WALTHAM ABBEY, or WALTHAM HOLY CROSS, Essex, a market-town, in the perish of Waltham Abbey, is situated on the river Lea, which is here separated into several channels, some of which flow through the town, in 51° 41' N. lat., 0° 1' W. long., distant 13 miles N. by E. from London by road, and 15 miles by the Eastern Counties railway. The population of the town io 1851 was 2329.
The first notice of Waltham occurs in the reign of Caunte, whose stauderd.bearer, Teel, founded here a religious house with two priests.
Harold, afterwards king of Engl.-mad, enlarged the foundation of Tovi in 1062, rebuilt the church, and established a school of learning. When Harold fell In the battle of Hastings in 1066, his body was broneht to Waltham for interment, and a tomb erected over his burial-place. In the reign of Henry IL, in 1177, the dignity of abbot was conferred upon the head of the eatablishment. Ileury 111. fre quently resided here, and granted to the Inhabitants the privilege of a market and a fair. The town is lighted with gas. The nave of the conventual church, with its side-aisles, forms the body of the present church. The extent of the original fabric May be estimated by the fact, that Harold's tomb, which was in the choir or in a chapel beyond it, stood about 120 feet eastward from the termination of the present building. The church Is about 90 feet in length, and, including the
eideealelee, 48 feet in breadth. It is in the Norman style, with round massive seers dividing the nave from the elde-aisles, semicircular arches, and zigzag enrichments. The roof id modern. At the west end of the church is a heavy square embattled stone tower, SG feet high, bearing the date 1553. From the south side of the clauch projects a chapel, under which is a flue crypt. The building was repaired and restored a few yeirs back; it is of great architectural and antiquarian interest. An entrance-gateway which reinaiue is in a much later style of arch:tecture than the church. There are thapele for Baptiste and Wesleyan letimodists; National and British schools; a school, found el by Mr. Leverton, for the education and clothing of 20 boys and 20 girls ; a literary and scientific Institute; and a working-men s mental and moral imbproventent society. The powder-mills belonging to government employ many hands ; there are ale° breweries, flour mills, malt-kilns, and a manufactory of pereuseimecaps. A county court Is held. The market is on Tuesday. Faire are held on May 14th, and on September 25th and 26th.