DITTON (THAMES), a parish comprising the manor of Cleygate, in the second division of the hundred of KINGSTON, and the hamlet of Ember with Weston, in the second division of the hundred of ELMBRIDGE, county of SURREY, 2 miles (S.W. by W.) from Kingston upon Thames, and containing 1592 inhabitants. The living is a perpetual curacy, in the archdeaconry of Surrey, and diocese of Winchester, and in the patronage of the Provost and Fellows of King's College, Cambridge. The chxirch, dedicated to St. Nicholas, was formerly a chapel of ease to Kingston upon Thames, from which it was separated and made parochial, by act of parliament in 1769: it is a small building near the bank of the Thames, with a low square tower and wooden spire at the west end, and formerly contained many ancient monuments and sepulchral brasses, which have been either taken away, 01 are now concealed by the pews. There is a place of worship for Independents. An almshouse for four poor widows, with a small endowment, was founded about 1630, by Elizabeth Hillj and, in 1720, Henry Bridges bequeathed a rent-charge of £30 to endow an almshouse containing tenements for six poor men or women. William Hatton, in 1703, left by will a rentcharge of £ 20 to the minister of Thames-Ditton, subject to the approval of a majority of the inhabitants, otherwise to poor housekeepers not receiving alms. There is also a considerable number of small benefactions, and the overseers have the .privilege of sending three patients annually to the Westminster Infirmary.