PREFACE iii–ix. PART I.—THE LAND. CHAPTER I.—ABBEY LANDS.—Fabulous story of Edgar’s grant; 1–19 Forged Charters of Edgar and Dunstan; the Dom Boc or Domesday Book; the Middlesex Forest and its Rivers—the Fleete, the Tybourn, and the Brent; Tybourn and Westbourn the same streams; Site of Paddington; Roman Roads; Concord between the Abbot of Westminster and Richard and William of Paddington; the Abbot Walter’s Anniversary and its Modification; Probable origin of the term “Bread and Cheese Lands;” Mode of dispensing the proceeds of Abbey Lands in the 12th and 13th Centuries; the Ecclesiastical Taxation of Pope Nicholas; the whole of the Temporalities of Paddington given in Charity CHAPTER II.—THE MANORS OF WESTBOURN AND 19–27 PADDINGTON.—Definition of the word Manor; neither Westbourn nor Paddington mentioned in Domesday; Probably included in the Manor of Tybourn; Quo Warranto respecting them; Walter of Wenlock fined for acquiring lands here without the licence of the King; three Inquisitiones ad quod Damnum tempus Edward Second; Grant of a head of water to the Mayor and Citizens of London CHAPTER III.—THE POSSESSIONS OF THE CHURCH, THE CROWN 28–59 AND THE PEOPLE.—Division of the ancient Manor of Kensington; Grant of St. Mary’s Lands to the Dean and Chapter of Westminster; the Manor of Knightsbridge and Westbourn; the Manor of Notting-Barns; Purchase and Bequest of this Manor by the Countess of Richmond; Property of Lord Sands and Thomas Hobson purchased by the Crown; Elizabeth Massey; Inquisition, shewing that the Manor of Notting Barns was a portion of the Parish of Paddington; Westbourn purchased by Henry the VIII, of Robert White; other Lands purchased by the Crown; Westbourn and other Lands sold to Dr. Thomas Hues, and left by him to Merton College, Oxford; Description of a portion of this property, once in the possession of Lord Sands, and belonging to Chelsea Manor—but forming no part of Chelsea Parish; What has become of Dr. Hues’s bequest? the Manor of Malurres; Ecclesiastical Valuation of Henry the VIII; the Manor of Paddington valued at £19 per annum; Dissolution of Religious Houses; Lease of the Manor and Rectory of Paddington to Sir Edward Baynton and his wife; Grant of the Manor to the Bishop of London, one-fifth being reserved for the uses of the Crown; Descent of the Manor of Paddington as given by Lysons; additions to his description; Sale of this Manor by the Parliament; Dr. Sheldon’s Lease of it, and the Rectory, to his nephews, after the Restoration; leased to Sir John Frederick for three lives; Property of private owners; Commons and Waste CHAPTER IV.—CHARITY LANDS.—Abstract of Returns made to 60–71 the House of Commons, 1786–88; Report of the Commissioners for Enquiry concerning Charities, 1826; Bread and Cheese Lands; Johnson’s Charity; Dr. Compton’s Charity; Margaret Robertson’s Charity; Alms’ Houses and