EGHAM, a parish in the second division of the hundred
of GODLEY, county of SURREY, 20 miles (W. by S.)
from London, containing 3616 inhabitants. The village
is pleasantly situated on the banks of the river Thames,
which here separates the counties of Surrey and Middlesex,
and is intersected by the Roman road from Silchester,
commencing at the Belvidere, in Shrub's park, and directing
its course to the town, east of Virginia Water; it becomes
conspicuous on the rising grounds, where it is
remarkable for the almost entire preservation of its
original form; and whence it may be traced, with solne
intervals, to Ashford, in Middlesex. In this parish are
the plains of Runymede, appointed by King John for
holding a conference with the barons, who had confederated
for the preservation of their liberty, and celebrated
as the spot on which, after a debate of a few days,
during which each party encamped as open enemies, the
king consented to grant the privileges and exemptions
contained in " Magna Charta," which he afterwards
signed in a small island near the opposite bank of the
Thames, still called Magna Charta island. The village,
neatly built, and containing many respectable houses,
is connected with the market-town of Staines by a neat
bridge, and another is now being erected in a more
direct line with the London road. Cooper's Hill, within
the parish, was first celebrated by the muse of Denham,
who resided here, and afterwards by Pope and Somerville.
Camomile Hill obtained its appellation from the luxuriant
growth of that herb, with which it is covered, and which
appears to be indigenous to the soil. Races are held annually
in September, on Runymede, and are well attended.
The only trade in this place is that arising from its situation
as a great public thoroughfare. An annual fair is
held on the 29th of May and the two following days. The.
parish is divided into four tythings, and courts baronfor
the manors of Egham and Mitton are held annually.
The living is a vicarage, in the archdeaconry of
Surrey, and diocese of Winchester, rated in the king's
books at £11. 9. 7., and in the patronage of Mrs. Gostling.
The church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, is
a modern edifice of brick, ornamented with stone, and
was built by subscription, his late Majesty, George III.,
having been a liberal contributor. There is a place of
worship for Wesleyan Methodists. A charity school
was founded in 1703, by Henry Strode, Esq., who bequeathed
£6000 to the Coopers Company in London,
in trust for that purpose, and also for the founda--
tion and endowment of almshouses for six aged men
and six aged women; fifty boys are instructed in. reading,
writing, and arithmetic, on the National system:
sixteen girls are also taught reading, writing, arithmetic,
and needlework, by part of a legacy of £360, left by
Mrs. Barker, for teaching children of the parishes of
Egham, New Windsor, and Yately. This parish has also
the privilege of sending boys for education to the foundation
by Sir William Perkins, at Chertsey. Ednlond
Lee, Esq., in 1705, bequeathed £1000 to be laid out
in land, the produce to be applied in apprenticing four
boys, or girls, yearly. Twelve almshouses, containing
each an upper and a lower room, have been erected
in pursuance of Mr. Strode's will, and are tenanted
by twelve aged persons appointed by the Coopers'
Company; the income arising from this endowment is
nearly £ 800 per annum. Five almshouses were fpunded
in 1627, by Sir John Denham, who endowed them with
a rent-charge of £30, and with tenements produciftg a
rental of £8. 8. per annum, for five aged women of this
parish. Viscountess Warren Bulkeley bequeathed £ 1000
for the benefit of the poor, in addition to which there
are several other charitable bequests.