Our visit to Steeple Bumpstead corresponded with a flower festival "Songs from the shows". The church was initially locked
as members of the PCC were cleaning-up after the festival. There was quite a lot of the exibits still in the church
so it was not easy to see all the features of the church.
3 - Henry VIII - Six Wives at "Songs from the shows"
"
Two parishes in Essex have been named Bumsted, and this in Hinckford hundred is distinguished by the
appellation of Steeple, as it is found written in records and deeds, Bumsted Steeple, or Bumsted ad Turrim,
according to Nordent,
on account of its having been distinguished at an early period by a tower or steeple, near the road from
Haverhill to
Bathorne Bridge, where remains of entrenchments may yet be traced.
In ancient records, the name is written Bamested,
Bumsted, Bummested. This parish is delightfully situated, the soil heavy, but well-watered and very fertile.Ş
The village is considerably larger than those of the neighbouring parishes, and continues to increase,
yet the inhabitants appear almost entirely dependant for a livelihood on agricultural employments .
It is distant from Haverhill four , from Castle Hedingham eight , and from London fifty miles.
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