BEDDINGTON,

SURRY.

THE village of Beddington lies nearly two miles to the westward of Croydon, and about eleven from Westminster bridge. The country around it is charmingly diversified, the inequality of the grounds producing a singular variety of rural scenes. The church, and the old mansion belonging to the family of the Carews, are particularly interesting. This manor-house is situated near the church, and forms three sides of a square: it is built of brick; the centre consists of a large and lofty hall, with a beautiful roof of wood in the Gothic style; the north wing is a mere shell, its interior having been destroyed by fire about the year 1709, soon after the house had been rebuilt in its present form. The great entrance to the hall has an ancient lock of the most curious workmanship, the keyhole is concealed by a shield charged with the arms of England. The benefice of Beddington formerly belonged to Bermondsey abbey, being given to the foundation in the year 1159, by Sibella de Wateville and Ingram de Fountenays; it afterwards became vested in the Carew family; upon the attainder of sir Nicholas Carew, the gift of the rectory was assumed by the crown. Henry VIII. presented to it in 1542. The rectory of Beddington, with

D

1

BEDDINGTON.

the son of sir Nicholas, before mentioned, who, soofi after he became possessed, rebuilt the mansion-house in a magnificent manner, and laid out the gardens, which he planted with choice fruit-trees, which he spared no cost to procure from foreign countries; he is said to have planted here the first orange trees that were seen in Engand. The church is dedicated to St. Mary. It is in the diocese of Winchester, and in the deanery of Ewell: it consists of a nave, chancel, and two aisles; at the west end is a square tower, with a strong butment on each side. This tower contains a large pointed window, filled with tracery. The present church was probably erected about the time of Richard II., the style of its architecture being of that age; at the west end of each aisle are several ancient wooden stalls with lifting seats, which are carved on the under part, with shields and other devices. The nave is separated from the aisles by plain pillars of good workmanship, the font, which is large, is of an early date; its form is square; the sides are ornamented with a range of round-headed arches; the centre is supported by a massive column, and the corners by light shafts, with ornamented bases. In the chancel are many brass figures of the Carew family, inserted into flat stones; most of the inscriptions are illegible. At the south-east corner of the church is a small aisle or chapel, erected by sir Richard Carew, for the sepulture of the family: he was the first interred here in the year 1520; his afterwards to have been granted to Walter Gorges, who