TAKELEY, (Essex) S. E. of Birchanger, is contiguous to Stansted, and passed from Hatfield-Broadoak. by the Stane-Street
road. This manor, called Waltham-Hall, anciently bel. to Waltham-Abby; to whose abbot a Mt. and Fair were granted here by
Hen. III. Hen. VIII. after the Diss. granted this manor to Rich, Heigham; whose widow's son, Tho. Colt, by a former
husband, had a share in it with Will. Heigham, and alienated 2 parts of the manor to Tho. Miller, who purchased the other
3d of Heigham. The estate, after being by sale in the Ld. Petre's family, was lately in the possession of Sir Isaac Shard;
and the late John Kendal had a seat here. Some lands in this p. bel. to the Priory of Ankerwick, which Henry VIII. after
the Diss. bestowed on the Abby of Bishiam-Montague in Berks, which he had newly founded. Here was once a small priory,
which was given with the manor by Hen. I. to the Priory of St. Valory in Picardy; but suppressed bv Henry V. with the
other alien priories.