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Martyr, in 975; and Ethelred, in 978. Edgar, who succeeded to the throne in 959, is said to have been crowned either at Kingston or at Bath. King John gave the inhabitants their first charter, on which account his effigy was also placed here. In the inscriptions over these figures, some were said to have been crowned in the market place, and others in the chapel *.

Kingston sent members to parliament in the reign of the second and third Edwards; and ceased to be a borough, in consequence of a petition from the corporation (recorded in the town-clerk's office) praying to be relieved from the burthen of sending members to parliament, so that at present it sends none.

The wooden bridge over the Thames is said to be nearly as antient as London Bridge. The FREE SCHOOL, founded by queen Elizabeth, was an antient chapel, belonging to the demolished hospital of St. Mary Magdalen, and is supposed to have been built in the fourteenth century. Here also is an almshouse, built in 1668 by W. Cleave, Esq. alderman of London, for six men, and as many women. The Lent assizes for Surrey are held in the Town Hall, erected in the reign of queen Elizabeth.

The CHURCH is a stately structure; its first construction seems to be of the age of Richard II. It is very spacious, well pewed, and has convenient galleries, with a good organ, by Avery. Among the monuments are those of Sir Anthony Benn, colonel Fane, Dr. George Bate, and captain Pearce, who, with part of his family and the crew were lost in the Halsewell East Indiaman. Kingston has also places of worship for the various sects of Dissenters.

The barn belonging to Canbury House, is so spacious,

* These figures were destroyed by the fall of the chapel in 1730; at which time Abraham Hammerton, the sexton of the parish, digging a grave, was buried under the ruins, with another person, and his daughter Esther Hammerton. The latter, notwithstanding she lay covered seven hours, survived this misfortune seventeen years, and was her father's successor. The memory of this event is preserved by a curious print of this singular woman, engraved by M'Ardell.

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that twelve teams may unload at once. It has four entrances, four threshing floors, and is supported by twelve pillars.

In 1769, an act of parliament was obtained for separating the parish church of Kingston, and its dependent chapels of Richmond, Moulsey, Thames Ditton, Petersham, and Kew, and forming the whole parish into two vicarages and two perpetual curacies.

Here is a weekly market on Saturdays. The fairs are, Whit Thursday; Black-cherry Fair, August 2; and Holland tide Fair, November 13, which continues nine days. The trade of Kingston is chiefly hops and malt.

COOMBE NEVILLE, a manor of Kingston upon Thames, is so called from William Neville, who was in possession of it in the reign of Edward II. This was said to have belonged to the great Neville, earl of Warwick, who distinguished himself so much in the civil wars between the rival houses of York and Lancaster; but this is probably without foundation, as Mr. Lysons, who appears to have traced the property with great accuracy, says, that, after the death of this William Neville, the manor went to John Hadresham, who had married one of his three daughters. A subsequent proprietor, Sir Thomas Vincent, is said to have built the old manor house, which was pulled down about the year 1752. Here queen Elizabeth honoured him with a visit in 1602. It was afterwards in the family of Harvey, with one of whom king William used to hawk in the warren opposite the house. It is now the property of earl Spencer.

Near the site of the old mansion is COMBE HOUSE, the residence of major Tollemache; near which are some re servoirs of water, constructed by cardinal Wolsey, to supply Hampton Court. The water is conveyed under the Thames by pipes of a particular construction. It is much esteemed as efficacious in nephritic complaints; and is excellent for drinking and washing; but unfit for culinary use, as it turns the vegetables black.

НАМ

HAM HOUSE, the seat of the earl of Dysart, situated on the Thames, near Richmond, is in the parish of Kingston, and was built in the year 1610, and it is said, for the residence of Henry prince of Wales. Charles II. granted it to the duke and duchess of Lauderdale, and to the heirs of the latter by her first husband, Sir Lionel Tollemache, bart. It then underwent considerable alterations, and now remains a very curious specimen of a mansion of that age. The ceilings are painted by Verrio, and the rooms are ornamented with that massy magnificence of decoration then in fashion. The furniture is very rich; and even the bellows and brushes, in some of the apartments, are of solid silver or of fillagree. In the centre of the house is a large ball, surrounded by an open gallery. The ballustrades of the grand staircase, which is remarkably spacious and substantial, are of walnut-tree, and ornamented with military trophies. On the west side of the house is a gallery, ninety-two feet in length, hung with portraits. Ham House contains some fine pictures by the old masters, among which the works of Vandervelde and Wouvermans are most conspicuous. Among the portraits, the principal are, the duke of Lauderdale and the earl of Hamilton, C. JANSSEN; the duke and duchess of Lauderdale, LELY; the duke, in his robes of the order of the Garter, ditto; Charles II. who sat for this picture for the duke; Sir John Maitland, chancellor of Scotland; Sir Henry Vane; William Murray, first earl of Dysart; Catharine, his wife, a beautiful picture, in water-colours, HOSKINS; Sir Lionel Tollemache, first husband to the duchess of Lauderdale; general Tollemache, who was killed in the expedition against Brest; James Stuart, duke of Richmond, a very fine picture, VANDYCK; and the late countess of Dysart, REYNOLDS.

The avenues of this fine house, to the land side, lead to the end of the village of PETERSHAM, where the wall of New Park comes also close to the town, on the other side; in an angle of which stood a fine house, built by Laurence Hyde,

Hyde, earl of Rochester, lord high-treasurer to James II. and queen Anne. This house was burnt in, 1720, by an accidental fire; the rich furniture, the curious collection of paintings, and the inestimable library of the first earl of Clarendon, lord high chancellor of England, were wholly consumed; a loss irreparable, as the latter contained, among other valuable things, several manuscripts relating to those times, and to things transacted by himself, and by the king his master, both at home and abroad, besides other rare and curious collections made by that noble and learned author in foreign countries. The offices escaped the fate of the house and on the site, the late earl of Harrington erected another mansion, after a design of the earl of BurlingtonThe front next the court has not a very striking appearance, being very plain, and the entrance into the house not greatly to be praised; but the south front next the garden, though very plain, is bold and regular. The apartments next the garden, which are chiefly designed for state, are also elegant, and beautifully finished. An open slope of grass, which leads up to a terrace of great length, displays a prospect of the river Thames, the town of Twickenham, and all the beautiful seats round about that part of the country, almost to Kingston Bridge. On the other side of the terrace, on a rising ground, is a large plantation of wood; and on the summit of the hill is erected a pleasure house, commanding a prospect of the country, for many miles: this view is esteemed one of the most beautiful near London. On the death of the late earl of Harrington, it was sold to lord Camelford, who, in 1784, purchased the fee-simple of the crown, an act of parliament having been obtained for that purpose. The duke of Clarence bought it of lord Camelford in 1790. The pleasure grounds extend to Richmond Park, a small part of which has been added to them by a grant from his majesty, including the mount; where, according to tradition, Henry VIII. stood to see the signal for Anne Boleyn's execution.

VOL. V. No. 117.

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The house was sold in 1794, to colonel Cameron, afterwards it became the residence of Sir William Manners.

Ham Common, a village between Petersham and Kingston, is a hamlet to the latter; the house formerly the residence of the duchess of Queensbury, the celebrated patroness of Gay.

RICHMOND, eight miles and a half from London, is perhaps the finest village in the British dominions. It was antiently called Sheen, which, in the Saxon tongue, signifies shining. From the singular beauty of its situation, it has been termed the Frescati of England. Here stood a royal palace, in which Edward I. and II. resided, and in which Edward III. died. Here also died Anne, queen of Richard II. who first taught the English ladies the use of the side-saddle. Richard was so afflicted at her death, that he deserted and defaced the palace; it was repaired by Henry V. who founded three religious houses near it. In 1497, it was destroyed by fire; but Henry VII. rebuilt it, and commanded that the village should be called Richmond; from the title of his earldom before he obtained the crown; here he also died. In this palace queen Elizabeth was a prisoner for a short time during the reign of her sister Mary I. When she was queen, it was one of her favourite places of residence. It was afterward the residence of Henry prince of Wales; and bishop Duppa is said to have educated king Charles II. here. It is not now easy to ascertain when this royal palace absolutely ceased to be such. Some parts of it appear to have been repaired by king James II. whose son, the Pretender, it is said, was nursed here. It is now totally demolished. The houses adjoining the gateway, &c. are a part of the old palace, and are described in the survey taken by the order of parliament in 1649; in Mr. Skinner's garden, still exists the old yew tree, mentioned in that survey. On the site of this palace is also CHOLMONDELEY HOUSE, built by George, third earl of Cholmondeley, who adorned the noble gallery with his fine collection of pictures. It is now the pro

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