BARDFIELD (LITTLE), a parish in the hundred of FRESHWELL, county of ESSEX, 3 miles (E.) from Thaxted, containing 308 inhabitants. The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry of Colchester, and diocese of London, rated in the king's books at £11, and in the patronage of the heir male of the Rev. T. Bernard. The church is dedicated to St. Catharine. A school was endowed by Sarah Bernard, in 1774, for eighteen poor children, to be taught by a widow j there is also an almshouse for poor widows.