Wimbledon — Manning & Bray's History of Surrey

Topography

Is a pleasant Village, standing on high ground, looking to the East over Wandsworth to London and Kent; South over the country towards Croydon, Bansted, and Epsom; West towards Epsom and Kingston; and North over Putney and Mortlake to Harrow-on-the-Hill. The Parish is bounded by Wandsworth on the East; Kingston on the West; Putney and Roehampton on the North; and Merton and Cheam on the South. This Parish takes in houses on the North side of Merton Street from the bridge over the Wandle, and bounds on the road till it comes to the lane leading to the Church, when it runs behind some houses there, leaving them in Merton. The soil is gravel, clay, black sand on a stratum of gravel; black mould on gravel and clay; sandy loam on a clay bottom; strong loam on the same. Although Lord Spencer was obliged to go so deep for water in a well sunk in his Park, as will be noticed hereafter, there is a piece of water in his Park; and in some parts of the Parish the springs are very near the surface. On the common near the village is a well, the water of which never freezes. This Parish is not mentioned in Domesday, but was a Parish in the time of Edward I. being distinctly rated in the Valor made in his 20th year.

In a survey of the Manor, dated 1612, this Parish is said to contain 1648 acres of cultivated land. Its whole extent is now calculated at about 2800 acres, of which about 800 are arable; 1000 pasture; 100 meadow; 400 common; 500 wood. This calculation includes 800 acres of Lord Spencer's Park, of which 600 are pasture, and 200 arable. 200 acres of the wood are inclosed, the remaining 300 are the common, called Wimbledon Common.

Antiquities: the camp on the Heath

It is supposed by Camden, Speed, Gibson, and others, that this is the Wibbandun mentioned in the Saxon Chronicle, at which Ceaulin, King of the West Saxons, attacked and defeated the troops of Ethelbert King of Kent, in the year 568, when Oslac and Cnebba, two of Ethelbert's principal commanders, were slain. This conjecture, says Mr. Manning, is well enough supported by the name of a fortification which still remains on the heath, and which Mr. Camden says was known in his time by the name of Bensbury, a very easy and natural abbreviation of Cnebbensbury. Mr. Salmon says it was called The Rounds, which might be the case too amongst the common people, who seldom go further for their ideas of things than the first appearances, and might therefore naturally give it this title amongst themselves from its form, which though oblong, is rounded at the ends without any thing like a corner. It contains about seven acres, and is encompassed with a single ditch. Mr. Salmon, speaking of this place, takes some pains to shew that the encampment here mentioned could not be a Roman work, in opposition, as it seems, to Dr. Gale, who speaks of the “Vallum Germanorum qui hic sub Plautio meruere,” as being here, or hereabouts, and of Bensbury, Wimbledune, and other places in this part of the County, as Roman works, thrown up for their security after their earlier victories; but the form, as well as size of it (about seven acres), would induce us to suppose it Danish, or perhaps a work of the Saxons themselves; to the one or the other of which it is therefore generally ascribed by historians.

Mr. Douglas, in his Nænia Britannica, p. 93, says, that on Wimbledon Common, on the left of the road from London to Kingston, a small distance from Mr. Hartley's fire-house, but on the opposite side of the road, were about 23 barrows. He was told by a farmer of Roehampton, that the largest of them had been opened by a person from London, about 28 years before, 1786 (he, Mr. D., guessed by Dr. Stukeley). The largest did not exceed 28 feet diameter; all had a circular trench at their base; that on 29 September, 1786, he, Mr. D., opened one of them, and found a small earthen vessel, of darkish brown greyish earth, three inches high, three in diameter (of which is a figure on his plate, xxiii.). No other relics appeared, and little or no appearance of the body; that at about five furlongs from this groupe was a very large barrow, of the more ancient class. He was told, that at a short distance from the town of Wimbledon, on the common, there was another of this size. He observes that these barrows on eminences are frequently assigned as the base of windmills, which may indeed have been erected on them. Mr. D. does not notice the camp. [These barrows, Manning & Bray note, were removed a few years before their writing, to assist in repairing a road.]

Gale says, that a Roman road passed through this place, being a branch of that great military way leading from the Vallum to the Portus Ritupis, and described in the second Iter of Antoninus. This road having crossed the Thames at the horse-ferry, Westminster, and proceeded about two miles southward, divided itself into three branches, of which the westernmost passed through Wimbledune to Kingston.

In the early part of the last century there were annual races on this common, which had then a king's plate.

Early records

Adam, son of Ralph de Aqua, gave to William Faukes a culture of land in Wimbledon, called Blakeland, containing 20 acres (no date).

The Bishoprick of Hereford had a messuage and lands here, which Peter de aqua blanca, Bishop of Hereford, [in 1239] bought of James de Stanes, Citizen of London, for 70 marcs of silver. [This bishop, a footnote adds, was born in Savoy, and according to Godwin beggared the clergy by exactions for the King; the Barons, under Henry III, arrested him in his own Cathedral, seized his goods, and divided his treasure amongst their soldiers before his face, and imprisoned him a long time. He was buried in Hereford Cathedral, where is a tomb for him.]

The Testa de Nevil says that Robert de Wymbeldon held one third of a Knight's fee in Wymbeldon of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The survey of the Manor in 1607 mentions a fair new house belonging to Mr. Bell, the initials of whose name appear in several places on the front of the house. This house is still in being, and was lately used as an Academy by the Rev. Thomas Lancaster. On the cieling of one of the rooms the following arms in stucco: 1. In chief three fleurs de lis, in base an eagle displayed. 2. The same, impaling 1st and 4th a lion rampant double queued; 2d and 3d two fishes hauriant. 3. 1st and 4th the two fishes hauriant; 2d and 3d the lion rampant double queued. The colours not distinguished.

Domesday and the early Manor

This place is not mentioned by name in Domesday, being, as it seems, included in Mortlake, which belonged to the Archbishop of Canterbury at the time of that survey, and which, from the size of it as there described, 80 hides, might well include Wimbledon, as well as Mortlake, East Sheen, Barnes, and Putney. Indeed, in a record at Lambeth (Register Reynolds, who was Archbishop in 1327, fol. 79, b.) Wimbledon is spoken of as a grange or farm belonging to Mortlake. In an Inquisition taken 21 Richard II. 1398, on an alledged forfeiture of Archbishop Arundel, the Manor of Wimbledon is mentioned as a member of the Manor of Croydon (belonging to the See of Canterbury,) consisting of a house and buildings, containing two acres, worth nothing beyond reprises; 100 acres of arable land at 3d. 1l. 5s.; 21 of meadow, at 6d. 10s. 6d.; 4 of several pasture at 2d. 8d.; assised rents of free tenants 4s.; divers works done for 48 virgates of land at 3s. 7l. 4s.; and two Hundred Courts, worth per annum, with the common fine, 1l. 13s. 4d. in all, 10l. 17s. 6d. But this account could not mean the Manor of Wimbledon as now comprehending Mortlake and Putney, to which belong rents and services to a much greater amount. In fact, there were two capital houses belonging to the Manor of Mortlake, one with a Park at Mortlake, the other at Wimbledon. The former was frequently the residence of the Archbishops, and occasionally that of the King in a vacancy of the See; the latter was rather a grange or farm. When, therefore, this is called in the Inquisition above-mentioned the Manor of Wimbledon, nothing more was meant than a mansion, with part of the demesne lands (as has been found in many instances), to which, in this case, certain services of the Tenants due to the Manor properly so called were attached, as well for the convenience of the Tenants who resided in that part of the Manor, as of the Lord, the owner of this house and land.

This mansion was sold off as early as 38 Edward III. 1365; yet, in subsequent times, this place has given name to the whole Manor, leaving Mortlake, with Putney, to be considered only as members of it.

Mr. Lysons has clearly shewn that the Church mentioned in Domesday under Mortlage must have been that at Wimbledon, however extraordinary it may seem that the Church should be at one extremity of the Manor, and the Archbishop's Manor-house and residence at the other. In 1349, as appears from a Record in the Tower, the Archbishop had the King's licence to give a piece of ground in Berecroft, nine perches square, to Adomar, Parson of Wimbledon, and his successors, to find a Chaplain who should perform divine service in a Chapel about to be erected on that spot for the ease of the bodies and the health of the souls of the inhabitants of Mortlake and East Sheen, who were far distant from the Parish Church of Wimbledon.

The Manor, therefore, which comprehends Wimbledon, Mortlake, and Putney, being now known by the name of The Manor of Wimbledon, we will give the account of it, beginning with the description in Domesday, under the title of Mortlage, stating afterwards how this Manor-house or Grange has been disposed of.

Domesday, Tab. II.

The Archbishop holds in demesne Mortelage. In the time of King Edward it was rated for four score Hides [8000 acres]. The Canons of St. Paul hold of these 8 Hides [800 acres], which were and are taxed with these. They are now taxed together for 25 Hides. The arable land consists of 35 Carrucates. In demesne there are 5 Carrucates and four score Villans and 14 Bordars with 28 Carrucates. There is a Church and 16 Villans in gross, and two Mills of the value of 100s. [300l.] and 20 acres of Meadow. The wood yields 55 fat Hogs.

In London there were 17 houses paying 52 pence [13l. 10s.] In Southwerk 4 houses paying 27 pence [7l. 15s.] And from the vill of Putelei 20 shillings of Toll, and one Fishery not taxed. This Fishery Earl Harold had in Mortlage in the time of King Edward; and Stigand the Archbishop had it long before the time of King William; and yet they say that Harold erected it by force in the time of King Edward, in the land of Kingston, and in the land of St. Paul. The whole Manor, in the time of King Edward, was worth 32l. [1920l.] and afterwards 10l. [600l.] now 38l. [2280l.]

This was one of the many estates belonging to the Church of Canterbury, which Odo, Bishop of Baieux and Earl of Kent, had taken from the See, but which was recovered by Archbishop Lanfranc in 5 William I. 1071, in the Assembly of the Nobles at Pinenden Heath in Kent.

In 13 Edward II. 1320, the Archbishop paid 20s. for half a knight's fee in Wimbledon, on marriage of the King's eldest daughter.

In the 38th Edward III. 1365, the Archbishop had the King's leave to demise to the Priory of Merton the demesne lands of this Manor, with common on Wimbledon Heath for 300 sheep, and easements of certain tenements there at a yearly rent of 10l. Thomas Arundel, who became Archbishop in 1396, was appointed one of the 13 Commissioners for inspecting the Administration of Public Affairs in 8 Richard II. 1386; for this the King got him attainted in Parliament 17 September, in his 21st year, and his estates were seized; the forfeiture was dated from the 10th year of the King, because in that year a general pardon had been granted to all parties, but which by this Parliament was revoked.

The estates were afterwards restored to the See; and in 10 Henry IV. it is recognized that the Archbishop was to receive yearly, as to his Manor of Wimbledon, a sparrow-hawk, or 2s. from the Manor of Barnes, belonging to the Church of St. Paul, and 40s. every twentieth year for ever.

This Manor remained with the See of Canterbury till Archbishop Cranmer parted with it to King Henry VIII. in exchange for other estates. The King soon after granted it to Thomas Cromwell, a man who raised himself by his great abilities from the lowest rank of life, namely, the son of a blacksmith at Putney, of whom a further account will be there given.

After the attainder of Cromwell, the King settled this Manor on his Queen Catharine Parr for her life. Queen Mary granted it to Cardinal Pole. Elizabeth gave it to Sir Christopher Hatton, who sold the Manor-house at Wimbledon to Sir Thomas Cecil. How the Manor came again to the Queen does not appear; but, in her 32d year, she gave it to Sir Thomas Cecil, son of the Lord Burleigh, in exchange for the Manors of Langton and Wiberton in Lincolnshire, by this description: The Manor of Wimbledon, with its members in the County of Surrey, and rent of free tenants, viz. for lands or tenements in Wimbledon, 41s.; for lands or tenements in Bristow, alias Burstow, 6l. 17s. 4d.; for lands or tenements in Rokehampton, alias Roughampton, in the Parish of Puttenheath [Putney], 2s. &c.; the great field called Lord's Leaze, containing 60 acres in Wimbledon; other lands in Mortlake and Barnes; and all those lands in Burstow, parcel of the Lordship of Wimbledon, called The Park, granted to Sir John Gage by William late Archbishop of Canterbury, for eighty years (see Vol. II. p. 281.) All late parcel of the possessions of the late Archbishop of Canterbury, after [the attainder] of Thomas Cromwell late Earl of Essex, attainted of high treason. Mortlake or Putney Park is excepted out of this grant.

Descent of the Manor: Cecil to Spencer

Sir Thomas Cecil was created Earl of Exeter 4 May 1605, 3 James I. and settled this estate on his third son Sir Edward Cecil, who was engaged in the wars in the Netherlands thirty-five years. He was at the battle of Newport in Flanders. He was Admiral, Lord Marshal, Lieutenant-general, and General against the King of Spain and Emperor in the service of our Kings James I. and Charles I.; and by the latter was in 1626 created Baron of Putney Viscount Wimbledon. He was Lord Lieutenant of this County in the time of King James I. (but did not hold that office at the time of his decease), and was Captain and Governor of Portsmouth. He married twice, but had no son; and died 4 July 1639, leaving by his first wife four daughters and coheirs. They sold it to Henry Richard Earl of Holland and others, Trustees for Queen Henrietta Maria, in whose possession it continued till the time of the Civil War. When the Crown Lands were put up to sale in 1650, this Manor, valued at 386l. 19s. 8d. per annum, was bought by Adam Baynes Esq. of Knowstrop in the county of York, at eighteen years purchase. It was probably sold by him to General Lambert, who was Lord of the Manor in 1656. After the Restoration it came again into the Queen's hands; but she sold it in 1661 to George Digby Earl of Bristol, whose widow and devisee conveyed it to Thomas Osborn Marquis of Carmarthen, afterwards Duke of Leeds. He, by his Will dated 21 January 1711, devised it to the Earl of Abington and others, as Trustees, who, under a decree in Chancery, sold it in 1717 to Sir Theodore Janssen, one of the South Sea directors. He had begun to pull down the old house and build a new one, when his estates were seized with those of the other directors. In the account which he delivered 20 June 1720, he states 2118l. 14s. as laid out in building the new house, which it appears was carried on, as, by a further statement on the 20th March following, the money so laid out was increased to 3977l. 11s. He states the annual amount of the Quit Rents to be 62l. 13s. 10d. and the average of Fines 90l. which, added to lands and some tenements lett, make an income of 553l. 3s. 10d. besides the house, 50 acres of meadow and 31 of wood in hand. He reckons the value 22,000l. He had also a lease for three lives of the Tithes of Wimbledon, Putney, Roehampton, and Mortlack, producing, clear of outgoings, 210l. 13s. 6d. a year. Sir Theodore, at the conclusion of the account delivered in by him, makes the following appeal to the humanity of the House:

“As I have given a faithful and just account of my whole estate, without concealing or reserving any thing, and my family is very numerous, and most of my children under age, so that I have not had an opportunity to make the least provision for them by marriage or other ways, I hope it will be a motive and inducement to commiserate their hard circumstances; for should I be proceeded against according to the rigour of the bill now depending in Parliament, I and my whole family must be reduced to absolute beggary. And having, during the course of the transactions of the South Sea Company, which have been so unfortunately managed, made all the opposition that possibly I could in the several parts of it which have been most censured, or been ignorant of them, I hope that my unparalleled case will be thought to deserve consideration; but, whatever may be my fate, which in all humility I submit to the determination of Parliament, I have chosen to preserve to the last the character of an honest man.”

He was at this time member for Yarmouth in the Isle of Wight, and was with other directors expelled the House, and this estate was sold to Sarah Duchess of Marlborough.

The Duchess died 18 October 1744, and devised this, with Chilworth (Vol. II. 118), her lease of the Rectory here, and other estates, to her grandson John Spencer Esq. the youngest son of Charles Earl of Sunderland by the Lady Anne Churchill his second wife, who was second daughter and coheir of John Duke of Marlborough. On Mr. Spencer's decease 19 June 1746, it devolved on his only son John, who in 1761 was created Baron and Viscount Spencer, and, 5 George III. 1765, Earl Spencer Viscount Althrop (from his estate of that name in Northamptonshire). He died 31 October 1783, and was succeeded by his only son George John, at that time member of parliament for the County of Surrey, for which he had been elected in 1782, on Admiral Keppel being made a Peer. He is now the owner. In 1760 an Act of Parliament was passed to enable John Spencer Esq. to make Leases of the Manor of Wimbledon, and of lands and grounds in Wimbledon, Barnes, East Sheen, Putney, and Wandsworth in the County of Surrey, given and devised by and purchased in pursuance of the Will of the Most noble Sarah late Duchess Dowager of Marlborough respectively, for building upon and improving the same.

We have seen that in the Confessor's time, this Manor was valued at 32l. per annum; afterwards at only 10l.; and when the survey of Domesday was taken at 38l.; in 1291, on the valuation of the ecclesiastical revenues, at 20l.; in Archbishop Bourchier's time 47l. 17s. 8d.; when the grant was made to Sir Christopher Hatton at 98l. 3s. 4¾d.; and when the Crown Lands were sold in 1650, at 386l. 19s. 8d.

Customs of the Manor

The Court Rolls of this Manor begin 1 Henry VI. 1422. At a Court Baron 1 January 6 Edward VI. an order was made that they should be kept in a chest in the Parish Church with three locks, one of the keys of which was to be kept by the Steward, another by the Reeve of the Manor, and a third by the Lord.

The customs of the Manor are as follow: 1. On change of the Lord, the Tenants anciently paid a Fine or Gift of 6l. 13s. 4d. called Palfrey Money or Saddle Silver. This Fine was levied on the Tenants by an order of the Court held 33 Henry VI., and of another 30 Henry VIII., when the Manor came to the Lord Cromwell, but the Tenants prayed time for payment. 2. Every purchaser of a Customary Estate pays a Fine at the will of the Lord at his first admission, but none for any subsequent admission, nor if he succeed by inheritance. 3. Heriot, on death of a Customary Tenant seised of a Yardland (15 acres) or the greatest part thereof, a black sheep, or in lieu thereof 10d. and for a Relief 2s. 2d. 4. If the heir of a Customary Tenant be within age, he is to be admitted by his guardian, to be assigned by the Lord, and to be him to whom the guardianship belongs by rules of Common Law: for such assignment a Fine is to be paid, which has been generally small, but has varied. 5. Customary Tenants may lett for three years without licence, but not longer, on pain of forfeiting the estate: the Fine for such licence has varied. 6. The Lord hath a Leet at Easter, when the Headboroughs pay a Common Fine; for Putney 6s. 8d. Roehampton 2s. Mortlake 8s. 4d. Barnes 5s. Wimbledon formerly 8s. 4d. but abated by reason of the Parsonage to 6s. 8d. 7. The Customary Tenants are to gather the Quit Rents, and one, who holds two yardlands or 30 acres, is annually chosen at the Court for that purpose; anciently the Tenants named two or three, and the Lord appointed one of those, and those who held three yardlands were liable to serve the office of Beadle. 8. The inhabitants of the several towns to find weights and scales, stocks, and a whipping post. 9. At Courts held 23 October 1640 and 21 June 1663, it was presented by the Homage, that by the custom of the Manor, out of every Fishing-room belonging to Mortlake and Putney, several salmons were due, to be delivered annually to the Lord by the Fishermen there, for their liberty and licence of fishing and landing and pitching their nets on the soil and shore of the Lord, for that the interest of the soil of the river to low-water mark belongs to the Lord, and the fishermen are to have licence to fish there: Licences are entered at different times. In 15 Henry VI. one Day was presented for giving to the Lord deceitfully the worst salmon taken 24th March, contrary to the ancient custom. 10. The Wastes and Commons and the trees growing thereon belong to the Lord. 11. The Lord hath liberty to grant, with consent of the Free and Customary Tenants, parcels of the Waste for years or otherwise.

Tenants' Privileges: 1. On the death of the Copyholder, the youngest son or youngest daughter, brother, sister, or nephew is the Customary Heir. 2. The husband of a Customary Tenant shall be Tenant by courtesy, and the wife shall have dower as by common law. 3. May lett for three years without licence. 4. Have common in the Lord's wastes all the year, and hedge-bote, plow-bote, &c. but not to dig gravel, clay, or turf.

In 1805 there were only 11 Copyholders in Wimbledon.

The Manor House at Wimbledon

Sir Thomas Cecil purchased the Manor House of Sir Christopher Hatton, whilst he was in possession, under the grant from Queen Elizabeth, and in 1588 rebuilt it in a most magnificent manner. (A copy from a very scarce print of it has been given by Mr. Lysons in his Environs.) It was not till 1590 that he obtained a grant of the Manor, as before mentioned. The father, however, resided here, at least occasionally. Letters of his, when Secretary of State, are dated from hence; and 1 August 1599 the Queen is said to have visited the Lord Burghley here, and to have stayed three days, going from hence to Nonsuch. On this occasion the Churchwardens of Kingston paid 20 pence “for mending the ways when the Queen went from Wimbledon to Nonsuch.”

The house received considerable damage by the accidental blowing up of some gunpowder in 1628. It was perhaps on its being repaired after this accident that the outside was painted in fresco by Francis Cleyne. Fuller calls Wimbledon House a daring structure, and says that by some it has been thought to equal Nonsuch, if not to exceed it. The survey taken of it by order of Parliament, in 1649, describes it minutely, and is very curious. It is printed in the Archæologia of the Society of Antiquaries, Vol. X. p. 399, &c. from the original in the Augmentation Office.

After the estate had been purchased for the Queen of Charles I. as in p. 269, it seems that she and the King were sometimes here. The Mansion at Wimbledon is mentioned amongst the houses belonging to the Crown in the inventory of the jewels and pictures of King Charles I. It is remarkable that that Monarch was so little aware of the fate preparing for him by his enemies, that a few days before he was brought to trial, he ordered the seeds of some melons to be planted in his garden at Wimbledon. It was afterwards sold to Baynes, and by him probably to Lambert, the Parliament's General. When he had been discarded by Cromwell, “he retired to this house, and turned florist, having the finest tulips and gilly-flowers that could be got for love or money.” He also excelled in painting flowers, some specimens of which remained many years at this house.

After the Restoration the Queen again got possession, but soon sold it to the Earl of Bristol, and he to the Marquis of Carmarthen, whose trustees sold it to Sir Theodore Janssen. This gentleman, as before-mentioned, pulled down the magnificent house, and began to build a new one (as before stated), which we may suppose was on a smaller scale. The South Sea business involving him, the estate was purchased by the Dutchess of Marlborough. She pulled down what Sir Theodore had built, and erected a new one on the North side of the knoll on which the present house stands, after a design of the Earl of Burlington, of which there is a view in the 5th volume of the Vitruvius Britannicus. Not liking the situation, she desired his Lordship to give her a design for one on the South side, and having obtained it, she pulled down the former, and built that which was burnt in 1785. She gave this estate to her grandson, as before mentioned, from whom it came to his son the late Earl; and in his time, on Easter Monday, 1785, it was by some accident set on fire, and completely burnt down. The ruins were cleared away, and the grounds levelled and turfed so as to leave scarcely a trace of its foundation; but some of the offices which had been preserved from the flames served as an occasional retirement for the family till the present house was built, which was about 1798. It stands in a Park seven miles in compass, containing about 1200 acres (laid out by Browne), which gives a beautiful home prospect, with a fine piece of water towards the North, and an extensive view over Surrey and Kent to the South.

In the garden is an alcove, in which is a Sarcophagus brought from Alexandria. When the present house was fitted up, Lord Spencer was desirous of having a well near it; and in 1798 he caused one to be sunk, but though there is a large piece of water in the Park, he was obliged to dig to a depth of 563 feet before water could be found. It is said to have been fifteen months in hand; but a plentiful supply of water was at length obtained. One horse raises six butts in an hour. The following is an account of the strata through which the well was sunk: Cultivated soil and clay, of a bright nut-brown, 3 feet; leaden coloured indurated flakey clay, 20; foxey, or reddish coloured sand, and the leaden coloured clay more indurated or slatey, alternately, in thicknesses of three or four feet, for about 80; leaden coloured strong loam, but not slatey, alternately, with a dark coloured pipey matter, supposed to be Pyrites, Syringoites, or pipe-stone, in thicknesses of about three feet, for about 60; the leaden coloured clay or loam continued, but interspersed with stoney nodules, which contained a brownish coloured spar or crystal, capable of taking a bright polish, for about 40; a hard rock, containing cavities or bladder-holes full of water, which the well-diggers called water-stone, about eight inches in thickness, half a foot; the leaden coloured clay continued; but in this thickness it contained much sulphur, so much so, as to emit a blue smoke and powerful smell when dropped into a hot fire-shovel. This stratum contains a considerable quantity of a mineral which has the appearance of coal-ashes, and in which are some bright small spangles. It smells of sulphur, has a sharp styptic taste, and is supposed to be zink, formed by the union of the water and sulphur with vitriolic acid. This stratum also had many lumps of stone and shells of brown crystal in it, which measured six or eight inches in diameter; and the whole of this stratum emitted an air so noxious as to prevent the men working, without the aid of pipes, to disperse it, and supply them with air from the atmosphere. Below this was some rotten wood, 236; a hard rock, about six inches thick. Under this rock the air was as pure as it had been above the sulphureous strata, half a foot; a sandy loam, of a foxey colour, 110; a stratum of marine shells, in thickness about 3; a lightish coloured and rather clean sand, 7; a hard rock of marine shells, which seemed to be mostly of the cockle kind, 3;—Total, 563 feet.

On perforating this rock, the water rose in the well, with great force, to the height of 449 feet, or to within 114 of the surface. The water brought so much sand up as nearly to fill the lowest 200 feet of the well with it, of so clean a quality as to permit the water to rise freely through it, which filters or cleanses it in the most effectual manner.

This well is four feet six inches in diameter within the steening, which is one brick of nine inches laid dry. Some of the water which rose within the first fortnight was analized; and report says it is soft and as pure as even the neighbouring wells at Coomb which supply Hampton Court with water: see Vol. I.

The water is pumped into a cistern over the engine-house, which is about 15 feet above the surface of the ground, by the power of one horse. This is done by one of Mr. Brathwaite's engines, which raises 6 butts or 648 gallons per hour.

In September 1804, the well was reported to contain of sand 184 feet; of water 224. This shews the water to be lower by 41 feet than it was five years before. Lord Spencer's Steward says the well does not now supply water in sufficient quantity for the requisite uses. The sand is supposed to have become so compact as to prevent the water ascending in sufficient quantity, and Mr. Braithwaite has lately been desired to take much of it out.

The Church

Is a Peculiar of the Archbishop of Canterbury, in the Deanry of Ewel, dedicated to St. Mary. It pays to the Archdeacon for Synodals and Procurations 6s. 8d. In the Valor of 20 Edward I. it was valued at 60 marcs; is in the King's books at 35l. 2s. 11d. Putney and Mortlake are Chapelries to it. It stands at the end of the town, near the mansion-house of Earl Spencer.

The old Church being too small for the Parishioners, it was determined to take it down; and on 9 April, 1785, the first stone of a new one was laid by the Rev. Herbert Randolph B.D. the Curate. It is built of greystock bricks, and forms an oblong square, 48 feet by 44. It consists of a nave and two ailes, with a gallery over each aile, and a double one at the West end, supported by pillars painted to resemble granite-stone. The roofs of the galleries are domed in three divisions, arched in front, the four corners of each dome having medallions in chiaro obscuro of Adam, Noah, &c. At the West end of the Church is a circular projection, on which is a square wooden tower with Gothic pinnacles of artificial stone, a taper spire covered with copper rising from the centre. There are three bells. The Font is modern. The whole expence was 2,194l. 10s. 2d. of which 934l. 4s. was raised by subscriptions, the rest by rates on the Parish. There was not any brief. It was opened 7 July 1788. An organ was erected by voluntary contributions in 1810.

The old Chancel, (which was preserved,) about 13 feet square, is separated by a wooden screen, against which are placed the pulpit and two reading-desks, and over all a gallery for Earl Spencer and his family. The window at the East end of the Chancel has been very rich in painted glass. There yet remain the upper parts of Gothic arches in three compartments, and the following Arms: In the centre at the bottom are the Arms of Thomas Osborne first Duke of Leeds. Ducal coronet and surrounded with the garter. He died at Easton, Northamptonshire, in 1712. On the right hand the Arms of Sir Thomas Cecil afterwards Earl of Exeter. He was the eldest son of Sir William Cecil Baron Burleigh Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth, and died 1622; buried in the Chapel of St. John the Baptist in Westminster Abbey. On the left hand the same Arms, impaling those of his lady. He married Dorothy daughter and coheiress of John Nevil Lord Latimer, who was the son of John Nevil Lord Latimer by Dorothy Vere his first wife, one of the sisters and coheirs of John Earl of Oxford.

On the South side of the Chancel is an old Chapel, built by the Viscount Wimbledon, in which is his monument.

On the right hand of the East window, fixed to the wall, is an escutcheon bearing the Arms of the Honourable John Spencer fourth son of Charles Spencer third Earl of Sunderland. He married Georgiana Caroline third daughter of John Carteret Earl Granville. She afterwards married William Earl Cowper and resided at Richmond. John Spencer died at Wimbledon 1746, and was buried at Althorpe in Northamptonshire. On the left hand of the same window is fixed to the wall an escutcheon, bearing the Arms of John Spencer son of the former. He married Georgiana daughter of the Right Honourable Stephen Poyntz. He was created Viscount and Baron Spencer 1761, and advanced to the titles of Earl Spencer and Viscount Althorpe 1765, and was father to the present Earl George John; he died 1783, and was buried at Althorpe as above.

In a window on the North side of the Chancel are the figures of St. John the Baptist and St. Christopher, and that of a Crusader completely armed; a close helmet, visage open, and a mail gorget; the rest of his armour is part mail, part plated; he has whiskers, and in his right hand a spear, with a banner and penon of the most ancient form; on his left arm is a shield with the cross of St. George. His armour nearly corresponds with that of Sir John Creke, described in Vol. I. of Gough's Sepulchral Monuments. Sir John died sometime in the reign of King Edward III.

Pedigree of the Cecil family

Manning & Bray give a genealogical table (p. 274) of the Cecil family, “as far as respects the persons interred or mentioned in this Church, &c.” It is reproduced here as a simplified diagram; the arms blazoned against several of the marriages in the original are noted separately below it.

Show the Cecil family pedigree

Sir William Cecil, Baron Burleigh, Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth = Mary, daughter of P. Cheek
- Sir Thomas Cecil, first Earl of Exeter = Dorothy, daughter and coheiress of John Nevil Lord Latimer
  - William Cecil, second Earl of Exeter, b. 1566 = Eliza, daughter of Sir William Drury; sister and coheir of Sir Robert Drury of Halsted, Suffolk, Knight
    - Only three daughters.
  - Sir Richard Cecil, born 1570, ancestor to present Earl of Exeter
  - Sir Edward Cecil, Baron Putney, Viscount Wimbledon, bo. 1571, died 1638
    - = (1) Theodosia, daughter of Sir Andrew Noel of Dalby, Leicestershire, Knt.
    - = (2) Diana, daughter of Sir William Drury of Halsted, Suffolk, Knt. and sister to Sir Robert and Eliza
      - Anne Cecill
    - = (3) Sophia, daughter of Sir Edward Zouch, of Woking, Surrey, Knight

Descendants named on the monuments, continuing from Sir Edward Cecil's daughters and connexions:

Dorothy, unmarried.
Francis Lord Willoughby of Parham = Eliza(beth) Cecil
James Fiennes, son of William Lord Say and Sele = Frances Cecil
- Frances Ellis, married Andrew Ellis of Alrey, Flint
  - Frances, died 1687
Sir Christopher Wray of Berlerig, Lincolnshire, Knight = Albinia (Cecil)
- Richard Betenson, son of Sir Richard Betenson of Scadbury, Kent, Knt. and Bart. died 1677, aged 45 = Albinia

Monumental inscriptions

In the Nave

On the ground, are the following Grave-stones:

Crest, demi lion rampant; Arms, fleur de lis.

Here lieth interred the body of Mr. George Morley druggist of Lombard-street London, who departed this life the 20th day of May 1737, aged 30 years.

Spe resurrectionis. Here lyeth interred the body of Mr. John Peck citizen and dyer of London, who departed this life the 22 of December 1692, aged 63 years and 8 months. Here also lieth interred the body of Mrs. Jane Peck, wife of y^e abovesaid Mr. John Peck, who departed this life the 16 day of October 1699, in the 77th yeare of her age.

To the memory of Peter Shaw M.D. Physician in ordinary to their Majesties George the 2^d and George the 3^d, who died March the 15th 1763, aged 69 years. [He translated Boerhaave's Chemistry in 4to, and Hoffman on Mineral Waters in 8vo.]

Crest, a martlet Az. wings Or, holding a sprig. Arms, per chevron crenellé Or and Az. three martlets counterchanged, on the breast of each, a fret, those in chief Arg. that in base of the second; impaling barry of six Arg. and Az. a bend fusilly Gu.

Susannah Hudson, daughter of General Joseph and Mary Hudson, died 22d February 1773, aged 22 years all but two days. General Joseph Hudson departed this life the 25th of May 1773, in the 83d year of his age. Mary Hudson, wife to the above General Hudson, departed this life 7 July 1780, in the 68th year of her age. Colonel William Hudson, son of the above General Joseph and Mary Hudson, died September 6, 1789, aged 58. Catharine, daughter of the above General Joseph Hudson, died 25 June 1802, aged 60 years.

Near this Vault lye interred the bodys of Richard and John West brothers; also John West son of Richard, to whose memory duty, love, and gratitude inscribe this stone (no date).

Mr. Aubrey gives the two following as being in the middle of the Chancel, on a brass plate now lost:

Sub hoc lapide tegitur Ma. Thomas Myllynge olim Rector hujus Ecclesiæ qui obiit tercio die Novembris anno Domini MCCCCCXL. Intercede qui hac transis ut illius anima regnet cum superis.

Another, now lost, on a brass a figure of a Priest holding a chalice, and round the ledge of the stone:

Hic jacet Dominus Willielmus de…… quondam Rector istius Ecclesiæ de Wimbeldon, qui obiit… CCCLXI. cujus aí'e propicietur misericors Deus.

In the North wall of the Chancel is now an altar tomb under a flat Gothic arch, and in a niche over it, Philip Lewston married one Margaret…… by whome he had issue Edward, Richard, and Robert. Edward and Richard died without issue. Robert tooke to his first wife Margaret daughter of John Wideslade Esq. by who' he had issue living to be married Ales who married Edward Rowse of Brosard in Suffolk, and his second wife was Lettis Allatson, by whom he had issue Hu'frey, Johane, Katharine, and others. Hu'frey died without issue unmarried; Johan married Robert Long of Edward's Town in Suffolk; and Katharine married William Walter of Thingden in the county of Northampton Esquire. There is no date to the above; but by the next Monument it appears that this William Walter died in 1587, aged 78 years, having with his wife kept house 50 years, which will carry Lewston's death to about 1537.

Next to the above, on a fair marble in two compartments: 1. Here lyes buried William Walter Esquire, born in Thynder [Thingden] in the county of Northampton, but matching in mariage with Katharine Lewston sister and heire of Humfrey Lewston, by whom he was possest of a convenient seate and porcion of inheritance in this town, came to inhabit here, where he together with the said Katharine hath continewed and kept howse with good reputacion by the space of 50 yeres, in which tyme he had issue by her twoe sons, William and Robert, and 5 daughters, Jaquet, Margaret, Briget, Mildred, and Susan, whereof there are living William, Robert, and Margaret, married all, and possessed of children, the rest being dead in their yonger years, and here also most of them buried. He departed this lyfe the 10 day of September 1587, having lived about 78 yeares. Second compartment. Katharine Walter wife of the said William and daughter of Robert Lewston Esquire and Lettice Alanson his wife, being the youngest of the children of the said Robert and Lettice, overlived them all and came to be possessed of the said Lewston's lands in this towne. From her infancy until hir mariage shee was brought upp in right honorable and vertuous places, where by the good instruccions and examples of her governours, she attained to that habite and moderacion of life and maners, as bred to her selfe the praise and good opinion of all sortes, and to her husband no mean reputation. She was maried to the said William the 16 yeare of her age, with whom she lyved 50 years, and remained a widow after hym 4 moneths and odd dayes, departing out of this life, most godly, the 20 daye of January 1587, being of the age of 66 yeares.

Obdormit Domino situs hâc Walterus in urnâ,

Antiquâ virtute senex, servator honesti,

Integer & prudens, obsequentissimus æqui,

In commune bonus, pius, insons, fidus, apertus,

Qui longam vitam fœlice fine peregit,

Et sine fine Deo, victurus adivit Olympum.

Conjunx fida suum Catharina sequuta maritum,

Contumulata jacet, matrona pudica, modesta,

Sancta, benigna, gravis, virtutis maxima cultrix.

Fœmine digna Deo, proavis dignissima claris,

Illa viro fœlix, fœlicior ille maritâ,

Quos ut junxit amor terris, Deus æthere jungit.

Arms at the top, Az. a fess dancette between three eagles displayed Argent, impaling Gu. an annulet between three battle-axes Argent.

In the Chancel

On a black marble on the South side of the Chancel:

Hic jacet Richardus Wynn de Gwider in comitatu Caernarvon, Mil. & Baronet. Thesaurarius necnon Consiliarius Honoratiss’e Principis Henriettæ Mariæ Reginæ, qui linea paternali ex illustri illâ familiâ & antiquissimâ stirpe Britanniæ North Walliæ principum oriundus, denatus 19 die Julij 1649, ætat. 61.

Arms, 1. Vert, three eagles displayed in fesse Or. 2. Gules, three lions passant Argent. 3. Sable, a chevron between three fleurs-de-lis Argent. 4. Sable, three boys couped proper, hair gold, round the neck a serpent entwined proper.

[A footnote records that Sir Richard was Gentleman of the Privy Chamber to Charles I, and attended him on the romantic journey into Spain to visit his intended consort; he drew up an account of his travels, printed among other scarce tracts by Thomas Hearne. He died at Wimbledon, in the Manor-house, which he held as trustee for Queen Henrietta Maria.]

Arms at top, 1st and 4th Or, a fess Gu. in chief, a lion passant Sable, within a bordure ingrailed Az.; 2d and 3d, a bend Ermine, between two lions rampant.

Here resteth Jane Betenson daughter of Sir Richard Betenson of Layer de la Haye in Essex K^t, by his wife Anne daughter of Sir William Monyns of Waldershare in Kent Baronet. She dyed on the 5th day of May 1639, having lived to the age of xj years and 10 months.

On another; Arms: three Bulls passant; Robertus Squibb Arm. obiit decimo die Septembr^is 1694.

Arms, Arg. 3 bends wavy, Az. a crescent for difference.

Here lieth the body of Ralph Wilbraham, of London, Merchant, sonn of Thomas Wilbraham of Nantwich, Cheshire, deceased 5th August 1665. In remembrance of whom his dear wife Mrs. Ann Wilbraham hath caused this Inscription, and hath also given to this Church of Wimbledon a callis and cover of silver, to have this place reserved for herself.

Here lieth interred the body of Dorothy Janssen, daughter of Sir Theodore Janssen Bart. Lord of this Manor, by his wife Williamsar Janssen, daughter of Sir Robert Henley of Grange in the County of Hants. She departed this life May the 4th 1717, in the 2d year of her age.

Here resteth the body of Elizabeth, daughter of John Shuttleworth and Elizabeth his wife, of this Parish, who departed this life the 27th of February Anno Dom. 1674-5, aged two years and eight months.

Ann Betenson dyed July the 29th 166… [the date is incomplete in the original].

The Chapel

On the South side of the Chancel is a Chapel lighted by six small windows, in which are coats of arms. It was built for the interment of Lord Wimbledon's family, and is kept in repair by a sum of money left by Dorothy Cecil one of his daughters, as taken notice of amongst the donations painted on the gallery. On the East and West walls hang two suits of armour. In the centre is an Altar-tomb of black stone, over which is suspended by a chain from the cieling a Viscount's coronet. Round the four ledges of the tomb is inscribed in capital letters:

Heere resteth Sir Edward Cecill Knight, Lord Cecill, and Baron of Putney, Viscount Wimbledo' of Wimbledo', third sone of Thomas Earle of Exeter, and Dorothy Nevill one of y^e coheyres of y^e Lord Nevill of Latimer, and grandchild of the Lord Treasurer Burghley, who followed the warres in y^e Netherlands five and thirty yeares, and passed the degrees of Captaine of Foote and Horse, Collonel of Foote, and Collonel of y^e English Horse, at y^e battle of Newport in Flanders; who was Admiral and Lord Marshall, Lieutenant-Generall and Generall against y^e King of Spaine and Emperour, in y^e service of King James and King Charles y^e First; and, at his returne, was made Counsellor of State and Warre, and Lord Lieutent^t of this County of Surrey, and Captaine and Governor of Portesmouth; and after so many travells, returned to this patient and humble mother-earth, from whence he came, w^th assured hope in his Saviour Christ to rise againe to glory everlasting. His first wife was Theodosia Nowell, of y^e house of Lord Nowell and Viscount Cambden, by y^e mother of y^e house of the Lord Harrington, who dyed in Holland and lyeth buried in y^e Cathedrall Church of Utrecht, by whom he had four daughters, here mentioned in this Chapel, with their husbands. His second wife was Diana Drury here interred, one of y^e co-heiresses of y^e house of Drury, and by y^e mother descended from the antient family of y^e Dukes of Buckingham and Stafford, and had only one daughter by her, named Anne Cecill.

On the East side, Or, fretty Azure, impaling barruly of 10 Argent and Azure, 6 escutcheons, 3, 2, and 1 Sable, each charged with a Lion rampant Argent for Cecil, with a … for difference.

Underneath, on a tablet on the wall: Mr. James Fines, son and heyr of the Lo. Vic. Say and his wife Frances Cecil.

In the West window the arms are gone; but underneath, on a tablet: The Lo. Frances Willoughby of Parrom and his wife Elizabeth Cecill.

On the South side, in the window the arms of Cecil and a Viscount's coronet, with a … for difference, impaling Or, fretty Gules, a canton Ermine, for Noel. Underneath is a tablet inscribed, His first wife, who in this tombe is named. In the next window the arms of Cecil and Viscount's coronet as before, impaling, Argent, on a chief Vert a tau between 2 mullets pierced Or, for Drury. On the South side, in the window the arms dexter gone, but sinister Cecil as before. Underneath is a tablet; Sir Christopher Wraye Kn^t hyer to the Drurys, and his wife Albinill Cecil.

In the next window the Arms of Cecil. Underneath on a tablet, Dorothy Cecil, unmarried as yet.

On the ground are flat grave-stones with these inscriptions. Arms at top. Here lyeth Richard Betenson Esq. son of Sir Richard Betenson of Scadbury in the County of Kent, Knight and Baronett. He married Albina, one of the daughters of Sir Christopher Wray, of Ashby in the County of Lincoln Knt. who married Albinia, one of the daughters and heirs of the Lord Wimbleton. He was married 20 years and 4 months, and left five children living. He departed this life in the 45th year of his age 1677.

Arms at top, Ermine, a Lion rampant guardant, impaling 3 Lions rampant.

Here lyeth the body of the Hon^ble Frances Ellis, widow, youngest daughter of James Finnes late Lord Viscount Say and Sele, and Frances Cecill his wife, one of the coheirs of the late Lord Viscount Wimbleton, who was married to Andrew Ellis of Alrey, in the County of Flint Esq. and having by him one daughter and heir, she departed this life the 28th of January, in the 53d year of her age, and in the year of our Lord God 1686-7.

Church-Yard

On the right hand of the gate, at the entrance of the Church-yard, is a building in the form of Catacombs, made by Benjamin Bond Hopkins Esq. of Painshill in this County, for the interment of his family. Over the gate is carved his crest, a Castle in flames. The entrance is through an open iron grating by a descent of a few steps. Some of the receptacles for bodies are closed up in front, and have the following inscriptions.

Mrs. Elizabeth Bond, wife of Benjamin Bond jun. Esq. of Soho Square London, who died 3d January 1777, in the 23d year of her age. To record her virtues on a mouldering stone will be a vain attempt. Know, oh Reader! they are registered elsewhere.

Elizabeth Chamberlaine Bond, only daughter, by his first marriage, of Benjamin Bond Hopkins Esq. of Painshill in this County. She died 11th July 1781, aged 11 years. At this early period she gained the affections of all who knew her, being an exact counterpart of her deceased mother, patient in sufferings, and fearful only of giving pain to others in her last moments.

Benjamin Bond Esq. of Clapham in this County, who died the 20th of April 1785, after a short illness of four days only, in the 64th year of his age. Truly lamented by all who knew him, the most affectionate parent and sincere friend.

Mrs. Elizabeth Bond, wife of Benjamin Bond Esq. of Clapham; in the enjoyment of apparent health, she was on a sudden removed from this state of trial on the 30th of November 1787, in the 65th year of her age, to receive her reward for a patient resignation to her Maker's will during repeated sickness, to which, from a tender constitution, she had many years been subject.

Mrs. Alicia Bond Hopkins, wife of Benjamin Bond Hopkins Esq. of Painshill in this County. Having been blessed with a strong constitution and superior understanding, she enjoyed uninterrupted health till the 37th year of her age, when she died of a rapid decline on the 28th September 1788.

Benjamin Bond Hopkins Esq. of Painshill in this County, who died 30th January 1794, in the 49th year of his age. He laboured under a complication of diseases for a long period with the resignation and piety of a true Christian. His constant study was to relieve the distressed, and promote the happiness of those around him.

Richard, the eldest son of Richard and Caroline Mansel Philipps, who, although he died at the early age of seven years and two months, on the 6th January 1806, lived long enough, with the aid of strong natural sense, to understand the dictates of religion, which he implicitly obeyed by performing all its duties. He was affectionate to his parents; charitable to the poor; and kind to every one. Heaven lifts its everlasting portals high, and bids the pure in heart to behold their God.

North side: George Medcalfe Esq. died November 26, 1732, aged 67 years. Mrs. Ann Medcalfe died October 9, 1735, aged 71 years [wife to ditto]. Mrs. Ann Medcalfe died October 8, 1780, aged 78 years [daughter to ditto]. George Medcalfe Esq. died January 20, 1781, aged 81 years [son to ditto; he was also a Solicitor of the Customs]. Mrs. Ann Medcalfe died December 7, 1793, aged 91 years [wife to the second George]. Mrs. Elizabeth Simon died March 21, 1798, aged 75 years [niece to the second George, and widow of Henry Simon Esq. a Solicitor of the Customs].

In memory of William Wilberforce Esq. of this Parish, who died November 17, 1777, aged 56 years. Also the body of Hannah Wilberforce, who died 27 December 1788, aged 64 years, was widow of the above-named William Wilberforce Esq.

Here lyeth the body of Mrs. Elizabeth Cookson, relict of John Cookson Esq. of Whitehill in the County of Durham, who died the 16th November 1793, aged 75 years.

George Breholt, eldest son of Captⁿ George Breholt, and one of the Lieutenants of his Majesty's ship Portland, who departed this life 8 May 1735, 24 years of age.

This vault contains the remains of the body of Sir Theodore Jansen Bart. once Lord of this Manor, 1748. Likewise Sir Abraham Jansen Bart. 1765. Arms at top.

In a vault beneath this tomb are deposited the remains of Mrs. Susannah Bankes of Roehampton, who departed this life December 24, 1764, aged 84. And of her son Sir Henry Bankes Knt. Alderman of London, who died July 9, 1774, aged 64; leaving issue one daughter, since married to Sir Brownlow Cust Bart. [now Lord Brownlow]. This tomb was erected to the memories of the deceased by Lady Bankes widow of Sir Henry Bankes. Lady Bankes departed this life February 4, 1806, aged 78. And her remains are also deposited in this vault beneath.

John Lawson Esq. late of this Parish, 7 April 1764, aged 57 [he was Clerk of the Peace for this County]. On the other side; also the body of Mrs. Ann Lawson, wife of John Lawson Esq. who died July 9, 1760, aged 50, now removed into this vault.

On a tablet in the wall: Near this place is interred the body of Thomas Townsend, who for the space of 50 years was a principal servant in the families of John and George John the first and second Earls Spencer. His honest zeal and affectionate attachment gained him the entire confidence and esteem of the family, which he so long and so faithfully served, who have erected this tablet as a memorial of their sincere regard, 1802. On a grave-stone it appears he was 70 years of age.

East side: On a tablet against the wall: Here lyeth the body of that zealous Min^r of Christ, Mr. J. Simpson, who having fulfilled his Ministery, blest in the conversion of very many souls in the City of London to Christ, put off this tabernacle the 24th of June 1662. Mr. Aubrey mentions a stone for Nicholas Simpson, Richard his eldest son who married Elizabeth White and had 12 children. Placed by John his son; date then lost. All now lost.

On a grave-stone: Here lyeth the body of Gilbert Smyth, M^r of Arts, sometime of Christ College in Cambridge, who, languishing under a deep consumption more than 30 years together, dyed of that disease at Mr. Arnold's an Apothecary in Tower Street London, the 9th of July 1674, aged about 60, and desired to be buried in this Church yard. Mœrente amico fidissimo. E.M.

Underneath are deposited the remains of Diana Randolph, wife of the Rev. Herbert Randolph, B.D. Minister of this Parish. She died Nov. 19, 1789, in the 35th year of her age, and rests in hopes of a joyful resurrection through the merits of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. In memory of a most excellent wife and amiable woman this stone is erected by her disconsolate husband Herbert Randolph. The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.

In front of a raised tomb: In memory of James Perry, Captain in the 15th regiment of Native Infantry on the Bengal Establishment, and Adjutant and Quarter-Master-General of the Invalids at Chunar; a station to which he was appointed as a reward for his bravery in the assault and capture of Agra, where he was severely wounded. He died at Chunar on 1st January 1806, aged 29 years. Also of John Perry, who died 21 August 1806, aged 22 months. They were both sons of James Perry Esq. of Merton in this Parish. [James Perry was the editor of the daily newspaper the “Morning Chronicle.” Merton is an adjoining parish; Mr. Perry's house is near the boundary of it, but in the Parish of Wimbledon.]

On an octagon stone sunk in the wall: Arms, Ar. a bend Az. charged with three cinquefoils Or. Crest, a talbot passant. Motto, Prodesse quam conspici.

M. S. Johannis^b et Sophiæ Cooksey, ille ex antiquâ stirpe in Com^tu Vigornⁱ A. M. Collⁱ Merton^s. Oxon et R. S. Socius. Per 40^a fere annos hujusce Gregis Pastor sedulus. Obiit Jan^rii 26^o anno 1777, æt^s 70^o. Illa priore connubio Edwⁱ Winnington Baron^ti Mater, obiit Febrⁱⁱ 22^o anno 1770, æt^s 63^o. Ambo integri et amabiles vixerunt. Eheu H. C. Frater amans P. P. [John Cooksey, who published some occasional sermons, was Minister of this parish for nearly forty years.]

On a raised tomb-stone: In a vault under this stone, is interred the body of Mary Southhouse, wife of William Southhouse Esq. of this Parish. She died 9th Dec. 1789, in the 70th year of her age, and in the 49th of her marriage. Also the remains of William Southhouse Esq. near 50 years an inhabitant of this Parish, who died March 12, 1795, in the 90th year of his age, after a long life spent in the performance of every Christian duty. He expired without a groan, and died as he had lived, in peace with God and all mankind. “The hoary head is a crown of glory if it be found in the way of righteousness.” Prov. xvi. 31.

On a very handsome marble pyramid inclosed with iron railing, is a medallion containing arms. There is a descent by a few steps at an open iron gate, and within is inscribed, John Anthony Rucker Esq. obiit 24 May 1804, ætatis suæ 85.

On a raised tomb is inscribed: To the memory of Thomas Eden Esq. of this Parish, who died the 2d of May 1805, aged 60 years. Near this place lies the remains of Robert Cooke Latimer, who died June 1749. Also Ann Latimer, widow of the above, who died Sept. 1749. Also Richard Joseph Cooke Latimer the son, who died Nov. 1749. Also Hannah Kashire, sister of Ann Latimer. On the other side: To the memory of Benjamin Dowdswell, son of Thomas Dowdswell of Longdon in the County of Worcester, who died January the 8th, 1789, aged 69 years. Also Mary Dowdswell, widow of the above, who died Nov. 10, 1805, aged 69 years.

North side is an Egyptian pyramid in a plantation of cypress, laurels, &c. inclosed by iron railing, done by Mr. Gerard Devisme of this Parish. In the front of the pyramid are the arms of Mr. Devisme, Arg. a chevron Gu. between 2 estoiles in chief, and a crescent in base. At the top of them an eagle ascending, and against it “Aspiro.” Round them, “Virtute Duce, Comite Fortuna.” Below them, “Sepulchrum Hoc Gerardus De Visme Pro Se Et Suis Extruxit.” [Mr. Gerard De Visme, who had resided for the greatest part of his life at Lisbon, where he had carried on a very extensive trade, returned to England, and settled in this Parish about the year 17…. Soon after which he built a very elegant Italian villa on the North side of the Common. He died November 20, 1797, and by a codicil to his will dated 9 November 1797, he bequeathed a legacy of 10l. to the poor annually, under the obligation of due care and reverence to be manifested by the Parish to his family vault and the little plantation around it, and to cease in case of omission or neglect. Also 10l. annually, to keep the family vault, its precincts and surrounding plantation in constant and good repair. And in case the said Parish should be deficient in the respect and preservation of the vault, his legacy to be applied in a like charity to Wandsworth.]

South side: On the North side of a raised tomb-stone: Thomas Walker Esq. died XXII October MDCCXLIV. in the eighty-fourth year of his age. On South side of same is inscribed (in small letters): On the accession of his late Majesty K. Geo. Ist. he was put into the Commission of the Customs, in which he continued until the year 1732, when he was appointed Surveyor General of his Majesty's Land Revenue, which office he held to his death, and discharged both these trusts with integrity. On the West end is carved the Sun in glory. On the East end, Arms, Argent, on a chevron Sable, 3 half-moons Arg. between 3 balls Sable.

On a marble tablet on a raised tomb, on the North side: Here lyeth the body of Mrs. Martha Ker, wife of Mr. David Ker of London Merchant, who departed this life the 30th of April 1767, aged 48 years, daughter of Mrs. Mary Macpheadris. On the East end: Here lyeth Magdalin Ker, wife of David Ker of London, and of Portlayo in Ireland, who departed this life 14 July 1785, aged 24 years. On the South side is, Here also lyeth the body of the aforesaid Mr. David Ker, who departed this life the 14th of April 1770, æt. 60 years, son of David Ker, of Ballmena in Ireland, and Laird of Munford in Scotland. On West end: David Ker's vault.

On a marble tablet, on North side of a tomb: Here lyeth the body of Mrs. Mary Savage, relict of Richard Savage Esq. of Dorsetshire, and daughter of Alderman Bowes of London, who departed this life the 19th of July 1726, aged 70 years. Also Mrs. Mary Macpheadris, daughter of the above Mrs. Mary Savage, who died 10th of January 1760, aged 66. On South side of ditto is, Here also lieth the body of Mrs. Martha Ivatt, daughter of Richard and Mary Savage, and relict of Murthwaite Ivatt Esq. late of this Parish, who died October the 8th, 1770, in the 80th year of her age. Also Susannah Nicholas, died January 26, 1799. On the East end: Martha Stainton died March 7, 1808, aged 60. On the West end are these arms in a lozenge: six lions rampant, 3, 2, and 1; impaling Ermine, 3 bows in fess.

On a white raised tomb-stone: Ann, wife of the Rev. T. Lancaster, died July 29, 1797, æt. 50. Ann, 3d daughter of the Rev. T. Lancaster, died July 14, 1809, ætat. 24.

Arms at one end: Sable, on a chevron between 3 pistols Or, as many roses Gu. Crest, a tower Argent, flames issuing from top and windows proper.

In a vault underneath this tomb lies interred the body of John Hopkins of London Esq. who departed this life 25th April 1732, aged 69 years. Also several infants. On the other side, Mary Dickinson, 13 March 1753, aged 32 years. Hannah Hallett, 19 April 1753, aged 27 years. Elizabeth, wife of John Hopkins Esq. 12 July 1757, aged 61 years. John Dickinson, son of the above Mary, 25 October 1763, aged 12 years. John Hopkins Esq. the cousin, 15 November 1772, aged 88 years.

On a table tomb-stone: At top, Arms, quarterly 1 and 4, 3 escallop-shells. 2 and 3, Ar. a cross ragule Gu. on a chief Arg. three horses' sculls; impaling, a chevron between three bows.

John Tompkins Gent. son of Henry Tompkins, and Martha, daughter and heiress of Joseph Laurence and Mary his wife daughter of John Collings Gent. of Ashton Grove [a farm belonging to Earl Spencer on the East side of the Park] in this Parish. John departed this life September 6, 1720, aged 32 years. Martha departed this life October 6, 1722, aged 59 years.

To the memory of J^no Martins, gardener, a native of Portugal, who cultivated here with industry and success the same ground under three Masters, forty years. [His three masters were: 1. …… Bish, who brought him from Portugal. 2. Bish Richards Esq. 3. Sir Henry Banks, Knt. The lines were written by Mr. Cooksey the Minister.] Though skilful and experienced, he was modest and unassuming; and though faithful to his Masters, and with reason esteemed, he was kind to his fellow-servants, and was therefore beloved. His family and neighbours lamented his death, as he was a careful husband, a tender father, and an honest man. This character of him is given to posterity by his last master, willingly, because deservedly, as a lasting testimony of his great regard for so good a servant. He died March the 30th 1760, aged 66.

For public service grateful nations raise

Proud structures which excite to deeds of praise;

While private services in corners thrown,

Howe'er deserving, never gain one stone.

But are not lillies which the vallies hide,

Perfect as cedars, though the mountain's pride?

Let then the violets their fragrance breathe,

And pines their ever verdant branches wreathe,

Around his grave, who from their tender birth,

Uprear'd both Dwarfe and Giant Sons of Earth;

And (though himself exotic) liv'd to see,

Trees of his raising droop as well as he.

Those were his care, while his own bending age,

His Master propt and screened from Winter's rage;

'Till down he gently fell, then with a tear,

He bade his sorrowing son transplant him here.

But, though in weakness planted, as his fruit

Always bespoke the goodness of his root,

The Spirit quickening, he in power to rise,

With leaf unfading under happier skies.

In memory of Richard Gaine Esq. of this Parish, who departed this life November 19, 1788.

Beneath this humble stone interr'd there lies

A heart which with distress did sympathize.

The friendless here secure might shelter seek,

In silence eloquent, they need not speak.

His piercing eyes their sorrows did perceive,

And with an open hand their wants relieve.

Stop, then, fair Reader! and the tribute pay,

Of one poor tear o'er this departed clay.

Inscribed to the memory of a much-loved father by his affectionate son Richard Gaine. Also the body of Richard Gaine, son of the above-named, who died July 13, 1795, in the 32d year of his age. Also Mr. Richard Waugh, who died August 20th, 1800, in the 20th year of his age.

On a raised tomb-stone. Arms at top; Sable, a fess cheque Or and Azure, between 3 bezants Or. Crest, on a wreath, a crane proper beaked and membered Or, holding up his right foot upon an anchor erect proper.

Thomas Pitt of London, Merchant, born at Illminster in Somersetshire, died 28 April 1699, aged 57. William Pitt, died 15 May 1732, aged 57. Jane Pitt, died 21 January 1745, aged 44. Frances Pitt, died 13 June 1747, aged 68. Thomas Pitt, died 19 April 1761, aged 45. Frances Pitt, died 28 August 1769, aged 65. John Pitt, died 8 March 1775, aged 59. Maria Pitt, died 18 October, 1784, aged 66. Anne Pitt, died 21 March 1786, aged 75.

West side of the Church-yard: William Rose, of this Parish, Sept. 27, 1789, 81 years of age. Also Mrs. Henrietta Rose, wife of the above, April 13, 1790, 72 years of age.

Rectors and Curates

In the time of King John Master Philip held the Church of the gift of the Archbishop, and in such state it was worth 20 marcs.

Walter Reginald, or Reynolds, was presented by the King in 1298, the temporalities of the Archbishoprick being then in his hands (which he had seized on account of the Archbishop refusing a subsidy from the Clergy for the expence of the war in Scotland.) He was elected Bishop of Worcester 12 November 1307, and resigned this Church the next year.
Walter de Kemeseye, cross-bearer to the Archbishop, 5 Id. Oct. 1316.
Bertrand de Monte Faventio, instituted 12 July 1326, and was Rector in 1339.
William de Cheston prosecuted a suit in the King's Court against the Archbishop (Islip) for this Church (on what ground does not appear), but submitted himself to the Archbishop, 6 Kal. Feb. 1351, and thereupon appears to have had possession, for he was Rector, and had licence to be absent, 10 Kal. Jan. 1353.
Richard Claymond was Rector, and resigned on exchange with William de Beverle for Wyberton (Lincolnshire), 4 Id. June 1360.
Bretell Avenell was collated 9 Kal. Sept. 1361.
Walter Dautre was collated, with the Chapel annexed, 11 Kal. Oct. 1361, but he resigned; and John de Kenyuton was collated to this Church, with the Chapel of Mortlake and Puttenheth, on exchange for the Rectory of Rethersfeld dioc. Chichester, cum capella de Ferenth, 7 Id. April 1363.
William de Beverle [qu. the same as above-mentioned], was Rector, and resigned on exchange for Blofyld (Norfolk) with Adam Holme, 17 August 1369.
The King's Writ (Edward III.) dated 15 Kal. June 1371, was sent to the Archbishop, to enquire who was Rector of this place in the 25th, 26th, and 27th years of his reign (1352, 1353, 1354), on which an Inquisition was taken; and it was found that Hanybaldus, late a Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church, was Rector in those years, and by his Ministers had the profits.
John Blackwell was Rector 1429.
Thomas Astell, on his resignation, 3 January 1430.
William Lyndewode, 7 August 1433.
Stephen Wylton, 18 May 1434.
Henry Severe was Rector 1471.
Edmund Lychefeld, on his death, 3 August 1471.
Thomas Wylkenson, on death of Lychefeld, 1 June 1474.
John Jenner, B.L. on resignation of Wylkenson, 19 June 1476.
Robert Wykys, on death of Thomas Grene, 10 February 1507.
William de……, died Rector in… ccclxj; [qu. 1461 or 1561.]
Thomas Mallyng, or Myllinge, was Rector 1535; died 3 Nov. 1540.

After the Appropriation to the Dean and Chapter of Worcester, no Vicar having been endowed, they appoint a Curate. The only names found, are:

Curate	Instituted / recorded
Edward Collins, M.A.	1683
John Cooksey, M.A.	July 1739
Herbert Randolph, B.D.	1777

The School

In 1758, at a Court Baron then held, leave was granted to inclose a piece of the waste of the Manor on Wimbledon Common, near the Workhouse, containing 2 acres and 31 perches, for the use of the Charity-school. An octagon house was built, and is used as the School.

In addition to this Abraham Aguilar Esq. got leave to inclose two pieces of the Common, which he did at his own expence, and added them to the former property.

The School is supported by the voluntary contributions of the inhabitants, to which for some time has been kindly added a share of the rents of an estate given by Mr. John Newman, of Stoke Newington in Middlesex, by Will dated 11 August 1727, to Trustees, to be divided amongst such Charity-schools and in such proportions as they should from time to time in their discretion think proper.

The great attention paid to this School by the Rev. Mr. Bullock and Mrs. Bullock is most worthy of imitation.

Charitable donations

Against the under-gallery in the Church the following Donations are noted. These Donations were put up by order of Vestry; James Steel, William Eades, Churchwardens 1799.

1626. Henry Smith Esq. at his decease, vested in the hands of Trustees certain estates in different Counties, for charitable purposes. The said Trustees have allotted the sum of 8l. per annum, subject to trifling variations, to be applied annually to the use of the poor of this Parish for ever.

1651. The Honourable Mrs. Dorothy Cecil, daughter of Edward Lord Viscount Wimbledon, conveyed an annuity of 25l. per annum for ever, to Trustees, for the use of this Parish, charged on certain lands situate in the Parish of Putney, subject to a deduction for land-tax out of the same, for the following purposes, viz. 8l. to repair her father's tomb if necessary, and the remainder for charitable purposes specified more particularly in the deed of trust.

1651. Thomas Hillyard gave 10s. per annum for ever, to be distributed to four poor widows of this Parish annually, charged on a certain tenement situate therein.

1773. The Right Honourable John Earl Spencer, Lord of the Manor of Wimbledon, gave the land on which the Charity-school is erected, together with the garden and field annexed, for the education of the poor of this Parish.

1798. Mrs. Elizabeth Simon, of this Parish, widow of Henry Simon Esq. vested 200l. Stock in the 3 per cent. Consolidated Annuities, the interest thereof to be applied annually, at the discretion of the Minister, to the poor of this Parish for ever.

1797. Gerard de Visme Esq. left 10l. per annum for ever to be distributed to the poor of this Parish in bread every year in the winter season, at the discretion of the Minister and Churchwardens.

Over the entrance into the Church is a double Gallery; against the upper one is noted, “This Gallery was erected anno 1803. John Withem, Edward Penner, Churchwardens.” And also, This Organ was erected by voluntary contributions A.D. 1810. Herbert Randolph, Minister; Robert Reid, Richard Roffey, Churchwardens.

Charitable Donations to Wimbledon, as returned to Parliament in 1786

Name of the Person who gave the Charity; and how and when given	Whether in Land or Money, and for what Purpose given	In whom now vested	Amount, if in Money £ s. d.	Annual Produce £ s. d.
Dorothy Cecil, daughter of Edward Lord Viscount Wimbledon, by Deed of Gift, 1650, conveyed to certain Trustees an annuity of 25l. lawful money of Great Britain, issuing out of two parcels of land called by the name of Wipleden, and New lands lying and being in the Parish of Putney, the said yearly rent to take place after the decease of the said Dorothy Cecil.	In Land, being a Rent Charge on Lands before-mentioned — That 8l. or so much thereof as shall be necessary, be applied yearly to the repairing and upholding the Tomb and Chapel of her father the Lord Viscount Wimbledon, in the Parish Church of Wimbledon, and preserving the ornaments thereof in good condition. The remainder of the said 8l. (if any) to be laid out in buying of stuff and materials to set on work the poor of the Parish of Wimbledon, the profit and benefit of the said work to be given to such poor of the Parish of Wimbledon as are impotent and cannot work. And, as touching the 12l. the other part of the said annuity, the Trustees are to apply the same towards the binding of the children of such of the poor inhabitants of the Parish of Wimbledon as are faithfull and industrious, and burthened with children, and not well able to maintain them; and, in default of such inhabitants, the Trustees shall make choice of such poor children of the Parish of Wimbledon as they shall think proper to be bound apprentices; and, as touching 5l. the remainder of the said yearly rent, the same is to be applied to the putting of the poor children of the Parish of Wimbledon to school, to learn them to read and write, whereby they may be fitted for trade.	In Trustees, according to the Decree of the High Court of Chancery. The names of the Trustees last appointed were the Right Honourable John Earl Spencer (since dead), Benjamin Hays Esq. Samuel Rush Esq. (since dead), the Right Honourable George John Lord Viscount Althrop (now Earl Spencer), Wm. Lawrence Esq. the Rev. Herbert Randolph, and Benjamin Bond Hopkins Esq.	25 0 0	22 2 6
The Trustees of H. Smith's Charity, by Deed of Declaration of Trust and Will, have allotted a portion of money for the use of the poor of the Parish of Wimbledon, issuing from the rents and profits of the Manors or Lordships of Sevenoaks, Kemsing, and Seale, in the County of Kent, and the Messuages, Farms, and Lands thereunto belonging.	In Land, issuing out of the Estate before-mentioned — For the perpetual yearly use and benefit of the poor of the Parish.	In the Trustees of Hen. Smith's Charity, viz. Lord Ashburnham and others.	3 2 4	3 2 4
Thomas Hillyard, by Will, 1696.	In Land, being a Rent Charge, one Messuage and Garden in the Parish of Wimbledon — For the use of four aged women of the Parish of Wimbledon. This Return is not signed.	In the Minister, Churchwardens, and Overseers of the poor of the Parish of Wimbledon for the time being.	0 10 0	0 10 0
Total			28 12 4	25 14 10

In the Deed of Gift, bearing date March 2d, 1650, a provision is made that when two of the Grantees therein named, or that shall hereafter become Grantees, shall die, that then the surviving Grantee shall add unto himself two other Grantees at least, in the room of such of them as shall die; but this matter being neglected, and no Conveyance made of the said yearly rent of 25l.; and accordingly, on the 11th of February 1744, a Decree was obtained from the High Court of Chancery, by which the above-mentioned Deed of Gift was confirmed, and it was adjudged that a Conveyance of the said yearly rent should be made to new Trustees, to the number of seven, and a clause should be inserted in such conveyances, that when the said seven Trustees, to be then or hereafter appointed, be reduced to the number of three, that then such three surviving Trustees, or the major part of them, should, from time to time, nominate and appoint new Trustees to fill up the number of seven out of the principal Inhabitants of Wimbledon.

This Annuity is charged with the Land Tax, which, at the present rate of 4s. in the pound, amounts to 2l. 17s. 6d.

H. Smith, by a Deed of Declaration of Uses, bearing date Jan. 26th, 1626, gave and disposed the most part of his real and personal Estates for charitable purposes, and appointed Trustees to carry the same into execution; and accordingly the Manors, &c. of Sevenoaks, Kemsing, and Seale, with the Messuages thereunto belonging, were vested in Trustees for the above-mentioned purposes. And the said Trustees, by a certain Deed, bearing date May 20, 1642, did distribute the rents and profits arising from the said Estates between twelve Parishes in the County of Surrey in such shares and proportions as they (the Trustees) thought proper. The twelve Parishes benefited by this Estate are Newington, St. Thomas Southwark, Rotherhithe, Camberwell, Lambeth, Putney, Battersea, Mortlake, Richmond, Barnes, and Wimbledon. — The said Estate was let upon lease in 1786 to Sackville Bale Esq. for three lives, which lease is now expired, and, upon a new lease, the rent will probably be raised, and therefore the shares assigned to the several Parishes above-mentioned should be increased in proportion. (This has since taken place.)

Transcribed from Owen Manning & William Bray, The History and Antiquities of the County of Surrey, Vol. III (1814), pp. 266–284.