• The Churchwardens' account books are amazing for the prices of various items at the end of the 18th Century and early 19th Century, as the following extracts show:-
  
  'Oct.24 1780.
  Paid for a pare of his shoes for George Waylet 0:4:6

  Mar. 25.1783.
  3 days 1 man in the church yeard 0:6:6

  Dec.15. 1795.
  Paid for one Dozen Hassocks 0:12:0

  1805
  paid the Church Clark for the year, George Elles. 2:0:0

  Dec. 26. 1847.
  6 bushell of Coak 0:3:6

  1856
  Candles for the church for the last 3 years 0:0:6

  Apr.15. 1827
  Paid Porter for toling the Bell the day the Duke of York was buried 0:1:6"

  
  The following letters are also taken from Telford's account and describe the conditions in the school attached to St Nicholas during the time of schoolmaster, James Hornsby.
  
  

Gentlemen,
Before leaving this parish, which, through neglect and abuse is in a wretched condition, I consider it to be my imperative duty to inform you, that within the Walls of the Church, which is supposed to stand upon, or nearly so, the highest ground in this county, - the Schoolmaster has his residence for himself and wife, and the ground floor 5½ by 3½ yards, serves as a Schoolroom, in which are huddled 50 scholars, sometimes 60, the sole apartment also at the same time of the tenants for all household purposes. This apartment, itself a part of the Church, opens into the Belfry, which is used as a scullery or back kitchen, the floor of which, was once of bricks, is entirely broken up and worn out.
The children occasionally make this part of the Sacred Edifice a playground and it has certainly a very mischievous influence altogether and should be at once abolished as altogether unseemly and most disgraceful and for continuing which there cannot be the shadow of an excuse as it is an endowed school and can no doubt command such funds which be necessary for erecting suitable premises for teachers and pupils. The Schoolmaster, a worthy man and the most useful man in this parish has had three wives; the situation of this residence is most bleak, the walls are not watertight, the wind whistles through them; the constitution of the women succumbs; thus has the grave closed over two of them and the third drooping and breaking up just as those who have gone before.
I am, Gentlemen,
Your obed. humble Servant,
(signed) J.R. Meek

My dear Archdeacon,
The room to which Mr Meek alludes is not within the walls of the Church, but it is a very old and curious addition to the West End. It is supposed to have been the Priest's residence and is considered about, if not quite, unique.
I think Cutts published a sketch of it some little time ago as an architectural curiosity. It has, I believe, been used as a schoolroom for very many years. It opens into the belfry which may occasionally be made use of as a playground, but I was not aware of the fact, nor did I know that so many children were taught there.
If it be so, something ought to be done, but who can compel Dr Colls to have a schoolroom built? I will ride up and look at it before the end of this week and report to you - you will then be able to judge whether it will be necessary for you to visit it officially. It is 12 miles from Chelmsford, the road lying through Billericay.
Mr Meek has been Curate of Laindon about a twelvemonth and is now on the point of leaving.
Mr Meek sent a copy of his letter and the answer (that the Eccles. Comm. have no power in the case, which appears to be one for the Diocesan and the Charity Comms.) to the Bishop, who forwarded it to me by the same post that brought yours - I will write to him about it when I have inspected the place.

Yours very truly,
W.B. Dalton
The Venerable, Mr Archdeacon Mildmay

N.B. The writer was the Rural Dean

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