WALTHAM-ABBEY, (Essex) on the E. side of the r. Lea, which dividing here encloses some islands with fine meadows, and
parts it from Waltham-Cross. The abbey was built in honor of the Holy-Cross, by Harold, son to E. Godwin, on whom Edw. the
Conf. bestowed the village. Harold endowed it with West-Waltham, and 16 other manors. Its abbots were mitred, and had the
20th place in Pt. They lived in a most splendid but hospitable manner, and were often visited by Hen. III. when he was
reduced, and carried his family about for a dinner. At the Diss. Henry VIII. bestowed this mon. on Sir Anthony Denny, his
groom of the stole; whose grandson, Sir Edward, in the R. of Eliz. employing workmen to convert it into a seat for
himself, and his posterity, it is sopposed they dug up the corpse of Harold, which after his being killed in battle
against Will. the Conq. in Sussex, was on his mother's petition to the Conq. interred in this abbey. His seat here was
lately that of Mr. Jones, who was high-sheriff of the Co.