CHISELHURST, a parish in the hundred of RUXLEY,
lathe of SUTTON at HONE, county of KENT, 11 miles
(S. E.) from London, containing, with a portion of the
hamlet of Mottingham, which extends into this parish,
1586 inhabitants. The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry
and diocese of Rochester, rated in the king's
books at £ 16. 3. 6-§., and in the patronage of the Bishop
of Rochester. The church, dedicated to St. Nicholas,
is built of flint, with a shingled spire. There is a place
of worship for Wesleyan Methodists. A school is endowed
with £15 per annum and a house for the master,
for teaching six boys; but fifty are educated on this
foundation on the National system. There are two
schools for girls, one affording clothing and instruction
to six, and the other to twelve, supported by various bequests
and donations producing £24 per annum, besides
subscriptions. Children of this parish are also.admitted
into the National school established at Foot's Cray.
In 1680, Thomas Philpott made a bequest for building
six almshouses at Eltham, two of them to be inhabited
by poor persons of this parish. Sir Nicholas Bacon was
a native of Chiselhurst: here also was born, in 1500,
Sir Francis Walsingham, secretary of state to Queen
Elizabeth; and at this place, in 1623, died Camden,
the celebrated antiquary, from whom Camden Place, in
this parish (whence Lord Chancellor Pratt took the title
of baron, and which now confers the title of marquis on
his descendants), derives its name. Viscount Sydney
enjoys the title of Baron Sydney of Chiselhurst, which
was conferred in 1783.