About 5 miles from Wells is the town of Glastonbury, where stood the famous Abbey of that name, one of the richest and most powerful monastic institutions in England. The last abbot was hanged on account of his refusal to surrender the abbey to Henry VIII. The ruins of the monastery contain the ashes of King. Arthur, King Edgar, and many illustrious nobles and prelates, but their monuments are now defaced or demolished. The only parts of the monastery in tolerable preservation are the chapel of St Joseph, and the abbot's kitchen. In the centre of the town stands the cross, a venerable but decaying structure. The church of St John is a handsome building, surmounted by a beautiful tower, and that of St Benedict is a venerable edifice erected by Abbot Beer. On a hill northeast of the town is the Tor or St Michael's Tower, the only remaining portion of a church and monastery which formerly stood there. The George Inn was formerly an hospital for pilgrims to the shrine of St Joseph. Population of parish, 3314. XXVII, GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY TO BATH AND BRISTOL, 118 Miles. At a distance on the 105 right is Uxbridge, an ancient borough, and polling place for Middlesex. It is famous for its corn-market. It gives the title of Earl to the Pagets. Population, 3043. Chalfont St Giles, where Milton finished Paradise Lost. Stoke, Pa. J. Penn, Esq. Stoke Pogis, the spot where Gray finished several of his poems. Here Sir Ed. Coke entertained Elizabeth in 1601, and presented her with jewels to the amount of L. 1000. And at a distance Beaconsfield, the residence of Waller and Edmund Burke. Dropmore Lodge. Hedsor Lo. Lord Boston. West Drayton Station. 100 Slough Station. * Eton College was founded in 1440, by Henry VI., for the education of 70 scholars. Besides these, there are generally several hundreds of the sons of the nobility and gentry receiving their education there. The total number has usually amounted to about 500. The chapel is a fine old Gothic structure, containing a monument to Sir Henry Wotton, who was long Provost of the College. At the west end of the ante-chapel there is a beautiful marble statue of the founder, Henry VI., in his royal robes; and there is another statue of the founder in bronze in the centre of the principal court. The library contains a curious and valuable collection of books, an excellent assortment of Oriental MSS., and some beautifully illuminated missals. Eton is the scene of a curious triennial pageant, called the Eton Montem. Amongst other great men who were educated at Eton are, Sir Robert Walpole, Harley Earl of Oxford, Lord Bolingbroke, Earl Camden, the famous Earl of Chatham, Outred the mathematician, Boyle the philosopher, Lord Lyttelton, Gray, Horace Walpole, West, Waller, Fox, Canning, the Marquis of Wellesley, Hallam the historian, and the Duke of Wellington, Population of parish, 3232. Two miles from the Slough Station is the town of Windsor, situated on the Thames. It possesses an ancient church, a theatre, barracks, and a good free school. The borough returns two members to Parliament. Population, 7103. The Windsor Castle has been the principal seat of British Royalty for nearly eight centuries. Saxon kings had a palace at Old Windsor long previous to the Conquest, The present castle was founded by William the Conqueror, but was almost rebuilt by Edward III., with the assistance of the celebrated William of Wykeham, whom he made clerk of the works. Great alterations were made by Sir Jeffrey Wyatville during the reign of George IV. St George's Chapel is a splendid specimen of florid Gothic architecture. It contains the stalls of the Knights of the Garter; and here the ceremony of installation takes place. At the east end of the chapel is the Royal vault, where the remains of George III. and his Queen, George IV., the Princess Charlotte, the Duke of Kent, the Duke of York, William IV., &c. are deposited. Edward IV. and his Queen, Henry VI., Henry VIII. and Jane Seymour, and Charles I. are also interred here. The keep or round tower in the centre of the castle is perhaps the most remarkable part of the building. Here James I. of Scotland was confined. The terrace is supposed to be the noblest walk of its kind in Europe. A fine flight of steps leads from the east terrace to the new garden. ON RIGHT FROM LOND. Burnham Grove, Sir W. Johnston. From Taplow,P.Greenfell, Esq. At a distance of 10 miles is High Wycombe, the 95 handsomest town in Buckinghamshire. It has sent two memb. to Par. since Edward I. It gives the title of Earl and Baron to theMarquis of Lansdowne. Wycombe Park, Sir J. D. King; and Wycombe Abbey, Lord Carrington. Haywood Lodge. Shottesbrooke, A. Vansittart, Esq. White Waltham, the birth-place of Hearne the antiquary. Two miles distant is Wargrave, and three miles beyond it is Henley-uponThames, a place of considerable antiquity, and famous as the place whence the adherents of Charles I. were driven out by Earl of Essex. Holme Park, R. Palmer, Esq. M. P. Arch. Laud, Merrick the poet, and Blagrave the mathematician, were natives of Reading: and here Milman the poet, and Sergeant Talfourd, author of Ion, &c. were educated. Caversham Ho., where Charles I. had an interview' 87 82 Maidenhead Station. Maidenhead is a markettown in Berks. It was anciently called South Arlington, and subsequently Maidenhithe. Besides the Great Western viaduct over the Thames, there is a magnificent bridge of 13 arches, erected at an expense of L.20,000. Twyford Station. Stanlake House, Sir H. R. Dukinfield. Woodley Green. Woodley Lodge, J. Wheble, Esq. White Knights, Formerly a seat of the Duke of Marlborough. Reading Station. Reading, a market, borough and county town in Berks. It is a place of great antiquity, having existed in the time of the Saxons. It was frequently taken and retaken during civil wars in 1643. The earliest charter extant is that of Henry III. It has returned two members since 23d of Edward I. From Lond. 22 30 35 ON LEFT FROM LOND. Burnham Abbey. Bray, famous for its vicar. This worthy gentleman's conscience possessed in a peculiar degree the quality of accommodating itself to circumstances. On being reproached as a turncoat he used to say, "Nay, nay, I always keep to my principles, which are these to live and die Vicar of Bray." Stubbings, and beyond Hall Place. Sir E. G. C. East, Bart. Reading is famous on many accounts. It was taken by the Danes in the ninth century, after they had defeated Alfred the Great. It acted a prominent part in the expulsion of John, Charles I. and James II. Pop. 18,937. Some of the houses in Reading are constructed of timber, but greater part of the old town is of brick. In the suburbs are many handsome houses. Here are some remains of an abbey for Benedictines, founded by Henry I. in 1112. It is well furnished with charitable and religious institutions. Whitley Park. Three-Mile-Cross, residence of Miss Mitford. a beautiful spot, adorned with many statues, both of bronze and marble. The little park, which extends round the east and north sides of the castle, is about four miles in circumference. Here is a tree supposed to be " Herne's Oak," immortalized by Shakspeare. The great park is situated on the south side of the castle, and includes the beautiful avenue of trees, nearly three miles in length, called the Long Walk. It is terminated by the colossal equestrian statue of George III., in bronze, by Westmacott. The drive through the park to Virginia Water is exceedingly striking. The interior of the castle is remarkably magnificent. The corridor or gallery, 520 feet in length, which leads along the south and east sides of the court, and is richly adorned with bronzes, marbles, pictures, &c. excites great admiration. The state-rooms are fitted up in a very superb style, and the different apartments are adorned by a great number of paintings by the most eminent masters. Her Majesty's private apartments can only be seen by an order from the Lord Chamberlain during the absence of the Court from Windsor. Half a mile from Windsor is Frogmore, the favourite residence of Her late Majesty, Queen Charlotte. Six miles distant is Ascot Heath. |