Page images
PDF
EPUB

has been from time immemorial in the possession of the Crown, and leases have been given from time to time to various persons. The last lease granted was to Charles Ambler, one of the counsel of George the Third, of whom the lease was purchased by Lord Brudenell, afterwards Earl of Cardigan, in trust for his Majesty. There is a very remarkable custom in this manor, by which, in default of male heirs, lands are not divided among females of the same degree of kindred, but descend solely to the eldest. Bray is memorable in a story related by Fuller in his "Worthies of England," of the alleged extraordinary versatility of a vicar of this parish, whom he represents as having conformed to every change of religion in the reigns of Henry the Eighth, Edward the Sixth, Queen Mary, and Queen Elizabeth having prescribed to himself one prudent rule of life and conversation, that no change of religion should prevent him living and dying Vicar of Bray. The well known song upon this versatile vicar would make it appear that he flourished at a later date than Fuller assigns to him: the name of the individual is supposed to have been Symon Symonds.

There is an Almshouse at Bray, called Jesus Hospital, founded by one William Goddard, of the Fishmongers' Company for forty poor persons, six of whom must be free of the founder's Company; these have an allowance of twelve shillings a week if married, and seven shillings if single. The remainder have two shillings a week, fuel, and a gown or coat every year. Over the entrance to the quadrangle is a statue of the founder, with, beneath, his and the Fishmongers' arms.

The parish church is a venerable and extensive structure, having recently undergone considerable repair. The principal monuments are those to the memory of Sir William Pawle, William Norreys, Usher of the Order of the Garter, and some of the Hanger family.

Filberts is the name of a manor situated at Hollyport in this parish. The site of the manor house was formerly occupied by a mansion inhabited by the too famous Eleanor Gwynn. Cannon Hill and Braywick Lodge are the principal seats in this neighbourhood.

Descending by the river-side towards Windsor, we pass Monkey Island, a pretty spot, purchased and decorated for the enjoyment of fishing parties, by the Duke of Marlborough. Upon it he erected two pavilions or banqueting rooms, and its name is derived from the internal embellishments of one of them, the walls being painted with a variety of monkeys, some fishing,

some shooting, and one sitting in a boat smoking, another meanwhile tugging at the oar. On the ceiling of this pavilion are represented many of the ordinary aquatic plants, and such as affect the river's side. The other pavilion, fitted up as a saloon, is enriched by stucco modelling, representing mermaids, dolphins, sea lions, and a variety of shells, richly gilt. In the palace at Chantilly, the apartments formerly occupied by the unfortunate Duc d'Enghien, are adorned by humorous monkey subjects in like manner: and we are familiar with many shockingly human apes from the pencil of the inimitable Teniers. The decorations of this little toy place cost the Duke ten thousand guineas, yet the lease for some years at twenty-five pounds a-year was sold to the late Henry Townley Ward, Esq., for the trivial sum of two hundred and forty guineas.

Down Place, nearer to Windsor, was the residence of Jacob Tonson, the bookseller, and at the place there is a tradition that the memorable Kit Kat Club was suggested, and held their earliest meetings, before removing to the pavilion built for them, by Tonson, at his future residence of Barnes Elms, whither we have already conducted our readers.

On the side of the river opposite Down Place, is Dorney Court, a seat of the Palmers, a very ancient family, descended from the Palmers of Sussex, a family of Saxon origin, but whose present name was derived from their having engaged in the Crusades, and made pilgrimage to the Holy Land, and long since ennobled by the title of Earls of Castlemain. The estate of Dorney originally belonged to the abbey of Burnham, and the ancient manor formed an extensive quadrangle; but has been greatly reduced from time to time, and partly modernized. It contains some good rooms, but rather low: in the hall windows are some circular representations in stained glass from stories of legendary saints.

There is here a portrait of the Lady Castlemain, so unfavourably remembered in connexion with the court of James the Second.

Approaching still nearer to Windsor, we pass Surly Hall, a noted house of entertainment, and favourite resort of the Etonians; thence an easy walk leads us to

CLEWER, a parish comprising part of the town of Windsor; here is a pretty village church, with one of those white tapering spires so frequent in this neighbourhood; there is here no sepulchral memorial of interest to the general reader.

Having now completed the circuit of the vicinage of Windsor, by way of Colnbrook to Cooper's Hill on the east, and through Stoke and Beaconsfield, thence returning by Hedsor, Cookham, Maidenhead, Bray, and Clewer, to the west, we are at liberty to devote ourselves particularly to the consideration of Windsor and Eton; the interest connected with these places is unsurpassed by that of any other in the British Empire, in whatever point of view we regard them.

At the gate of venerable Eton, then, we take leave, for the present, of our readers.

[graphic][subsumed][merged small]

ETON.

On our way from the Railway Station at Slough, a short divergence to the east, will bring us to

UPTON, a small village, about half a mile to the east of Eton. The manor was formerly part of the possessions of Merton Abbey. Our principal object of interest at Upton is the Church, an old Saxon structure, with an "ivy-mantled tower," "rugged elms," and "yew-trees' shade," and where the turf does, indeed, lie in "many a mouldering heap." This picturesque burial-place is named, with the greatest confidence, in rivalry to that of Stoke, as the scene of Gray's immortal Elegy.

[graphic][merged small][ocr errors]

Eton College Chapel is seen to great advantage from the Fifteen-arch Bridge, as it is called, albeit possessing only three or four arches; crossing this bridge, we are speedily at the Gate of Eton, where we may best begin the excursions of the day.

Entering the first or western quadrangle of Eton College, we are reminded of the necessity of shortly recurring to the historical associations of

RR

the place, while contemplating the statue of the founder, which adorns the

centre of the court-yard.

In 1440, King Henry the Sixth purchased the perpetual advowson of the parish of Eton, for the purpose of founding a College; sufficient endowments he also provided, by charter, for its maintenance. The early foundation consisted of a provost, ten priests, four clerks, six choristers, twenty-five poor grammar scholars, and twenty-five poor infirm men to pray for the King. This foundation was particularly excepted in the act for the dissolution of Colleges and Chantries in the reign of Edward the Sixth. The statutes for the government of the College were, in substance, the same as those for the regulation of Winchester College, founded by William of Wykeham.

The first head master was William Wayneflete, Bishop of Winchester, afterwards Provost of the institution, and founder of Magdalen College, Oxford. The manor of Eton, Mr. Lysons informs us, "was acquired by the College in the reign of Edward the Fourth, of the Lovel family, who inherited it through female heirs from the families of Fitz Other, Hodenge, Huntercombe, and Scudamore. The parish church of Eton, called in ancient records Eton-Gildables, having been suffered to fall to decay, the inhabitants are permitted to attend divine service in the College Chapel. The Provost of Eton is always rector, and has archidiaconal jurisdiction within the parish. There is a chapel of ease in the town, served by one of the members of the College: it was built for the use of the inhabitants, by William Hetherington, the munificent benefactor to the blind, and poor of other descriptions, who had been one of the Fellows of Eton."

In 1464, a treaty of union and mutual defence was concluded between Eton, Winchester, and King's College, Cambridge, to which foundation, as vacancies occur, the senior King's scholars are annually elected from Eton. At King's College, those upon whom the election has fallen complete their education free of expense, and at three years' standing are admitted to fellowships without passing any examination. At nineteen years of age the scholars are superannuated.

Eton sends also two scholars to Merton College, Oxford, where they are denominated Post-masters, and has likewise a few exhibitions of twenty-one guineas each, for superannuated scholars.

Among the distinguished persons who have held the provostship of Eton, we may enumerate Sir Thomas Smith, well known as a diplomatist and statesman in the reigns of Henry the Eighth, Edward the Sixth, Mary, and

« PreviousContinue »