WITHAM, (Essex) 3 m. from Kelvedon, 32 cm. 37 mm. from London, is a neat-built, pleasant T. with several fine inns, it
being a great thoroughfare to Harwich, and to the farthest parts of Essex and Suffolk. It was built by Edward the son of
K. Alfred, commonly called K. Edward the Elder; and in this T. and its neighbourhood, there are now fine seats of many
gentry of good fortune and families, who in the summer come hither to drink its chalybeate water, called the Spaw, and
have assemblies here once a month. K. Stephen gave this manor, and the half H. of Witham, to the Kts.-templars, at the
Diss. of which order in the R. of Edward II. it came to the Kts.-hospitallers, who held it till the general Diss. of the
mons. when it came to the crown. The Southcotes family have had a seat near the Ch. ever since Sir John Southcote, judge
of the Q's-bench in the R. of Q. Eliz. who was interred in it. Here is a Mt. on T. Fair Sept, 29, Nov. 1. and Trinity-M.