HAMPDEN (GREAT), a parish in the hundred of
AYLESBURY, county of BUCKINGHAM, 8 miles (W.N.W.)
from Great Missenden, containing 281 inhabitants. The
living is a rectory, consolidated in 1799 with the vica-
rage of Great Kimble, in the archdeaconry of Buckingham,
and diocese of Lincoln, rated in the king's books
at £9 9. 7, and in the patronage of the Earl of Buckinghamshire.
The church, dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene,
has lately received an addition of one hundred
free sittings, the Incorporated Society for the enlargement
of churches and chapels having granted £30 to-
ward defraying the expense. Among other monuments,
it contains one to the memory of John Harnpden, Esq/,
ornamented with a medallion, on which is represented
a tree bearing the arms of the family and of their alliances
j and at the foot of it, in has relief, the battle of
Chalgravej in which that renowned patriot received his
death wound, of which he died about three weeks afterwards,
on June 24th, 1643. Queen Elizabeth was entertained
here by Griffith Hampden,Esq., who, to render Her
Majesty greater honour, cut an avenue, still called the
Queen's gap, through his wood, for a more convenient
approach to the house.