BAGSHOT, a chapelry in the parish of WINDLESHAM,
first division of the hundred of WOKING, county
of SURREY, 12 miles (N. N. W.) from Guildford, and 26
(W. S.W.) from London, on the great western road.
The population is returned with the parish. The chapel,
which had been destroyed by lightning, was rebuilt in
1676. This place, formerly called Holy Hall, gives name
to a tract of heath land, which was anciently more extensive,
a great part having been enclosed and cultivated.
It was formerly the residence of some of the
kings of England, who had a mansion here and a park,
which was laid open after the civil war in the reign of
Charles I.: it is now occupied by their Royal Highnesses
the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. On the
borders of Bagshot heath are some handsome villas, but
the village contains only a few respectable houses and
some good inns, and is indebted to its situation as a
public thoroughfare for the traffic it enjoys.