Witham in Olden Time

This agreeable looking gentleman is the Reverend John Bramston, as drawn by his wife Clarissa. He was from a distinguished Essex family and was the vicar of Witham for 32 years. H and Clarissa first came here with their two daughters in 1840. They were nervous about the move because of the success of the Dissenters, who were just building a new chapel (now the URC). But he and the Church soon responded by building a second church of their own (All Saints) on a new street (Guithavon Street), together with new National Schools. He presented these two lectures entitled ‘Witham in Olden Time’, to the Witham Literary Institution in 1855. Of course he had none of today’s ready-made sources of information, so it was a considerable achievement. The premises of the Literary Institution were in front of the Dissenters’ new chapel in Newland Street (now the URC) where they had a library and welcomed lecturers. Eventually the Institution closed, and the building was taken by the Constitutional…