Little Henny

Little Henny is located in between Great Henny and Bulmer Tye, and was formerly a parish in the hundred of Hinckford, and the poor union of Sudbury.{{cite web|url=https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/6759|title=History of Little Henny, in Braintree and Essex|publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth|website=Vision of Britain through time|access-date=10 October 2023}}{{cite book|url=https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/ESS/Towns/Little_Henny|title=A Topographical Dictionary of England|author=Samuel Lewis|date=1831}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EFGDaZycnYwC&dq=%22little+henny%22+essex&pg=PA253|title=History, gazetteer, and directory of the County of Essex|author=William White|date=1863|page=253}} The name Henny comes from the Old English words heah and eg, meaning high island.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vG7MZ9J6dAgC&dq=%22little+henny%22+essex&pg=RA1-PA164|title=Dictionary of American Family Names|author=Patrick Hanks|date=2003|page=164}} Little Henny and Great Henny were listed as Heni in the Domesday Book of 1086, with a population of 35, putting it in the largest 20% of settlements recorded.{{cite book|url=https://opendomesday.org/place/XX0000/great-and-little-henny/|title=Domesday Book|date=1086}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i7jpDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22little+henny%22+essex&pg=PT249|title=A History of English Place Names and Where They Came From|author=John Moss|date=2020|isbn=9781526722850}} In 1894, the civil parish was transferred to the newly formed Belchamp Rural District, which included parishes along the Suffolk and Essex border.{{cite web|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10153281|title=Belchamp Rural District|website=Vision of Britain through history|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001001721/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10153281 |access-date=10 October 2023|archive-date=1 October 2007 }} In 1934, the civil parish transferred to Halstead Rural District under a County Review Order designated in the Local Government Act of 1929. The district was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972 and the civil parish was transferred to Braintree District.{{cite web|url=https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10025930|title=Halstead RD|website=Vision of Britain through History|access-date=10 October 2023}} In 1976, Little Henny civil parish was grouped with Great Henny, Middleton and Twinstead by Order of Braintree District Council. Great Henny, Middleton and Twinstead are served by three parish councillors each while Little Henny is served by one.{{cite web|url=https://e-voice.org.uk/hennymiddletontwinsteadparishcouncil/|title=Welcome to our Parish Council Website|website=The Hennys', Middleton & Twinstead Parish Council|access-date=10 October 2023}}

Unusually for a parish in the area, it has no standing church - though the foundations of a medieval church exist which was believed to have been destroyed by 1600.{{cite book|url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/rchme/essex/vol3/p168|title=An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Essex, Volume 3, North East|date=1922|page=168}} However the parish continued to be served by Rectors who were based in Sudbury, and the Rector paid an annual stipend to St Mary's Church at Great Henny for parishioners to have access to the pews and be buried in the graveyard.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XfxBAAAAYAAJ&dq=%22little+henny%22&pg=PA35|title=The Meeting House and the Manse, Or, The Story of the Independents of Sudbury|author=William Walter Hodson|date=1893|page=35}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R9QSAAAAYAAJ&dq=%22little+henny%22&pg=RA1-PA48|title=Parliamentary Papers|volume=48|date=1856|publisher=H.M. Stationery Office|page=48}} Samuel Crossman was one such rector at Little Henny before being ejected from the Anglican church in 1662.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KO1ceziscVgC&dq=%22little+henny%22+essex&pg=PA493|title=The Diary of Ralph Josselin, 1616-1683|author=Ralph Josselin|date=1991|isbn=9780197261033|page=493}}{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_IcXAAAAYAAJ&dq=%22little+henny%22+essex&pg=PA466|title=Biographical Dictionary|author=Thompson Cooper|date=1890|page=466}} The church was subject to an archaeological dig by F.H. Fairweather in the 1930s and has been a scheduled monument since 2001. The earliest parts of the church use Barnack stone, which indicates that it was built during the second half of the 12th century, while the church was reconstructed at some point during the 14th or 15th century when it was made smaller.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dkgOAQAAMAAJ&q=%22little+henny%22+essex|title=A Guide to the Historical and Archaeological Publications of Societies in England and Wales, 1901-1933|author=Edward Lindsay Carson Mullins|date=1968|isbn=9780485110944|page=150}}{{cite web|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1019664?section=official-list-entry|title=Remains of church and churchyard, 80m south east of The Ryes 1019664|website=Historic England|date=5 January 2001}} In the census of 1831, it was reported that parish of Little Henny had a population of 59.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SgQVAAAAQAAJ&dq=%22little+henny%22&pg=PA488|title=The history and topography of Essex|author=Thomas Wright|date=1836|page=488}}

Little Henny is home to 7 listed buildings.{{cite web|url=https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/england/little-henny-braintree-essex|title=Listed Buildings in Little Henny, Braintree, Essex|publisher=British Listed Buildings|accessdate=10 October 2023}} Rye Hall is a Grade II listed 17th century house incorporating remains of an earlier building that was remodelled in the 19th century, and was formerly a moated site.{{cite web|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1123270?section=official-list-entry|title=Ryes Hall 1123270|website=Historic England|date=22 August 1986}} The Ryes, formerly known as Rye Lodge, is a Grade II Georgian House designed by Robert Lugar, whose engraving of the house and its plans were exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts in 1809. The house was recognised by Nikolaus Pevsner during his survey of Essex.{{cite web|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1306332?section=official-list-entry|title=The Ryes 1306332|website=Historic England|date=22 August 1986}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ribapix.com/ryes-lodge-little-henny-essex-perspective-of-the-entrance-facade_riba85240#|title=Ryes Lodge, Little Henny, Essex: perspective of the entrance facade RIBA 85240|website=RIBApix|access-date=10 October 2023}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z3FN4VL5lEwC&dq=%22little+henny%22+essex&pg=PR3|title=Essex: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides)|author=Nikolaus Pevsner, James Bettley|date=2007|isbn=9780300116144|page=554-555}} From the 20th century up to 2011, the Ryes was home to a school.{{cite news|url=https://www.essexlive.news/news/property/gallery/picture-perfect-gem-georgian-country-8807963.amp|title=The 'picture perfect gem' Georgian country house on Essex border with acres of rolling countryside|newspaper=Essex Live|date=8 October 2023}} Both buildings are named after the local Rye River, which in turn was named after the former Lord of the Manor, John de Ry.

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Category:Hamlets in Essex

Category:Civil parishes in Essex

Category:Braintree District