MAIDENHEAD, Description and History from 1868 Gazetteer

MAIDENHEAD, a market town and municipal borough in the parishes of Bray and Cookham,county Berks, having separate jurisdiction, though locally in the hundred of Bray and Cookham, 7 miles N.W. of Windsor, 14 N.E. of Reading, and 26 from London, or 22½ by the Great Western railway, which has a station here. There is also a branch line to Oxford. The town, situated on the western bank of the Thames, is approached from the London road by a stone bridge of seven arches, built in 1772 at an expense of £20,000, to replace a wooden one of the reign of Edward III., for the repair of which a tree was allowed annually out of Windsor Forest. There is also a bridge of 10 brick arches, carrying the line of the Great Western railway across the Thames. With the exception of its river-front, the town is encircled by a fertile country, including the heights of Taplow and the dark belting wood of Clifden on the eastern bank of the Thames. Its ancient name was South Allington, or Elington, to distinguish it from North Elington, now North Town. It afterwards was called Maiden Hythe, of which its present name is a corruption. The first charter was granted in the reign of Edward III, for the purpose of keeping the bridge in proper repair; and, by a recent Act, the corporation were authorised to transfer the tolls received from vessels passing under the bridge to the traffic on the road over it.

The government of the town is vested in a mayor, 4 aldermen, and 12 common council, two of the aldermen retiring from office in rotation every three years, and four of the council every year. The town consists chiefly of one long street on the Old Bath-road, extending from the bridge to the bottom of Folly-hill. It contains a townhall, with market house beneath, a small gaol for the temporary confinement of prisoners, two commercial banks, one for savings, and a literary and scientific institute. The workhouse for the Cookham Poor-law Union is situated within the borough. The town is lighted with gas and paved, and is the great thoroughfare from the metropolis to Bath, Bristol, and the West of England. Petty sessions are held here, and it is a polling place for the county. There are two large breweries, flour mills, malt kilns, and an extensive timber trade.

The living is a sinecure incumbency* in the diocese of Oxford, value £172. The church, dedicated to St. Andrew and Mary Magdalene, is a modern structure, rebuilt in 1826, standing on the site of a chantry, said to have been founded by Queen Margaret, wife of Edward I. It has lately been repaired at a cost of nearly £500. The Independents, Wesleyan Methodists, Baptists, Primitive Methodists, and Society of Friends, have each a place of worship. There is a Sunday-school for girls, endowed by Lady Pocock with property producing £81 per annum. Spoore's school has a revenue of £82; Seymor's, £18; and the National school an income from endowments of £60. Here is an almshouse for 8 poor couples, erected and endowed by James Smythe, Esq., in 1639, annual income, £48. There are also considerable sums left by Sir Isaac and Lady Pocock for the benefit of the poor, and rewards for servants of good character. The parochial charities amount altogether to £793. There are British and infant schools.

On the river, at a short distance above the town, is a lock of solid stone; used for working a large corn mill, called the Ray Mill Lock. This was the birth-place of Rickman the architect. It was at the Greyhound Inn here that Charles I. took final leave of his children. Ives Place, Northfield House, Loggan House, and Ray Lodge are the principal residences. Wednesday is market day. Fairs are held on the Wednesday in Whitsun-week, 29th September, and 30th November.

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868)
Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003]