HORKSLEY (GREAT), a village and a parish in Lexden district, Essex. The village stands near the river Stour and the boundary with Suffolk, 1¼ mile S by W of Nayland, and 4 N by W of Colchester r. station; and has a post office under Colchester. The parish comprises 3, 048 acres. Real property, £5, 184. Pop., 769. Houses, 172. The property is divided among many. Westwood House is the seat of John L. Gower, Esq. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Rochester. Value, £1, 005.* Patron, Countess Cowper. The church is ancient but good; consists of nave, N aisle, and chancel, with handsome tower; and has a very fine memorial window to Bishop Ward, of Sodor and Man. There are a Wesleyan chapel, a national school, and charities £40.

(John Marius Wilson, Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870-72))