From Kelly’s Post Office Directory of Essex, Herts, Middlesex, Kent, Surrey and Sussex, 1867
NORTHIAM is a parish, in the Eastern division of the county, hundred of Staple, rape of Hastings, Rye union and county court district, rural deanery of Dallington, archdeaconry of Lewes, and diocese of Chichester, 7¾ miles north-west from Rye, and 7 east from Robertsbridge. The church of St. Mary is a handsome structure, in the Decorated style, with tower partly Saxon partly Norman: on the north-west side, is the mausoleum of the Frewen family: the exterior is decorated with the escutcheons of different members of the family, carved in stone, and they are also again represented in the stained glass of the window which lights the interior: the last of the family that was deposited there was Anne, wife of the present Thomas Frewen, Esq., who died February 18th, 1844; over the tablet erected to her memory is a handsome bust of her executed by Behnes, the eminent sculptor: the family are of remote antiquity in the county of Worcester, and were transferred into Sussex in the reign of Elizabeth, by John Frewen, who was rector of Northiam for half a century, and died in 1628; he had several sons, the eldest of whom was Bishop Of Lichfield and Coventry, and Archbishop of York, and the youngest, Stephen Frewen, was a wealthy citizen and alderman of London, who purchased Brickwall and other estates in Sussex, and died at a great age in 1679: by intermarriage with the Turner family, of Cold Overton, in Leicestershire, the Frewens ultimately inherited the estates of the Turner family in that county, and for several generations bore their name, which, however, they have since discontinued. The parish register dates from 1558. The living is a rectory, value about £800 per annum, with residence, in the gift of the executors of the late Rev. W. E. Lord, D.D., and held by the Rev. John Octavus Lord. Here is a school, on the National system, for children of both sexes; and a Free school with an endowment, for fifteen free scholars, the master being allowed to receive a limited number of pupils. The Wesleyans have a chapel here. Brickwall House, the family seat of the Frewens, is in this parish. The navigable river Rother bounds the parish on the north, and separates it from the county of Kent. The parish contained a population in 1861 of 1,260; area, 3,486 acres.
Parish Clerk, Edward Lord.
POST AND MONEY ORDER OFFICE AND POST OFFICE SAVINGS BANK.- John Fullagar, postmaster. Letters arrive from Staplehurst at 6 a.m.; dispatched at 10.45 p.m.
PILLAR Box.- John Edwards, Clink green. Cleared at 9.30 p.m.
INSURANCE AGENTS:-
City & County, E. Cox
County Fire & Life, Edward Cox
Equitable Fire & Life, Samuel Vaughan
Liverpool & London & Globe Fire & Life, Thos. R. Pile
Reliance Life, Edward Cox
Police Station, James Pound, constable
National School (mixed), – Bennett, master; Mrs. Bennett, mistress
CARRIERS TO:-
MAIDSTONE – James Jones, monday, wednesday & friday, returning following days
RYE – Augustus Bryant, daily, for passengers; Jesse Eldridge, monday, wednesday, friday & saturday
TENTERDEN – Jesse Eldridge, every tuesday
Barron Misses
Bishopp George Daniel, esq. J.P.
Dunk Robert, esq.
Frewen Thomas, esq. Brickwall house
Harris Charles, M.D.
Humphrey Mr. Thomas
Lord Rev. John Octavus, Rectory
Smart William Thomas Wake, M.D.
Springett Miss
COMMERCIAL.
Ashenden James, farmer, Yew Tree farm
Ashenden Spencer, miller
Barden Thomas, beer retailer
Body Moses, farmer
Boxall Hugh, farmer
Bryant Augustus, carrier
Chapman Spencer, grocer
Cheeseman Frederick, farmer
Chester Samuel, farmer
Chrisford -, farmer, Stent farm
Coleman Wm. blacksmith & wheelwright
Coleman Joseph, blacksmith & ironmonger
Comport William, plumber
Cox Edward, builder, stationer & collector of taxes
Dengate James, farmer
Edwards John, grocer & draper
Eldridge Jesse, carrier
Elliott Edwin, boot & shoe maker
Fullagar John, builder
Gilfin John, miller
Gladwish Edward, farmer
Hancock William David, Six Bells & posting house
Henley Thomas, grocer & draper
Hicks Henry, boot maker
Hodges James, farmer
Humphrey Stephen, saddler
Hutcheson J. farmer, Copland
Larkin James, boot & shoe maker
Longley William Gurr, gardener
Lord Edward, farmer
Lord James, farmer
Marchant Issachar, confectioner
Millham John, saddler
Morfey Stephen, farmer
Newble William, shoe maker
Padgham David, watch maker
Paris William, gardener
Perigoe Edward, carpenter
Pile Thomas Relf, grocer & draper
Ranger Benjamin, butcher
Selmes James, jun. farmer
Selmes James, sen. farmer
Tolhurst Ellen (Miss), dress maker
Trotter Robert, farmer
Vaughan Samuel, naturalist, pianoforte tuner & photographer
Vincett James, butcher
Whatman Allick, farmer
Whightwick Maria (Mrs.), day school
Whichtwick Wm. Henry, hair dresser