David Roberts, a map of the parish was made, a copy of which is given here. So far as is known this is the first official map of Ealing. On it are marked the names of those who then occupied the more important houses. The Princess Amelia was at Gunnersbury, the Bishop of Durham at Elm Grove, the Duke of Marlborough at Ealing Grove, Thos. Gurnell, Esq., at Pittshanger, Sir Thomas Edwards at a house in Drum Lane, which has now disappeared, Dr. Goodenough at Coldhawe, Lord Weymouth at Ealing Park, Sir Charles Gould at the Hollies, Sir Francis Burdett at the further house on Castlebeare Hill, and General Elliot at the Grange.

CHAPTER XII.

A Careful Retrospect.

A Topographical Sketch, with Brief Notes.---Ealing 1831-2.

ERHAPS few places can show such extraordinary development, and extensive topographical changes during the Victorian era, as Ealing. The opening years of the century dawned upon a picturesque, rural Ealing, with fewer than 3,000 inhabitants,' but numbering among these not a few who were men of distinction. The Parish Church was the only consecrated place of public worship; the workhouse and alms-houses the only public buildings; and the ancient Cross House the scene of all parochial business. Between the modest village and the metropolis stretched some miles, and no railway existed to bridge over the gap, only the lumbering stage-coaches ran. But the place by no means lacked interest. Splendid memories of the Princess Amelia holding court at Gunnersbury, had not faded away; the Duke of Kent, the father of our gracious Queen, was living at Castle Hill Lodge, surrounded by his staff. The fire and enthusiasm of the Volunteer movement stirred the air. Bright-haired lads made the "Nicholas hit" famous in the Middlesex tennis courts, all unconscious of the greater mark some of them should presently leave in

1 These figures do not include the population of Old Brentford.

the nation's history. Then a darker side to the picturethat terrible tragedy in the House of Commons in 1812, coming as a home-thrust, and clouding the community with the sorrow of a personal loss; and later, the gay assemblies at Ealing Park, when the village lanes would be blocked with the smart equipages of persons of fashion on their way to admire Mrs. Lawrence's beautiful gardens, then in the zenith of their fame. All this local colour belongs to olden days when Ealing had not put on her smart suburban dress and manner. When there were bright cornfields and wild roses, shady pools and clear bubbling springs, in her midst, and groups of ancient elms, with flocking rooks making noise in the branches as busy as the children at play on the pretty village green.

A picture of rural Ealing as it was in the second year of William IV (1832), five years before her Majesty came to the throne, is preserved in the following topographical sketch, for the facts of which we are indebted to the careful notes of Mr. James Hayles, an old Ealing resident. At this time, 1832, the population was 7,783, and Sir Herbert Oakley was Vicar of the parish. Starting from the Acton boundary, Bollo Bridge, on the north (right) side, was Fordhook, in which Lady Byron was living; on the south side, stood Elm-Grove, occupied by Lady Carr, whose first husband, Sir Spencer Perceval, had purchased the estate; Cleal's tiny cot is to-day the solitary survival of some ruinous cottages which stood near. Close to the Grove were two more houses, the one, Grove House, had a small brewery attached, and a pond lay at the side. No more buildings came until the Uxbridge Road was reached; here, at the corner, was a saddler's shop, then beyond, where Florence Terrace is now, were three modest dwellings near to the Bell Inn, whose proprietor1 had been coachman to

1 Mr. William Williams.