COBHAM, (Surrey) or CHOBHAM, 4 m. S. from Windsor, on a rivulet that runs from Bagshot to the Thames, near Chertsey. The
manor, which consists of 500 acres, bel. formerly to its abbey; but was purchased by K. Hen. VIII. and, with some other
lands, turned into a park. His daughter, Q. Mary, sold it for 3000 l. to Dr. Heath, Abp. of York; after whose death, it
passed to his nearest kinsman Tho. Heath. How long he kept it, we know not; nor how it came into the hands of K. Jam. I.
who granted it to the family of Zouch. The reversion of it, being in the crown, was, by K. Ch. II. granted to the Dss. of
Cleveland, and her issue by him; but it was, some years ago, the estate of Sir Fran. Lee. At the manor-house, which stands
in Cobham-Park, there was a chapel, in the time of the abovementioned Abp. The parishioners pay no tithe-hay, but a
competition only of 1 d. an acre, which is called Mead Silver; and was settled at first, in consideration of feeding the
Abp's. deer. In the heath in this p. is that, called Gracious-Pond, above 1 m. round, stocked with excellent carp, which
was made by the abbot of Chertsey (in the R. of K. Edw. III.) who also erected a mill here, and planted a coppice, called
South-Moor. Here are 2 great ditches, 10 foot deep at least, extending cross the road, at the E. and W. ends of the T.
supposed to have been made in old time, for defence of some army; and in the Ch. was a chantry, to which bel. some lands
and houses, called Free-Barns. Here is a ch. sc. and a Fair on Ascension-day,