The history and antiquities of Brentford, Ealing & Chiswick. Interspersed with biographical notices, etc

Front matter

g%& - ffit&c fyU* ■ THE HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF BRENTFORD, EALING, & CHISWICK, INTERSPERSED WITH BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES OF ILLUSTRIOUS AND EMINENT PERSONS, WHO HAVE BEEN BORN, OE HAVE RESIDED THESE DURING THE THREE PRECEDING CENTURIES. HI THOMAS FAULKNER, AUTHOK OF THE HISTORIES OF CHEL8EA, FULHAM, KENSINGTON, AND HAMMER SMITH; CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE SOCIETT OF ANTIQUARIES OF NORMANDY. " It is with pleasure I see this branch of Antiquarian knowledge increasing among us in this inquisitive age. I claim no merit in kindling the flame, though I may have added fuel to it, and I shall never think that leisure misap plied which can assist mankind in a pursuit that my partiality represents to me as something more than innocent." Gough. LONDON : SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, & CO.; NICHOLS & SON; M.A. NATTALI ; WILLIAM PICKERING ; T. RODD ; AND J. R. SMITH. 1845.

Chelsea: pr.inte0 by t. w1i.shek, maitod street. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE HENRY STEPHEN FOX-STRANGWAYS, EARL OF ILCHESTER, LORD ILCHESTER, BARON OF WOODFORD STRANGWAYS, COUNTY OF DORSET, AND LORD ILCHESTER AND STAVORDALE, BARON OF REDLYCH, COUNTY OF SOMERSET, D.C.L. WHOSE ANCESTOR, SIR STEPHEN FOX, KNIGHT, ENDEARED HIMSELF TO POSTERITY BY HIS MUNIFICENT CONTRIBUTIONS TO CHELSEA ROYAL HOSPITAL, AND WHO, DURING HIS RESIDENCE IN CHISWICK, EMBELLISHED IT WITH CAPITAL MANSIONS, THIS WORK IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED, BY HIS LORDSHIP'S OBLIGED HUMBLE SERVANT, THE AUTHOR " The man of letters, anxious to extend and multiply his ideas, travels back into past ages, and penetrates through the scattered monuments of antiquity, in order to collect from their half effaced traces, the mind, opinion, and thoughts of the great men of every age.

He converses with them in their native language, which he makes use of with a view to enrich his own. He surveys the regions offoreigu literature, whose honourable spoils he brings away to augment the Uterary treasures of his own country." " L'Homme de lettres jaloux d'etendre et do multiplier ses idees, remonte dans les siecles, et s'avance aux travers des monuments epars de l'antiquite, pour y recueiller sur des traces souvent presque effaces l'ame et la pensee des grands hommes de tous les ages. I. converse avec eux dans leur langue dont il se sert pour enricher la sienne. II parcourt la domaine de la litterature etrangere dont il remporte des depouilles honorables au tresor de la litterature nationale." La Habpe. SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. THE ROYAL LIBRARY, "ssc*" HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE ALBERT.

Preface

. The general and increasing interest which the public take in the topography of the County of Middlesex, is clearly evinced by the number of the successive Histories which have been published since the year 1810; viz. Chelsea, Enfield, Fulham, Hackney, Hammersmith, Hampstead, Highgate, Islington, Kensington, St. Giles's and Blooms bury, St. Mary-le-hone, Stoke Newington, and Tottenham. It may be truly asserted, that it is by these detached contributions that we may expect a complete History of the Metropolitan County, for the lahour of a single work comprehending every parish never could be accomplished by one person, however zealous he might be for the advancement of his favourite pursuit. In the prosecution of the present work, I have derived much assistance and information from the resident Clergy who have at all times kindly forwarded my enquiries, by granting me liberal access to the parochial records of which they are the constituted guardians ; and I have seized every opportunity of eliciting such original, authentic, and useful information, as appeared best adapted for elucidating the various objects of enquiry, which X

PREFACE.

. constitute the proper matter of parochial history. Besides the resources before-mentioned, I have spared no labour in making every possible enquiry of such individuals as appeared most likely from their situation, or connection, to be able to give me valuable information. I have much pleasure in acknowledging my obligations to the Rev. H. S. Trimmer, for thc documents relative to his revered and estimable parent ; and my thanks are also due to W. F. Rose, Esq. for the memoir of his learned and respected grandfather, so long an inhabitant of Chiswick. Likewise to J. Phillips, Esq. who favoured me with several original anecdotes relative to the celebrated Hogarth, which his family connection enabled him to furnish ; to Dr. Lindley, who kindly granted me permission to enter freely thc Horticultural Gardens, thus enabling me to give a copious account of that celebrated institution, which is not to bc equalled in Europe.

To C. Welstcad, Esq. Lord of the Prebendal Manor of Chiswick, for permission to inspect the Manorial Records in his possession ; and my thanks are also due to C. Roberts, Esq. of tlie Record Office in the Tower ; and to Thomas Palmer, Esq. of the Rolls, for opening to my access the National Records, which have been so long under their able care and superintendence. I am bound likewise, to acknowledge generally, my obligations to Charles George Young, Esq. Garter King of Arms; William Courthope, Esq. Rouge Croix; Henry Ellis, Esq. F.S.A. Principal Librarian of the British Museum; J. B. Nichols, Esq. F.S.A.; J.G.Nichols, Esq. F.S.A. ; J. Britton, Esq. F.S.A.; and to J. Bonncy, Esq.

PREFACE.

. XI The great mass of materials brought forward by thc Commissioners of Records, during the last thirty-five years, has thrown so much new light on the ancient state and succession of property in this county, that every topographical historian is bound to express his most grateful acknowledgements to those honorable persons for the zeal, industry, and research which have been displayed in the numerous volumes on the Records of the Realm that have been given to the public, under their auspices. In finally taking leave of my Antiquarian studies, which have occupied my attention for forty years, I may be per mitted to assert, that I have, at all times, used my best endeavours to select the truth, without undue prejudice or partiality, nor have spared cither personal labour, or deligent investigation ; thus I may truely say with Dr. Fuller that " I have gone, and rid, and wrote, and sought, with mine own eyes, to make what discoveries I could ;" and, perhaps, I may be permitted to indulge the imagination, that the antiquary yet unborn will think with complacency and satisfaction on the days and years consumed by me in preparing the several Histories of Chelsea, Fulham, Kensington, Hammersmith, Brentford, Ealing, and Chiswick.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. ".SfiO** PAGE Sir Stephen Fox, Frontispiece New Brentford Church ) r , John Middleton 's Monument J Redman 's Monument ) ... Amondesham's Monument J Girls' Charity School ) ... Brentford Market House j Saint Mary's Church, Ealing ." ) , »., Saint George's Chapel, Old Brentford J Chiswick Church ) „„„ Sir Thomas Chaloner's Monument j Willius.^Bordall, (ancient brass formerly in Chiswick Church) 320 Chiswick House ) „„„ Inigo Jones's Gateway j Portraits of Ii. da Vinci — Murillo — Carlo Maratti 402 Portraits of Wouvermans — Titian — Holbein — Rubens — ) Nicholas Poussin J Portrait of William Hogarth, Esq 489 Hogarth's House ) . , _ Workshop J Heathfield House } .,, High House, Chiswick Mall j 40i Christ Church, Turnham-Green 468 The following are printed in the Text. Berkeley Arms 04 Archery in the Butts 110 Sir William Noy's House 140 Brentford Tokens 163 King David Playing on Bells 215 Ealing Tokens 250 Map of the Roman Road 278 Chiswick Tokens 383 The Palladian Bridge 431 Chiswick Chapel 454 Grove House PAGE CONTENTS. BRENTFORD.

Chapter I

Introduction — County of Middlesex — Hundreds of Elthorne and Ossulston — Antiquity of Old and New Brentford — The Origin of Villages and Towns — Situation — Geology — River Thames and Fishery — Swan-Upping 1

Chapter II

Historical Events — Battle between King Edmund Ironside and Canute, the former pursues the Danes across the Thames, where Kew Bridge now stands ; great loss of the English in crossing the River — Cruel Murder at Brentford of Edmuud Ironside, by Edric Streone, the Traitor, — his punishment and death — Chapter of the Order of the Garter held at the Red Lion Inn — The Marian Persecution — Cruelties of that dreadful Period — Burning of Six Protestants in the Market Place — Civil War — King Charles advances to Brentford — Battle and defeat of the Parliament Army — Plunder of the Town — Petition of the Inhabitants to the Parliament — The King's Messages and Declaration — Retreats to Kingston — The Earl of Brentford — Election of Members for the County 11

Chapter III

Parish Church — Original Records — Grants of the Protector's Parliament — Queen Anne's Bounty — Augmentation of the Living, and Endowment of the Vicarage — Description of the Interior of the Church — Monuments and Inscriptions — Curates and Incumbents — Benefactions and Charities — Benevolent Societies, and Charity Schools — Extracts from the Parish Books 4:1 CONTENTS. XIV CIIAPTI-.li IV -Market and Fairs — Charter of King Edward the First granted at tlie instance of Margaret, Queen of England, to the Prioress and Nuns of St. Helen's, London, in their Manor of Brentford — History and Descent of the Property of the Market and Fairs — Manor of Boston — The Clitherow Family — Biographical Accouut ofthe late Colonel Clitherow — The Butts — Ancient aud Modern state, formerly a place for Archery — The spot used for the Election of the Members of Parliament — Riots and Disturbances — Brentford Bridge — Ancient and Modern state — Royal Grants 89

Chapter V

Association of the Church Missionary Society — St. George's Chapel and Charities, Old Brentford — Places of Worship not Parochial — Baptist Chapel, Old Brentford — Chapel of Particular Baptists, Market Place — Boston Road Chapel — Albany Chapel — Brentford British Schools — British aud Foreign Bible Society — Brentford Mechanics' Institution — Brentford Poor Law Union and Workhouse 128

Chapter VI

New Brentford — Boundaries and Extent — Population aud number of Houses — The Ham — The Butts and Market Place — The Brent — The Grand Junction Canal — Boston Road — The Half Acre — The County Court — The Petty Sessions — The Town, Houses, and Inns — Sir W. Noy's House, now Mr. Ronald's — The Great Floods — Rejoicings on the Arrival of Queen Victoria 13!)

Chapter VII

Old Brentford — Boundaries and Extent — Population — Half Acre, Windmill Lane — Mrs. Trimmer — The High Street — River Ayts — The Ferry — Wharfs and Manufactories — Timber Yard, Saw Mills — Soap Manufactory — Police Station — Pottery — Brewery — Brentford Distillery — Gas Light Company — Grand Junction Water Works — Brick Kilns and Tilery 155 EALING.

Chapter I

Name — Situation — Boundaries and Extent — Roads and Highways — Population — Agriculture and Soil — Land Tax — Parochial Rates .... 171

Chapter II

Parish Church — Rectory and Vicarage — Vicars — Lecturers — Ancient Church Inventory — Monumental Inscriptions— Charities and Benefactions—Charity Schools — Extracts from the Parish Books CONTENTS. XV

Chapter III

Village of Ealing— Ealing and Brentford Volunteers — Ealing Manor — Parsonage House — Manor of Cold-hall — Goodenough House — Ealiug- House — Lady Noel Byron's Industrial School — Elm Grove — Ealing Grove — Ealing Green — Little Ealing — Ealing Park— Ealing Dean — Manor of Gunnersbury — Ancient Houses — Eminent Inhabitants 223

Chapter IV

Ealing, north ofthe Uxbridge Road — Castle Bai- Hill — His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent — Manor of Pitt's-Hanger — Thomas Edwards, Esq. — Fordhook — Henry Fielding, Esq. — Hanger Hill — Hanger Lane — Charles Dibden — The Great Western Railway — The Grand Junction Water Works Company's Engine Houses and Works erecting in 1845 259 CHISWICK

Chapter I

Name — Situation — Soil — Boundaries — Extent — Roman Road — Water Courses and Bridges — Parliamentary Army at Turnham-green — Battle of Turnham-green — Ancient Manors 275

Chapter II

Rectory and Vicarage — Ancient Inventories of the Church of Cheswyk — Prebendaries — Value of the Vicarage — Parliamentary and Commonwealth Clergy — Vicars from 1062 — Church of St. Nicholas — Monuments and Inscriptions in the Church and Church-yard 295

Chapter III

The Town — The Mall — College-House — Ralph — Dr. Rose — Manor Farm-House — Corney-House — Lord Macartney — Sir Stephen Fox's House — Morton Hall — Sir Stephen Fox — Eminent Inhabitants — Population — Trade 340

Chapter IV

Chiswick-House — Historical and Biographical Reminiscences — Earl 'of Burlington — Dukes of Devonshire — Duchess of Devonshire — Right Hon. C. J. Fox — Right Hon. G. Canning — Picture Gallery and Gardens — Visit of the illustrious Sovereigns in the year 1814 — Visit of Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness Prince Albert, in 1842 — Visit of His Imperial Majesty the Emperor Nicholas, in 1844 385

Chapter V

Hogarth House — William Hogarth, Esq. — Holland the Actor — M. de Loutherbourgh — Arthur Murphy, Esq. — Mawson Row — Bishop Mawson — Chiswick Chapel — British Schools — High-House, Chiswick Mall — Count of Nassau — Mr. William Sharp — Mr. Henry Neele — Mr. Charles Whittingham CONTENTS. 461

Chapter VI

Turnham-Green — Situation — Heathfield-House — General Elliot — Packhorse Inn — Sir John Chardin — Dr. Morell — Dr. Griffiths — Bohemia- House — Stafford- House — Ugo Foscolo — Tumham-Green Church — Horticultural Gardens — Little Sutton — Sutton Court — Grove-House — Strand-on-the-Green — J. Zoffani, Esq. the Eminient Painter — Joe Miller — New Union Iron Steam Boat Company, and Pier — City Barge— Ealing Park — Chiswick Church Bells — Willow Ayte, culled Muekinshaw — Projected Hounslow Atmospheric Railway THE HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES 01 BRENTFORD.

Chapter I

Introduction — County of Middlesex — Hundreds of Elthorne, and Ossulstone — Antiquity of Old and New Brentford— The Origin of Villages and Towns — Situation — Geology — River Thames and Fishery — Swan Upping. The obscurity which envelopes the events of remote times, renders the attempt to trace the origin and ancient state of our cities and towns extremely difficult. The most careful and diligent investigator of ancient records can scarcely hope to dispel the clouds which darken them ; and yet, from these sources are chiefly derived the faint and glimmering lights which guide us through the uncertain labyrinth of early ages. But in the elucidation of subjects of this nature, we are frequently led astray by the delusive excursions of fancy ; for the fabulous and discordant opinions of many of our early writers on subjects of antiquity have a tendency rather to mislead, than to inform the mind of the reader, and their authority must not be received without careful examination, their zeal not being sufficiently tempered with that cool and patient investigation which will allow no idea to implant itself, unless founded on a basis that cannot be overturned by future enquiry.

But whatever difficulties may arise in the prosecution of antiquarian researches from the above-mentioned causes, it is the duty of the Topographical Historian to make use of such a share r. of industry, diligence, and discrimination, as may enable him to produce a connected and consistent narrative ot past events. Middlesex. — This county derives its name from its position relatively to the three surrounding kingdoms of the Heptarchy. Though of an irregular form, it resembles a parallelogram, with an area of 282 square statute miles, or 180,480 statute acres. It is divided into six hundreds : viz. Edmonton, Elthorne, Gore, Isleworth, Spelthorn, and Ossulstonc. The same number of hundreds are mentioned in the record of Domesday, so that it is obvious that thc political divisions of Middlesex have undergone but little alteration since the period of the conquest.* This county gave birth to the title of Earl to Lionel Cranfield, Lord Treasurer to King James the First, who was created Earl of Middlesex, in 1622, but the title became extinct, by the death of his son, thc third Earl, in 1674.

It was revived in 1675, in favour of Charles Sackville, son and heir apparent of Richard Earl of Dorset, who had married Frances, sister and heiress of the last Earl. The hundred of Ossulstonc affords thc title of Baron to Charles Bennet Earl of Tankerville, whose family was anciently seated in Berkshire. Sir John Bennet was made Knight of the Bath, at the coronation of Charles the Second; and he was, inthe year 1682, advanced to the peerage, by the title of Baron Ossulstonc The towns and villages in the environs of London possess many claims on the notice of the historian, and they may be considered as worthy members of that metropolis, for they arc closely indentified with its history and aggran disement. Indeed, upon the tranquillity and happiness of » " It is in effect but the suburbs at large of London, replenished with the retiring houses of the gentry and citizens thereof, besides many palaces of noblemen, aud three stately royal mansions, wherefore much measure cannot be expected of so fine ware, the cause why this county is so small, scarce extending, east and west, to 18 miles in length, and not exceeding, north and south, 12 miles in the breadth thereof." — Fuller's Worthies Middx. p. 47.

Introduction

. 3 London, depends, in a great measure, the prosperity of the whole country ; but more especially of those interesting parishes in its immediate vicinity, three of which it is the object of this work to describe. The origin of Towns and Villages. — It is a well known fact, but which has scarcely been adverted to, that all the present towns and villages appear to have existed from the Saxon times. This circumstance is in general sufficiently attested, both by their names, and by historical evidence. They have, indeed, become much larger, during a succession of ages ; yet no very great addition has been made to their number. The vast increase of the population and wealth of thc country has nearly all been collected and arranged around the centres of the original towns and villages, which, it is curious to reflect, were so numerously spread over the face of the country in those early ages.

It is also certain that the present division of the country into parishes, is as old as the tenth century, which proves that the English villages in the Saxon times were nearly as numerous as at the present day. Tythings, Towns, and Vills. In process of time, by the increase of inhabitants, there arose small appendages to these towns, called Hamlets ; and the designation of Entire Vills, Demi- Vills, and Hamlets, are noticed so early as the 14th of Edward the First. Sir Henry Spelman con siders that an entire vill consisted of ten freemen, or frank pledges ; demi-vills of five ; and handets of less than five.* Brentford. — The township of New Brentford lies within the hundred of Elthorne, in the county of Middlesex, it is bounded on the north by Hanwell, on the east by Ealing and Old Brentford, on the west by Isleworth, and on the south by the River Thames.

The whole of the town called Old Brentford, lies within the hundred of Ossulstone, and parish of Ealing. New Brentford takes its name from the river Brent which appears at different dates under the titles of the » Glos. i. p. 274. Blackstone, vol. i. p. 215. b2 Brain, the Brawnie, the Braint, and finally, the Brent. The town is divided into two parts, called Old and New Brentford, and East and West Brentford. In Norden's Map of Middlesex, published in 1636, they are called Great and Little Brentford.* The town is upwards of a mile in length, and is situated on the Great Western Road at the distance of seven miles from London. Which end of this town is the most ancient it is rather difficult to decide. In favour of the antiquity of New Brentford we have the proximity to the Ford, the date of the Chapel of Ease, now the Parish Church, thc site ofthe Market and Fair, its being the place of County Elections, and the outward appearance of certain buildings.

On the other hand, the name of Old Brentford is an argument of itself. The distinction of Old and New Brentford certainly existed in 1642, as appears by the printed Journals of that period. Thc outward appearance of certain buildings must have its weight, and it is a well known fact, that before thc New C ut was made, there was always along the shore of this part of thc town, many barges and other vessels ; New Brentford offering no such convenience, where goods of all sorts could be landed, and then conveyed by carriage to the inward towns and villages. This is a feature, however, altogether independent of the Ford. I mean that if there had been no Brent, and no Ford over it, this being the most convenient spot within thc influence of the tide for landing goods, corn, and other goods, for which there would be a demand in the inland country, woidd naturally occasion the houses to bc built, and attract the business that was there carried on.

Regarded in this light, it seems merely a question whe ther the transit of the Ford, or the traffic of the Thames, would be the first to cause the erection of habitations. * The origin of towns aud cities depends on a variety of accidental and anomalous circumstances. The ford of a river, the cell of a hermit, the inaccessi bility of a mount, the protection of a Castle, the fertility of a plain, the plenteous fishery on a sea coast, or at the mouth of a river, or, perhaps, the vicinity of a royal court, or the household of some rich and powerful lord, or of some opulent and hospitable abbey, are among the causes to which the rise of most ofthe towns aud cities of modern Europe is to be referred. GEOLOGY. Indeed, the evidence on both sides is so nearly balanced, that we may, without much mistake, declare the two towns coeval.

In respect to the situation of the town of Brent ford, it must be evident to the most casual observer, that it is one where trade and commerce might be expected to flourish ; and it can hardly be doubted, but commercial considerations had considerable weight with its original founders. Be this, however, as it may, in descending the stream of time, and arriving at authentic annals, we become acquainted with a series of interesting events relative to the history of the County Town of Middlesex. Geology. — All who are familiar with even the outlines of the delightful and somewhat fashionable science of Geology, cannot fail to be aware, that Brentford is situated in the same chalk basin as London ; and, consequently, like the metropolis, has the blue or London clay for its most important stratum.

Immediately below the soil are various layers of sand and gravel, intermixed with patches of loam and clay, and extending to a depth of from ten to twenty feet. We then meet with the grand deposit of blue clay, which is in this neighbourhood about two hundred feet thick, having below it the abundant green sand formation so rich in soft clear water, which is yielded to the various deep wells in and around the metropolis. The very interesting paper published in 1813, by the late Mr. Trimmer, F.R.S., of which we think the fol lowing abstract will be found acceptable, contains nearly all that is known of the geology of this neighbourhood up to the present time. A few artesian borings, and deep excavations of recent date, have only confirmed the general accuracy of Mr. Trimmer's observations, and made some small additions to his list of organic remains.

The works of the Grand Junction Water Company near Kew Bridge, now in progress, give promise of further specimens, which all zealous geologists on the spot will do well to look out for and preserve. In this neighbourhood have been found some of those organic remains which form the tacit memorials of ages otherwise unknown, and which are calculated to excite an ardour of curiosity that it would be difficult to gratify by rational deduction. An account of these discoveries was written by thc late Mr. W. K. Trimmer, and is printed in the Philosophical Transactions for the year 1813, accompanied by a letter from that gentleman's brother, stating the decease ofthe author shortly after he had prepared that paper for publication. The account may be deemed the more valuable from the circumstance of Sir Joseph Banks having witnessed the progress of the investigation in its principal stages.

The specimens of organic remains discovered near Brent ford, were found on digging clay, under the direction of Mr. Trimmer, for the manufacture of bricks and tiles. They were discovered in two fields, which are not con tiguous to each other. The first field in which the earth was perforated, is about half a mile north of the Thames at Kew Bridge, its surface being about twenty-five feet above the Thames at low water. The strata on this spot are thus described : — first, sandy loam, from six to seven feet in depth, the lowest two feet being slightly calcareous ; second, sandy gravel, a"few inches only in thickness ; third, loam, slightly calcareous, from one to five feet in depth; between this and the next stratum, peat frequently intervenes in small patches; fourth, gravel with water ; this latter stratum varies from two to ten feet in thickness, and is always the deepest in the places covered by the peat ; fifth, the main substratum of blue clay, which extends under London and its whole vicinity, and which is proved (by the perforation effected in the digging of several wells,) to be about two hundred feet in thickness under the more level lands, and pro portionably thicker under the hills.

It does not appear that any organic remains have been found in the first stratum. In the second, snail shells, and the shells of river fish have been met with, and a few bones of land animals, but of an inconsiderable size, and in so mutilated a state that the class to which they belong could not bc ascertained. In the third stratum, the horns GEOLOGY. and bones of the ox, and the horns, bones, and teeth of the deer have been found. In the fourth stratum were discovered teeth and bones of both the African and Asiatic elephant; teeth of the hippopotamus, and bones, horns, and teeth of thc ox. A tusk of an elephant, dug from this stratum, measured nine feet three inches. In the fifth stratum, the blue clay, the fossils, are entirely marine, with the exception of some specimens of fruit, and pieces of petrified wood, the latter when large, being always penetrated by teredines.

The other fossils from this stratum are crabs, nautili, oysters, teeth and bones of fish, and a great variety of small marine shells. This stratum has been penetrated, in the field under notice, only to the depth of thirty feet. The second field is a mile to the west of the former, and about the same distance north of the river Thames, and a quarter of a mile eastward of the river Brent, its height above the river Thames at low water being about forty feet. The strata are thus enumerated : — first, sandy loam, to the depth of eight feet, the lowest three feet of which are slightly calcareous ; below this are two strata of gravel and clay, as in the former field ; but these have, in the present instance, been only penetrated in digging for water. In the first stratum, as in the other field, no organic remains have been discovered ; in the second, (but always so low as to be within two feet of the third stratum,) have been found the teeth and bones of the hippopotamus and elephant, the horns, bones, and teeth, of several species of deer, and of the ox, together with numerous shells of river fish.

The remains of hippopotami are here so abundant, that in turning over an area of 120 yards, in the year 1813, parts of six tusks of that animal were found, besides a tooth, and part of the horn of a deer ; parts of a tusk, and a grinder of an elephant, and the horns, with a small portion of the skull of an ox. One of these horns, measured by Mr. Trimmer, was found to be four feet six inches long, following the curve, and five inches in diameter, at the larger end. Mr. Trimmer observes, that the gravel stones in this stratum do not appear to have been rounded in the usual way by attrition, and that the bones must have been deposited after the flesh was off, because no two bones have been found together, as joined in the living animal ; and he likewise observes, that the bones arc not in the least worn, as must have been the case had they been exposed to the wash of a sea beach.

In the third stratum were also found horns and bones of thc ox and deer together, with shells of snails and river fish. See further particulars in the Philosophical Transactions for 1813, where are introduced engravings of the principal articles discovered. The collection of organic remains formed by this ingenius correspondent of the Royal Society, is now preserved in the house of the Rev. E. Trimmer, of Putney. Not any discoveries of importance have occurred since that period. Though many deep borings have been made, these, from want, evidently, of lateral extent, have been very unproductive in fossils. The foundation ofthe engine-house ofthe Grand Junction Water Company, near Kew bridge, erected in 1840, was laid at a depth of near forty feet; and, in the course of the necessary excavations, several large nautili, and many smaller marine shells were found.