CAMPDEN, (Gloucestershire) on the edge of Worcestershire, under the side of hills, 71 cm. 87 mm. from London, is famous
for the mf. of stockings. All the Saxon Kgs, are said to have held a congress here in 689, about war and peace with the
Britons. It was incorporated by K. Ja. I. and is governed by a bailiffs, 12 burgesses, and a steward. Its Mt. is W. and
its Fairs Ash-Wed. April 23, July 25, and Nov. 30. The benefit of the two first bel. to the T. and that of the others to
the Ld. of the manor. The p. is 10 m. incompass, and the Ch. has as fine marble monuments, as most in England; of which
the most sumptuous, supported by 12 pillars, is for Sir Baptist Hicks, Visc. Campden, who gave 10,000 l. in his life-time
to charitable uses, and was a great benefactor to the T. by erecting an alms-ho. for 6 poor men, and 6 women, at 3 s. and
4d. a week, besides coals; and rebuilding the Mt.-place, &c. he having bought the manor of the posterity of Sir Tho.
Smith, to whom it had been granted by Q. Eliz. He dying without issue-male, the honour went to Ld. Noel, who married his
eldest daughter; and his posterity were afterwards created Es. of Gainsborough, with the title of Visc. Campden. Here are
2 ch. scs. one founded by James Thynne, Esq; who gave 1000 l. where 30 girls are cloathed, and taught to read, knit and
spin; and there is another ch. sc. for teaching 24 poor children to read. Mr. John Fereby also founded a grammar sc. and
endowed it with 60 l. a year for the master and usher. In fine, there are few, if any, country parishes have better
provision for the poor. Here are some remains of the noble house built by the above-mentioned Sir Baptist Hicks, which the
royalists burnt down in the civil wars, that it might not be a garrison for the Pt. Here was formerly a chantry.