FINCHLEY, a parish in the Finsbury division of
the hundred of OSSULSTONE, county of MIDDLESEX,
7 miles (N. W. by N.) from London, containing 2349
inhabitants. The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry
of Middlesex, and diocese of London, rated in
the king's books at £20, and in the patronage of the
Bishop of London. The church, dedicated to St. Mary,
is a stone edifice in the later English style, consisting
of a nave, chancel, and north aisle, and containing
several ancient monuments. Here are places of worship
for Independents and Wesleyan Methodists. The great
north road through Highgate passes to the east of
the parish church, and it is joined by a new road from
St. John's Wood, Paddington. A market for pigs is held
here every Monday. This place is within the jurisdiction
of a court of requests for the recovery of debts
under 40s., held at Kingsgate-street, Holborn. In 1489,
Robert Waren gave land at Finchley for charitable
uses, which, together with property arising from other
benefactions, was vested in certain trustees, who
erected an almshouse for six poor persons; the income
is about £280 per annum, part of which is applied in
repairing the church and highways, relieving the poor,
and other purposes, the sum of £ 10 per annum being
paid to a National school, which is further supported
by subscription. Finchley common, stated to contain
one thousand and ten acres of land now enclosed, is
situated partly in this parish and partly in those of
Friern-Barnet and Hornsey. On this spot General Monk
drew up his army in 1660; and here also a detachment
of troops encamped during the summer of 1780, after
the riots in London, occasioned by the meeting of the
Protestant Association under Lord George Gordon.