sail of fishing vessels, from ten to forty tons burthen, for the supply of the metropolis. At the end of the Rodon, next the creek, stands a capital flour mill, capable of working seven pair of stones; and the harbour next the town is faced with an excellent stone wharf for landing corn, manure, &c.

The CHURCH, dedicated to St. Margaret, is supposed to have been built about the year 674; and consists of a chancel, nave, south aisle, and two north aisles, running parallel to each other the whole length of the building. The church and chancel were ceiled, (never having any cieling before) beautifully ornamented, and thoroughly repaired, in 1770, at the sole expence of the parishioners, to the amount of 2000l. At the same time Mr. Richard Jessop, of Ilford, left, by will, 300l. for the purpose of erecting an organ, which was built by Messrs. By field and Green, in 1789. At the west end of the church is a square embattled stone tower, containing eight musical bells. The vicarage is in the gift of All Souls College, Oxford, to the senior bachelor, agreeably to the will of Mr. William Powncett.

Among the monuments, the principal are in memory of Dr. JOHN BAMBER, who died the 7th of November, 1753, in the eighty-sixth year of his age. Sir CRISP Gascoyne, knt. alderman, sheriff, and lord mayor of London, who died the 28th of December, 1761, aged sixty-one. Sir CHARLES RAYMOND, bart. of Valentine House, who died August 24, 1783, aged seventy-six. ALICIA BERTIE, wife of the honourable Robert Bertie, who died the 31st of August, 1677, aged twenty. The honourable ROBERT BERTIE, who died in the eighty-fourth year of his age, 1701. Anna Maria NEWTE, daughter of Sir C. Raymond, who died August 19, 1783, aged twenty-seven years. Captain JOHN PELLY, who died February 14, 1762, aged seventynine. Mr. FLEMING, of Loxford, who died February 1, 1722, aged fifty-eight. The honourable ELIZABETH BERTIE, widow and relict of the honourable Robert Bertie, Esq. fifth son of Robert earl of Lindsey, lord great chamberlain

of

of England, daughter of Sir Thomas Bennett, of Babram, in Cambridgeshire, bart. who departed this life the first day of January, 1712, in the seventy-seventh year of his age. FRANCIS FULLER, of Bee Hive, in the county of Essex, Esq. one of the justices of the peace in the said county, and clerk of the estreats in the king's court of exchequer; he was of great estimation in his county for his integrity of life, uprightness in justice and hospitality, having lived seventy-six years and three months; died the 10th day of March, anno 1636; whose body is interred in the parish of St. Dionis Backchurch, London. Sir CHARLES MONTAGUE, who died at his house at Cranbrook, in Essex, in the parish of Barking, the 11th of September, anno dom. 1625, being of age sixty-one years; who gave to the poor of Barking, 401. WILLIAM POWNSETT, late of Barking, Esq. and justice of the peace; who died the 8th of March, 1583, This tomb was repaired at the expence of All Souls College, in Oxford, anno dom. 1784. Captain JoHN BENNET, sen. late of Poole, in the county of Dorset, who died the 8th of May, 1706, aged seventy-four; and of Mary, his wife, who died the 9th of January, 1711; both lying here interred. Captain JOHN BENNET, their only son, who died the 30th of January, 1716, aged forty.six; and lyeth in a vault under an altar tomb in the churchyard, who ordered by his will this monument to be erected, which was accordingly performed by Abraham Edlin, gent. his acting executor. JOHN FANSHAW, of Parslows, in the county of Essex, Esq. auditor of the dutchy of Lancaster; he died the 19th of December, 1699, in the thirty-eighth year of his age. Sir ORLANDO HUMPHREYS, of Jenkins, in this parish, bart. who departed this life June 14, 1737, aged fifty-nine years. Captain JOSHUA BENASTER, who was born in this parish, and brought up to the sea service from his infancy; and in several engagements both in king WilJiam and queen Ann's wars, he behaved with great conduct and bravery, which recommended him to the favour of his royal highness George prince of Denmark, lord high admiral of Great Britain. He commanded his majesty's yatch

the

the Charlotte, thirteen years, and died the 28th of March, 1738, aged sixty-three years. He gave 50l. in his lifetime to repair the school house; and 50l. to the poor of the said parish at the time of his decease, to whom he had always been a generous benefactor.

Three thousand pounds were left by Dr. RALph FreeMAN, fellow of All Souls College, in trust, to build a new vicarage house in Barking; which was erected at the east end of the town, near Westbury, pursuant to an act of parliament, in 1794.

In 1641, Sir James Cambell, knt. late alderman of the eity of London, gave by will 6667. 13s. 4d. towards the founding and maintenance of a free school in the town: this was lately pulled down to make room for a very elegant workhouse, erected on the spot; to which was added the site of Mr. William Rayment's malting and brewhouse. In this workhouse are carried on spinning and sack making: the handsome front of this structure is one hundred and forty feet next the town, and directly opposite the old abbey gate, and contains apartments for the master and mistress, a committee room, and store rooms. The two wings behind are thus disposed; on the ground floor long rooms for the looms and manufactory; above these are the bedchambers. The whole forms a very large square, with piazzas, supported by plain pillars, for the recreation of the inhabitants after their labour. On the west front is a very elegant Latin inscription; implying, that "That this House of Industry was built at the sole expence of the inhabitants of Barking, to provide for and protect the industrious, to punish the idle and wicked, &c. &c." The expence of the above building, furniture, &c. cost-5000l.

In 1790, a new jail was built in the town, at the expence of the county, in the Gothic stile, and according to the late Mr. Howärd's plan, with solitary cells and work rooms. Among the great benefactions to Barking parish, the following are worthy record:

John Fowke, Esq. of Clayberry, left by will, bearing date the 22d day of October, 1686, his estate in Tower Street and

Water

Water Lane, in the parish of St. Dunstan in the East, London, to the governors of Christ's Hospital, in London, upon trust for the maintenance and education of eight poor boys in the said hospital, viz. two of the said boys from this parish to be from time to time presented by the churchwardens and overseers for the poor for the time being. Mrs. Ann Nepton, of Great Ilford, did bequeath 401. per annum to the poor of this parish, that shall be found most in need, October 30, 1764. Thomas Collet, Esq. late of this parish, left by will, bearing date March 21, 1738, to the poor of this parish one hundred pounds, to be secured for them in the East India Company for ever, and the interest to be paid to the churchwardens to buy bread, and delivered out of their pew, twelve pennyworth every week, and the remainder upon Christmas, Easter, and Whitsuntide. 1596. William Nutbrowne, Esq. of the county of Kent, gave the poor an annuity of 61. 13s. 4d. to be paid out of the rectory of Ash, in Kent, for ever. 1625. Sir Charles Montague, of Cranbrook, knt. gave to the poor 401. 1634. The Lady Elizabeth Coote gave a plate of silver, fit for the communion bread, together with table cloth and napkin. 1616. Sir Thomas Cambell, knt. gave five acres of marsh land to the poor for ever. 1677. The honourable Alice Bertie, gave to the church a silver plate. 1679. The honourable Sir Thomas Fanshaw, late lord of this manor, gave the rents issuing out of the market of Barking, and five acres of land, called Cotlands, to the poor for ever. 1681. The honourable Robert Bertie, Esq. gave to the church the communion plate, viz. two large silver flagons, one bason, one calice and cover. 1701. He also gave by his will to this parish 31. per annum, being the interest of 60l. to be received yearly, for putting a poor boy apprentice in Ilford ward. He also gave 31. per annum to be yearly distributed in bread, to the poor of Barking town. 1712. The honourable Elizabeth Bertie gave 2001. for putting forth poor children apprentice in Barking and Ilford ward. 1566, Mrs. Alice Leonard, of London, gave to the poor of this parish 40s. per aunum. 1716. Captain John Bennett gave to the poor 1101. 1726. Mr. Josiah Dent gave 11. per annum to be distributed in bread, for ever. 1727. Sir Orlando Humphrey, bart. gave to this church a crimson velvet cloth cushion, embroidered with gold, for the desk and pulpit. 1737. Thomas Beacon, Esq. of Ilford, gave to the poor 1001.

1738.

Captain

Captain Joshua Banaster, gave to the poor 501. 1741. John Bamber, M. D. gave to the poor 1001. 1741. Thomas and Jos nathan Collett, Esqrs. of Westham, gave to the poor of this parish, for ever, six acres of freehold land, called Kingsbridge Marsh. 1745. Dame Ellen Humphreys, relict of Sir Orlando Humphreys, gave by will 3001. Two boys of Ilford ward, in this parish, are educated and maintained in the free school at Chigwell, according to the endowment and will of archbishop Harsnett.

This extensive parish is bounded on the south by the river Thames, facing Woolwich, in Kent; and as some proof that the Thames had a different course formerly; there are many acres of fine marsh land on this side the river, that belongs to the parish of Woolwich. It contains about ten thousand acres of land, besides forest, that is not measured, which produces the different kinds of corn; and a great quantity of potatoes are planted every year, between the town and the Thames, in very good marsh land, about three miles in length, and near two in breadth, which produces good beef and mutton. From the southeast extremity, which is called Horseshoe Corner, near Dagenham Breach House, at the Thames side, to the northwest of Claybury House, close by Woodford Bridge, is about nine miles, at which boundary stands a famous tree, called Goodyers, that may be seen in clear weather as far as Gravesend, and other parts of Kent: this tree, with the tower of Barking church, serves as a beacon for the ships in Galions to sail up Woolwich Reach, or anchor by, to avoid a shoal of sand called Barking Shelf. The breadth of the parish, from east to west, is about four miles.

To Barking retired Eleanor de Bohun, widow of Thomas de Woodstock, duke of Glocester, uncle to Richard II. who was murdered at Calais. She was buried in Westminster Abbey. A more ample account of her is given in Vol. IV. p. 278, note.

During the government of abbess De la Pole*, Edmund

* Daughter of Michael De la Pole, earl of Suffolk, who was slain at the battle of Agincourt. This lady was elected abbess when only twentythree years of age. 1433. Lysons.

VOL. VI. No. 129.

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