Page images
PDF
EPUB

mained until the year 1544; at which time the warden and scholars of Winchester conveyed this, together with some other churches in Middlesex, to King Henry VIII. in exchange for the manor of Harmondsworth. It appears that King Edward VI. in the first year of his reign, granted the rectory and advowson to the Duke of Somerset; but, in the same year, as is proved by a record in the Augmentation Office, there was a grant of the great tithes to the Dean and Chapter of Windsor, who, soon after, obtained possession of the advowson. The great tithes were purchased, some few years back, of the Dean and Chapter, by the late Edmund Hill, Esq.; but the vicar receives from them the sum of 201. per annum

*

We have already observed, that persons attending divine worship according to the Roman Catholic forms, have a chapel in this village. There is also a house of meeting for the people termed Quakers; and the Methodists have a licensed place of worship in Isleworth; but there is not any regular building appropriated to their use.

founded so early as the Several liberal benefac

A Charity School in this parish was year 1630, by Dame Elizabeth Hill. tions afterwards occurred, and for many years forty boys and thirty girls were clothed and educated by means of the fund arising from these benevolent donations. The system of gratuitous education has recently been extended, and one hundred boys and sixty girls are now instructed in the manner introduced

It is observed by Mr. Lysons that " among the records in the augmentation office there is an agreement between the abbess and Convent of Sion, the college at Winchester, and the Vicar of Isleworth, relating to the tithes of the conventual demesnes." According to the terms of this agreement, "the vicar and his servant were to have free ingress into the hall, or refectory, of the convent, where the vicar was to sit down with the upper servants, and, without let or molestation, to partake of their usual fare. The vicar was to have also a piece of cloth for a gown, and an annual stipend of 33s. 4d. as long as he should continue to pray for the good estate of the convent, in his masses; which if at any time he omitted, the stipend for that year was to be forfeited."-Environs of London, Vol. II. p. 460-461.

duced by Dr. Bell, while the same number are clothed as forinerly. In aid of the income proceeding from endowments, collections are made at two annual charity sermons, preached at the parish church.

The Almshouses founded in this village by Mrs. Anne Tolson are for six poor men and the same number of poor women. Six poor women are provided with a dwelling, and are otherwise assisted, by means of a bequest nade by Mrs. Mary Bell, in the year 1738. There is likewise a range of almshouses, founded and endowed by Sir Thomas Ingram, in 1664. The allowance to the alms-people on this foundation has been augmented by several benefactions.

Norden, in his Speculum Britanniæ, written in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, mentions "a copper and brass mill, situated between Thistleworth and Worton."* On the spot noticed by Norden is now a large flour mill; and, nearer to the centre of the village, there is a more capacious mill of the same description. The other manufacturing establishments deserving of notice, consist of two extensive calico-grounds, and a flax manufactory.

According to a statement made by Mr. Lysons, the population of this parish appears to have increased in a proportion of more than five to one during the last two centuries; and the researches of the same writer enable us to present the following remarkable instance of depopulation, which occurred in the manor of Isleworth, in the 14th century: "There was an ancient custom in the manor that the tenants should pay a certain sum of money, called the Diseyne, (amounting to eight marks,) to the lord, besides the customary rents. This sum was levied, in an equal proportion, upon ali males of fifteen years of age and upwards. In the year 1886 the tenants prayed for relief, stating, that formerly the payment of this sum had been no great burden, the number of inhabitants being such that it amounted only to one penny each person; but that the place

*Spec. Brit. p. 41.

was then so depopulated, that it was six times as much, which occasioned many, as soon as they became liable to pay the tax, to leave the place; by which means the burden grew still heavier. In consequence of this petition the payment of the diseyne was wholly remitted for four years."*

An act of parliament has recently been obtained for enclosing this parish, under the operation of which considerable improvements may be expected.

TWICKENHAM.

At the name of this village the imagination glows! Learning, wit, and poetical genius, have rendered the neighbourhood classic ground; and, while memory runs over the long list of great names connected with this place, we are almost ready to admit that Lord Orford was correct when he ventured to predict that Twickenham would be as highly celebrated as Baiiæ, or Tivoli !

As the interest of this favoured district depends so materially on certain marked spots, we defer to a future page the neces sary detail of manorial descent and statistical circumstances; and merely observe, in this place, that Twickenham is an extensive and populous village, seated on the bank of the Thames, and distant from London about ten and a half miles.

The parish is bounded on the north by that of Isleworth ; and at the line which divides the two parishes we commence our progress, conducting the reader along the bank of the Thames, and noticing the more attractive spots as they successively stand presented.

We have already observed† that the greater portion of Twickenham Park has been recently purchased by Francis Gosling, Esq. and is now added to the grounds attached to that gentleman's villa in the parish of Isleworth. This domain

• Lysons, Vol. II. p. 462, after Cl. 9. Ric. II. m. 47.
+ Vide Ante, p.376.

was

[graphic][subsumed][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]
« PreviousContinue »