What to See in England Part 6

=How to get there.=--Train from Waterloo. South-Western Railway.

=Nearest Station.=--Guildford.

=Distance from London.=--29-3/4 miles.

=Average Time.=--Varies from 50 minutes to 1-1/2 hours.

1st 2nd 3rd =Fares.=--Single 5s. 0d. 3s. 2d. 2s. 6d.

Return 8s. 9d. 5s. 6d. 5s. 0d.

=Accommodation Obtainable.=--"Angel," "White Lion," "Castle,"

etc.

=Alternative Route.=--South-Eastern and Chatham Railway from Charing Cross Station, and other South-Eastern and Chatham Railway termini.

Guildford High Street is without doubt one of the most picturesque in England. When one stands beneath the shadow of the quaint seventeenth-century town hall, with its great clock projecting half-way across the street towards the Corn Exchange, with its cla.s.sic stone portico, a most charming picture is spread before one. The steep street dropping down to the river Wey, with the great green slopes of the Hog's Back rising immediately beyond, framed in with quaint gabled fronts and projecting windows. The castle, though very much in ruins, still possesses its huge square keep standing upon an artificial mound. Both the keep and the other portions of the fortress were probably built in the reign of Henry II. Those who are endeavouring to read the history of the castle should bear in mind that in 1623 it was converted into a private dwelling-house, and this accounts for the red brick mullions in the upper windows of the keep. From the highest portion of the walls there is an exceedingly pretty view up the winding course of the Wey.

Abbot's Hospital, at the top of the High Street, was built in 1619. It is an exceedingly picturesque old structure of red brick, with conspicuously fine chimney-stacks. The buildings enclose a beautiful courtyard full of the richest architectural detail. The dining-hall is oak-panelled almost to the ceiling, and contains oak tables, benches, and stools. The chapel in the north-east corner contains an alms-box and a "Vinegar" Bible, and two of the windows are remarkable for their fine old gla.s.s.

The Angel Hotel in the High Street is built over a thirteenth-century crypt and contains much panelling.

The old stone grammar school in Spital Street was founded by Edward VI.

St. Mary's Church, in the centre of the town, has a painted roof to one of its chapels and some Saxon features.

[Ill.u.s.tration: HIGH STREET, GUILDFORD.

Showing the Town Hall, with its projecting clock, and the Corn Exchange.]

GAD'S HILL

THE HOME OF CHARLES d.i.c.kENS

=How to get there.=--Train from Victoria or Holborn Viaduct. South-Eastern and Chatham Railway.

=Nearest Station.=--Rochester. (Gad's Hill lies 1-1/2 miles from Rochester).

=Distance from London.=--31 miles.

=Average Time.=--Varies between 1 and 1-1/2 hours.

1st 2nd 3rd =Fares.=--Single 5s. 4d. 3s. 4d. 2s. 8d.

Return 9s. 4d. 6s. 8d. 5s. 4d.

=Accommodation Obtainable.=--At Rochester--"King's Head Hotel,"

"Royal Victoria Hotel," "Bull Hotel," "Royal Crown Hotel," etc.

=Alternative Route.=--Train from Charing Cross, Cannon Street, or London Bridge. South-Eastern and Chatham Railway.

Mr. Latham, the present occupier, kindly admits visitors on Wednesday afternoons.

Lovers of Charles d.i.c.kens naturally have a pleasure in seeing the places near Rochester so familiar to them through his works. A mile and a half from this ancient city with its cathedral and castle is Gad's Hill Place, where the great author resided from 1856 till the day of his death in 1870. When d.i.c.kens was a small boy the house had always a curious interest for him, for he thought it the most beautiful house he had ever seen. His father, then living in Rochester, used to bring him to look at it, and used to tell the little fellow that if he grew up to be a clever man he might own that or another such house. Gad's Hill Place is a comfortable old-fas.h.i.+oned house, built, it is said, about 1775. Facing it is a shrubbery containing huge cedars. This was connected with the grounds opposite by an underground pa.s.sage still existing, and here d.i.c.kens erected a chalet given to him by his friend Mr. Fechter, in which he worked till the time of his sudden death. Gad's Hill had a peculiar fascination for d.i.c.kens, for it was on the highway there that he obtained his wonderful insight into the character and manners of the various tramps and showmen he portrays in his books.

d.i.c.kens liked nothing better than taking his friends over this district.

He thought the seven miles between Rochester and Maidstone one of the most beautiful walks in England. d.i.c.kens would compress into infinitely few days an enormous amount of sight-seeing and country enjoyment: castles, cathedrals, lunches and picnics among cherry orchards and hop-gardens.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Photochrom Co., Ltd._

GAD'S HILL PLACE, NEAR ROCHESTER.

The home of Charles d.i.c.kens.]

IGHTHAM MOTE, KENT

=How to get there.=--Train from Victoria, Holborn Viaduct, and Ludgate Hill. South-Eastern and Chatham Railway.

=Nearest Station.=--Wrotham (2 miles from Ightham Mote).

=Distance from London.=--31 miles.

=Average Time.=--Varies between 1 to 1-1/2 hours.

1st 2nd 3rd =Fares.=--Single 5s. 1d. 3s. 2d. 2s. 6d.

Return 8s. 11d. 6s. 4d. 5s. 0d.

=Accommodation Obtainable.=--"The George and the Dragon,"

Ightham.

=Alternative Route.=--None.

In a lovely green hollow, surrounded by splendid old trees and velvet turf, stands Ightham Mote, a gem among old English moated manor-houses.

It is the home of Mr. J.C. Colyer-Fergusson, who allows the public to see the house and grounds on Fridays, between 11 and 1, and 2 and 6. A charge of 6d. is made.

Crossing a bridge over the moat, one enters the courtyard of the house through the great Tudor gate ill.u.s.trated here. Standing in this courtyard one can scarcely imagine anything more beautiful and picturesque. The great square battlemented tower, through which one has just pa.s.sed, is pierced with leaded windows, and its weather-beaten old walls are relieved by all sorts of creepers, which have been allowed to adorn without destroying the rich detail of stone and half-timber work.

Those who find pleasure in gazing on architectural picturesqueness can satisfy themselves in the richness of colour and detail revealed in this beautiful courtyard. The crypt with its fine groined roof, the chapel which dates from 1520, the drawing-room with its two hundred years old Chinese wall-paper--believed to be one of the earliest occasions when wall-papers were used in this country--and many other interesting features are shown to visitors.

The original Ightham Mote seems to have been built in 1180 by Sir Ivo de Haut. The Hall, it is known, was built by Sir Thomas Cawne in 1340.

Richard de Haut, who owned the place later on, was beheaded in 1484 at Pontefract. His estate was confiscated and came into the hands of Sir Robert Brackenbury, governor of the Tower, who lost his life at the battle of Bosworth. However, during the reign of Henry VII., Ightham once more came into the possession of the de Hauts; and it should be mentioned that throughout the seven centuries of its existence the house has always been inhabited.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Photochrom Co., Ltd._

IGHTHAM--THE MOAT AND BRIDGE.]

PENSHURST

=How to get there.=--Train from Charing Cross, Cannon Street, or London Bridge. South-Eastern and Chatham Railway.

=Nearest Station.=--Penshurst.

=Distance from London.=--32 miles.

=Average Time.=--1-1/2 hours.

1st 2nd 3rd =Fares.=--Single 5s. 0d. 3s. 3d. 2s. 6d.

Return 8s. 8d. 6s. 2d. 4s. 7d.