WIMBLEDON, a parish in the western division of
the hundred of BRIXTON, county of SURREY, 9 miles
(S. W.) from London, containing 2195 inhabitants. -.The
name of this place, anciently written Wymbandune',
Wymbaldon, and Wymbeldon, is supposed to have been
derived from one of its early proprietors. The principal
feature in the parish is Wimbledon Park, which
comprises about twelve thousand acres, and contains
a sheet of water covering a space of thirty acres. The
common is surrounded by seats of the  nobility and
gentry, and exhibits, at the south-west angle, a circular
encampment with a single ditch, including a surface of
seven acres; the trench is very deep and perfect. It
is supposed to mark the site of a battle, fought in 568>
between Ceawlin, King of the West Saxons, andEthelbert,
King of Kent. At the north-east angle of the common
is the village, consisting of one street, containing
many respectable houses; and in detached situations
are numerous handsome seats and pleasant villas. In
the immediate vicinity of Wimbledon is a well, the water
The living is a rectory, in the peculiar jurisdiction
of the Archbishop of Canterbury, rated in the king's
books at £35. 2. 11., and in the patronage of the Dean
and Chapter of Worcester. The church, dedicated to
St. Mary, and situated near the entrance of the village,
was erected in 1787, on the site of a former, which had
fallen to decay. It is a neat edifice, in the Grecian style
of architecture; in the east window are some remains
of painted glass, representing the arms of the families
of Leeds, Salisbury, Dorset, &c.; and in the chufchyar'd,
which is watched by a society formed for that
purpose upwards of eight years ago, are several handsome
mausoleums. There are places of worship for
Independents and Wesleyan Methodists. A National
school, in which one hundred and twenty boys and fiftygirls
are instructed,  is supported by voluntary contributions':
the school-house, with a garden and field annexed,
were given by John, Earl Spencer, in 1773 In
1650, Dorothy Cecil, daughter of Edward, Lord Viscount
Wimbledon, gave a rent-charge of £22. 2. 6.,
for teaching' poor children, and keeping her father's
tomb in repair.