The History of Rochford Hundred; From Former Authors, Ancient Manuscripts and Church Registers, Treating Upon Various Subjects, Including Notices of C (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1888 edition. Excerpt: ... yards below high water mark and about half a mile due south of the present Chalkwell-hall, stands the Crow Stone, which was erected on this spot to mark the termination of the jurisdiction of the Lord Mayor and Corporation of the city of London, as conservators of the river on the Essex side of the Thames. It is probable that the locality where this stone is placed was formerly the edge of the saltings, as in an old map of Chalkwell-hall, one hundred years old, several acres more saltings are shown than at present exist. There are similar stones at Yantlet creek on the Kentish side of the river, and at Staines, Middlesex. The Lord Mayor and aldermen of the city of London used to visit the latter once in every seven years, on which occasion the aldermen who were not free of the water were politely and respectfully "bumped," after which ceremony they had to pay the watermen two guineas. This ancient practice is now entirely dispensed with, since the city has not now the sole control of the river. The Thames Conservancy Act in 1857 brought to a close these gorgeous water pageants, and vested the jurisdiction jointly in the Crown and City. The stone on Chalkwell shore indicates the legal termination of the river Thames, and east of it the estuary is in law the high sea. In 1838 a larger obelisk of granite, 14 feet high, was placed close to the north side of the old pillar, which was entirely covered with inscriptions. The original pillar is square, little more than 7 feet high. On the west side of the shaft are the remains of the city arms and the date 1285. Generally the ceremony of visiting these stones took place every six or seven years; the Lord Mayor for the time being used to be rowed or carried round them, some silver coins were...