St Mary’s Rivenhall


Dr Henry Dixon of Witham and Rivenhall, 1787 to 1876


Dr Henry Dixon was born in Finchingfield, Essex in 1787. He married Georgiana Cole in 1839 who died five years later in 1844.  Her father owned Dorewards Hall (now the Fire and Rescue HQ and renamed Kelvedon Place).


In 1851 he married Jane Scott Hews but she died in 1859.  Her brother farmed Hoo Hall, Rivenhall.  There were no children from either marriage.


Dr Dixon rebuilt Dorewards Hall and died there on 27 February 1876 aged 89. He was probably Rivenhall’s wealthiest resident.


Henry Dixon took great interest in the politics of the day and wrote a very remarkable and opinionated diary, covering the dates 1834-1840 and 1842-1876.  It combines his own life as a Dissenter and a Doctor and a farmer, with the social life of Mid Essex (and elsewhere) and the politics of Westminster and Europe. At the beginning and end of each annual volume, he wrote further notes, copies of letters, etc.


These fascinating diaries are unfortunately very hard to read and of great length, and no typed version has yet been completed.  The original volumes are deposited in the Essex Record Office at Chelmsford.  For more information see  https://www.janetgyford.com/people/dr-henry-dixon-of-witham-and-rivenhall-1787-to-1876-notes-about-work-on-the-text-of-his-diaries/


In his Will he carefully set out bequests to relations, friends and institutions.  He specified that bequests to female friends and relations were for their sole use, "free from the debts, control or engagement of any husband".  His charitable bequests included local congregational chapels, Colchester General Hospital, Colchester Idiot Asylum, the Royal Medical Benevolent Society, and Witham Literary Institution.   


Dr Henry Dixon left £1000 in his will for the two local charities he had founded in Rivenhall


 The Waterworks

 The Workman’s Hall including adjacent allotments



The Waterworks.


The Waterworks are no longer functioning and the universal delivery of a mains water supply during the twentieth century obviated the need for this worthy scheme to improve the health of Rivenhall villagers.


The aim was to deliver clean drinking water to Rivenhall and Rivenhall End from the Rivenhall brook by building up a head of water upstream and deliver this via “water tank, pump apparatus, works and pipes”.  The remnants of the collection system can be seen near the Hoo Hall bridge.  An old Ordnance Survey map marks this as "Hydraulic Ram"


Note also the spelling of Dorewards / Durwards Hall.






















The Workman's Hall.


Photo from Bill Prime's book, Rivenhall Remembered, published 1995.



























The Workman’s Hall was opened in Rivenhall End on 26 November 1872 for “the purpose of advancing the moral, intellectual and social condition of working men and their families.”  In Victorian times, the majority of villagers worked on the land, Silver End was a tiny hamlet and there were at least nine farms in the parish of Rivenhall.  In 1893 the school leaving age was raised to 12; when children left the village primary school their formal education was ended. The Workman's hall provided a place for agricultural workers to go for a hot drink and to have access to reading materials, thus having a chance to extend their education.


Some of the original rules of the Workman’s Hall were:


 Two pence per month to be paid by each member weekly in advance

 The Chairman shall be elected at each meeting.  (Trustees meet three times a year)

 No person shall be excluded from the Hall on the grounds of any political or religious opinions he may entertain

 No lectures on political or religious subjects shall be delivered in the Hall or on the premises

 No alcoholic drinks shall be allowed in the hall

 Pastimes and games such as Chess, Backgammon, Bagatelle and Draughts may be permitted but no Cards or Dice or any form of Gambling for money or otherwise shall be allowed

 Once a week during the winter months and occasionally as opportunities offer during the summer there shall be evening entertainments consisting of reading, music and singing to which members shall be allowed to bring their Wives and families free of charge

 The Hall shall be open every day of the week except Sundays from eight to nine in the morning, from one to two during the day and from six to nine in the evening.  Coffee and tea may be provided at a penny per mug. Men whose work is near the hall will have a comfortable room to take their meals in.

 Newspapers, periodical publications and general books and pamphlets of a moral nature will be constantly on the tables in the hall and not allowed to be taken away.


The Workman's Hall was near the site of the northbound filling station on the A12 at Rivenhall End.  It was demolished when the A12 was widened, and replaced by the current Henry Dixon Hall.  


In the spirit of Dr Dixon’s original bequest the Henry Dixon Hall and allotments continue to be administered by its Trustees for the benefit of local people, charities and local organisations.  Today the hall is managed by the Henry Dixon Charitable Trust.


The original Workman's Hall included premises for a Caretaker and the family of Martin Andrews, a local resident, lived there as caretakers before handing over to Dot Taylor.   She then became the first Caretaker of the modern Hall.  A plaque in HDH commemorates her fifty years as Caretaker.  Her daughter Tracy Scott has continued the family tradition as the current Caretaker.


An area of allotments along the A12 in Rivenhall End was sold off for housing in 1990, becoming Foxden. There are still eight allotments in active use next to the Henry Dixon Hall.

Applications for allotments should be made to the HDCT Trustees.  There are currently none vacant.


The Henry Dixon Charitable Trust.


The charity known as "The Workman's Hall and the Waterworks" was founded on 19 December 1873.  This and and the further bequest of £1,000 in 1876 were duly registered with the Charity Commission.  

It is Charity No 253661 and the Charities Commission website restates Henry Dixon's  original aims:


PROVIDING A WORKMAN'S HALL AND LECTURE AND READING ROOM FOR ADVANCING THE MORAL, INTELLECTUAL AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS OF WORKING MEN AND THEIR FAMILIES OF THE PARISHES OF RIVENHALL, KELVEDON, WITHAM, BRAXTED AND FEERING.


The current Trustees are


Wilson Kerr of Rivenhall (de facto Chairman)

Carole McCarthy of Rivenhall End (Secretary)

Oliver Clarke of Witham (Treasurer)

Elizabeth Acharrya of Rivenhall

Bob Turner of Rivenhall

John Macrae of Rivenhall End

Dennis Clark of Rivenhall End

Jackie Allan of Rivenhall End


Accounts are filed annually and matters pertaining to governance are available on the Charities Commission website.

 https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/253661/governance


The Trust regularly supports local charities, for example by an annual donation to the Royal British Legion.  Requests for charitable support should be addressed to the Trustees who determine whether an application meets the spirit of Dr Dixon's bequest.  They also look favourably on local charitable  groups if there is a need to prioritise bookings for the Hall.


The hall is currently well used by a range of community groups and activities.  Requests for bookings and Terms & Conditions should go via the Caretaker on 01376  571551  or the Secretary on 01376  512781


General enquiries about the Charitable Trust can be emailed to the Treasurer oliver.cclarke@outlook.com



The History of Henry Dixon Hall