The following is an extract from the History, Gazetteer, and Directory of the County of Essex by William White published in 1848.

CANFIELD (LITTLE) is a small parish and village, on the road between Dunmow and Bishop-Stortford, 3 miles W. of the former, and 6 miles E. of the latter town.  It contains 258 souls, and 1458A. 2R. 8P. of land, watered by the chief source of the river Roding.  Viscount Maynard owns most of the soil, and is lord of the manor, which was purchased by one of his ancestors of Sir Wm. Fitche, and was held at the Conquest by Wm. de Warren, Geofrey de Magnaville, and Alberic de Vere.  Mr. J. Marsh and several smaller owners have estates.  The lands called Hodings were held by the Hoding family, of the Veres, in the 14th century.  An estate called Stone Hall was formerly held by the Barentyn, Rampston, Blencoe, Pinchback, and other families.  
The Church is a small antique structure, which has recently been thoroughly repaired and beautified at the expense of the rector.  The south wall of the chancel has been rebuilt; a new east window, enriched with stained glass, has been inserted; the font has been re-carved, and all the ornamental parts of the edifice have been skillfully restored, under the superintendence of Mr. Wm. Ollett, un.  
The rectory valued in K.B. at £12. 0s. 7 ½ d., and in 1831 at £350, is in the patronage of the Master and Fellows of Christ's College, Cambridge, and incumbency of the Rev. C. L. Smith, M.A., who has 70A. of glebe, and a handsome brick residence, in the Elizabethan style.  The tithes were commuted in 1843, for £410 per ann.  The poor have 3A. 2R. of land, allotted to them at an enclosure in 1839.  Here is a neat school erected by Viscount Maynard in 1842.