STORTFORD-BISHOPS, (Hertfordshire) 25 cm. 28 mm. from London, stands on the b. of Essex, on a hill declining to the r. Stort, over which it had a ford; and was called Bishops, because it was given by Will. the Conq. to the Bps. of London, who held their courts-leet and baron at the manor of Padmore, at the N. end of the T. 'Tis a considerable well-built place, full of good inns, being a thoroughfare to Cambridge, Newmarket, and St. Edmundsbury. 'Tis built in form of a cross, with four streets pointing E. W. N. and S. and stands in a dry soil, and pleasant healthful air. K. John made it a corp. impowering them to chuse their own officers; and it once sent members to Pt. 7 or 8 times, a privilege which it has lost long ago. On the E. side of the r. stood that formerly called Waymour-Castle, built by the Conqueror, who gave it, with the T. to the See of London; and that the Bps. might be the better able to maintain it, granted them therewith several lands and manors, which he charged with certain rents yearly, for castle-guard, that are still paid to the Bp. by several places; for though the castle was demolished by K. John, because the Bp. of London was one of the three prelates that executed the pope's interdict against the realm, yet when he restored the exiled Bps. to their Sees, to make his peace with the pope, he let the Bp. resume that possession, which his successors have enjoyed here ever since, appropriating the ruins of the demolished castle to their own benefit. In the said castle there was a deep dungeon, into which Bp. Bonner put many good protestants; but the prison-house was sold, and pulled down in 1649, with the bridge leading to it, and a fair inn built just by, with the materials. The Ch. which stands on a hill, has a handsome tower, with a fine ring of 8 bells, and a spire covered with lead 50 feet high, and had an organ so long ago as Henry VII. Here are 2 almshs. but the chief ornament of the place is its grammar-sc. built 40 years ago by contribution of the gentry, both of this Co. and Essex. The scholars have a particular gallery in the Ch. and there is a library, to which every one that leaves the sc. gives a book. The sc. stands in the high-street upon arches, under which are shops; and a Mt. is held on Th. Here are Fairs on May 27, Holy-Th. and Michaelmas-day. On the E. side of the r. there is a spring, called St. Osyth's Well, the water of which is recommended for sore eyes. The manor of the rectory was anciently granted to the precentors of St. Paul's, who have been successively Lds. of it, and from time to time have held courts for it; and it is let by lease for lives to John Sandford, Esq;. The Bp. of London appoints a bailiff here, for what is called his liberty, and to him are directed sheriff's warrants to be executed in this p. the two Hadhams, Albury, the three Pelhams, Meesdon- Datchworth, Ashwell, Stevenage, Gravely, and Chisfield. The bailiff has a right to strays, and the toll of corn and cattle in its Mt. and Fairs. In the castle-garden have been found some Roman coins.