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MIDDLBSBX. 



MIODIiESEX. 



UMlliliti : poor (Mxt umI gnvtil od Um top* of tome of the bilU and 

 ia Tmriotu *poU io (tie plain ; a haary poor oUy in tha north and 

 Dortti-WMt portion, which is chiefly oovered with penunuent gnu, 

 anrioheil by rtpwtod application of maaur* ; and a good fertils loam 

 over a bed of grtval, and wmetimM of poat, along the plain in which 

 tha Tbamea flow*. To thiM muat be added eome rich deposits from 

 the Thames, of a U(ht«r and mors maddy nature^ which are admi- 

 rably adapted for garden ground, and bare been almost entirely con- 

 Tetted into a rich black vegetable mould, by an abundant application 

 of dang, from time immamorial. 



The surfaoa, with the exception of a fow hills on the northern side 

 of London, none of which rise mora than 400 feet above the Thames, 

 may be described as a plain, almost perfoctly level as it approaches 

 the Thame*, but with a sufficient fall for tha waters to prevent it 

 being marshy. The Thames baa been long kept within iU present 

 channel by artifiotal embankments, wherever these were neoeesary. 

 Nearly the whole of the county lies over the blue chty, which is 

 known by th« name of the Loinlon clay : and the hills which rise 

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

 aaod and gravel The stiff clay is altogether unfit fur amble culti- 

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

 dialk, lime, and anthes ; most of it therefore remains undisturbed by 

 the plough. Most of the oommoos have been iooloaed, and yield 

 grsas in suAcient aboudance to mnke hay, of which two good crops 

 an generally produced every year. The value of hay so near the 

 iB«t|tipoli<v and the abundant supply of labjurers, enable the occu- 

 piers of grmas-land to take advantage of a few days of &ne weather to 

 secure their hay. Some incloaurea of pasture-land are made profitable 

 by taking in horses to gnue when they require rest and green food 

 after having been overworked. 



The amble portion of the county lies chiefly towards Buckingham- 

 shirs, and between tin Qrsat Western railway and the ThRmea. 

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

 gravel, well adapted to every kind of agricultural produce, occur in 

 tevenl phtoes. The lighter portions are moatly laid out in orcbards, 

 market-gardens, and nurseiy-grouoda. Almost the whole of the land 

 in the parishes of Chelsea, Hammersmith, Chiswick, Isleworth, and 

 Brentford is taken up by such gardens. Here the spade is the prin- 

 cipal instrument of cultivation. Beyond Hounslow, including what 

 was formerly Hounslow Heath, the laud is cultivated more exten- 

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

 200 to 1600 acres. Here every improvement in the management of 

 the soil Is readily adopted, and the best implements are in use. The 

 Vystem of cultivatioo is greatly modified by the short distance from 

 M inexhaustible aonroe of manure. 



•Every breed of animal is to be met with in Kiddlesex. Horses and 

 niloh oows ars the most common, as tha most useful The cart- 

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

 heavy for a carriage and too slow for stoge-ooaohes, but which moke 

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

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

 «hi«dy of the large Holdemeaa breed or tlie short-horn. 



X^instoas. TWnj, d-c — Middleaex is divided into six hundreds, as 

 follows; — Edmonton, north-aaat ; Qore, north; Klthorue, north-west ; 

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

 ineloding the Finsbury, Holbom, Kensington, Tower, and West- 

 minster divisions ; and the City of London. The suburbs of London 

 form the parliamaotary boroughs of Marylebone, Finsbury, and the 

 Tower Hamlets LoMDOX, the cafiital of the ooimty, and the metro- 

 polis of ths British empire, ia deacnbad in a separate article. Middlesex 

 Bossies es three market-towns— BiuEXTroBS, StAiMia, and Uxbuukis; 

 Miida* fidgvrars, Enfield, and HouxsLow, the markets of which have 

 basa diaoontiiraad. Tb» pUces printed in small capitals, as well as 

 Chnlsss. Edmonton, Fultiom, Hackney, Hampstead, Hendon, and 

 Kensington are noticed under their respective titles. The other soudl 

 towns and more important villages we notice here ; the populations 

 ■rs tboso of the raspsotiva parishes in 1851 ; — 



Acloit, 8 miles W. from Uie Qenand Post-Offioe, population 2682, is 

 a statioo on the Great Western railway. The church, a handsome 

 ■llfcil. bta baea repaired at an expanse of about 8000^ Independents 

 •ad BoBMa Catbolfot have pUoes of worship, and there are National 

 and luCsnt schools. BaymiaUr, in Paddugton parish, about 4 miles 

 W. from the Post-Offioa, is a suburb of the metropoliik Within the 

 Itsi (aw years it has much increassd ; a handsome church, an elegant 

 ladepaodsnt chapel, and many streets and sausres of good house* 

 h»va bean built, lliar* are National and lofaat schools, and a 

 ImmIs Orphan school Bim, nearly 4 miles E. from the PoatOOoe, 

 popabrtioo 6969, is situated on tha right bonk of the river Lea, which 

 M o i u wa d at 8lntford-U-Bow by a handsome stone bridge, erected in 

 ItSa The ohuroh, which stands in the middle of the public road, 

 k eUaiy of early English date, The Independents have a neat 

 eb^el Cobom's Free school for 80 boys and 20 girls, the Mei«hant 

 Saaoiaa'* Orphan Asylum, the Sailmakars' almshouses, and the Hamlet 

 ■Imshiiiisss, ar« aaiong tbs benevoleat institutions. There is an 

 eztaniiva brsweiy at Bow. A eountv court is held. Jinmlqi SI. 

 tautarit, about 4 mils* E. from the Poat-Offlo* : population, 11,789. 

 Distilliog, maltiog, brswiii^ and tha manufacture of starch are carried 

 «& Ms«y of the iahabitanle ars employed ia the East sad West 



India Dooks, and in the ship-building yards in Poplar and Limehouse. 

 There are numerous msrket-gardens. The church is a neat briok 

 edifioa, erected in ISiS. The Wealeyan Methodists have a chapel, 

 and there are National and Infant aehools. A new Union workhouse 

 for the city of London oocoinmodates about 800 persons. Bromplon, 

 about 3 miles W. by S. from the Post-OlBoe, population 14,ts70, 

 adjoins Cbeijjea. Thei« are here a chapel of ease. Holy Trinity 

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

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

 Consumption. Camdca Town, about 3 miles N.W. from the Post- 

 Offioe, is a rapidly increasing and woU-built nuburb of the metropolis. 

 There oro hfie a district church, cba|n.'l9 for Independents and 

 Wesleyou Methodists, National and UritisU schools, and a Veterinary 

 college. Ckinoiek, about 9 miles W. by S. from the Post-Offioe, popu- 

 lation 6803, on the left bank of the Thames, bos a parish church 

 with an ancient tower ; a chapel of ease^ a chaprl for lodependeutsi, 

 and National, British, and Infimt sohools. Brewing is carried on. 

 At Chiswick are the gardens of the Horticultural Society. Chiswick 

 House, a soat of the Duke of Devonshire, is surroundoil by extensive 

 and finely-planned grounds. Tvmham Green, a hamlet of Chiswick, 

 has a fine gothic church, erected in 1S43, and many good private 

 residences. Clapton [Hacknit]. Colnet/katc/i, population 974, is in 

 the parish of Friem Baniet, on the east side of Fiuchley Common. 

 Here is the Middlesex County Lunatic Asylum, completed in 1852 at 

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

 accommodation for 1300 patients. The extreme length of the 

 building is 18S3 feet The architect was Mr. S. W. Daukes. /tafatoit, 

 [Hacknct]. £ali»g, 9 miles W. from tlie PostOffice, population 

 exclusive of Old Brentford chapelry, 3771. In the neighbourhood 

 ore many fine seats, especially EaUng Park, and Qunuersbury, the 

 seat of Baron RoUurahild. Besides ^e parish church, there ore a 

 district church, a chapel for Independents, a National school, an Infaut 

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

 miles N.W. from the Post-Office, 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 1760; the tower is ancient. 

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

 the materiids of a stately mansion built by the Uuke of Choudos. The 

 church of Stanmore Parva, close to the park of Canons, was deoorated 

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

 are National schools. EwfiHd, about 11 miles N. from the Poet-Offioe: 

 population, 9453. Enfield manor-house was tha residence of Elizabeth 

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

 Edward VI. One room on the ground-floor remains as in her time. 

 Many of the houses in the town are well-built. The town is lighted 

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

 IS26. The church is an ancient structure. There are a chapel of ease, 

 two district churches, chapels for Wesleyan Methodists, Independents, 

 and the Countess of Huntiugdoo's connexion ; a Free Orammor 

 school. National and British schools, a girls school, establishments for 

 the children from Shoreditch workhouse, and for the childrtin from 

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

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

 Itequeats are held. FindtUy, 8 miles N.W. from the Post-Office, popu- 

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

 parish church, erecte<l in the 15th century, and chapels for Wesleyan 

 Methodists and Independents, with National, Infant, and Free sohools, 

 HatMurtmitk, 6 miles W. by S. from the Post-Office. population 

 17,760, has many fine residences. In the pariah ore extensive market- 

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

 There are the parish church, a spacious brick buildiug erected in 1631, 

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

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

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

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

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

 sion-bridge crosses the Thames at Hammersmith, JIampton, on the 

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

 tion, 4802. The chief object of interest is the royal palace of Htu-' '•■■■ 

 Court, the site of which was once the possession of the I 

 Hospitallers, Cardinal Wolsey took a lease of the manor fi <) 

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

 to Henry VIII., who formed a royal park or choce. This chnox was 

 in the suooeeding reign broken up on the remonsti«uce of the | ' 

 afftoted by it, but the crown has since retained paramount au 

 over all game within its limits. Wiiile Wolsey held the lease •>, ,,.. 

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

 place a sumptuous palace, which Henry VIII. subsequently enlarged. 

 Here was bom Edward VI., and here lus mother queen Jane Seymour 

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

 Cromwell Charles IL, and James II. made it their occasional resi- 

 dence. William III. rebuilt a considerable part of the |>aUce, and 

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

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

 have obtained grants of residence from the Lord ChamberUin, Tha 

 palace consists of three principal quadrangles, with some smaller 

 oouru. The interior of tAe great ball, and the exterior of the older 

 parts of the building generally, have been reslorsd within the last 15 



