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 an extensive paper-mill; and the Great Western railway passes within half a mile of the church. Cleifden, here, which was the residence of the Prince and Princess of Wales, during the infancy of their son, George III., formerly belonged to a member of the Hamilton family, who fought under the celebrated 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, including the east window, and part of the west end of the nave, now forming a picturesque ruin. In the chancel of the former church were interred the remains of Sarah Milton, mother of the immortal poet, who resided here for some years.
Source: A Topographical Dictionary of England by Samuel Lewis Fifth Edition Published London; by S. Lewis and Co., 13, Finsbury Place, South. M. DCCC. XLV.
