Middlesex, a small county in the south of England, bounded by Hertfordshire, Essex, Buckinghamshire, the Thames, and the county of London (as established in 1888). On the east the river Lea and on the west the Colne and Brent form the natural boundaries. Although the area is only 233 sq. m., the pop. is large (792,314 in 1901), which is accounted for by the neighbourhood of the county and city of London. (For the ' ancient' county, including the districts now in London county, see the table at England, p. 253.) We first hear of Middlesex as a sub-kingdom dependent on Essex. Its position between the territory of the East Saxons and that of the West Saxons accounts for the name. The greater part of the surface was covered with a forest, of which Enfield Chase and Hampstead Heath are relics; but it was traversed by the great road which crossed the Thames, probably by a ford at Westminster, and led north-westward under the name of the Watling Street. There is but little tillage, except for market-gardens, and a great part of the county consists of grazing land, being occupied largely with villa residences, surrounded in many places with large parks. Brickfields occupy the western border, and the number of large suburban villages - without, however, any important town - is remarkable. Brentford, Uxbridge, and Ealing are to the west of London, and the first-named is usually reckoned the county town. Northward are Harrow, Enfield, and Tottenham. Eastward are Highgate and Hornsey. London, it may be well to note, was never in Middlesex.