HIGHGATE, (Middlesex) 4 m. on the N. side of London, a chapel of ease to Pancras and Hornsey, is so called partly from its
high situation, overlooking London and great part of Kent, Essex, and Hartfordshire, and partly from a gate set up there
about 400 years ago, to receive toll for the Bp. of London, when the old miry road from Gray's-Inn-Lane to Barnet was
turned through the Bp's. park. This toll was farmed by Q. Elizabeth, at 40 l. a year. Where the chapel stands was formerly
an hermitage, and one of the hermits caused a causey to be made bet. Highgate and Islington, by gravel dug out of the top
of the hill, where is now a pond. The Bp. of London presented the hermits, the last of whom was William Forts, presented
to the hermitage, in 1531, by Bp. Stokesley. Near the chapel, in 1562, a fr. sc. was built and endowed by Ld. chief baron
Cholmondeley, at his own private expence, but it was enlarged, in 1570, by Edwin Sandys Bp. of London, and a chapel added
to it. There is a very fine house here facing London, with a view of the Thames for 10 m. bel. Greenwich, built by the
late Sir William Ashurst.