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UIDDLESES. 



MIDDLESEX. 



4iMliUM : poor ■aiul tad mral oa tko topi of lome of tho bill* snd 

 ia Tarioua tpoU in tho ^ain ; s hotvjr poor oUy in tlis nortli and 

 nortli-WMt portion, which it chieflj eovercU with porauuMot grtia, 

 onrieho'l by r*p««t«d kpplicsUon of nunure ; and a good fcrtila loam 

 oT<r a bed of grara], and aonotimaa of paat, along the plain in which 

 the ThamM fiowa. To ttiaa* nraat b* added aome rich <lepogita from 

 tha Thamoi, of a lighter aad mote moddy nature, which are admi- 

 rably adapted for garden ground, and have been almont entirely oon- 

 vattad into a rieh Uaok v^tetaUe mould, by an abundant application 

 of dung, from time immemoriaL 



The aurfaoa, with tha azoeption of a few hilb on the northern aide 

 of London, none of which riae more than 400 feet abora the Tliamea. 

 may be deaoribed aa a plain, almoat perfectly level aa it approaches 

 the Tbamea, but with a aufflcient fall for the waters to prevent it 

 heing manhy. Tha Thamea haa been long kept within ita present 

 "^^""*1 by artificial embankmenta, wherever these were neoeaaaty. 

 Nearly the whole of the county liea over the blue day, which is 

 known by the name of the London clay : and the hills which rise 

 above it are formed of a baais of clay covered by a poor ferruginous 

 •and and gravel The atiif clay is altogether unfit fur arable culti- 

 vation until ita nature is altered and corrected by the addition of 

 ohalk, lime, and ashea ; most of it therefore remains undisturbed by 

 the plough. Moat of the commons have been inclosed, and yield 

 grasa in sufficient abnndanoe to make hay, of which two good crops 

 are g-nt- rally produced every year. The value of hay so near tha 

 metropolis, and the abundant supply of lab lurerii, euabla the oocu- 

 piers of grass-laud to take advantage of a few days of fine weather to 

 •acun their hay. Some inclosures of pasture-land are made profitable 

 bj taking in hones to graze when they requii-e rest and green food 

 after havmg been overworked. 



The arable portion of the county liea chiefly towards Bnckiogham- 

 •hire, and between the Qreat Western railway and the Thames. 

 Some extremely good loams of considerable depth on a bed of flinty 

 gravel, well adapted to every kind of agiioultural produce, occur iu 

 aevenl phuias. The lighter portions are mostly laid out in orcbardii, 

 taarket^ardens, and nuraery-grouuda. Almost the whole of the laud 

 in tha parities of Chelsea, Hammeramitb, Chiswick, Isleworth, aud 

 Brantfurd is taken up by such gardens. Here the B[>ade is the prin- 

 ai|>al instrument of cultivation. Beyond Hounslow, including what 

 waa formerly Hounslow Heath, the land is cultivated more exten- 

 sively, by fanners properly so called ; and some of these occupy from 

 300 to 1(00 acres. Here every improvement in the management of 

 the soil ia readily adopted, and the best implements ore in use. The 

 Vyatam of cultivation ia greatly modified by the short distauco from 

 ao inexhaustible source of manure. 



-Every breed of animal is to be met with in Middlesex. Horses and 

 mileh cows are the moat common, as the most usefuL The cart- 

 honas are generally fine and strong. Some large horses, a little too 

 heavy for a carriage and too alow for stage-ooachea, but which make 

 •KoaUeat cart-horses, are brought to London by dealers, who collect 

 them in the northern and midland counties. The dairy cows are 

 ohiafty of tha large Holdemeaa breed or the short-horn. 



X>iristoas, Tomt, ic — Middlesex ia divided into six hundreds, aa 

 follows : — Edmonton, north-east; Qore, north; Elthome, north-west; 

 Isleworth, south-west ; Spelthome, south-west ; Ossulston, south-east, 

 including the Finabury, Holbom, Kensington, Tower, and West- 

 minster divisions ; and the City of London. Tha suburbs of tiondon 

 form the parliamantary boroughs of Marylebone, Finabury, and the 

 Tower Hamleta. LoHDOS, the capital of the oounty, and the metro- 

 polis of the British empire, is described in a separate article. Middlesex 

 nosasssss three market-towns — Banrrrofto, Staid is, and UxBuuxiB; 

 Miidas Edgware, Enfield, and Hodkslow, the marketa of which have 

 ban diaooatinoad. The plaoea printed in small capitals, as well as 

 Chilssa, Kdmcoton, Fulham, Haekaey, Hampstead, Hendon, and 

 Keaaington ate noticed under their reapective titles. The other small 

 towna and more important vilUgaa we notica here; the populations 

 are thoaa of the respective pariahea in 18S1 : — 



AiUm, 8 milos W. from tha Qenaril Post-Offioe, population assa, is 

 a alatioo on the tireat Western railway. The church, a handsome 

 •dilea, haa been repaired at an expense of about SOOOt Independents 

 aad Roaiaa Cathuhcs have placea of worship, aad thar« are National 

 •ad Infant achools. £ay$waUr, in Paddiagton parish, about 4 miles 

 W. from tha Poat-Ofl^ is a suburb of tha metropolis. Within the 

 last few yean it has much increased ; a handaome church, an elegant 

 ladepsodent chapel, and many atnats and squares of good houaes 

 k*v« baaa boilk Tbera are National and Infant schools, and a 

 VaOMle Orphan achooL B<m, nearly 4 milea E. from the Post-Offloe, 

 popahUion 6969, it situated on the right b«nk of the river Lea, which 

 h ttomtA at 8tntford-U-Bow by a handaome stone bridge, ereotad in 

 ISSa The church, which (lands in the middle of the public road, 

 ia eUdljr of early EngUah date. The ludependenU liave a neat 

 •hapal Cobom'a Frsa acbool for 80 boys and 20 girls, the Merohaat 

 SaaaMaC* Oiphaa Asylum, tha Sailmakan' almshouse^ and the Hamlet 

 •Imahnnii, ar* aaMiag the benevolent institntions. Thera is an 

 •ztaoaiTs brawan at Bow. A oounty court u held. Bromley SL 

 Uammrdt, aboat 4 ailaa E. ttaa the Post-Offioe : population, 11,789. 

 Distilling, malting, bnwiag. and tha manufacture of starch are carried 

 sou Maay of th* lnh»biUnt« art tmployed in the Eaat aad Wast 



India Dooka, and in tho ship-building yards in Poplar and Limehooaa, 

 There are numerous market-gardens. The church ia a neat brisk 

 edifioa, erected iu 1843. The Wealeyan Methodists have a chape), 

 and there are National and Infitnt aohoola. A new Union workhouse 

 for the city of London aooommodatas abont 800 parsons. Bromflxim, 

 about S miles W. by & from the Post-ODoa, population 14,870, 

 adjoins Coelska. There are here a ohapel of eaao. Holy Triui^ 

 church, St Mary'a church, a chapel for Independents. National, 

 British, and Infant achools, and the recently founded Hospital for 

 Consumption. Vamdtn Toan, about 8 miles N.W. from the Pont- 

 Oificc, is a rapidly increasing and well-built suburb of the metropolis. 

 There are here a district church, chapels for Indepeadaata and 

 Wesleyan Methodiata, National and Britiah auhools, aad a Vetarinory 

 college. Ckituick, about 9 milea W. by S. from the Post-Offloe, popu- 

 lation G803, on the left bank of the Thames, has a parish ohoroh 

 with an ancient tower; a chapel of ease, a ohaprl for lodependanta, 

 and National, British, and Infant schools. Brewing is carried on. 

 At Chiswick are the gardens of the Horticultunl Society. Chiswick 

 House, a seat of the Duke of Devonshire, is surrounded by extensive 

 and finely-planned grounds. IWnAani Oreen, a hamlet of Chiswick, 

 haa a fine gothio church, erected in 1843, and many good private 

 residonceK. Clapton [Uacknet]. Colncyhatch, population 974, is in 

 the pariah of Friem Baruet, on the east side of Finchley Common. 

 Here ia the Middlesex County Lunatic Asylum, completed in 1853 at 

 a cost of about 300,000/. It is of vast extent, affording ample 

 aooommodation for 1800 patients. The extreme length of the 

 building ia 1883 feet. The architect was Mr. a W. Daukea. DaUton, 

 [Hacknet]. £ali»g, 9 miles W. from the Post-Offioe, population 

 exclusive of Old Brentford chapelry, 8771. In the neighbourhood 

 are many fine seats, especially Kaling Park, and Ounuorsbury, the 

 seat of Baron Ilothschild. Beaides the parish church, there are a 

 district church, a cliapel for Independenta, a National school, an Infant 

 school, and Lady Byron's School of ludustry. Hdgwart, about 12 

 miles N.W. from the Post-Oflice, on the road to Watford and Ayles- 

 bury, population 765, consists chiefly of a long straggling street. The 

 church, which is of brick, was rebuilt in 1 760 ; the tower is ancient. 

 Near this place is Canons, a neat villa, erected on the aite and from 

 the materials of a stately manaion built by the Duke of Chandos. The 

 church of Stanmore Parva, close to the park of Canons, waa decorated 

 by the duke. The Independents have a place of worship, and there 

 ore National schools. Enfield, about 1 1 miles N. from the Post-Offioe : 

 population, 9453. Enfield manor-house waa the residence of Elizabeth 

 (afterwards queeti) for a short time, during the reign of her brother 

 Edward VI. One room on tho ground-floor remains aa in her time. 

 Mauy of the housea in the town are well-built. The town is lighted 

 with gas. In the market-place is a cross erected by subscription iu 

 1826. The church is an ancient structure. There are a ohapel of ease, 

 two district churches, chapels for Wesleyan Methodists, Independents, 

 and the Countess of Uuntiugdon's connexion ; a Free Orammar 

 school. National and British s<£ools, a girls sohool, establishments for 

 the children from Shoreditoh workhouse, and for the children from 

 Edmonton Union, a literary and scientific institution, and a savinga 

 bank. There are two yearly fairs. Petty sessions and a Court of 

 liequesta are held. FiwMeg, 8 miles N.W. from the Post-OSice, [lopu- 

 lation 4120, situated near the left bank of tho river Brent, has a 

 {ukrish church, erected in the 1 Sth century, and chapala for Wesleyan 

 Methodists and Independents, with National, Infiuit, and Free schooU. 

 1/ammenmilk, 6 miles W. by S. from the Post-Offioe, population 

 17,760, has many fine residences. In the parish are extensive market- 

 gardens and nurseries. Coach-making and hat-making are carried on. 

 There are the parish ohurcli, a spacioua brick building erected in 1681, 

 a new district church, chapelt for Wesleyan Methodists, Baptists, 

 Quakers, and Roman Catholics, National, British, Infant, Industrial, 

 Ragged, aud Roman Catholic schools, a savings bank, almshouses, and 

 two Roman Catholic convents. With the oouveut of the Good Shep- 

 herd is connected an asylum for penitent women. An elegant suspen- 

 sion-bridge crosses the Thames at Uammersmith. SampUm, on the 

 left bank of the Thames, about 12 miles S.W. from London : popula- 

 tion, 4802. The chief object of iuterest is the royal palace of Hampton 

 Court, the site of which was once the poaseasion of the Knights 

 Hospitallers. Cardinal Wolaey took a lease of the manor from tha 

 prior of St. John's before the dissolution, which lease he aurrendered 

 to Henry VIII., who formed a royal park or cbaoa This chace was 

 in the succeeding reign broken up on the remonstrance of the pnrishes 

 affsoted by it, but the crown haa since retained paramount authority 

 over all game within its hmits. While Wolsey held the lease of the 

 manor he pulled <lown a mansion which stood here, and erected in its 

 plaoe a sumptuous pnlnco. which Henry VIII. subsequently enl.irged. 

 Hera was bom Kdword VI., and here lus mother queen Jane Seymour 

 died. Charles I. resided here during part of his confinement, and 

 Cromwell, Charles IL, and Jamea II. mode it their occasional resi- 

 dence. William III. rebuilt a considerable part of the palace, and 

 laid out the gardens and pork in their present form. It is now 

 usually occupied by persona of rank, reduced in circumstances, who 

 have obtained grants of residence from tho Lord Chamberlain. The 

 palaoe consists of three principal qnadranglea, with some smaller 

 oourts. The interior of the gn«t hall, and the exterior of the older 

 parta of the building generally, have been restorad within the last 15 



