THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 147
good roadway, must very soon have felt the effects of the Norman rule, although,
being comparatively a small place and the inhabitants principally devoted to
agriculture, it offered no great inducements to any one of the great Norman
soldiers to claim it as his portion of the spoil; for the Bishops of London still
retained possession. Surrounding lands in Springfield and Margaretting were
granted to Robt. Gernon, one of the Conqueror's followers ; and Alberie de Vere,
who founded the mighty Earldom of Oxford, received Lordships and Manors in
the neighbourhood.
The first event of importance in the Norman period occurred about the year
noo. At that time Mauricius, who had been chaplain and chancellor to William
the Conqueror, was Bishop of London, and Henry I. had just commenced his
reign.
In that year the Bishop built a bridge over the river; and Morant says, "Which
brought the road that before lay through Writtle this way, and gave some benefit
to the town by the resort and increase of travellers."
That the old Roman road went through Writtle cannot be admitted with our
present knowledge. That, in consequence of the old Roman fordway having
become neglected in the troublous times of the Saxons and Danes, the fording of
the river became dangerous, is possible ; and the lazy Saxons may have preferred
—in order to avoid the fording of the rivers at Widford and Chelmsford, or to
execute the constructive works necessary to make those fords safe—to have branched
off the high road at Margaretting, and so passing through Writtle, have reached
the upper part of the town. Anyhow, it is clear that the work of Bishop Maurice
restored to the town its ancient approach, rendering it available at all times of the
year. We cannot doubt that Bishop's Hall was one of the country seats of the
Bishop, and he would be desirous of saving the detour through Writtle, which
lengthened his journey from London one mile and a-half. No doubt he felt some
interest in the prosperity of the place where he had taken up his residence ;
and as it did not take much to induce a Norman to build, he would derive a
good deal of satisfaction in carrying out a substantially good and useful work.
To Bishop Maurice, therefore, belongs the honour of restoring Chelmsford to its
importance as a town. I see no reason to doubt that this bridge was built upon
the site of the present one; indeed, it it possible that the foundations of the old
bridge may have been utilised in the present one ; but there are no visible signs of
any remains of the old fabric, although it must have been an important structure,
as it is described as consisting of three arches. Having thus improved the approach
to the town, he would doubtless at the same time make his residence suitable to the
dignity of one of the great Prelates of the land ; and Bishop's Hall Mill goes to prove
that he was also quick to utilise the flowing rivers for what was then the important
occupation of a miller. Hid away in the old records of St. Paul's may some day be
found some items of interest referring to this old residence ; but at present, as far
as I am aware, we have no information about it. We can readily picture to our-
selves that the Hall would be worthy of being the residence of the chief Bishop of
the land. The house was no doubt surrounded by park lands, and with its grange
and mill forming a complete occupation and a pleasant retreat from the cares of
the more important duties attaching to his office when in London ; and, as in
those days indulgence in sport was not considered inconsistent with the due per-
formance of the more sacred duties of a bishop, the game in the surrounding Forest
may have offered additional attractions.
As the town became easier of access and the centre of civilization of the
district, the population would no doubt increase. Fresh houses would be erected,