Rickling is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Quendon and Rickling, in the Uttlesford district of Essex, England. The village is situated approximately 6 miles (10 km) north from the town of Bishop's Stortford. Saffron Walden, at 5 miles (8 km), and the larger village of Newport, at 2 miles (3 km), lie to the north-east. In 1931 the parish had a population of 378.[1]

Rickling
Rickling Green
Rickling is located in Essex
Rickling
Rickling
Location within Essex
OS grid referenceTL498314
• London30 mi (48 km) SSW
Civil parish
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townSaffron Walden
Postcode districtCB11
PoliceEssex
FireEssex
AmbulanceEast of England
List of places
UK
England
Essex
51°57′40″N 0°10′30″E / 51.961°N 0.175°E / 51.961; 0.175

Rickling is 1 mile (1.6 km) north-west from the village of Quendon. Rickling is the site of the parish church, All Saints, and a few houses. Rickling Green, 2 miles (3 km) from Rickling, is conjoined to Quendon.

History edit

The name Rickling is found in the Domesday Book as Richelinga. It is recorded as having quite a large population of 34 households, and it paid substantial taxes of eight geld units.[2]

Richelinga or Rickling derives from an Old English personal name Ricula and inga, thus ‘followers of the people of Ricula’. The wife of Sledda King of the East Saxons (c.587-604) and sister of Æthelberht of Kent was named Ricula, though an association with this manor has not been proven.[3][4][5]

It is not known definitively why the main population today at Rickling Green is so far from its church at Rickling, but it has been suggested this may have been due to the plague.[4] Another theory is that, over time, the villagers settled closer to the once busy drovers' road (the former A11) that runs through Quendon.[6]

On 1 April 1949 the parish was abolished and merged with Quendon to form "Quendon and Rickling".[7]

Amenities edit

There is a small primary school in Rickling Green, serving the village and surrounding communities and joined in federation with Farnham primary school, with the schools sharing one head teacher and governing body.

There is also a public house, The Cricketers Arms, Rickling Green (not to be confused with The Cricketers in nearby Clavering), which overlooks the green. The village green is also home to Rickling Ramblers Cricket Club.[8] Cricket has been played on the green since 1850 and takes place throughout the summer months.[4]

Landmarks edit

 
All Saints', Rickling is located some distance north of the main village centre at Rickling Green

All Saints' Church, Rickling, a Grade I listed building,[9] is a 13th-century flint church, although the nave's unusual proportions may indicate a pre-conquest date. The chancel, south aisle and west tower were built in 1340. There were later alterations in the 15th and 16th centuries, with further additions and restoration in the 19th century. Significant features include the 14th-century chancel screen and pulpit.[10][11]

Rickling Hall, a Grade II* listed farmhouse, stands on the site of a former castle and includes a moated castle mound to the south of the present building.[12] Rickling and Rickling Green contain a number of other listed buildings, many of them dating from the 17th century.[13]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Population statistics Rickling CP/AP through time". A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  2. ^ "Rickling | Domesday Book". Domesdaymap.co.uk. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  3. ^ "Place name: Rickling, Essex Folio: 7r; 7v Little Domesday Book Domesday... | The National Archives". Discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  4. ^ a b c "local history of quendon and rickling villages in essex report". Recordinguttlesfordhistory.org.uk. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  5. ^ "Kingdoms of the Anglo-Saxons - Essex". Historyfiles.co.uk. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  6. ^ "Quendon and Rickling Parish | A Brief History of Quendon & Rickling Village". Quendonandrickling.co.uk. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  7. ^ "Relationships and changes Rickling CP/AP through time". A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  8. ^ "Rickling Ramblers CC - Play-Cricket". Ricklingramblers.play-cricket.com. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  9. ^ Historic England. "Church of All Saints (1217095)". National Heritage List for England.
  10. ^ "Rickling | An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Essex, Volume 1 (pp. 221-224)". British-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  11. ^ A Church Near You. "Rickling: All Saints, Rickling - Essex | Diocese of Chelmsford". Achurchnearyou.com. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  12. ^ Historic England. "Rickling Hall (1216666)". National Heritage List for England.
  13. ^ "Listed Buildings in Quendon and Rickling, Essex, England". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 21 June 2013.

External sources edit