Holiday Haunts.

HOLIDAY HAUNTS .

LONDON , BRIGHTON , AND SOUTH COAST RAILWAY .

LONDON Bridge is the great central station of tho Loudon , Brighton , ancl South Coast Euilway . Prom that centre lines radiate to New Cross on the one hand , and to Kensington on the other . What may be called tho home branches spread out and interlace each other in the moat intricate manner . The ground covered embraces most of the places selected for suburban residences , and the facilities afforded to the public for travelling at once attest the

growth of population and the development of railway enterprise . The main line goes through New Cross , and on tho right lines branch off to Tulse Hill , Streatham , Wimbledon , winding round to Milcham Junction , from whence a branch goes to Carshalton and Sutton , where it diverges , one spur going to Cheam , Ewell , Epsom Town , Leatherhead , Dorking , and Horsham , the other ending on Epsom Downs . The

line continues from Mitcham Junction to Croydon , ancl here we propose to make onr starting point . The country is very beautiful all round Tooting , Mitcham , Carshalton , Sutton , Cheam , Bansteatl Downs and Epsom , and would well repay tho trouble of a walking toar , or a bicycle or tricycle jaunt . Croydon , as a town , is nofc picturesque of itself . It is a large

railway centre , and is growing in size yearly . It is only recently that it became incorporated , and now it has a Mayor and a Town Council . Tbe suburbs of Croydon are pretty , and it possesses many associations that will attract the student of history , and one memorial at least of which the Craft has reason to be proud , for here is situated the Asylum for Decayed Freemasons and their Widows . The manor

of Croydon was given to the church , and an archiepiscopal palace was founded there , aroand which cling many historical incidents . The foundation of tbe church dates from the Saxon era , but the present structure was begun at the end of the fourteenth , and completed by Archbishop Chicheley early in the fifteenth century . It contains several monuments erected to various Archbishops of Canterbury ,

some effigies and tombs . Among those buried in tho church is Dr . Eichard Phillips , the vicar , who was a Eoman Catholic . On one occasion , when preaching at St . Paul ' s , he exclaimed : " We must root out printing , or printing will root oat us ! " Neither resnlt has happened , and we are not sure that Eoman Catholics would wipe out printing if they could . Dr . Clewer , who was collated by Charles II .,

was of a less reputable character . He was a thief , had been convicted of stealing a silver cup , and burnt in the hand at the Old Bailey . There is an amusing story told of Dr . Clewer . He was waylaid on the Acton road , bnt he had not a farthing of money about him . This serious failure of the footpad ' s purpose did not at all prevent the two men sitting down together to gamble with cards , tbe result being

hat tbe Doctor had to go home without his canonicals . Happily s uch looseness of practice and morals would not now be tolerated . The country round Box Hill , Dorking , Red Hill and Wotton is exceedingly beautifnl . The latter village was the home of John Evelyn , whose diary is a rich and valuable storehouse . The writer lived long and saw many changes . He began his career in the time of Charles I .

and ended it in the reign of Qoeen Anne . He was thus a living witness of the fall of Charles I ., the Eevolution , the restoration of the " Merry Monarch , " the reign of James II ., of the abdication of the latter , and the reign of William III ., and died four years after Anne began to reign . He has given some interesting accounts of two of the most disastrous events that ever befell Loudon—the Great Plague

in 1664 . and the Great Fire in 1666 . He took a most prominent part in the foundation of that noble pile of buildings known as Greenwich Hospital , probably the finest in the world ; he was the patron aud friend of Grinling Gibbons , the eminent carver , and his works on trees are still consulted as high authorities on forestry . There are some valuable memorials of this great and good man at Wotton , now in

the occupation of Mr . John Evelyn , who is styled the " Squire , " not only because of his social position , but because of his liberality and kindness of heart . Guildford , as we have observed , is on a spur line from Horsham . There are the remains of an ancient castle at Guildford , but they are hardly worth a jonrney to see , although the building and the speculations that discoveries have given rise to invest it

with much interest . Branching downwards from Horsham , one line goes to Pulborough and the other to Shoreham . A glance at the Company ' s map will show that a long line from Hastings to Portsmouth almost hogs the coast of the English Channel the whole of the way , and on that line and branching ont of it lie the most interesting spots with which

we shall have to deal . Before , however , treating of them , we shall briefly notice some of the most prominent features that present themselves along the various routes before reaching the coast line . At Pulborough the line spreads out to Midhnrst , of which we have already spoken in a previous paper . Near here are the remains of Cowdray House , once a mansion of great size and strength . It was

originally founded by the Bohnns , and afterwards came into tbe hands of Lord John Montague , as a gift from Henry VII . Sir Anthony Brown married the heiress , and some notable events occurred a . Cowdray House during his time and that of his successors . Edward VI . visited Sir Anthony in 1547 , and in a letter he speaks of Cowdray as a " goodly house , where he was marvellously , yea , rather

excessively banketted . " Queen Elizabeth was the guest of Lord Montague , son of Sir Anthony Brown , who was half-brother of the member of the family bearing that name . Queen Bess was fond of flattery , and ber host ministered to her bent by addressing her as " The Miracle of Time , " " Nature ' s Glory , " " Fortune ' s Empress , "

" The World ' s Wonder , " and then the chronicle goes on to add that she was " most royallie feasted ; the proportion of breakfast was three oxen , and one hundred and fortie geese . " The mansion was destroyed by fire in 1793 , which was not the only calamity that befell the family at that time , for , according to the work on "

Abbeys , " & c , to which we have before referred , — " A few weeks after this stately pile was destroyed the noble owner , the young Viscount Montague , during the life of his mother , ancl before the intelligence of the fire could reach him , was drowned , together with hia fellow-traveller Mr . Sedley Burdett , brother of Sir Francis Bur . dett , in rashly attempting to navigate the Falls of the Ehine ,

• at Schauhansen , in October 1793 . " The history of the family ia romantic and very patriotic . From Midhnrst tbe line runs down to the coast , as does the other branch from Pulborough , bat on this latter line Arundel is situated . The castle is of ancient foundation , and was given to Roger de Montmorency by William the Conqueror , who created him Earl of Avundel . There is a legend , of course , iu

connection with the Castle . It is stated that the Queen Dowager of Prance fell in love with William de Albiui , Earl of Arundel and Sussex , and wanted to marry him . He refused , and the slighted lady sought revenge . She caused him to be seized , and cast into a cave containing a lion . The Earl proved himself to be a second Samson , he pnt his arm into tbe brute's mouth , and tore out its

tongue . Some spiteful chronicler adds that the Earl actually reached the tail of the lion , and " turned him the wrong side outwards . " A brave deed is recorded of a woman in connection wifi this Castle . In 1139 the Empress Maud became the guest of Adeliza , relict of Henry I . King Stephen , anxious to seize Maud , appeared before the Castle with a large army . Nothing dannted , the Queen

Dowager sent the following spirited message to the King : " She had received the Empress as her friend , not as his enemy ; she had no intention of interfering in their quarrels , and therefore begged the King to allow her Royal gnest to quit Arundel , and try her fortune in some other part of England . But , " added she , "if you are determined to besiege her here , I will endure the last extremity of

war rather than give her up , or suffer the laws of hospitality to be violated . " This noble message had its effect , and Maud retired to Bristol . We shall not dwell upon this old Castle ; it will be enough to say tbat it was allowed to go to ruin , but Charles Howard , tbe eleventh Duke of Norfolk , restored it in 1815 , at a cost of over half a million . This fact alone tells the story of its vastness and importance . It is

tie seat of the present Dnke of Norfolk . Bramber is not far from Shoreham . It possesses a ruined Castle with a chequered history ; this alone affords any attraction to the tourist . The main line to Brighton runs past Red Hill to the Three Bridges . From here a branch goes east to Tunbrid <„ 'e Wells , and from it spurs reach down to the coast line in several directions . The ground covered by these

lines embraces some pretty bits of Sussex scenery , but we shall not dwell upon tbat point . Instead of commencing the coast line track at Hastings , which , together with St . Leonards , will be dealt with in the next paper , we purpose starting at Eastbourne , situated at tbe terminus of a spur line , which stretches out from Pevensey and Polegate . Eastbourne is

a striking example of what money and enterprise can do . The Duke of Devonshire , who holds large property here , and who has been very liberal in help , and the London and Brighton Railway Company , have made the place what it is—one of the most charming ol seaside resorts . Nature has not been partiouiarly bountiful to East , bourne , but art has developed her resources , and the two combined

have effected a wonderfull y beautiful transformation . The land is somewhat flat , and the climate would be relaxing were it nob for the sea breezes , which have little obstruction , and which render the air healthy and bracing . The town is well drained , and is made picturesque by tbe planting of trees and shrubs . Devonshire Park and buildings afford the means of recreation all the year round , the

Wish Tower is one of tbe landmarks of the place , but the great object of attraction is Beach y Head , which reaches a height of between five and six hundred feet . A splendid view is obtained from its summit , and when the sea is rou « b , the visitor can watch the tempest in all its grandeur in perfect security . We are not much concerned with tbe pasfc of Eastbourne . There is a small house

known as Oak Cottage , near which was an oak tree in whioh , it is stated , Charles II . concealed himself whilst waiting a chance to escape to France . If not of much historical account itself , it has near neighbours that yield a full measure of interest . There is no doubt that William the Norman landed his army of 60 , 000 men , which he brought over in 9 C 0 ships , at Pevensey Bay , and that a

castle was erected at Pevensey , the ruins of which form a continual source of pleasure to visitors . Professor Airey says that Caesar also landed at Pevensey Bay in two successive invasions of this country . If that be so , what mighty interest centres round the spot . The two most important events in the history of the country began at Pevensey—events that led to the foundation of a nation that has

no parallel in history . Pevensey is first mentioned iu 792 , but the walls of the castrum , still standing and defying time , attest the ancient character of the work , which is stated to be the finest Roman building in the country . Pevensey Castle , therefore , is a national shrine , the spot where was begun the great changes which have resulted in the foundation of a glorious empire . A few miles

further inland are the ruins of Hurstmonceaux Castle . It was a brick building , and the remains show that it was a place of great , strength . There are many associations connected with the Castle which should be read np before visiting the ruins . Pursuing the journey westwards , the old town of Lewes is reached . Tbe Castle is the great point of attraction , and is worth a visit . Formerly a , rich churches in the

Priory existed , and at one time there were thirteen town , now reduced to abont half that number . Nothing rem-iius of the Priory except a slab forming the marble tombstone of Gundreda , daughter of William the Conqueror and wife of William of Wacren , who ' foanded the Priory . The slab is richly sculptured in bas relief ; some leaden coffins were found in the neighbourhood daring railway excavations , which are believed to contain the remains of others concerned in the foundation of the Priory . The whole have been deposited in a small Norman building , called " Gundreda ' s Chapel , built for the purpose , close to the parish church of Southover . From Lewes " there is a line running down to Seaford and Newhaven . i rom the latter place there is a capital service of boats to Dieppe , »&«