BEACONSFIELD, a market-town and parish in
the hundred of BURNHAM, county of BUCKINGHAM, 36
miles (S. E. by S.) from Buckingham, and 23 (w. by
N.) from London, containing 1736 inhabitants. This
place, which is situated on a hill, is sxipposed to have
derived its name from a beacon formerly erected there.
The town consists chiefly of four streets, which meet in
a convenient market-place in the centre. The principal
street extends nearly three quarters of a mile
along the turnpike road leading from Uxbridge to
Wycombe: the houses in general are well built, and of
handsome appearance, and the inhabitants are amply
supplied with water. The environs, in which there are
some handsome seats, abound with beautiful scenery.;
and the air is remarkably salubrious. The market is
on Thursday; and the fairs, chiefly for horses, horned
cattle, and sheep, are held on February 13th, and on Holy
Thursday. Constables and other officers are appointed
at the court leet of the lord of the manor. The living
is a rectory, in the archdeaconry of Buckingham, and
diocese of Lincoln, rated in the king's books at
£26. 2. 8., and in the patronage of the President and
Fellows of Magdalene College, Oxford. The church,
dedicated to All Saints, is an ancient building of stone
and flint, with a tower: it formerly belonged to the
Augustine monastery at Burnham, founded by Richard,
Earl of Cornwall, in 1165, the revenue of which, at
the dissolution, was £91. 5. 11. Within the church is
a mural tablet to the memory of Edmund Burke, who
died at his seat called Gregories, in this parish, and
was interred here; and in the churchyard there is a
monument of white marble, to the memory of Edmund
Waller, the poet, who died October 21st, 1687.