EDMONTON, a parish in the hundred of EDMONTON,
county of MIDDLESEX, 7 miles (N.) from London,
containing 7900 inhabitants. This .place, which had
risen into some consideration prior to the Conquest, is
in Domesday-book called JEdelmeton, probably as having
been the residence of some distinguished personage
during the Heptarchy. The extensive forest in the
neighbourhood, of which Enfield Chase formed a part,
made it the resort of many individuals who occasionally
retired hither to enjoy the diversion of hunting, and
from its convenient distance from the metropolis, it
became the residence of many opulent families. The
village is pleasantly situated on the high road to Hertford,
along which it extends for more than a mile, containing,
exclusively of small dwellings, several ranges of
respectable, houses, and, in detached situations, many
elegant mansions and handsome villas; it is well lighted
with gas, and amply supplied with water: the New River
winds through several parts of the parish, producing a
pleasing and picturesque effect in the pleasure grounds
and meadows through which it runs. A considerable
coach manufactory has been established here within
the last thirty years, which affords employment to
more than sixty persons; and an extensive trade in
timber is carried on by means of the Lea river navigation,
which passes within three quarters of a mile of the village.
Fairs are held annually on St. Giles and Ascension days,
on a part of Enfield Chase, near Southgate, in this parish,
under letters patent of James I., chiefly for pleasure. The
petty sessions for the division are held at the Angel Inn
every alternate Friday. The jurisdiction of a court of
requests at Enfield, for the recovery of debts under
40s., extends to this parish; and a court leet and court
baron are held on the Tuesday in Whitsun-week.
The parish comprises the divisions of Church-Street,
Fore-Street, Bury-Street, and Southgate-Street. The
living is a vicarage, in the archdeaconry of Middlesex,
and diocese of London, rated in the king's books at
£18, and in the patronage of the Dean and Chapter of
St. Paul's, London. The church, dedicated to All Saints,
is a spacious modern brick structure with an old embattled
tower; the nave was rebuilt of brick in 1772.
The chapel in Southgate-Street was erected and endowed
in 1615, by Sir John Weld, Knt.; and another chapel on
Winchmore Hill, dedicated to St. Paul, in the later style of
English architecture, was erected in 1828, at an expense
of nearly £5000, defrayed by subscription among the
inhabitants, aided by a grant of £3500 from the parliamentary
commissioners. There are places of worship for
Baptists, the Society of Friends, Independents, and
"Wesleyan Methodists. A charity school for boys was
founded in 1624, by Mr. Edward Latymer, who bequeathed
a messuage at Edmonton, and lands at Hammersmith,
for clothing and educating eight poor boys, for which
purpose also Mr. Thomas Styles, in 1609, bequeathed
£20 per annum; several similar benefactions have been
consolidated, producing about £550 per annum, which
is appropriated to the instruction of more than one
hundred boys, of which number sixty are clothed; the
school-room was built in 1811, pursuant to the will of
Mrs. Ann Wyatt, who bequeathed £500 five per cent.
Navy annuities for that purpose, and £100 to keep it
in repair. A charity school for girls was established by
subscription in 1778, since which period donations and
legacies to the amount of £5000 have been given for its
support; the endowment arising from these sums is augmented
by annual subscription, and appropriated to the
clothing and instruction of more than seventy girls:
the present school-house was built by subscription in
1818. There is a National school, in which nearly
three hundred children are instructed. A fund arising
from several bequests is appropriated to the apprenticing
of poor children. Mr. John Wild, in 1662,
built three ahnshouses, which he endowed with £4 per
annum; and Mr. Thomas Styles erected twelve, which he
endowed with £36. 16. per annum; to the poor in the
latter, Mr. JohnLewitt, in 1771, bequeathed £800; and
for the poor in both almshouses, Mr. George Stanbridge,
in 1780, left £500; Mrs. Sarah Huxley, in 1800, bequeathed£
1000; and other benefactors have contributed various
sums for their support. On Bush Hill, in this parish, are
remains of a large circular encampment, supposed to have
been the site of a British town, near which Sir Hugh
Myddelton had a residence. Bury hall, the seat of President
Bradshaw, retains many of its original features.
Peter Fabell, a learned man of eccentric character, who
obtained the reputation of being a conjuror, is said to
have been born in this parish, which became noted by
the production of a drama about the year 1490, founded
upon some of his alleged exploits, and called the "Merry
Devil of Edmonton;" the place also gave rise to a tragedy
founded on the history of an unfortunate woman who
was condemned and executed on a charge of witchcraft,
in 1621; and it has been lastly celebrated as the scene of
Cowper's popular ballad of "John Gilpin," in allusion to
which there is a painting in front of the Bell Inn.
Dr. Brook Taylor, secretary to the Royal Society, and
author of an ingenious treatie on Perspective, was
born here in 1685; and Archbishop Tillotson resided
here constantly while Dean of St. Paul's, and occasionally
after his translation to the primacy.