sulting Richard II. was keeper of this park, and probably resided here. In the reign of Charles I. and at the usurpation, Francis Leigh, gentleman, was the keeper, and had a patent for a lodge in the park; was Reeve of the woods, had all the small spray, the doted and rotten trees, the bark of all trees felled, with grass for two cows in the park, and a fee of two pence per day.

This mansion has always been inhabited by respectable families, lately by Robert Boxall, Esq. who died here in 1807, and is at present in the possession of P. P. Barraud, Esq.

It was in contemplation that an Act of Parliament should be passed for the erection of a Palace here, for the residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury; but the purchase of the house at Addington rendered this proceeding unnecessary.

Waddon Hamlet, and Manor.

Waddon is a village about half a mile from Croydon Church. Its name is Saxon, and is supposed by Dr. Ducarel to be derived from Woden, the Idol formerly worshipped there. It was given in the year 1127 by Henry I. to the monks of Bermondsey, who in 1390 trans

F

ferred it to Archbishop Courtney in exchange for the appropriation of the Church of Croydon; and ever since that time it has continued annexed to the See of Canterbury.

A Court Baron is held here annually in Easter week, when a Constable is appointed for the Hamlet. Before the manor House is a considerable spring of water sufficient to work the corn mill situated here, and to supply the large head of water' mentioned by Ducarel ; which mi is mentioned in Domesday. In this village reside R. D. Warrington, John Mills, and J. H. Cazenove, Esqrs.

Haling House*

Is pleasantly situated at the South-end of the town, in the centre of a beautiful park covered with well-grown timber. In this park is that fine grove of exotics, and ever-greens, refer

* Dr. Ducarel quoting from the Regulæ Generales de nominibus locorum, at the end of the Saxon Chronicle, gives the words Inge in nominibus locorum designat pratum; (Igne in the names of places means a meadow) Sanctus, (holy) in Saxon, continues the Doctor is halig, and from thence is derived the old English word All-hallows, for All Saints, and therefore it is not unlikely that Halig may mean the Holy

red to by the Poet, William Whitehead*, in a poem entitled, Answer to an Epistle from a Grove in Derbyshire to a Grove in Surrey. This mansion has been inhabited by many celebrated characters. In the time of Edward III. it was in the possession of Thomas Warham, who died in 1478†. His son William Warham, succeeded to Haling House and Manor; was made Archbishop of Canterbury

Meadow, especially as it is not very far from a place called Woddens (in the map of Surrey lately published by Bowen) which might induce a conjecture that here formerly was some Idol of Woden (whence our Wednesday) adored in that place by the old Pagan Saxons.

*William Whitehead was the son of a Baker at Cambridge; discovering early marks of genius, he was sent to Clare Hall, where he was admitted as a Sizer, became afterwards a Scholar, and at length a Fellow. He left the University for the purpose of accompanying two young noblemen on their travels. He was appointed Registrar and Secretary of the Order of the Bath, and finally obtained the office of Poet Laureat. His works are; the Roman Father, and Crusa, tragedies; the School for Lovers, a comedy; a trip to Scotland a farce; Odes, and Songs, with some other pieces. He died in 1785, at the age of seventy.

† By a will, dated 1478, he directed that his body should be buried in the chantry of St. Nicholas, at Croydon, before the image of our Lady of piety. He bequeathed legacies for masses, &c. with distribution of torches to be used at his month's mind; this expression means longing desire, and is

in 1504, and was at the same time appointed Lord High Chancellor to Henry VII. In both these exalted stations he is represented in history to have conducted himself with moderation and integrity. He died on the 16th of May, 1532. Haling was one of the estates which Archbishop Warham was compelled to exchange with Henry VIII. for other lands.

Queen Mary granted the Haling estate to Sir John Gage, who died in 1557. His third son Robert was its next inhabitant; he was succeeded by his second son John, father to Sir Henry Gage, who was killed in the year 1644, at the battle of Cullum Bridge, near Abingdon, in Berkshire,

After the Gages, Charles Earl of Notting ham, the celebrated Lord Admiral, possessed this estate, and died here in 1624. Sir Wm. Howard also, his brother, died here in 1600. It was afterwards sold to Christopher Gardener Esq. in whose family it remained till the year 1707, when it was purchased by Edward Stringer, Esq. He bequeathed it to his widow, who

used by Shakespeare and Butler; (See Johnson's Dictionary). he also gave lead for the purpose of covering the North aisle of Croydon church.

married

Parker, Esq. ancestor of Parker Hammond, Esq. the present proprietor.

The house is at present much out of repair, and not inhabited; it has lately been offered for sale, and should it be purchased by any gentleman of taste and property, is capable of being made as delightful a habitation as can be found within the same distance from the Metropolis.

Attached to the Haling estate, is a piece of land called the Waldens, consisting of about twelve acres; it is a high ridge of gravel soil, rising in a very steep ascent, forming a perfect shelter to the street, and descending, in a declivity, as sudden, into a beautifully verdant valley about five acres in extent. It was formerly enclosed by a park fence, and stocked with conies. In the reign of Henry VIII. it was occupied by Sir Nicholas Carew, and used by him as a preserve for that species of game, to which purpose it was particularly adapted.

Croham,

The residence of Thomas Meager, Esq. is situated in a pleasant valley about a mile South East of the town. It is a manor belonging to