PREFACE. I HAVE endeavoured in the following pages to supply the long-felt want of a trustworthy record of memorable facts relating to the parish of Twickenham, and of the numerous persons of note who at various periods have lived in it. The compilation of these "Memorials" has been to me a source of much pleasure and a welcome relaxation in the intervals of graver duties: the regret with which I finish my self-imposed task is lessened only by the hope that these pages may afford some amount of satisfaction to those friends who have encouraged me in my labours and to other readers who are connected with, or are interested in the place. In compiling this work I have availed myself of every source of trustworthy information that was open to me. The substance of Ironside's History and of Lysons' account of Twickenham, in his Environs of London will be found herein embodied. Ironside's book has, from its extreme scarceness, attained a fictitious value, although, owing to its frequent inaccuracies, its use to the historian of Twickenham is chiefly valuable, from the continual verification which its most simple statements compel, for very little in it can ever be taken upon trust. Lysons, on the contrary, is as correct, speaking generally, as his predecessor is the reverse. As I do not wish to encumber the text with more references than are absolutely indispensable, I content myself with this general acknowledgment of my obligation to these writers. I have also made occasional use of a series of papers published in Fraser's Magazine in 1860, which are remarkable for their peculiar liveliness and charm of style. I have also enjoyed the advantage of many private sources of information which have enabled me to acquire much valuable original matter. Without the aid afforded me by Miss Gardiner it would have been impossible for me to have gathered very many particulars concerning the parish which have made its history continuous and authentic. This lady's residence in Twickenham dates from 1811 (the very year in which the second edition of Lysons' Environs of London was published) and her retentive and accurate memory has supplied a connecting link in the annals of the village which could not, I feel sure, have been furnished by any other living person. Not only has Miss Gardiner given me the fullest information upon almost every one of the various points which I have submitted to her; but her interest in the subject was so great that she was kind enough to put her recollections in writing in so clear and succinct a form as to afford me the means of making easy and constant reference to them. My thanks are also especially due to Mr. George Powell for much information concerning the parochial charities, and for his careful revision of the portion of this book which treats of them. Appendix C has been entirely supplied by him. If the Rev. G. S. Master, now rector of West Dean, Wilts, had remained longer in Twickenham as its vicar, the production of these "Memorials" would, I cannot doubt, have fallen into his more able hands. Numerous notes and memoranda made by him, and hints of even greater value, have rendered me great assistance in the preparation of the first part of this volume. Mr. H. G. Bohn has very kindly corrected and augmented my description of his residence and art collection. But I cannot attempt to acknowledge seriatim the favours of many other friends: to do so would extend this preface to a disproportionate length. I must, nevertheless, particularly thank the respective Vicars and church officials of the three Twickenham parishes for the ready access permitted me to the various records entrusted to their keeping. The accuracy of the information contained in this book has been further promoted by the very great care with which two of my personal friends, Mr. Vincent Griffiths, and Mr. Henry J. Hood, have assisted me in the correction of the proofs as it has passed through the press; and whom I must, in justice to my own sense of obligation, especially mention. especially mention. Nor can I omit the expression of my best thanks to Mrs. T. A. Williams, who has been most painstaking in helping me in the preparation of that useful but uninteresting portion of a book,-the Index. It will be seen that this work, avowedly a "compilation," can from its nature lay very little claim to originality, and if it should be regarded as "a paste and scissors book," I can only ask for the credit of having used the paste with neatness and the scissors with discretion. As regards myself personally, that this publication should occur almost coincidently with the severance of my ministerial connection with the parish is to me a circumstance very sorrowful and sad. It presents me, however, with an opportunity, of which I cannot refrain from availing myself, of expressing in an enduring manner my deep and grateful sense of the almost universal friendliness, which has been extended to me during the six happy years which I have passed as a curate of Twickenham. June, 27th, 1872. CONTENTS. THE SITUATION, EXTENT, Climate, and Vegetation of TWICKENHAM PAGE CONVENTUAL ESTABLISHMENT AT TWICKENHAM-PATRONAGE OF THE LIVING-VALUE OF THE VICARAGE-THE PARISH CHURCH-THE OLD CHURCH FALLS DOWN IN 1713-THE NEW EDifice-Sur- SCRIPTION DEED AND FACULTY FOR REBUILDING-FORMS USED BY THE CHURCHWARDENS FOR THE CONVEYANCE OF PEWS-RESTORA- TION OF THE CHURCH IN 1859-THE BISHOP'S FACULTY-MEMORIAL WINDOWS, &c. &c.-DECORATION OF THE CHURCH IN 1872- COMMUNION PLATE-BELLS-ADDITIONS MADE TO THE CHURCHYARD |