The Church, dedicated to St. John Baptist, is a large, handsome structure, built of stone and flint, having a lofty square tower adorned with pinnacles, and containing eight bells. It consists of a nave, with north and south aisles, and three chancels. The east end of the north aisle is called Heron's Chancel. The total length is 130 feet, and the breadth 74. From the arms of Archbishop Courtney on each side of the north door, and those of Archbishop Chichele on each side of the west door, the rebuilding of it was probably begun by the former, and finished by the latter, who, at least contributed largely to the work. The old front at the west end of the south aisle appear to be of the same date it is an octagon, with quatrefoils, having a lion's head in the centre of one, and roses in two others. Here was formerly much painted glass, but during the Usurpation a man was hired at 2s. 6d. a day to destroy it.

In the middle chancel, which contains some ancient wooden stalls, is a handsome monument of black marble, supported by Corinthian pillars, for Archbishop Grindall, who died in 1583. He is represented as lying at full length in his robes, with a long black beard, forked and curling, and there is a whiteness in the pupils of his eyes to denote his blindness.

In the south, or as it is sometimes called the Bishops' chancel, is the monument of Archbishop Whitgift, supported by Corinthian columns of black marble; between which lies his effigy in his robes. He died in 1610, aged 73. Against the south wall of the same chancel is the splendid monument of Archbishop Sheldon, who died in 1677. The figure of that prelate in a recumbent attitude of white marble, is a master-piece of sculpture: the head is particularly admired. The whole was the work of an Englishman, Joseph Latham, mason to the city of London, and was entirely finished by English workmen about the year 1683 *. This circumstance, confirmed by a manuscript discovered by Vertue, deserves to be known, as, from the low state of the arts in this country at that period, the credit of executing

Present State of England, 1683. 12mo. p. 152.

this work has been unjustly assigned to foreigners*. In this chancel are also the grave-stones of the Archbishops Wake, who died in 1731; Potter in 1747, and Herring in 1757.

In the north chancel is a large tomb of free-stone, to the memory of Nicholas Heron, Esq. who died in 1563. On it are represented in alto-relievo the figures of himself, his wife, five sons, and eight daughters. Here is also an altar-tomb to the memory of Ellis Davy, founder of a hospital in this town, which bears his name. He died in 1455.

At the east end of the nave is a monument with a column of white marble, designed by Glover, the author of Leonidas, to the memory of Philippa, wife of James Bourdieu, Esq. of Combe, in this parish, who died in 1780.

In the church-yard is the tomb of Constantine Phipps, the first Lord Mulgrave, who died in 1775. Here too Alexander Barkley, or Barclay, author of the satirical poem intituled The Ship of Fools, was buried June 10, 1552.

In this church were two chantries, dedicated to St. Mary and St. Nicholas. The first was founded by Sir Reginald de Cobham of Sterborough, who vested the presentation in twelve principal inhabitants of Croydon. Its income at the Dissolution was 161. 1s. 2d. The other was founded by John Stafford, Bishop of Bath and Wells, who in 1443, was translated to the see of Canterbury, and its revenues amounted to 141. 14s. 6d. per annum.

Whitgift's Hospital was thus named after its founder Archbishop Whitgift, who began in 1596, to erect this building, which he finished in 1599, at the expense of 27001. He then endowed it with lands to the annual value of 1851. for the maintenance of a warden, schoolmaster, and twenty-eight poor brethren and sisters, or a greater number, not exceeding forty, if the revenues should admit of it. The founder vested in the see of Canterbury the nomination of the members, who must be at least sixty years old; but inhabitants of Croydon and Lambeth are to be preferred. To this hospital belongs a small, but commodious chapel, in

Ducarel's Hist. of Croydon. Append. p. 81.

which is a portrait of the founder, painted on board; and adjoining to it is the school, which forms part of the archbishop's charity, and the house for the master. The warden's apartments over the hall and inner gate-house are handsomely wainscotted with oak, and were reserved by the founder for his own use as long as he lived. It is directed by the statutes, that the rents of the lands belonging to this institution shall never be raised, but the revenues have been considerably increased by the fines received on the renewal of leases, and by several benefactions.

An Alms-house for seven poor people was founded in the reign of Henry VI. by Ellis Davy, citizen and mercer of London. The revenues of this charity originally 181. per annum, are now increased to 731. 2s. The house was some years since rebuilt.

In another edifice called the Little Alms-house, the parish poor are usually placed; and in 1775, some new buildings were erected for the reception of twelve poor inhabitants, with a sum of money given by the late Earl of Bristol, and a voluntary subscription of the inhabitants.

The summer assizes have long been held alternately at Guildford and Croydon. In 1806, the building here appropriated to that purpose being old and inconvenient, an Act of Parliament was obtained for empowering the trustees to sell 237 acres of waste land, which by the Inclosure Act had been vested in their hands for the use of the inhabitants, and with the produce to erect a courthouse fit for the reception of the judges of assize, to rebuild the market-house, and to purchase a piece of land for a burial-ground. A handsome and commodious Town Hall has accordingly been erected from the designs of Mr. Cockerell, and the trustees are engaged in effecting the other improvements.

A Navigable Canal from Croydon, connecting with the Grand Surrey Canal at Rotherhithe, was begun in 1801, and opened in October 1809. In the former year also commenced the construction of an iron rail-way from Wandsworth to this place, which has since been extended to Merstham, near Reigate. The facilities

thus