the <?> and Bletchley branch of the North Western railway, <?> south-west from Bedford: the parish consists of several clusters of houses, called ‘Ends.’  The church of St. John the Baptist is of stone, in the Gothic and Early English styles, with nave, chancel, aisles, and square tower, containing 6 bells; it underwent a complete restoration in 1864, under G. G. Scott, at a cost of about £3,000: there are monuments to the Hon. Frances Henley Ongley, eldest daughter of the Right Hon. Samuel Henley, first Baron Ongley; Mrs. Elizabeth Hyde, sister of the Bishop of St. Davids; and Mrs. Sarah Hodgkinson. The register dates from the year 1628. The living is a rectory, yearly value £600, with residence, in the gift of the Duke of Bedford, and held by the Rev. William Samuel Baker, M.A., of Clare College, Cambridge. Here is a National school for children of both sexes, also an Infant school. There is a charity estate of 100 acres, administered by trustees, which produces £280 yearly, which is applied to the church, to the poor, and to the town charges. Some centuries back, Gilbert of Eversholt, was rector of this parish, he  was employed in the restoration of St. Albans Abbey and was an architect of some considerable eminence.   The Duke of Bedford is lord of the manor and chief landowner. The soil is loam and gravel; subsoil, clay. The chief crops are wheat, barley, oats, beans and peas. The area is 2,136 acres; rateable value, £3,391 13s.; the population in 1871 was 899.

Parish Clerk, James Chapman.

Post Office.—Samuel Harris, receiver.    Letters arrive through Woburn at 7 a.m.; dispatched at 5.15 p.m. The nearest money order office is at Woburn

Schools :-

National, James Chapman, master

Infant, Miss Ellen Pepper, mistress

Baker Rev. William S. M.A. [rector], Rectory

<?> Zacariah, Rose cot. Rads end

Green John, Berrystead

Sandys Samuel, esq. Eversholt house

Stannard John, esq. Froxfield

COMMERCIAL.

Bailey William, blacksmith, Whit’s end

Bosworth John, farmer, Bury end

Brinkler William, farmer, Rads end

Chance John, beer retailer, Church end

Crouch Edward, butcher & beer retailer, Rad’s end

Daniel Daniel, farmer, Potter’s end

Farmer John, gunsmith, Church end

Ford Alfred, baker, Church end

Fryer John, farmer & maltster

Garentt Alfred, butcher, Rads end

Gazeley George & Jabez, shoe makers, Rad’s end

Godfrey Thomas, farmer

Goodman Thomas, farmer, Model farm

Goodman William, farmer, Water end

Gower Wm. jun. farmer, Church end

Gower Wm. Sen. farmer, Bury end

Harris Richard, carpenter, Church end

Harris Samuel, shopkeeper, Church end

Hensman William, farmer, Rad’s end

Inns Thomas (Mrs.), farmer & grocer, Whit’s end

Lucas George, Red Lion, Whit’s end

Makeham James, Falcon, & grocer, Rads end

Martendale Hy., blacksmith, Water end

Millard Thomas, Farmer, Rad’s end

Negus John, butcher, Church end

Pepper George, Roebuck, Hill’s end

Pepper Jas. beer retailer, Church end

Pheasey Edwin, beer retailer, Rads end

Pulham Wm. shopkeeper, Church end

Reddall Thomas, clock maker, Froxfleld

Rush Francis, wheelwright, Whit’s end

Smith Ruth (Mrs.), Green Man, Church end

Smith Samuel, currier, Rad’s end