Taplow (St. Nicholas)

TAPLOW (St. Nicholas), a parish, in the union of Eton, hundred of Burnham, county of Buckingham, 1 mile (E. N. E.) from Maidenhead; containing 744 inhabitants. The parish is separated from the county of Berks by the river Thames, on which is a large papermill; and the Great Western railway passes within half a mile of the church. Cleifden, here, was the residence of the Prince and Princess of Wales, during the infancy of their son, afterwards George III. The mansion at one time belonged to a member of the Hamilton family, who fought under the Duke of Marlborough, and who, on his return from the continent, indulged the fancy of figuring the battle of Blenheim, by plantations of trees, now in full vigour. The living is a rectory, valued in the king's books at £11. 18. 9., and in the patronage of the Crown; net income, £329. The church is a neat structure of brick, lately erected at some distance from the site of the old edifice, which was taken down, with the exception of part of the chancel and part of the west end of the nave, now forming a picturesque and interesting ruin.