soon afterwards restored, and ornamented with much painted glass, chiefly at the expence of the Rev. Mr. Taylor, then vicar, and the neighbouring gentry. The original structure was in the cathedral form; but the tower, which rose from the centre, has been replaced by a cupola.

In the parish of LATTON, about three miles south from the Church, was a PRIORY for Augustine Canons, dedicated to St. John Baptist. The time of its foundation is unknown; but it was certainly built before 1270, as it is mentioned in the Lincoln taxation for that year. The Priory Church consisted of a nave and transept, in the pointed style; the remains are now used as a barn. The value of its possessions are not recorded: Henry the Eighth granted them to Sir Henry Parker.

NETHER HALL, in the parish of Roydon, near the confluence of the rivers Lea and Stort, was formerly the seat of the Colt family, which appears to have been settled here as early as the reign of Edward the Fourth. The ancient mansion, which had been converted into a farm-house, was demolished about the year 1773; the gateway only being left standing, through the strength. of the work, which rendered its destruction too expensive. This remain is of brick, and consists of two floors, with an half hexagon tower on each side the entrance: the upper part of one of the towers has lately fallen, and the space between them is in a very ruinous condition. Each floor is occupied by only one room, measuring about twenty-seven feet by twenty-three and a half, and lighted by large windows: the ceiling of the upper story has fallen in. The ceiling of the first story is sustained on wainscot arches, resting in front on three blank shields, and a truss composed of a radiant rose; and at the back on four trusses; the first and third of which represent griffins; the second and fourth, a bear and ragged staff: the most western of the shields is supported by two horses; the second is held by a spread-cagle, supported by a lion and unicorn; and the third rests on a lioness and bull ducally crowned. Near the chimney is a colt's head, in an ornament of the carving. This story has been wainscotted to about the height of eight feet: above the wainscot, on the plaster, are various

various figures in compartments, wretchedly painted, and purporting to represent the most eminent personages of Sacred, Profane, and Fabulous History. On the summit of the gateway are some remains of two curiously twisted chimnies; and beneath the windows, above the entrance, is a machicolation, and a trefoil ornament, with shields and fleurs des lis. The whole building was surrounded by a moat; and the moat itself encompassed by a wall. Several of the Colts, who are supposed to have erected this mansion, are buried in the Church at Roydon. Thomas Colt, Esq. was employed on some foreign embassy by Edward the Fourth.

EPPING

Is an irregular town, to the north of Epping Forest, consisting of two parts; one round the Church, called Epping-Upland; the other, nearly a mile and a half south-east from the Church, called EPPING STREET. The latter is by far the largest, and consists of one wide street, nearly a mile in length, situated on the high road to Newmarket, &c. on a ridge of hills, that extends to a considerable distance north and south. Here the market is held: the chief commodities exposed for sale, are butter and poultry, which are mostly purchased for the use of the Metropolis. At the west end of the street is a small new Chapel; and near the middle are the Shambles: the latter are partly decayed, and have a very mean appearance. The inns and public-houses are numerous. The number of houses in both divisions, as returned under the late act, was 315; that of inhabitants 1726. This manor was part of the endowment bestowed on Waltham Abbey by Earl Harold.

EPPING FOREST is an extensive tract of good woodland, deriving its present name from the town of Epping, but formerly called Waltham Forest, and in more remote ages, the Forest of Essex. Since it was known by the latter appellation, it has, however, been greatly curtailed, many thousand acres having been grubbed up, and the land cultivated. This Forest is under the jurisdiction of a Lord Warden and four Verderers: the former title is hereditary in the family of Sir James Tilney Long, Bart.

The Verderers are elected by the freeholders of the county, and retain their offices during life. The forest rights are as various as the tenures of the different manors that surround it. In this forest, though within twelve miles of London, wild stags are yet found; and a stag is annually turned out on Easter Monday, under an establishment patronized by the principal merchants of the City. The stag-hunt is well supported: the kennel for the hounds, and the building belonging to the hunt, have been lately rebuilt at an expence of several thousand pounds.

COPPED HALL, the seat of John Conyers, Esq. is justly ranked among the greatest ornaments of this county. Its grounds are boldly irregular; and have been highly improved by numerous groves and plantations, which crown the eminences, and sweep over the sides of the hills. Grand and very extensive distances are also presented from different stations; and it may be truly said, that Nature has liberally decorated the demesne with many beautiful and picturesque features. The House, a neat white brick building, stands on a knoll, near the centre of a large park, which, with the contiguous lands included in this estate, compose an area of 4000 acres. Above 400 acres of this land was, about thirty years ago, an unprofitable waste, covered with hornbeam, pollards, brush-wood, &c. and infested with gangs of wood and deer-stealers, whose race had haunted the close covers of Epping Forest for centuries, and was in the constant pra tice of committing depredations. The praise-worthy reformation of many of these outcasts has been effected by a laudable plan of the present proprietor of Copped Hall, who, after suffering greatly from their dissolute manners, enticed them to live in small cottages which he had built on purpose, at a distance from each other, and approriated to each a proper quantity of garden ground. He also provided them with labour, and agreed to supply them with firewood. By this judicious scheme, the idle have been inured to habits of industry, and a large tract of waste land rendered subservient

The brick-work of this house is much admired for the closeness and neatness of its jointing, and for the squareness and symmetry of the bricks: the latter were all cast in iron moulds.