sustained by the final transference of the seat of government to London was partially compensated for by the rise of the ports of Southampton and Portsmouth, which have been an important element in its prosperity down to the present time. The principal other historical events of the shire are connected either with these two towns or with Winchester or the Isle of Wight, the only ex- ception of importance being the siege and capture of Basing House by the troops of Cromwell in 1645.
The principal monastic institutions in Hampshire, dissolved by Henry VIII., were the priory of St Swithin, who was bishop of Winchester from 852 to 862; the monastery of Hyde, outside the walls of Winchester, founded by King Alfred; the nunnery of St Mary's, Winchester ; St Elizabeth’s College, Winchester; the nunnery of Wherwell, founded by Elfrida ; the Augustinian priory of Southwick, founded by William of Wykeham ; the Premon- stratensian abbey of Tichficld, founded in the time of Henry LII.; the Augustinian priory of Twyneham, Christchurch, founded accord- ing to some authorities by King Athelstan; the Augustinian priory of Breamore, founded by Baldwin de Redvers; the nunnery of Romsey, founded by Edward the Elder about 910; the Augustinian priory of Mottisfont, endowed soon after the Conquest, but by whom is uncertain ; the Cistercian abbey of Beaulieu, founded by King John about 1204; the Cistercian abbey of Netley, founded in the time cf Henry I1I.; the Augustinian priory of St Denis, near Southampton, founded by Henry I.; the abbey of Quarr, Isle of Wight ; and the preceptory of Baddesley. The most important monastte remains are those at Winchester ; the priory church at Christchurch in the Norman and Perpendicular style ; the Norman church at Romsey ; the remains of Netley Abbey, with a church in the Early English style ; the ruins of Beaulicn Abbey, of which a gateway is in good preservation (the abbot’s house has been con- verted into a private residence, and the great hall or refectory, in the plain Early English style, is now used as a parish church); the ruins of the priory of St Denis, and the Norman church at Porchester, near Portsmouth. Corhampton church, near Exton, is the only Saxon church in Hampshire which is entire, but Saxon masonry is found in Headbourne Worthy chureh, which also con- tains an old brass of the 15th century. The prineipal other old churches not mentioned under Winchester, Southampton, and other towns, nor already referred to in connexion with monastie remains, are—in the Norman style, Chileombe, Hamble, Kingselere, and Tichbourne ; in the Norman style, with Early English additions, Alton, Basing, Bishop’s Sutton, Brockenhurst, Clatford, Hamble- don, Milford, and Warnford; in the Early English, Boldre, Cheriton, Grately, Supley, which is partly Perpendicular, and Thruxton, which contains a brass to Sir John Lisle (died 1407), affording the earliest example of complete plate armour in England ; and in the Perpendicular, Basingstoke, Fordingbridge, which is also partly Decorated, Tichfield, Selborne, and Warblington.
The principal old castles are Calshot Castle, built in the time of Henry VIII, and used by the coast-guard ; Carisbrook Castle (see Wight, Isle of); Hurst Castle, near Southampton, where Charles I. was for a short time imprisoned, now transformed into a fortress ; and Porchester Castle (see Portsmouth). The modern residences of the gentry are more than usually numerous.
Among the eminent persons connected with Hampshire may be mentioned Young, author of the Night Thoughts; Warton, author of the History of English Poctry; Dibdin, Bishop Wykeham, Pococke the traveller, Sir William Petty, Jonas HWanway, Bruncl, Gilbert White, John Keble, and Charles Dickens.
See the papers regarding the early history of South Britain by Dr Guest in the Archeological Journal, and in the Transactions of the Archaxological Institute ; Hampshire, extracted from Domesday Book, by Richard Warner, 1789; Moody, Hampshire in 1086 (1862), and the same author’s Antiquarian and Topographical Sketches, 1846, and Notes and Essays relating to the Countics of Hants and Iilts, 1851; R. Mudie, History of Hampshire, 2 vols., 1840; J. Duthie, Sketches of Hampshire, 1840; P. J. Martin, Geology of Hampshire, 1851; Michaelmarsh and its Antiquitics, 1867; Woodward’s im- portant History of Hampshire, 3 vols., 1869; and White’s History and Directory of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, 1879.
HAMPSTEAD, a suburb of London, is situated in the county of Middlesex, on the slope of Hampstead Ifill, 4 miles N.W. of the city. The village is irregu- larly built, and the streets are narrow and _ tortuous, but it has preserved more than any other London suburb its sylvan appearance, and is still noted for its fine groves and avenues. From the side of the hill there issue chalybeate springs, whose virtue was first dis- covered in the 17th century, and which at the beginning of last century rivalled those of Tunbridge Wells and Epsom in popularity. Their reputation, however, gradually declined after the middle of the century, and now the supply of mineral water has been greatly diminished by the cutting of deep drains and of railway tunnels. Hamp- stead Heath, an irregular sandy tract occupying the summit and northern slope of the hill, and extending to 240 acres, is much frequented by excursionists and picnic parties. The hill is the highest in the vicinity of the metropolis, being 443 feet above the level of the Thames, or 36 feet higher than the cross of St Paul’s. At one time the village was a favourite resort of poets and other men of letters; and among the more famous of its old taverns was the Flask Inn, now converted into a private residence, the meeting place of the Kit-Cat club, of which the more celebrated members were Addison, Steele, Richardson, Marlborough, and Walpole. The parish church of St Jokn, consecrated in 1747 and enlarged in 1844, is a plain brick structure in the Italian style with a picturesque tower. The graveyard contains a number of monuments of eminent persons, including those of Sir James Mackintosh, Joanna Baillie, and Constable the artist. Near the village a large militia barracks was erected in 1863, and there are a number of charitable institutions, including a soldiers’ daughters’ home, a sailors’ daughters’ home, an orphan working school, and the North London Consumptive Hospital. The population of the parish in 1871 was 32,281.
HAMPTON, a village in the county of Middlescx, England, is situated on the north bank of the Thames, 12 miles W.S.W. from Hyde Park Corner. The parish church erected in 1830, with a square tower at its western end, is without architectural merit, but the churchyard contains a number of interesting old monuments. Among the many fine residences in the vicinity is Garrick Villa, formerly, under the name of Hampton House, the residence of Garrick the famous actor. In the neighbourhood there area number of large pumping works for supplying London with water. The free grammar school founded in 1556 was reopened in 1878 as a middle-class school, for which the usual fees are charged. The population of the village in 1871 was 2207.
river stands Hampton Court Palace, one of the finest extant specimens of the Tudor style of architecture, and formerly a royal residence. It was originally erected Ly Cardinal Wolsey, who in 1515 received a lease of the old mansion and grounds for 99 years. As the splendour of the building seemed to awaken the cupidity of Henry VILL, Wolsey in 1526 thought it prudent to make him a present of it. It became Henry’s favourite residence, and he made several additions to the building, including the great hall and chapel in the Gothic style. Of the original five quadrangles only two now remain, but a third was erected by Sir Christopher Wren for William IIT. The fine gardens, extending to 44 acres, were laid out at the desire of William III. in the Dutch style, with elevated terrac2s, long shady walks, and a labyrinth called the “‘ Maze,” which is the source of great amusement to visitors. Bushy Park, opposite the palace gardens, is open to the public, and contains a celcbrated avenue of chestnut trees. The palace was sold by the parliament in 1641, but afterwards came into the hands of Cromwell ; and it continued to be one of the principal residences of the English sovereigns until the time of George II. It was the birthplace of Edward VI., and the meeting-place of the conference held in the reign of James I. to settle the dispute between the Presbyterians and the state clergy. It is now partly occupied by persons of rank in reduced circumstances ; but its state apartments, picture gallery, and gardens are open to the public free of charge. The celebrated cartoons of Raphael which it formerly possessed
have lately been removed to the South Kensington
