Battersea

The parish and its bounds

[328]This Parish is bounded on the East by Lambeth; on the West by Wandsworth; on the North by the river Thames; and on the South by Clapham and Streatham; but the hamlet of Penge, a detached part of the Parish, adjoins to Beckenham in Kent. The land is nearly equally divided between arable (including garden ground) and pasture. The greater part of what is commonly called Wandsworth Common (which extends near two miles in length towards Stretham) is in Battersea. Nearly half of what is commonly called Clapham Common is claimed by Battersea, as will be further mentioned under Clapham. The North or North-west extremity of this Common is called Battersea Rise, and has several capital houses on it. Penge Common, about two miles in circumference, was inclosed under an Act passed in 180 —, after several fruitless attempts had been made to obtain one, and much money had been expended in law-suits relative to the rights on it. Penge is separated from the principal part of Battersea by Streatham and Lambeth, and adjoins to Norwood, going South-west to Vicar’s Oak, where Camberwell, Lambeth, Streatham, and Croydon meet.

I have a note, written to the late Rev. John Brand, secretary to the Antiquarian Society, from a person who says that in passing through Battersea fields that afternoon, he saw some labourers dig up a leaden coffin, in which was a skeleton, and near it were three more human skeletons. There is no date, but it is addressed to Mr. Brand at Northumberland house, which he left about 1795.

Above 300 acres in Battersea were occupied by market gardeners, of whom Mr. Lysons said in 1792 that there were about 20, who held from 6 to near 60 acres each, employing in the summer season a considerable number of labourers, on the average not exceeding one to an acre. The wages of the men in summer from 10s. to 12s., and of the women from 5s. to 7s. a week. Most of the women come on foot from Shropshire and North Wales, living, as Mr. Lysons was informed, upon 1s. 6d. a week, their diet consisting chiefly of the produce of the gardens, which they had gratis. The vegetables here, particularly cabbages and asparagus, are celebrated. In Mr. Lysons’s additions, printed 1811, it is said that there are not now more than 260 acres of garden ground. Fuller, who wrote in 1660, speaking in his Worthies of the gardens in Surrey, says that gardening was first brought into England for profit about 70 years ago, before which we fetched most of our cherries from Holland, apples from France, and had hardly a mess of ripe peas but from Holland, which were dainties for ladies they came so far and cost so dear. Since gardening hath crept out of Holland to Sandwich in Kent, and thence to Surrey, where occupiers have given 6l. an acre rent, yet lived comfortably. The vicar in 1792 received 7s. 6d. an acre for garden-ground.

This place was the residence of the St. John family from the time of their obtaining a grant of it from King Charles I. till it was sold to Earl Spencer. The well-known Viscount Bolingbroke, after obtaining leave to return to England, resided here to the time of his death in 1751.

About 1775 the greater part of Bolingbroke-house was pulled down, but a few of the rooms still remain, one of which is wainscoted with cedar, and is said to have been Lord Bolingbroke’s favourite apartment. On part of the ground in 1790, an air or horizontal windmill, was [329]erected by Mr. Thomas Fowler for preparing oil; it has been for some years and is now used for grinding linseed. It has eight floats, and the same number of shutters in the dome, which when open admit, even if there is little wind, a sufficient current of air to turn the machine, and by a particular contrivance, shut when the wind is so violent as to endanger the structure.

Battersea Bridge

Anno 6^to Georgii III^tii Regis, an Act for building a Bridge cross the river of Thames in the county of Surrey, to Chelsea in the county of Middlesex, recites, that John Earl Spencer was owner and proprietor of the Ferry, and proposed and was willing and desirous at his own expence, to build a Bridge at or near the Ferry over the said River; the Act empowers the said John Earl Spencer to build the same, with the usual clauses for making compensation for damages where the parties differ. The Bridge, when built, to be vested in Earl Spencer in fee, subject to the following Tolls: Chaise drawn by one horse, 4d.; Coach, &c. by two, 8d.; more than two, 1s.; Waggon, Wain, &c. by two horses or oxen, 6d.; three or more like cattle, 1s.; D^o more than four, 1s. 6d.; Horses, Mules, &c. laden or unladen, not drawing, 1d.; Foot-passenger, ½d.; Droves of Oxen, 10d. per score, and after that rate for a greater or lesser number; Calves, Hogs, Sheep, &c. in the same proportion. The Bridge not to be rated to the Land Tax, or any public or parochial rate; nor deemed a County Bridge, so as to subject the counties of Surrey and Middlesex to repair the same.

It was built by Mr. Holland; fifteen proprietors, subscribed 1500l. each. Its revenues in 1792 were about 1700l.

Domesday: the manor of Patricesy

Domesday, Tab. V.

St. Peter of Westminster holds Patricesy. Earl Harold held it. Then it was taxed for 72 Hides [7200 Acres] and now for 18 Hides [1800 Acres]. The arable land consists of [left blank]. In demesne are 3 Carrucates [300 Acres], and 45 Villans and 15 Bordars with 14 Carrucates. There are 8 Villans in gross, and 7 Mills of 42l. 9s. 8d., or wheat of the same price, and 4 score and 2 Acres of meadow, and the wood yields 50 fat hogs; and in Southwark is one Bordar of 12 pence. From the toll of Wendelesord 6l. One hog of a Villan having 10; if less he gives nothing. Of the land of this Manor one Knight has 4 Hides; his money is computed above with the other. The whole, in the time of King Edward, was valued at 4 score pounds [4800l.] and after at 30l. [1800l.] now 75l. 9s. 8d. [4528l. 15s. 0d.] King William gave this Manor to St. Peter, for the exchange of Windsore. Of the arable land of this Manor Earl Moriton holds one Hide and a half, which was there in the time of King Edward, and some time after. Gilbert the priest holds three Hides; they were there in the same manner. The bishop of Lisoiensis 2 Hides, of which the Church was seised in the time of King William, and after the Bishop of Baieux disseised it. The Abbat of Chertsey holds 1 Hide, which the Bailiff [prefectus] of this Vill, on account of ill-will, formerly took from this Manor, and placed it in Chertsey.

The lands thus lopt off from the Manor, it is reasonable to suppose were those which lie between the present Town and Penge, including part of Wandsworth, Lambeth, Camberwell, Peckham, Streatham, and Tooting; (perhaps also of Clapham). This conjecture seems justified by the great extent of Battersea in its original state as here mentioned, and by Penge being still considered as part of the Manor, though separated from the rest of it by Streatham and Lambeth; and the Earl of Moreton is particularly said to have had lands in both the last-named places. Of Peckham at least this is certainly true, since what Earl Harold held there in the time of the Confessor, is expressly said in Domesday to have been in the parish of Battersea.

King Stephen granted to the Abbey an exemption from tax for 6 hides and a half in his Manor of Westminster, in which his [Aula] Court and other royal houses were built, and also for 44 hides of their Manor of Patrichesea, which should also be free from all secular services; but the remaining 28 hides of the same Manor should be taxed, and pay all things belonging to the King: he also discharged one virgate of land belonging to the church of Hanwell. This discharge, Theobald Archbishop of Canterbury says he had seen with his own eyes, and he confirms the same, and anathematizes any one who should dare to infringe it. By this we see that the Abbey had not then recovered the parts which had been taken from them.

In a deed without date, prior to the time of Henry II. Roger de Molbray granted to Robert de Ardenne, clerk, his friend, all the wood of Bederichslea, with all the ancient liberties. This might be Penge wood; but we find no other evidence of the Mowbrays being owners of land here.

The manor of Battersea and Wandsworth: the St. Johns

[330]We see that King William gave Battersea to the Abbey of Westminster, but Spelman in his Glossary under the word Beruuica, says that it means a member of a Manor disjoined from the main body, a vill, a hamlet; and quotes from the Register of that Abbey, that the King gave to it Batrichsey with the Berewic (cum Berewico) adjoining to it called Wendlesorde. After the Dissolution this remained in the Crown, till King James I. after the death of prince Henry settled it on prince Charles. The latter, soon after his accession to the throne, viz. in 1627, granted it (subject to a then outstanding lease from Queen Elizabeth) to Sir Oliver St. John, second son of Nicholas St. John of Lidiard Tregoze in Wilts, of a very ancient family, tracing their ancestors up to the time of William I.

Sir Oliver St. John was the first of the family who settled at Battersea. He married Joan, daughter and heir of Henry Roydon esq. of this place, widow of Sir William Holcroft.

Sir Oliver had been bred in the inns of court, but happening to quarrel with —— Best, a captain of the guard to Queen Elizabeth and champion of England, whom he killed in a duel, he was obliged to leave the kingdom, and served in the army under Lord Vere, till the queen’s death. After this he went into Bohemia, and served in that war, and in the Palatinate till subdued by the Emperor, when he returned to Flanders. When the truce was made he went into France, where he became acquainted with the Duke of Buckingham, then negociating a marriage for prince Charles with a daughter of Henry IV. A friendship ensued; the duke brought him to England; caused him to be knighted and sent to Ireland as General of the Forces, Lord Treasurer, and Lord Deputy. In 1620, by reason of his descent from an heir female of the Grandisons, he was (3 June 1620) created Viscount Grandison of Limerick in Ireland, with limitation, in failure of issue male, to Sir Edward Villiers, half-brother to the duke, and on 21 May 1626 was made a Privy Counsellor and an English peer, by the title of Baron Tregoze of Highworth in Wilts. In the next year he had the grant of this Manor. He died 30 December 1630, without issue, whereupon the title of Grandison went to Villiers; that of Tregoze became extinct. The inscription on his monument will be given hereafter. He was succeeded in his estates by his nephew John, who was created a baronet 22 May 1611, being the seventeenth in precedency. This Sir John had issue seven sons, of whom Sir Oliver the eldest died in his life-time, leaving a son John, who inherited the estate; but he dying about the age of 21, without issue, and the four next sons of Sir John dying also without children, the title and estate came to the sixth son, Walter, who died 3 July 1708, aged 87. He was eminent for his piety and moral virtues; in 1700 he founded and endowed a free-school for 20 boys of this Parish; and to which he and his lady left further sums for apprenticing some of them. His portrait is in the school. He built a gallery at the West end of the old Church.

Henry his son and heir-apparent was tried for the murder of Sir William Estcourt bart. in 1684, and was convicted. Bishop Burnet, speaking no doubt of this affair, tells the story thus: that in 1684 a young gentleman of a noble family, being at supper with a large party, a sudden quarrel arose between him and another gentleman, warm words passed, swords were drawn, [331]two ladies then high in favour. This is the Bishop’s story. It appears, however, that after the conviction a doubt arose whether the king could pardon him. The matter was much debated, and Bishop Barlow wrote one of his cases of conscience on the subject; he determines the point in the affirmative. It is said that to obviate all doubts, the king granted him a reprieve; in confirmation of this, no pardon appears to have been enrolled. The reprieve was for a long term of years, which the extreme old age to which he attained (90) rendered it not improbable that he might have survived. Amongst the Records at the Rolls chapel is a restitution of the estates of Mr. Henry St. John, forfeited to the Crown by his feloniously killing and murdering Sir William Estcourt bart. It was probably for this restitution that the money mentioned by Burnet was paid. In 1716 he was created Baron St. John of Battersea and Viscount St. John. He died 8 April 1742. He was twice married. By his first wife, who was second daughter and coheir of Robert Rich Earl of Warwick, he had an only son Henry, the well-known statesman and author. By his second wife, a French lady, he had a son John. Henry was baptized 10 October 1678, as appears by the Parish Register, and was buried 18 December 1751. He was made Secretary of State to Queen Anne in 1710, and in 1713 was created Baron St. John of Lidiard Tregoze and Viscount Bolingbroke, with remainder in default of his issue male, to that of his father. He had a principal hand in negociating the peace of Utrecht, and in caballing to restore the Pretender, whereupon, on the accession of George I. he fled from the kingdom, and, in August 1715, was attainted, but in 1723 he was restored in blood and came to England. In May 1725 an Act was passed, by which he was enabled to inherit his father’s estate, which he afterwards did, but not his titles. An account of the manner in which his leave to return was effected, will be found in a Note below. By reason of his attainder, his father’s titles, on the death of the latter in 1742, went to John, his only surviving son by his second wife. This nobleman died at Naples in 1748, in the life-time of Viscount Henry; but on the death of Viscount Henry at Battersea without issue male 12 Dec. 1751, aged 73, Frederick, son of Viscount John, as heir male of his grandfather, succeeded also to the title of Viscount Bolingbroke, under the limitation in Henry’s patent.

The character of Henry Viscount Bolingbroke and of his writings has been so well given by the authors of the Monthly Review, that it is here added in a Note, with some extracts from Mr. Coxe’s Memoirs of Lord Walpole.

[332]Frederick Viscount Bolingbroke obtained an Act of Parliament in 1762 enabling him to sell this estate, and it was purchased in 1763 by the Trustees of John Earl Spencer, and on the Earl’s death (31 Oct. 1783) descended with the title to his son George John, the present owner (1811).

The Archbishop of York’s house and land

Originally called Bridge House, but which has long been known by the name of York House.

30 Edward III. 1357, Robert de Dole died seised for life of 8 marcs per annum, issuing out of lands and tenements called Brugges in Batricheseye, which he had given four years since to Joan his daughter, the wife of John de Bures of Berg in Bansted, reserving to himself the said rent for life, the same being held of the Abbat of Westminster by 34s. a year, and doing suit to his court of Battersey, from three weeks to three weeks, for all services. The said Joan de Bures, then 60 years old, and John, son of John de Norton (probably son of another daughter), then a minor, being next heirs.

Thomas Lord Stanley had considerable property in Batersey, Wannesworth, and Wassyngton, which was inherited by his son Thomas Lord Stanley. It appears that they had, according to a common custom in the troublesome times of Henry VI. and Edward IV. vested this estate in trustees, Reginald Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, John Bishop of Hereford, Edmund Hungerford, and others; that another conveyance had been made to William Archbishop of York, William Say Dean of St. Paul’s, and others, in trust for Thomas Lord Stanley the father for life, remainder to Thomas the son; and that by deed, dated at Batersey 10 December [333]38 Henry VI. 1460, the Archbishop and his co-trustees conveyed the same to Laurence [Booth] Bishop of Durham, John Bothe Clerk, Richard Bothe Esq. Seth Worsley Esq. and Robert Bothe, and their heirs; and that, by Deed dated the 1st of January following, the said Thomas Lord Stanley the son, the Archbishop, &c. released the same to the said Laurence. And further, by Deed dated 24 November 39 Henry VI. 1461, Thomas Lord Stanley the son, reciting the above transactions, confirmed the same.

Besides the lands contained in the above conveyances, it seems that John Stanley Esq. son of John Stanley, late of Batrichsey, had forfeited an estate in the same places of Batrichsey, Wandsworth, and Wassingham, by conveying them to John Hunt, Steward of the Abbat and Convent of Westminster, and others in trust for the Abbat and Convent against the Statute of Mortmain, and that the King had seized them; and thereupon, by Deed dated 10 July 11 Edward IV. 1472, the King, in consideration of 700l. paid to him by the said Laurence Bishop of Durham, granted to him [the Manor of Milton in Kent, and Advowson of the Church late of Richard Lowe, and by him forfeited]; and 6 messuages, 100 acres of land, 30 of meadow, and 20 of pasture in Batrichesey, Wannesworth, and Wassingham, and all lands, rents, and services, and other possessions and hereditaments in those places, which late were of the said John Stanley the son, and forfeited by him (the cause of which forfeiture is explained in the following record). But, if the premisses should be legally recovered from the Bishop, the King would satisfy the money so paid to him by the Bishop. The King further granted him licence to inclose his Mansion-house called Brygg Court, which he had built there, with walls and towers built of stone, chalk, and sand, and to impark his land there, with liberty of free warren and free chace therein.

On the 7th January in the same 11th year of the King, which was January 1473, the King granted to his dear aunt Ann Dutchess of Buckingham, wife of Walter Blount Lord Mountjoy, 8 messuages, 18 tofts, 100 acres of arable land, and 30 of meadow, in Battersey and Wannesworth, and pasture in gross for 8 oxen, 6 cows, 10 heifers, 150 sheep, 2 sows, 1 bull, and 2 boars, in the Common called Westheth, scil. at Wassyngham, Rydon, and Wannesworth, as far as Totyng, and in a Common called Estheth, viz. at Wassyngham and Rydon, as far as Balam and Clopham, and in the Common called Pyngewode, at all times of pasturing, which late were of John Stanley Esq. and forfeited because he by Deed granted the same to John Hunt, Steward of the Abbat and Convent of Westminster, Richard Newdyke, and William Parker, to hold to the use of the said Abbat and Convent, and their successors, against the Statute.

What became of the part so granted to the Dutchess does not further appear.

Lawrence Booth was of a considerable family of Barton in Lancashire, where the elder brother was seated. It is very remarkable that of the three younger brothers two were Archbishops of York (William having preceded Archbishop Nevill), and the third, Bishop of Exeter. Lawrence was educated at Pembroke Hall, Cambridge, of which he became Master, and to which he was a considerable benefactor. He retained that situation till his death, at the desire of his College. He was Bishop of Durham in 1457, and translated to York in 1477. He died at Southwell in 1480, and was buried in the chapel of St. John in that church, near his brother. His monument, which is an altar-tomb fixed into the outer wall of the South Aile, still remains there. Heylin, in his Help to English History, p.135, says he was Dean of St. Paul’s, and Chancellor of Cambridge.

[334]When this Lawrence Booth became Archbishop of York, he founded two Chantries in the Church of Southwell in Nottinghamshire, and charged his estate in Battersea and Wandsworth lands there. Archbishop Lee in 31 Henry VIII. let a lease to…Kerrye of the demesnes and other lands here for 80 years, with a covenant; as had been before used, that when any Archbishop or any of his household should reside at his mansion here, the lessee, on a month’s warning, should give up the occupation of the demesnes to the Archbishop and his successors so long as they or any of their household should remain there. This lease came to the hands of…Hill, who, by way of evading the covenant, kept the land in tillage; and Grindall’s predecessor, Archbishop Young, having attempted to set the lease aside, failed in his attempt. Hill became on this more insolent and troublesome to Grindall than he had been to Young; and the Archbishop having cut some of the wood on his demesnes for his provision at Battersea in time of Parliament, Hill sued the workmen. This occasioned a further enquiry into the validity of the lease, and such evidence was found by the Archbishop that he got the lease set aside. He then took a lease for his own life.

This is stated in a paper in vol. XXIX. of the Lansdown MSS. in the British Museum, No. 15; but it appears by that paper that Grindall having got the lease made to himself, did not, when he was translated to Canterbury, give it up to his successor at York, and this paper endeavours to frame excuses for his keeping it, alledging that he made leases more beneficial for his successor than had been made before. The house for more than a century has been occupied only by tenants.

When Archbishop Holgate was deprived for being a married man, and committed to the Tower by Queen Mary in 1553, the officers who were employed to apprehend him, rifled his house here, and took away 300l. of gold coin, 1600 ounces of plate, a mitre of fine gold, with two pendants set round about the sides and midst with very fine pointed diamonds, sapphires, and balists, and all the plain with other good stones and pearls; and the pendants in like manner weighing 125 ounces; some very valuable rings; a serpent’s tongue set in a standard of silver gilt, and graven; the Archbishop’s seal in silver, and his signet, an antique in gold. The Chantries were surrendered by the Priests to Henry VIII. by Indenture dated 12 August anno 32. 1541. King Edward VI. granted these annuities to the Free School at Guildford anno 6. The payment was disputed by Nicholas Heath when Archbishop of York, in the time of Queen Mary, but the School recovered the Grant, and now enjoys it. For a particular account of this matter see Vol. I. p.75.

In the time of the Usurpation the lands so given to the See of York were sold to John Hutchinson and Sir Allen Apsley. On the Restoration these persons were excepted by order of the House of Lords out of the Act of Oblivion not extending to life, who had been purchasers of Bishop’s lands and Dean and Chapter’s lands, in which are specified the Manors, Lands, and Tenements so purchased, with values and considerations paid for the same, viz. John Hutchinson and Sir Allen Apsley, for divers lease lands in Battersea and Wandsworth, 1806l. 3s. 6d.

The estate remains in the See of York, and is granted out on lease. The Mansion-house has been considerably altered by Joseph Benwell Esq. the present occupier, who has taken down many of the old rooms. One of them, called the Painted Chamber, had a dome ceiling, and is said to have been the room in which Wolsey entertained Henry VIII. with masquerades, and in which he first saw Anna Bullen. When the floor was removed there was found under it a chased gold ring, on the inside of which was inscribed, “Thy virtue is thy honour.” Mr. Benwell has added some handsome new rooms.

The rectory and advowson

Laurence, Abbat of Westminster, procured the appropriation of the great tithes for that Abbey about 1159. The Monks of Westminster were to receive out of it two marcs, reserving sufficient to the Vicar to support himself and the episcopal burdens.

After the Dissolution, Queen Mary granted the Advowson of this Church, with others (see Esher, Vol. II. p.746), to John White Bishop of Winchester, and his successors, but the Patent was dated 13 November 1558, a few days only before the Queen’s death, and the Bishop got nothing by it. Queen Elizabeth, in her 23d year, granted the Rectory to Edward Downing and Peter Ashton, with the Advowson of the Vicarage. They probably sold them [335]to the St. Johns, and they have passed with the Manor ever since, and now belong to Earl Spencer.

At the Taxation in 20 Edward I. 1291, the Rectory was rated at 26 marcs and an half, the Vicarage at 6 marcs and 40 pence.

At the Inquisition held at Kingston 28 June 1658, it was presented that the Rectory of Battersea, impropriated to Sir Walter St. John, was worth about 80l. per annum, the Vicarage 100l.; that Penge, a member of Battersea, was seven miles from the Parish Church, and contained twelve families; that they could not find a convenient place in the Hundred or County to unite it to; that the nearest place of public worship was Beckenham in Kent, about a mile distant. The Commissioners were vested with powers to unite or separate Parishes, as occasion required, but they did nothing in this case. The principal profits of the Vicarage arise from the tithe of gardens. There are two Terriers of Battersea in the Register at Winchester, fastened together, of the dates of 1619 and 1636.

The church

The Benefice is a Vicarage in the Deanry of Southwark, valued in the King’s Books at 13l. 15s. 2½d. paying Tenths 1l. 7s. 6½d.

The Church was rebuilt by an Act of 14 George III. and was opened 17 November 1777. The expence was more than 5000l. which was raised by a brief, by sale of certain pews for 99 years, by sale of certain Docks belonging to the Parish, and by granting annuities on lives. Its length is 88 feet, breadth 49 feet 3 inches.

It is of brick (as the old Church was), and has a Tower at the West end, with a small conical spire, in which are the six bells which were in the old Church, but re-cast, and two more added to them. It has neither Ailes nor Chancel. The East end is semicircular, in which is placed the Communion Table. The East window consists of painted glass, which was carefully preserved at the rebuilding, and contains Portraits of Henry VII. his grandmother Margaret Beauchamp, and Queen Elizabeth. They do not appear to have been co-eval with the persons they represent, but of a more recent date. Over the Portraits are the Royal Arms in the central compartment, and on each side the arms and quarterings of the St. Johns. The Portraits are likewise surrounded with borders, containing the Arms of the families allied to them by marriage. At the top, is a white rose inclosed in a red, under a Crown. On one side is a Crest, an eagle displayed under a Viscount’s coronet, on his breast a ring; on the other side a falcon on a cap of maintenance winged, collared and belled. In the centre the Arms of [336]St. John. England, Dieu & mon droit. On the left side the Arms of St. John, Deus providebit; on the other, the same, with some additions, Sanctus in terrâ, beatus in cœlo. At the bottom is the figure of a woman, three quarters length, with a crown on her head, Margaret Beauchamp (grandmother to King Henry the Seventh) from Patshull, Grandison, Tregoz, ancestors to the family of St. John of Lydiard Tregoz and Bletso, Earls of Bolingbrooke. Next, a figure of the same size, with a crown; under it, King Henry the Seventh, grandson to Margaret Beauchamp wife to Sir Oliver St. John, ancestor to the family of St. John of Lydiard Tregoz, &c. Next, a like figure, Queen Elizabeth, daughter of King Henry the Eighth by Ann, daughter of Thomas Bullen Earl of Wiltshire, great-great-grandfather of Ann daughter of Sir Thomas Leighton, wife of Sir John St. John of Lydiard Tregoz.

There are many Arms on small panes, as mentioned in the preceding notes. On the right of King Henry is a crown in a tree between the letters H. R. In a small circular North window is a lamb holding a cross with a flag, I.H.S. Opposite, a dove descending. These are modern.

The Register begins in 1559, and except the former part of the now last century, appears to be accurate. Dr. Church, soon after his institution, 1740, began to transcribe a considerable part of the Registers, which for many years preceding had been kept by a very ignorant Parish Clerk. He proceeded so far as to copy the whole of the Baptisms, and with great industry rectified a vast number of mistakes, and supplied many deficiencies. The difficulty of transcribing the Burials, of which indeed for some years there were no entries, discouraged him from proceeding any further in this laudable undertaking.

Monumental inscriptions

Mr. Aubrey gives the following:

The register and the vicars

The Register begins in 1559, and except the former part of the now last century, appears to be accurate, as already noted above.

Some of the vicars named above turn out, on Manning & Bray’s own footnotes, to be more than names in a list; a selection of those notes is gathered here.

CLAPHAM · the chapter follows next in the original volume