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21 feet on each side, forming a large bush, of about 14 yards in diameter.

WALLINGTON, a hamlet to Beddington, in Surry, situate on the banks of the Wandle. It is more populous than the village to which it is a hamlet. Here is a considerable callico-printing manufactory. In a field, near the road, is an ancient chapel, built of flint and stone, now used as a cart-house and stable. Its origin cannot be traced. The present proprietor would have pulled it down, but was opposed in his intention by the parishioners.

WALTHAM ABBEY, or WALTHAM HOLY CROSS, a market-town, in Essex, 124 miles from London, had its second appellation from a holy cross, said to have been miraculously conveyed here: its first name it received from a magnificent abbey founded here, in honour of this cross, by King Harold. This abbey was so much distinguished by a series of royal and noble benefactors, that it was one of the most opulent in the kingdom. Henry III., to avoid the expences of a court, used frequently to reside in it; in consideration of which he granted to the town of Waltham a market and fair. The present proprietor is Sir William Wake, Bart. who had, on the site of it, a modern built seat, called "The Abbey House." This he sold to James Barwick, Esq. who pulled it down, in 1770, and has let the site, and the grounds belonging to it, to a gardener.

The tower of the church was erected in the time of Queen Mary; but the inside of the church is a beautiful specimen of the Saxon architecture. This, however, is only the nave of the original church; the cross aisles having extended beyond what is now the chancel; and the old' tower, which fell down after the dissolution, rose, in course, as the centre of a cross. A few beautiful fragments of the abbey still remain, in a style of architecture much later than that of the church; particularly, a Gothic arch, which formed the entrance, and terminated a noble vista of tall trees which no longer exist; and, adjoining to this gateway, is still standing the porter's lodge. Within the precinct of the abbey is also a celebrated tulip tree, said to be one of the largest in England.

King Harold, and his two brothers, after the battle of Hastings, in which they were slain, were interred at the east end of the ancient church, at the distance of 40 yards

from the extent of the present structure. A plain stone is said to have been laid over him, with this expressive epitaph, Harold Infelix;" and a stone coffin, said to have been his, was discovered, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, by the gardener of Sir Edward Denny: the bones, upon the touch, mouldered into dust. About seven years ago, another coffin was found, nearly on the same spot, which contained an entire skeleton enclosed in lead. If this were not the skeleton of one of Harold's brothers, it is in vain to form any other conjecture.

At Waltham Abbey are some powder-mills, in the hands of government; some manufactories for printed linens, and some newly-erected buildings for the manufacture of pins. The river Lea winding about in a picturesque manner here forms several islands.

WALTHAM CROSS, or WEST WALTHAM, a vilJage in Herts, on the west side of the river Lea, is situated on the road to Ware, 114 miles from London. It takes its first appellation from the cross erected here by Edward I., in honour of his Queen Eleanor. It was a noble structure, and round it were several effigies, with the arms of England, Castile, Leon, Poitou, &c. which are now greatly defaced. It is situated near the entrance into the parish of Cheshunt. In 1795 preparations were made for taking down this cross, in order to remove it into the grounds of Sir William George Prescott, Bart. Lord of the Manor, for its better preservation; but, after removing the upper tier of stone, finding it too hazardous an undertaking, on account of the decayed state of the ornamental parts, the scaffold was removed; and proper measures were taken to repair this ancient memorial of conjugal affection.

WALTHAMSTOW, a village in Essex, five miles from London, on the road from Lea Bridge to Epping, has many handsome houses; particularly, Higham Hall, late the property of Governor Hornby, situate on the side of the road, in a line between the houses of Mr. Goddard and Mr. Moxton at Woodford. It has been lately sold to Mr. Harman. Near Marsh Street is the ancient seat of the late Thomas Grosvenor, Esq.; and here are the seat and pleasure-grounds of Sir Charles Pole, Bart. Indeed the village altogether is highly rural and retired, presenting to the eye many spots of pleasant scenery.

WALTON, à village in Surry, on the Thames, between

Weybridge and Moulsey. Here are the remains of an ancient camp, supposed to have been Roman; and from this village runs a rampart of earth, with a trench, as far as St. George's Hill, in the same parish. A curious bridge over the Thames, erected in 1750 by Mr. Decker, has since been taken down, and a new one erected in its stead. In this parish is Apps Court, the seat of Jeremiah Hodges, Esq. Ashley Park, the seat of Sir Henry Fletcher, Bart. Paine's Hill, the seat of the late Mr. Hopkins; Burwood, the seat of Mrs. Currie; Burwood Hill, the residence of Mr. Tynte; Burwood Park, the seat of Sir John Frederick, Bart. and Mount Felix, the mansion of the Earl of Tankerville. See Oatlands and Paine's Hill.

WALWORTH, a village in the parish of Newington Butts, in Surry. It was probably the birth-place of the celebrated Sir William Walworth, the story of whose exploit in Smithfield, in killing the rebel Wat Tyler, is handsomely painted on the sign of one of the public-houses here. Of late years it is much increased, and can boast of many good houses, inhabited by citizens, whose happiness arises from alternate bustle and retirement.

WANDLE, or VANDAL, a river, which rises near Carshalton in Surry, and passing by Croydon and Merton, falls into the Thames at Wandsworth. It is a fine trout stream; but more celebrated for the consequence which Pope has given it in his "Windsor Forest:"

"The blue transparent Vandalis appears!"

WANDSWORTH, a village in Surry, five miles from London, situate in the road to Kingston, near the confluence of the Wandle with the Thames, and between two hills called East Hill and West Hill. At the close of the last century many French refugees settled here, and established a French church, which is now used as a meeting by the methodists. The art of dying cloth has been practised at this place for more than a century, and there are two dyers here, Mr. Barchard and Mr. Williamson; the former a scarlet dyer. There are likewise several considerable manufactories here: namely, one for bolting cloth; Mr. Henchell's iron-mills; the calico-printing manufactories of Mr. Gardiner and of Messrs. Lawrence and Harris; Mr. Rigby's manufactory for printing kerseymeres; Mr. Dibble's for whitening and pressing stuffs; Mr. Were's

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linseed oil and White lead mills; Mr. Shepley's oil mills; Messrs. Gattey's vinegar works; and the distilleries of Messrs. Bush and Co. An iron rail-way to Croydon is nearly completed.

The tower of the church is ancient; but the church itself is a modern edifice. Beside the small cemetery contiguous to this, there is a more spacious one on East Hill. On East Hill, on the right, are the houses of Thomas Tatlock and Richard Bush, Esquires. Farther on, to the left, fronted by fine tall elms, is the mansion, formerly of the family of Porter, and afterward the residence of the Hon. Edward Digby, whose sons, Henry, now Earl Digby, and Admiral Robert Digby, were born here. It was afterward in the possession of Sir James Sanderson, Bart. Next is the handsome house of Mr. Barchard; and opposite this the elegant villa of John Webster, Esq. All these houses have a delightful view of the Thames, between the bridges of Putney and Battersea. The two churches

of Fulham and Putney to the left, embosomed, as it were, in woods, form, with the bridge, a picturesque appearance; and the prospect is improved by a view of Harrowon-the-Hill in the front, and of Hampstead and Highgate to the right.

On West Hill, to the left, is Down Lodge, the excellent new house of Henry Gardener, Esq. To the right, is West Hill House, the residence of Henry Goodwin, Esq. Farther on, is the capital mansion, erected by John Anthony Rucker, Esq. whose pleasure-grounds are contiguous to Lord Spencer's Park at Wimbledon, and seem to be part of it, and whose fine situation commands a view of the Thames toward London, as well as of the delightful country toward Merton, Tooting, Dulwich, Sydenham, and Shooter's Hill. A little farther to the right, facing Putney Heath, is the villa of Philip De Visme, Esq. la Love Lane, near the gate leading to Putney, is the house of the late John Wilmot, Esq. now in the occupation of Frederick Hahn, Esq.

In Wandsworth, is a Quaker's meeting-house, and two schools for children of that persuasion; at one of which, that excellent citizen, senator, and magistrate, Sir John Barnard, received his education.

In Garrat Lane, between this village and Tooting, was formerly a mock election, after every general election, of

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