NEWINGTON (STOKE), a parish in the Finsbury
division of the hundred of OSSULSTONE, county of MIDDLESEX,
3 miles (N. by E.) from London, containing
2670 inhabitants. The village consists principally of
a long street, extending from Kingsland road to Stamford-
hill, and on the high road from the metropolis to
Cambridge. The eastern side of this street is within the
parish of Hackney; and from the western side, near the
centre, branches off a street leading to the parish church.
These streets are paved and lighted with gas, and the
inhabitants are supplied with water from the New River,
which pursues a serpentine course through the parish,
in which are a continuous line of respectable private
houses, and several detached handsome residences,
among the latter the ancient manor-house is particularly
worthy of notice, as also a modern mansion near*
the church; the grounds around which are laid out
with much taste, and the New River winding through
them gives to the whole an agreeable and pleasing effect.
Here are several extensive nursery gardens, but no distinguishing
manufacture, the trade of the place depending
on the resident population, and on its situation as a
thoroughfare on a, great public road. The New River
Company are constructing a large reservoir, and erecting
a steam engine in the parish. Courts leet and baron
for the manor are held annually. The living is a rectory,
in the peculiar jurisdiction of the Dean and Chapter
of St. Paul's, rated in the king's books at £10, and
in the tpatronage of the Prebendary of Newington in
the Cathedral Church of St. Paul. The church, dedicated
to St. Mary, is a low building, re-erected by
William Patten, Esq., lessee of the manor, in 1563,
and since repeatedly enlarged. Considerable alterations
have recently been made, and a new galleryerected,
a steeple has also been added to the tower; it
contains several handsome monuments. There (are
places of worship for the Society of Friends, Independents,
and Unitarians. A charity school, with an
endowment arising from the benefactions of Thomas
Stock and others, was founded in the early part of the
last century, which, having fallen into decay, was revived
in 1790, with the aid of subscriptions and charity
sermons; and since that time an additional fund has
been formed of £1100 three per cent, consols., from
legacies, donations, and savings of income. Thirty
boys and twenty-five girls are educated and clothed,
and some of them apprenticed with a premium of £8.
The joint salaries of the master and mistress amount to
£100 per annum. A school for the education and
clothing of fourteen poor girls is supported by dissenters.
There is also an infant school. A brick gateway,
-with a pointed arch, on the north side of Church-street,
is the only part now standing of the buildings belonging
to the old manor-house. Near the church is a walk
between trees, called Queen Elizabeth's walk: and at
Newington resided her favourite, Robert Dudley, Earl
of Leicester, and his contemporary, Edward Vere, Earl
of Oxford. Dr. Isaac Watts, an eminent dissenting
divine and poet, after having passed the last thirty years
of his life at the mansion of Sir Thomas Abney, died
here November 25th, 1748. Among the other distinguished
residents in this parish, were the republican
general, Fleetwood; Daniel Defoe, author of
Robinson Crusoe; Adam Anderson, who wrote a valuable
" History of Commerce;" Thomas Day, the author
of the History of Sandford and Merton, and other popular
productions; Howard, the philanthropist; Dr.
John Aikin, compiler of the "General Biography;" and
his sister, the celebrated Mrs. Barbauld.