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History of Ash and Ridley from Earliest Records to 1957
                    
Compiled by Dorothy G. Meager on behalf of Ash and Ridley Women's Institute           Page 109

Interesting Houses continued

   The shutters which were taken down from the windows of the old kitchen a few years ago were metal lined and served for defence against attack.
   About 20 years ago the house was struck by lightning, resulting in an old beam being split and the house subsiding on one side by about 2½ inches. In 1956 the death watch beetle was discovered in the old roof beams, it was then that the split beam was found. An old well was discovered under the scullery floor when repairs were being done. The bricks round the top of the well are obviously several hundred years old. Quantities of flints, tiles etc. have been found dating back to Roman times. When excavating last year workmen found an old coin of the reign of James I.
   Electricity was installed in the house in 1952 when it was first brought to Ridley.
   In the Ridley Church Register of Baptisms 1749-1812 may be seen the following entries:-
   The Cedar and the Deodara in the Parsonage Meadow 

were planted on May 2nd 1849 and were the gift of the Revd. H.D. Phelps, Vicar of Birling (signed) Thos. P. Phelps, Rector of Ridley. The Wellingtonia Gigantea was planted on August 30th 1866 by Herbert Dampier Phelps R.N. The Deodara below the School (see "Glebe House") was planted in the year 1864 (signed) Thos. P. Phelps. Rector.
These three trees commemorated the births of the Rev. Thomas Phelps’ three sons. His son Lancelot Ridley Phelps had a distinguished career, becoming eventually Provost of Oriel College, Oxford.
   While the incumbent was resident in the Rectory a long building in Rectory Meadow was used as a Parish Room and all Parish meetings were held there, including Sunday School. When the Reverend H.B. Hennell moved to Ash Rectory and the Ridley Rectory was let, Hodsoll Street and New Street were without a Parish meeting place, and of course Ridley.

   
 Ridley Old Rectory, from front                 Ridley Old Rectory, rear view                    Ridley Old Rectory, Cedar Tree   

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