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MAIDENHEAD BRIDGE.

MAIDENHEAD is a market and corporate town, situate on the declivity of a hill, on the Berkshire side of the Thames. Leland calls it South Arlington, and Stow Sudlington, and according to the description of the former was, in his time, neat and well built. Its present name, in the opinion of Camden, was derived from the veneration paid there to the Head of some British Virgin, of whose virtues or miraculous powers no record is to be found. In the fourteenth century, the passage over the river was higher up; but after a wooden bridge was built, the place began to acquire some degree of consideration. It is now governed by a High Steward, Mayor, and Aldermen. The Mayor, and his Predecessor in office, are Justices of the Peace; and the former is also Clerk of the Market, Coroner, and Judge of the Town Court, which is held once in three weeks. A handsome chapel stands near the entrance of the high street, and an elegant town hall has some few years since been erected.

Maidenhead bridge is a handsome structure of Portland stone, consisting of seven principal and six lesser arches, and was built after a design of Sir Robert Taylor. In passing over it the Thames presents two such different views, that the eye can scarce be brought to reconcile the contrasted appearance. To the north is seen the bold range of woody heights, crowned with Taplow, Cliefden, and Hedsor; while to the south the river flows through one unvaried, uninteresting level, enlivened with no other objects than the summer buildings on Monkey Island, and the tower of Bray church.

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