BURNHAM, a parish in the hundred of BURNHAM, county of BUCKINGHAM, 3 miles (N. W. by N.) from Eton, comprising the chapelry of Lower Boveny, and the liberties of Upper Boveny, Britwell, East Burnham, Cippenham, Toun, and Wood, and containing 1918 inhabitants. The living is a vicarage, in the archdeaconry, of Buckingham, and diocese of Lincoln, rated in the king's books at £16. 13. 4., and in the patronage of the Provost and Fellows of Eton College. The church, dedicated to St. Peter, contains a handsome monument to the memory of Lord Chief Justice Wills. There is a meeting-house for dissenters. Burnham is a place of great antiquity, having given name to the hundred. On a moated site near Cippenham stood a palace belonging to the kings of Mercia; and the kings of England of the Norman line appear to have occasionally resided in it, since the foundation charter of Burnham abbey is dated there: this abbey was founded by Richard, Earl of Cornwall, in 1165, for nuns of the order of St. Augustine, whose revenue, in the 26th of Henry VIII., amounted to £91. 5. 11.: -a .portion of the buildings has been converted into a farm-house and offices. The village lies at a short distance from the Thames, and had formerly a market, which has long been discontinued: fairs are held on February 23rd,.May 1st, and October 2nd. A National school is supported partly by a small endowment, but chiefly by subscriptionamong the inhabitants of Burnham, Hilcham, and Taplow; and there are various small benefactions for the poor. A court leet for the manor is held once in three years. Robert Aldrich, Bishop of Carlisle in the reign of Henry VIII., was a native of Burnham. .