The Catharine-wheel, a sign in the Borough, and at other inns and public
houses, and the Catharine-wheel in fireworks, testify this saint’s
notoriety in England. Besides pictures and engravings representing her
pretended marriage with Christ, others, which are more numerous,
represent her with her wheel. She was, in common with other papal
saints, also painted in churches, and there is still a very fine, though
somewhat mutilated, painting of her, on the glass window in the chancel
of the church of West Wickham, a village delightfully situated in Kent,
between Bromley and Croydon. The editor of the _Every-Day Book_ went
thither, and took a tracing from the window itself, and now presents an
engraving from that tracing, under the expectation that, as an ornament,
it may be acceptable to all, and, as perpetuating a relic of antiquity,
be still more acceptable to a few. The figure under St. Catharine’s feet
is the tyrant Maxentius. In this church there are other fine and perfect
remains of the beautifully painted glass which anciently adorned it. A
coach leaves the Ship, at Charing-cross, every afternoon for the Swan,
at West Wickham, which is kept by Mr. Crittel, who can give a visiter a
good bed, good cheer, and good information, and if need be, put a good
horse into a good stable. A short and pleasant walk of a mile to the
church the next morning will be gratifying in many ways. The village is
one of the most retired and agreeable spots in the vicinity of the
metropolis. It is not yet deformed by building speculations.
_St. Catharine’s Day._