The soil is gravelly at a little distance below the surface; the air remarkably salubrious and pure, and free from fogs. The situation has been frequently recommended to asthmatical and consumptive persons. The water is excellent. The river Coln passes the western end of the town, in a direction nearly southward, and is, by means of the mills which it works, one of the chief sources of wealth and prosperity to the neighbourhood.

The elevation of the town, in relation to the other parts of the county, and also to the metropolis, is considerably higher, than any one, entering it directly from London, would suppose. The surface of the ground on which it stands, is at its lowest depression, ninetyseven feet eight inches above low water mark at Brentford bridge*, and six feet above the basin of the Grand Junction canal at Paddington; and, consequently, considerably higher than most parts of London. Yet from the elevated grounds to the north-east, it is protected, in the severest seasons of the year, from the coldest winds that blow; and its atmosphere is esteemed as mild and agreeable as any within the neighbourhood of London.

*Middleton's Survey of Middlesex, 2nd. edit. p. 530.

The buildings are chiefly of brick, and form one main street, about a mile in length, with two branches on the south side, and two roads leading northward to the common, near each extremity of the town. The principal street is called London Street, or High Street, and runs nearly south-east and north-west. The descent is very gentle, and nearly equal through the whole length of the town, till we arrive at Page's or Pease's Lane, one of the roads branching off to the north, where, for about the distance of fifty or sixty yards, the road becomes much steeper, till we reach one branch of the Coln, which goes directly across the main street, and works a large flour-mill, the property of Mr. John Mercer. From thence the road continues descending gently till we pass the bridge over the Grand Junction canal, and the high-bridge which crosses the principal arm of the Coln. Opposite the bridge, on the north side, stand the houses of Mr. Osborn, and D. C. Webb, Esq. and here the river works two large flour-mills, the property of D. C. Webb, Esq. and Thomas Dagnall, Esq. for many years rented by Mr. Samuel Hull, Mr. William Hull, and the late Mr. John Hull.

The second principal street is Windsor

7

Street, formerly called the Lynch, or Linch*, and still earlier in some old title-deeds, Catsditch. It runs nearly south-west from the middle of the town, and immediately from the side of the market-house. The township is bounded on its south-east side, by a third street called Vine Street †, formerly Blind Lane, or Woolwind Lane. This street marks out the limits of the borough; but the town extends considerably to the east of Vine Street. This part however is in Hillingdon parish, and is called Hillingdon-end. From this street eastward the town is neither paved, lighted, nor watched, and is, in its parochial character, perfectly distinct from the township contributing to the highways, and to the support of the poor of Hillingdon.

The Common.

On the north and east of the town, at the

* There is a tradition, that this name is derived from the circumstance of a Bishop Lynch having suffered martyrdom there in popish times: but we have not been able to ascertain any foundation for such a conjecture.

There are several gardens on the eastern side of this lane, which have long been called the Vineyard. Tradition has brought the name down to us, but without any information relative to its origin. It is worthy of remark, that in the record of Domesday there is mention of "One Acre of Vineyard in the Manor of Colham." It is not improbable that this is the spot. It is well known, that many centuries ago vines were commonly cultivated in England, and this must have been as favourable a situation as any in the whole manor.