as a summer camp: treble ditches, and ramparts of vast height and depth, cause its outward circumference to extend to nearly two miles. The banks and ditches on the north-east and east sides, are thickly covered with wood: the west and south-west, remain nearly in their antient state, bold and deep. The situation is high and commanding, with fine and beautiful prospects. The origin of this strong post has been variously accounted for: the most probable opinion is that which attributes it to Aulus Plautius, supposed to have encamped here awaiting the arrival of the emperor Claudius. Dr. Harris says, “I am fully persuaded it is Roman; not only from its form, but also from the Roman bricks, tiles, and other remains, that have been turned up hereabouts by the plough." Mr. Hasted adds, that "coins of the Middle and Lower Empire have likewise been frequently picked up by those whom curiosity has led to examine the place."

13.76

HOLWOOD HOUSE was purchased of the Burrows family Exha by the late right honourable William Pitt; this was his fa- Males vourite retirement from the fatigues of public business; the beauty of the grounds, and scenery, compensating for the smallness of the mansion, to which Mr. Pitt added a spa cious room. The improvements of the grounds were exe cuted by the ingenious Mr. Repton, author of "Picturesque Gardening."

WEST WICKHAM was, in the reign of Edward II.. the property of the family of HUNTINGFIELD. Sir Walter de Huntingfield procured the grant of a weekly market for this manor in 1318; which has been discontinued. The manor afterwards passed through several families to Sir HENRY HEYDON, who rebuilt the manor house and church in the reign of Henry VII. The LENNARD family became possessors by purchase; it was lately the property of Sir John Farnaby, part. in right of his wife Mary, daughter to the late Samuel Lennard, Esq. The manor house, called WEST WICKHAM COURT, has undergone considerable alterations and repairs, but still retains much of its antient character. It is a square building, with a small ocVOL. V. No. 113.

M m

tagonal

tagonal tower at each corner, terminating pyramidically above the roof. In a window of the hall are the arms of Sir Henry Heydon, with those of Anne, his wife, daughter to Sir Geoffrey Boleyn, &c. The CHURCH is dedicated to St. John Baptist: it is ornamented with painted glass; on which are represented figures of saints, and a skeleton intended for the founder, in a kneeling posture, with a label, inscribed thus: Ne reminiscaris Domine delicta mea aut par... issuing from its mouth. Several of the Lennard family are also buried here. Gilbert West, Esq. the learned author of "Thoughts on the Resurrection," "Translations of Pindar," the "Institution of the Garter," &c. was interred in this church, in April 1755. He resided in the village many years, and was here, says his biographer, Dr. Johnson, "very often visited by Lyttelton and Pitt, who, when they were weary of faction and debates, used to find at Wickham, books and quiet, a decent table, and literary conversation." *

HAYES, is a small but pleasant village; the CHURCH of which is dedicated to St. Mary, and contains the banners borne at the public funeral of the great earl of Chatham. Among the sepulchral memorials are several brasses in commemoration of different rectors.

Mr. West placed the following inscription in the summer-house of hts garden.

Hæc mihi nec procul urbe sita est prorsus ad urbem,
Ne patier turbis, utque bonis potiar;

Et quoties mutare locum fastigia cogunt,
Transeo, et alternis rure vel urbe fruor.

AUSONIUS ad Villam.

Not wrapt in smoky: London's sulphurous clouds,
And not far distant stands iny rural cot;

Neither obnoxious to Intruding crouds,
Nor for the good and friendly too remote.

And when too much repose brings on the spleen,
Or the gay city's idle pleasures cloy;
Swift as my changing wish, I change the scene,
And now the country, now the town enjoy.

HAYFS

HAYES PLACE, formerly a seat of the Scotts, is stated to have been purchased by the late earl of Chatham, who erected the present mansion. "Here, after his retirement from public affairs, this great statesman spent much of the evening of his days, amusing himself with improving, from time to time, his favourite residence. It is now the property of Philip Dehaney, Esq. formerly of Kempshot, in Hampshire.

Here was born on the 28th of May, 1759, his son, the immortal WILLIAM PITT.

"

The neighbourhood of Hayes, Beckenham, and Bromley, is thickly studded with the villas of nobility and gentry.

In the parish of BECKENHAM, is LANGLEY PARK, and KELSEYS, two estates belonging to the right honourable lord Gwydir, deputy great chamberlain, and F. R. S. The former, which is the most considerable, obtained its name from the family of Langley, who had lands here about the middle of the fourteenth century. It passed to the family of Raymond, by purchase, whence it came by an heiress, to Peter Burrell, Esq. His grandson, the present owner, was created a peer in June, 1796. The more antient seat of the Burrells, is Kelseys, purchased from the family of Brograve, who had possessed it for nearly three centuries, and one of whom had license for an oratory here in 1479. Lord Gwydir's house, now connected with Langley Park, was originally built by alderman Kirkham, of London.

EDEN FARM, another seat in Beckenham, is the retirement of the right honourable William Eden lord Auckland, who purchased it of J. A. Rucker, Esq. CLAY HILL, was the property of the late learned Edward King, Esq. F. R. and A.S. This gentleman was a native of Norfolk, and author of "Observations on Ancient Castles;" "Morsels of Criticism," tending to illustrate the Scriptures; and the "Munimenta Antiqua." He died in 1806, aged seventy-two. BECKENHAM PLACE, was formerly the residence of rearadmiral Sir Piercy Brett, who died in 1781, and, together with his lady, lies buried in the church; but the estate,

which for upwards of a century had been owned by the family of St. John, was alienated to that of Cators, in 1773, under the authority of an act of parliament. KENT HOUSE, now occupied as a farm, was the antient seat of the Lethieulliers; the estate belongs to J. J. Angerstein, Esq.

The CHURCH of Beckenham, dedicated to St. George, is a neat edifice, and contains many monuments of the Style, Raymond, Burrell, and other families. On a slab in the chancel,, is a remarkable brass, in memory of "Dame Margaret, wyf of Syr Willim Dasell, knyght," and daughter of John Barnes, Esq. of Redhall, in Norfolk, who died in November, 1563: she is represented in a flowered petticoat, and close-bodied gown; the sleeves slashed at the shoulders, and hanging down to the feet.

The following elegant lines were written by GRAY, and inscribed on the monument of Mrs. JANE CLARKE, wife of Dr. Clarke, physician at Epsom.

"Lo! where this silent marble weeps,

A friend, a wife, a mother sleeps ;

A heart within whose sacred cell
The peaceful virtues lov'd to dwell.
Affection warm, and faith sincere,
And soft humanity, was there:
In agony, in death, resign'd,
She felt the wound she left behind.
Her infant image here below,

Sits smiling on a father's woe;

Whom what awaits, while yet he strays
Along the lonely vale of days?

A pang, to secret sorrow dear;

A sigh; an unavailing tear,

Till time shall ev'ry grief remove,

With life, with mem'ry, and with love."*

BROMLEY

*The Register of Beckenham, under the date October 24, 1740, records the burial of Margaret Finch.

"This remarkable person lived to the age of one hundred and nine years. She was one of the people called Gipsies, and had the title of

BROMLEY is a pleasant, healthy, and respectable market town: the manor was given to the bishops of Rochester by Ethelbert, king of Kent, and is at present in their possession. The old episcopal palace stood here at a very early period: the late bishop Thomas, erected the present edifice, a plain brick mansion, in its stead, about the year 1777. It is the only episcopal residence belonging to the see of Rochester. It stands about a quarter of a mile from the town, and is pleasantly situated on the brow of a hill, looking towards Beckenham and Hayes. In the grounds is a chalybeate spring, called St. BLASE'S WELL, to which was antiently an oratory, dedicated to St. Blasius, formerly much frequented at Whitsuntide; because Lucas, who was legate for pope Sextus IV. granted an indulgence of forty days, enjoining penance to all those who should visit this chapel, and offer up their orizons there' in the three holidays of Pentecost. This oratory fell to ruins at the Reformation, and the well was stopped up; but being re-opened in 1754, was, by the bishop's' orders, immediately secured from the mixture of other waters; since which, numbers of people, especially of the middle and poorer sort, have been remarkably relieved by it from various infirmities and diseases.

Bromley CHURCH, dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul, is a spacious building, and consists of a nave, chancel, and aisles, with an embattled tower surmounted by a cupola, at the west end: the north aisle was rebuilt in 1792; to

their Queen. After travelling over various parts of the kingdom, during the greater part of a century, she settled at Norwood; whither her great age, and the fame of her fortune-telling, attracted numerous visitors. From a habit of sitting on the ground, with her chin resting on her knees, the sinews at length became so contracted, that she could not rise from that posture: after her death, they were oblige to inclose her body in a deep square box. Her funeral was attended by two mourning coaches; a sermon was preached upon the occasion, and a great concourse of people attended the ceremony. There is an engraved portrait of Margaret Finch from a drawing made in 1739; and her picture adorns the sign-post of a house of public entertainment in Norwood, called the Gipsey House."-Lysons's Environs, IV. 301.