is t 4% ,’-- Ag» 3 ~ '. .. «, . 'l . G W; ;,K,!_,\_A.1 t,__“,;r3 *3 '€_‘,.,_.V‘ BRIDGE.‘ 9 HE Romans were the cleverest road makers in the world. Many of those they laid some two thousand years ago are still in existence, or rather, their foundations survive, ' i‘§\ and no others of more recent make are equal to them in , firmness, nor are they likely to prove asdurable. And J one of the most important of these old Roman roads is known as \Vatling Street, extending from Dover to London. On the run of" this ancient highway stands the village of Bridge, just outside the cathedral city of Canterbury. VVhat sights have passed this way in all those two thousand years! Here Roman legions marched, here came merchants from the south with pack horses laden with costly goods, here for hundreds of years have trod the feeble and smarting feet of pilgrims and the ancient mendicant and modern tramp; here have come horse-drawn vehicles,. market carts, and luxuriously fitted carriages of the rich, and the modest caravan of the gipsy; here has resounded the stirring note of the silver trumpet of the Roman hosts and later from the horn of the guard of the London and Dover coach; and now the horn of the motor makes less noise, and not such sweet music, and the rubber-tyred wheels send up dense clouds of dust. The little village street of Bridge has stood there all these years and seen all these passing sights. Yet to look at it now, it does not impress you with antiquity. The architect who takes a glimpse —at the church will tell you that the Normans have left traces of their skill behind; but, beyond this, we see nothing to recall the centuries of the far past. And it is not pretentious of great beauty, as Kent villages go. The street is long, with houses mainly humble in appearance, and built without a, vestige of architectural style, - l ...- .¢_....... ,..,..,._... .. ....4 - ...r...........—...,....,...-a..u........a.....(u_._._... ;\J0J{uT‘o~‘ ([9 e; ox/Bf ml boL[T'i'1e . -«M1 \ ..> ‘X BRIDGE 71 Across the main street is a bridge, but when I was in the village last autumn it seemed a superfluous erection. There was the bed of a river but no water, save a few trickles that could not have the audacity to call themselves a stream. VVeeds were grow- ing in abundance and house refuse, broken pots and pans lay in the thick rank grass. VVhere was the water? Two months after- . wards I was again at Bridge. Down the river bed came a sweep- ing torrent, washing away everything in its course, flooding fields with its overflow, inundating roadways along the Elham Valley as far as Littlebourne. It was the Nailbourne, one of those mysterious streams that suddenly rise and just as suddenly disappear. This one in the Elham Valley rises in a field at Ottinge, close to Lyminge and takes its course through the low-lying country until it joins another stream that rises at Lyminge and the two combine till they empty themselves into the river that has its source at Littlebourne and thence onward to join the Stour. In the Alkham valley another Nailbourne rises, and in various parts of England similar intermit- tent streams are to be found under the name of \Vinterbournes. _J So, although the bridge and river cutting seems quite unnecessary at some periods, it is absolutely essential that they be in readiness to save flooding when the Nailbourne appears at Bridge. The old structure, built of stone and brick something over a hundred years ago, gives a touch of beauty to the scene at this end of the street. The arches are low and support the high road, while a wooden footbridge leads us along the path over another part of the hollow to a quaint little building now used as a dairy. The parish church of St. Peter, once a chapel to the church of Patrixbourne——-the living of the combined places is still one—stands at the extreme end of the village on a sunken piece of ground and surrounded by yews. It is compact in appearance, strictly neat and clean, its walls of black polished flint and its stone windows ‘all being in such a perfect state of preservation that one might mistake it for a. modern church. But the archaeologist knows better. For, although the restoration in l860 was so complete that much of the church was re-built, Norman work can still be seen outside in several places. The tower, situated at the south-western corner, is Norman in its lower part, but the shingled spire is modern. A unique stair turret projects on the south side, square in the lower part, but belted above, the latter shape giving it an Oriental character. Up in the belfry are three bells, two without any wording, but the third is inscribed 72 A SAUNTER THROUGH KENT as follows :-—ANE: MARIA: GRACIA: PLENA: DUS: TECU. This tenor bell is supposed to have been made as long ago as the fourteenth century by one VVillian1 le Belyetre, of Canterbury. There are two Norman doorways, the smaller one in the north-east corner, by the side of the chancel, having deep chevron moulding that catches :our eye as we walk down the hill towards the church. The west doorway is a good specimen, its fine moulding standing out in bold relief, but, unfortunately, the three heads—-one in the centre and the other two supporting the hood——are battered. The shafts have carved capitals. Entering the building the casual observer might imagine that it is modern, so trim and fresh are the walls and stonework. And much of it is comparatively modernized, the barrel roof of the nave and the timbered roofs of the aisles containing much new woodwork. Some of the piers of the arcades, themselves of Early English origin, have been altered. There are four of these arches dividing theinave from the north aisle, and the pieces which were once square have been replaced by two circular ones, crowned with floral capitals of Early English design. The arcade on the south side is of three bays and the three arches are fine specimens of Early English work. In the north aisle there is nothing to specially note, but in the south aisle the windows are peculiar, as the centre shafts project and stand out by themselves in front of the glass. One of these windows contains stained glass and was erected to the memory of i\Iay, wife of Major Farwell, of the 44th Regiment, and daughter of Mr. and i\Irs. \Vinter, of Bridge Hill, who died at Madras in 1882. In the eastern wall of this aisle is a huge wheel window, while below are two Norman windows, deeply splayed and filled with stained glass. ' . By the light of the west coloured window of Perpendicular date, and erected to the memory of Dr. Amelius Sicard, who died in 1880, we notice an entrance to the vestry under the tower, with a fine stone arch, with its rich billet moulding, supported by grotesque heads. Another fine arch also gives entrance to the vestry from the south aisle. The font stands in the centre, a dark marble octagonal bowl being supported by eight shafts of the same material and sur- rounding a large centre one. At the head of the nave is a very handsome oak pulpit standing on a stone base. To approach the chancel we walk up two steps, and on the wall are the treasures of the church. On a, recess to the left is 4....a.aba¢-n BRIDGE 73 the recumbent stone effigy of an ecclesiastic in robes, Macobus Kasey, vicar of Patrixbourne, who died in 1512, and the strange feature is a bit of masonry or wall built right across the centre of the figure, dividing it in two. Above, let into the wall, is a mutilated Latin in- scription and a hand with pointing finger at its side. Near by are marble tablets on the wall, one with a shield of arms and the other with the gruesome ornamentation of a Skull and” cross-bones and spade and matlock. Between, on a black stone slab, is this inscrip- tion:—— I. “JOANE THE SECOND DAVGHTER OF VVALTER HAR- FLET OF BEAKESBOVRNE ESQ. THE FIRST WIFE OF SR. ARNOLD BRAEMS KNT. DEPARTED THIS LIFE THE 26 DAY OF JVLY 1635 AND LYETH BVRIED IN THE PARISH CHVRCH OF ST. MARIES DOVOR ERECTED TO HER LAST- ING MEMORY. ELIZABETH THE SECOND DAVGIITER OF SIR DUDLEY DIGGS OF CHILHAM CASTLE KNHT. MASTER OF THE ROVLES SECOND WIFE OF SIR ARNOLD ERAEMS KNHT. DEPARTED THIS LIFE THE 27TH DAY OF MAY 1643 AND LYETH BVRIED IN THE MIDLE OF THIS CHANCEL VVHERE HER NAME IS ENGRAVEN AND FOR WHOM THIS MONVMENT IS ERECTED." An exquisite "piece of Norman carving that was once the filling of an archway has also been reclaimed from the north wall of the chancel. There are two rows of subjects. Those in the upper range are too mutilated to be clearly made out, but the lower compart- ments represent the angel of the Lord expelling Adam and Eve from Paradise, with the words “justitia Dei" on a label over their heads; the second, Adam and Eve on each side of the forbidden tree, with the Devil climbing up it in the "shape of a cormorant; the third, Cain's offering; the fourth, Abel's offering, with the flames and smoke rising from the sacrificial pile; and the fifth, Cain slay- ing his brother. Above this old bit of carving is a seventeenth century painting on copper of Robert Bargrave. On the opposite wall is some more stone carving in the shape of scrolls, possibly taken from some old tombstones or slabs and inserted in their present position quite recently. The east window that lights the chancel is of stained glass and represents scenes in the life of Christ, but a window of ‘greater antiquity is the small one in the north aisle, deeply-splayed, containing stained glass and of Norman_ date. The north chancel was once used as a village school. 74 A SAUNTER THROUGH KENT Various tablets hang on the walls of the church—to the memory of Baron de Montesquien, of Bridge, died 1824-; Martha Baldock, of Bridge, and buried at Elham, died 1826; Lieutenant-Colonel E. J. Pratt, 9th Lancers, died on his passage home from India in 1857; Amelius Sicard, M.R.C.S., of Bridge, died 1880; and John Lans- berry, died 1849; Beby Fitch, wife of Thomas Fitch, died 1807. Another inscription is as follows 2- “ This tablet is erected by the Guardians of the Bridge Union as a mark of their respect and esteem for the memory of the late Mr. VVilliam Forth who from the formation of the Union, a period of 30 years, per- formed the duties of Relieving Officer, Master, and finally Clerk. A zealous, upright officer and kind friend to the poor. He died, regretted by all who knew him, on the 18th day of April, 1865, in the 70th year of his age." There are also tablets relating to vaults containing the mortal remains of James Lord, of Patrixbourne, and Catherine Brice. Let us now retrace our steps down the village to the bridge, just opposite to which hangs a sign from the Plough Inn to inform us that the Fire Brigade has its headquarters within. This brigade was formed in 1873, the residents of the district purchasing the engine. At that time the Marquess Conyngham took a keen interest in fire-extinguishing apparatus, and he undertook the captaincy, the other members being Messrs. Smith, Pilcher, Verrier, Sargent, Hardi- man, Hodges, Evers, Jarvis, Garland, Winter and Carpenter. In 1878 the Earl of Mount_ Charles, the marquess’s son, was captain, with Messrs. R. Smith and F. J. D. Sams as lieutenants. The present honorary secretary, Mr. C. Wills, has seen no less than thirty—three years’ service. Strolling up the street we find some of the houses shaded by the branches of lime trees, and then comes the village smithy—how luxuri- antly the moss grows and blooms on the tiles hereabouts!—more trees shade a house from the western sun and then we come to the oldest building in Bridge. This is one of the old frame houses of the sixteenth century, the timber beams being filled in with bricks. Additions have been made, but apparently it was once a pretentious house, though now divided into the habitation of several families. At the upper end of the street are vi1las—the "west end” of BRIDGE 75 Bridge. Here, too, is_the Post Office, a quaint little building with the shop floor much below the level of the road. One old relic of Bridge—-the village stocks——has disappeared, no one knows where; and yet it was famous for having the following lines inscribed upon it :— He who will not the law obey, Here in ye stocks must surely lay. The Public Hall stands in the centre of the village, a building that was increased to its present size ‘in 1878, when, among other charitable actions, the Marquess Conyngham presented it to the village in celebration of the coming of age of his eldest son, the Earl of Mount Charles. It is used for entertainments and meetings, and a reading room, but when the Parish Council came into being the Marquess had an inscription placed in the interior stating that the hall was his property, and was lent to the vicar of the parish. Taking the Patrixbourne turning at the Red Lion, one comes immediately upon the modem Wesleyan chapel, the only Noncon- formist place of worship to supply the two parishes. Until 1894 Dissenters must needs trudge to Canterbury for service, but in that year the present modest building—-of corrugated iron and lined inside with wood—was opened, the site having been given by Mr. Perry and the fund raised by public subscription. Along the Patrixbourne road we find the schools well shaded by trees. The bounds of Patrixbourne parish extend to this spot and the schools of Bridge stand within them. The original buildings are adjoining the master’s house, all of those in the rear being additions necessitated by increasing numbers of scholars. Many years ago the Marquess Conyngham, of Bifrons, who took great ' interest in parish affairs, used to educate and clothe thirty girls of the parish at his own expense, at a schoolroom adjoining the lodge entrance to Bifrons Park, the remainder of the parish chil- dren receiving their education at the original schools. That it was not of a “higher” educational character may be judged from the fact that the predecessor of Mr. and Mrs. R. VVye, who were the first Government teachers in 1871, was unable to sign her name, and used to make a cross when receiving her cheque! It is not to be understood that writing was ignored, as this mistress had an assistant who taught that very necessary rudiment of all F2 76 A SAUNTER THROUGH KENT education.‘ But to return to the thirty girls. These were educated and clothed at the sole expense of the Marquess. The distinctive clothing consisted of an ordinary sailor hat with. blue ribbon, a blue serge dress, a scarlet cloak in winter and a white one in summer. After some years the Marquess is said to have found the girls to be somewhat of an annoyance. at the park entrance, and erected an additional building at the rear of the original schools, and two further enlargements have since taken place. the children of the combined parishes now being educated there. It is stated, however, that until as late ‘as ‘I885 the girls wore theidistinctive dress provided ‘by the Marquess, but latterly the parents failed to appreciate what must have been given at considerable’ cost, and the benefactor, ‘not desiring to bestow upon‘ the parishioners at his own expense that which was not accepted with favour, put an end to the custom." \Vhen the" schools were taken over by the Government he paid [50 a year towards the upkeep. Not far from the schools stand the gas works that supplyia wide district, l859 being the date of their erection. Opposite run the green swards of Bifrons Park and by the roadside runs the Nail- bourne that is bridged in a remarkable way by two fallen trees. Probably when the water once flowed along this river bed with exceptional violence the. roots of the trees were undermined and the huge trunks fell. The woodman's axe spared them, even in their helpless position, but fresh branches have shot out through the bark and grown to a considerable height. And amid their branches one can clamber across the stream over the ‘two natural bridges. On the other side of the village stands Bridge Union Work- house, charmingly situated on the slope of the hill overlooking the village and the valley,‘ with the beautiful scenery of Bourne Park beyond. The red bricks give an appearance of cheerfulness, while the garden plots each side of the entrance are generally a blaze of flowers. The House, as the date shows on the building, was erected in 1835, and, _the population in the parishes covered by the Union having shown little or no increase since that time, it has been subject to very little alteration. A number of East Kent workhouses are built on the quadrangle system, a favourite’ design of Sir Francis Head, a Commissioner in the early days of Poor Law Ad- ministration, and Bridge VVorkhouse is on this style, having its quadrangle, with entrance gate and oflices on either side in front, a narrow two-storeyed building running round three sides, with the . BRIDGE , 77 chapel, cook-house, porter’s 'lodge and exercise yard in the centre. It covers in all an area. of four acres, with three acres of garden ground. It is interesting to recall the fact that the first meeting of the Bridge Board of Guardians was held on April 22nd, 1835, at the \Vhite Horse Inn, Bridge, the VVorkhouse not then being in existence. Before the formation of the Unions each parish, or many of them, dealt with their own poor, and the indoor poor were dis- tributed in various old poor-houses at lckham, Wickham, \\"altham and other places. At this meeting the chair was taken by Sir Francis Head, the Poor Law Commissioner, who came down imbued with his official importance, and with sanguine hopes and confidence as to the wonderful effects likely to be wrought in elevating the working classes of the country. It would appear that he took the chair ex-officio, and made a lengthy address, which is copied verbatim in the minute book, V and the following were the concluding words of his peroration: “I will now no longer trespass on your valuable time, but will conclude by ex- pressing an earnest desire that the business of this day may be com- menced, and that your future meetings may be conducted with that friendly, amicable feeling and that careful government of temper, which should distinguish the proceedings of all bodies of highly respectable men for the welfare of society, for the first time having met this day in Union.” It was proposed by 1\/lr. Lake, seconded. by Mr. Denne Denne, that Mr. Richard Peckham should be chair- man, and it may prove of interest to record the names of those who have succeeded him in that capacity: Mr. C. W. Dowsett, 1836: Mr. R. Lake, 1837 ;' Mr. Charles Collard, 1838-1841; l\lr. Henry Collard, 18+1-1846; Mr. Charles Collard, 1846-1864; Captain Thomas Hilton, 1864-1870; Mr. David Collard, 1870-1877; Mr. VV. Sims, 1877-1883; Mr. T. Louis Collard, 1883-1894-; Mr. D. Maxted, C.C., 1894-1909. The first clerk‘was Mr. Herbert Collard, who held office until 1840; followed by Mr. VV. Forth, 1840 to 1865; Mr. Allen Fielding, 1865 to 1895; and Mr. T. L. Collard from that time until the present. It is somewhat a unique record that Mr. T. L. Collard should have been eleven years chairman, followed by fourteen years‘ service as clerk to the same board. The first master (Mr. John \Veeks) was known as the “Governor,” and his wife as “Governess,” at a joint salary of £80, but, whether it was due to himself or whether the Guardians failed to carry out the injunctions of Sir Francis Head as to the friendly, amicable feeling and careful govern- ment of temper, he did not find the office a bed of roses and resigned before. the end of the year. 78 A SAUNTER THROUGH KENT Opposite the \Vorkhouse racing stables were once kept by the late Mr. Howard, father of the recently deceased veterinary sur- geon of that name. He regularly ran horses, more especially when races were held on Barham Downs, but the latter event finally col- lapsed owing to the dwindling of subscriptions, and the Easter Plate, run on Tuesday, is now unknown. But in bygone days this Plate was the envy of all owners in East Kent, and the keenest com- petition took place on the great day. A letter by a resident of Bridge, unfortunately undated, says :—“ Bridge ought to have won the Plate with Black Girl, but we made money though even she did lose, and the old Squire made us full of beer. VVe drinked his health and Black Girl's health till not one drop was left in the barrels on the lawn. Jabez lost his purse, but not money. His money went up Barham way. A betting man out of London must have had his beaver and his pockets, which he carries outside his coat, overfull of Bridge money when he reached London, for we lost all our bets. He went home Faversham road." Is this sug- gestive that if he had travelled via Bridge the beaver hat and outside pockets might have been lighter ere he reached London? The old parish records contain many quaint and amusing items. In 1815 we find “ Paid for prayer of thanksgiving for the battle of '\Vaterloo, ls.” Later we see similar prayers paid for, but at varying prices, 1/3 and 1/2. VVhether the prayers were paid for by length or by the amount of gratitude exhibited by the clergyman entrusted with the sacred task is not stated, but otherwise it is difficult to understand the varying charges. The church plate at Bridge was all made in 1850 and presented by Mrs. Gregory, who generously restored the church in 1859. It consists of a cup, paten, flagon and two alms-plates, each bearing the monogram I.H.S. and the words, “ For the Love of God.” There are two charities, dated April 13th, 1867, connected with Bridge, left by Mrs. Gregory, who formerly lived at Bridge Hill. The first is known as the educational charity of Mary Gregory, for the support of infants’ and boys’ school, and bringing in a nett annual income of £29/11/6, which amount has not been affected by the new Education Acts, as has been the case in some parishes. The second is known as the eleemosynary charity of Mary Gregory, and is of the annual value of £14/15/8, devoted to aged widows and deserving poor. The former each receive 7/6 at Christmas, and the latter two to four hundredweight of coal, according to circumstances of the participants. BRIDGE 79 All around Bridge are rich pastures and wood-land, with private parks, and from the hills pretty glimpses of truly rural Kent can be obtained. Years ago the village itself was unhealthy through the moisture occasioned by the stream, and Hasted further tells us that the hills were chalk and very barren and stone-clad. The chalk is still there, but the land looks far from barren, and trees appear to grow luxuriously, especially in the parks. Bridge Hill House stands in a delightful situation, its grounds sloping down towards the village. The residence is modern and belongs to Mr. Ralph Peto, but the Baroness Zborowski at present lives there. Not far from the village street and standing within the limits of Bourne Park are the remains of what was once a very imposing mansion, built by a famous Dover merchant. I refer to Bridge Place, and the merchant was one Sir Arnold Braems. But let us dive back further into ancient history, when the manor of Bridge or Blackenansbury was in the possession of the Abbey of, St. Augustine. It was the property of the monks until Henry the Eighth suppressed the Abbey and took unto himself their land, including the Manor of Bridge. But in the thirty~sixth year of his reign he granted it to Henry Lawrence to hold by Knight's service, and by this new owner a court was regularly held, the court lodge standing on the very spot now occupied by Bridge Place. Passing through several hands the land came into the possession of Sir Arnold Braems, who pulled down the court lodge and erected a magnificent mansion on the site. This old- Knight had a remarkable history, reminding one of the worthy known as Customer Smyth, who is buried in Ashford church and gained his nickname by farming the customs of Kentish ports until Queen Elizabeth emptied his pockets and reduced his profits. Arnold Braems came of Flemish stock, his father being a Dover merchant in the time of Charles the First. VVhen his monarch quarrelled with Parliament young Braems took the Royalist side, and held the rank of major in the East Kent force of stalwarts, who, under Mr. Hammond, of Nonington, hoped to wrest D_over Castle from the Roundheads. But they failed and Major Braems found it necessary to secrete himself. The Restoration, however, found him again in evidence, and within a fortnight he was elected Member of Parliament for Dover and received the honour of Knighthood at the hands of his grateful sovereign Charles ‘the Second. But he remained at the House of Commons only a very short time, pre- 80 A SAUNTER THROUGH KENT ferring a commercial life and using all his energy in developing Dover as a port. He acquired land all along the sea front, erecting huge buildings, and by thus monopolising the landing and warehousing of goods, and farming the harbour tolls and customs, made a huge for- tune. Then occurred one of those strange incidents that so frequently mar a man's career. Up to this point he had been shrewd beyond measure, and yet he was unwise enough to build an enormous mansion at Bridge and expend so much wealth upon its construction and his household expenditure, that his fortune was exhausted to such an ex- tent that he was financially crippled to the day of his death at the age of eighty. But maybe it was love of ostentation rather than an ‘error of judgment that caused his loss; and this seems probable when we find that he was buried “ in linen," a matter of extravagance for which a heavy fine was imposed for the benefit of the poor of the parish. In previous articles I have explained that law compelled everyone to be “ buried in woollen” for the benefit of the home industry, and any infringement of this rule compelled the estate of the dead man to pay a heavy fine. Bridge Place came into the possession of VValter Braems, the old merchant knight's son, but his widow sold it to Mr. John Taylor, of Bifrons, who pulled down the greater portion of it, as he found it too-large for the average country gentleman to keep up. The place remained in possession of the Taylor family until it was purchased by the Marquess Conyngham, and became part of the Bifrons estate, and the present tenant is Mr. V\7illiam Howard. The remaining part of the building was apparently one wing, and the wall upon which the stables are built marks the front of the old building, the foundations of which are still to be traced under- ground. The mansion was, judging from what is left of it, a comfortable place, the lower rooms having a good pitch, and all the apartments are well lighted. Bridge Place is now wreathed in ivy and approached by a drive commencing close by the church. Although of no historical interest, Little Bridge Place, the resi- dence of _Mr.. Louis Collard, standing close by Bridge Place, is picturesque and delightfully situated among a wealth of trees and shrubs. At one time it contained some rather fine mural tablets, but they mysteriously disappeared years ago. ' Gorsley VVood stands partly in Bridge and partly in Bishops- bourne parish and here in the year 1882 three ancient tumuli were discovered, each containing a kistvaen or stone chest. The mounds BRIDGE 31 were close together and of various dimensions. The chests found in the first two were four feet long, while the third was only three feet in length. Cremation was undoubtedly in vogue amongst the British at the time of the Roman invasion and experts tell us that the charred ashes found inside these old chests were all that re- mained of the bodies of the dead. The largest mound was first opened and theiworkmen had not dug far before they came to a pavement of tiles roughly made and badly burnt. Next came to light a human skull, probably that of a young person, and those who took part in the disinterment were struck with the curious change that overcame the skull when it was exposed to the air when first unearthed. The veinous lines in the interior of the skull were clearly defined and of a bright colour, but in a few seconds their red appearance vanished and they could with difficulty be traced. It seems strange and marvellous that after all these centuries any sign of the veins should have remained in the skull. The large stone chest was then disclosed to view, the top stone of which was so heavy that it had to be removed by the help of pulleys attached to a tree.‘ VVhen the top was moved all that was found within was some charred wood, but there is but little doubt that the ashes of a cremated body had been] placed within at the time of burial. Under the second mound was found a stone chest of the same dimensions as the first, but the third and smaller one contained a large quantity of bones broken into fragments, some having apparently been burnt. Under these remains were several large flint stones and it is supposed that on them the body had been placed before undergoing cremation. At the time of the dis- covery antiquarians discussed the matter with great keenness, some thinking that the three tumuli, being placed close together, were in- tended to imply a Triune God. Others believe that the one which contained the skull had been used as an altar before being covered in with earth and yet others think that they were simply the burial places of old British chieftains who lived seventeen or eighteen hundred years ago. There is nothing now in Gorsley VVood to indicate the spot where the remains lay. TH}: KENTISH ?‘ ;1zxo{)P§x:‘V(‘:r|Q, ‘ '"“.‘§W~:. I.‘ ’Iu.,}1{Iv(| .1“; 54;, g3._ __ ‘- (/. I: L,':'[, ‘ “Iu"uu4-mifciiai-'-"§'W.|',‘_!f“""""_" ~“' [332] STAGE VIII. Bucflamf.-i-Sr. R/:aa'agzmd’: Aéégy.-7/f’al:/er/bar't.—-P74} Larrgdort /ffiéqy.--Erwe/1.—Ba_r/Jam Downs, and I/Vutling- Srr:et.—-Broome. —- Den/2i//.-—-]Vetbnfl/e.—-Bar/mm.— I/edezz.--«Higbam.—Byfia/>_/Zzaurn.--Bridge.--Pair-icli/Learn ——B.ffron:.-Be.€wg/baurn, fa Canteréury. FTER leaving Dover, in our road to Canterbury, the firfl place we arrive at is the little village of Buckland which has a {mall church, but it contains nothing remark- able.’ About a mile and a half to the left of this village are the remains of Bradfole, or St. Rhadagund’s abbey. It was founded by Hugh, its lirll abbot, and filled with monks of the Premontlratenfian order, which religious fociety was inllituted by St. Norbert, about the year 1119. Lambard fays, at the fuppreflion it was valued at 981. a year. About five miles and a. half to the right is the village of '\Valdcrfhare. The church is fmall, but contains fome good monuments of the ancient family of Monins, who were lords of the manor. In a fcparate chancel, builtby fir Robert Furnefe, bart is a noble Monument of fir Ro- hert’s father, well executed in marble. In this parifh is an elegant and plcafant feat of the earl of Guildford. The houfe, which is a fine Itrufture, fituated within a noble park, and furroundcd with fpacious gardens, was built by fir Henry Furnefc. In the pail»: is erected an high belvi- clcre, which commands a beautiful and moft extenlive view of the country, Oppofite to lord Guildford's feat are the rmnaim of Well Langdyon abbey, which was founded by fir V‘/illiam de Auberville, knt. in the reign of Richard I. for monks of the Premonllratenfian order, and dedicated to * A new bi.-irlge, to the great convenience of paflengets has lately been it-silt over the river which crollcs the road at this place. St. Mary: St. t\-la was {up Bent road is able fc plats, fituatet Cnfied palling extend tiful V2 tlemen from tl are eq' is the l which his feet Itirzerm the W’; over B Cantert it trave camp 0: two fiel a tingle moved ner wh ones, z great l clofe b_ top, at "' Sev pu.bli{hc.i E 333 1 A 1. St. Mary and St. Thomas the Martyr, of Canterbury. It was fuppreiled in the reign of Henry the Eighth. I __”,‘/I Between rthe lixty-eighth and fixty—n.inth llones on the -“ling. road is the imall village of Ewell». This pl:ice is remarK- i‘ N. 3am___ able for having been the refitience of the Knight’s Tem- zflwm “ plars, who had a gi'atit:l manfion ‘here, which probably was | ‘ « fittiated about half amile to. the right, where now. is a place i called the Temple. Proceeding towards Canterbury, and '2'*l”‘° pafling the lixty-third PLOITC, we enter Barham down, which extends in length about four miles. On the left is it l:e.iu- Village a tiftzl va,le, which contains feveral tileafnnt villages and gem ‘_ It tiemen 5 {eats ;. the Vlt3'\V‘ to the right is not quite to open C)’- k - from the road, but on alccntling the-eminence, the prof;-efl: 33,03; i ere equzilly div'erzilied and more extenfive. ‘On this down lmbard is the fcite of an ancient camp, with three ditches round If’, it 1 which fome conjeeiuie to be the work of julius Caefaiv, on H3826; hie fecond expedition to this ifland. Dr. Stukely, in his 5 fome 1tzrzeI‘arz'u.m Cm-zoflmz, lays, “ To Dover from Canterbury ‘S, who the Watling-fireet is {till the common way; ‘it is lcfteiitire V mm by otter Baram-Down, with a high’ ridge, ‘(trait pointing to. ‘H fir R0’ 1 Fanteibtiry cathedral tower ;. as foon as it enters the Down- H] is an I it travez-{es a group of Celtic barrows, then leaves a {mall ' The | camp of C:t:lar’s; further on it has been inclofed through a noble E two fitids-It, and levelled with plougliing; then it pafles by mm by a tingle barrow, whereon‘ flood‘ the XIl1i1,'Wh1Cl’1 is now re- 9 belvi‘ moved higher up ; then it afcends the hill to a hedge t:or~ V6 View ner where are three barrows, a- great one between two little are the _,‘ ones, all enclofed with :1 double fqtiarc entrerichment of no F great bulk; I fancy them Roman, becaiife parallel to, and‘ 1 In b _ C 0 L Y: the Roman road; the great barrow has a cavity at ‘i :har\ ‘ WP and an entrance e'll d- -* ' ‘ ii ‘ 2 .1 war , whctner cafiially, or with i -ated to My Err *' Several other cont‘:lcr;il.—l: e acloftii-es have been mntle llnce Di‘. Stukelv J publilhcl his .i(lI1Cl'..ll’lUl1l L‘tii'io1'.~ii1. . ;. Mary ‘“‘8"» it 1;"; it -it ‘ft’: I 334 J delign, I know not“. At I.vcld<=n the ‘»V:atling flreet falls into that noble valley of Dover, made of two lmge rggges of Chalk. which divide themfelves into lellbr vallics dropvning into the great one at regular ditlances, as the little leaves of Plants meet at the main Item; this VJ ‘av wlieu -.?twveti ' from the end, looks like a landfcape on lieerres, lefi'.»:r2'n,;, “cording to perfpeétive, to Dover, between the two ,r‘~’;/zri, and the {ea at the end enclolied between them. The tireet lildfs along the northern deciivity. croflies the rivulct whiclt wanders through the m (ill. of the valley at l5ucl:lan;l, {o to Biggin-gate, where is i s termination, by the lid»: o.-lithe old fort, having now run from Cheller abotlt 250 miles. Many barrows are on the fidcs of thofc hi‘ls.” On :1 part of theft: downs called lfreccli, fevernl human fkeletons were difcovered in 1758, lying near the road fide; one of which had round the neck a firing of beads of va- rious forms and flzes, from the bignefs of a pigeon’s egg to that of a pen; by the fide lay three inllrnments of war, akind of fcymetar, a dagger and :1 fpear; {even others lay in good order, about 8. yard apart, and two feet under ground, but without any thing to dillingtziih them. About the year 1212 king john encrtmyed on Barham- Down with an army of 6o,ooo men, to nppofe the French, who threatened him with an invalion. Simon Montford, Earl of Leicefler, alfo drew up a large army here in the reign of Henry III. many other fcenes of war and peace have paffed, too numerous to psrticularife. In 1760, when an invufion was expeét-ed from our natural enemies the French, here was an encampment of {even regiments of * Some of thefe barrows were opened a few yewrs fioce by that learned and ingenious antiquarian the late Rev. Bryan Fauffet, of Heppington, when fevcral valuable relicks of antiquity were found, fomc of whieh were of pvtc gold. foot, 47 'nnu,_r::. 7‘t",>9. /‘K . . . ‘ . [ 325 i l f‘1Ei'5_ foot, under the command of his grace the late dulte of’ .( ‘ es of - Nlarlborougli. K» -‘mg A In the valley on the left is Brooms, the fine feat of fir Henry Oxenden, hart. On the right is Denhill, the feat of ‘.1 iiiiihl Hardinge Stracey, efq. which commands a. molt delightful i‘ ii’; n":.' ; view of the adjacent country. Neal‘ this flood Ne:herfole- fan: i houfe, the ancient manfion ofjohn \Vinchetler, efq. which ‘A 3 was pulled down in 1788, by the owner of the adjoining {O to ' ‘ feat ofDenhil1: john Netherfole, efq. proprietor of I-l11S ‘E on -eltate inthe reign of Henry VIII. was fo great a favourite, A thathe was indulged to wear a cap in the King’s prefence. \:‘i‘é “hen. i To the left ofthe Down is the village of Barham, which “man gives name to this delightful {POL The church has in it ride _ ft me monuments of the Diggs family, who refided at Dtggs- 1'‘ £1 W, court in this parifh, now the feat cf Charles Dering, efti. . .5 BE: On the oppofilte flde of the Down is lleden, the feat of .w;r, . Tho-.'nas VK/atkinfon Payler, efq. and about two miiesfarther A “hers towards Cyzinterbury is Higham, the new feat of James under Haller, H11." On this part of the Down, Canterbury horfe 1 _ races are anmisiily exliihited. The courfe, tiil within thefe ~nam_ few years, extended two miles in length,_ but now much end‘, improved and made round,-by which the fport is greatly iii- A" if-Ora‘ created, as the horfcs pafs in View twice in each four mile n ‘he heat. An liantlfmne building w:is cc-mpleated ini77-t for the M oeace ‘reception of the numerous and genteel company which fre- ‘when quent thofe races, and UDLlt.’X‘l’lr'ffitl‘l are convenient offices. 3 me On the left is Boiirne Place, late the feat of Sir Horatio ,y [S of " Mann, but now ofjohn H.-ii‘rif«sn, efq. in the midil of ;i p:itl- { .clocl<, witha beautiful trout ftrea i rtinning at an agieeable _; firm} dillance from the front of the houle. Since the game of Lngcon, cricket has been patroiiifed by fevei-al of our nobility and ‘n wer-: gentry, in this paddock many grand matcheshave been de- A cidetl, between the gr-catclt heroes of the [hit this age, or £00‘: peihsps } ’ I 5/.- 3 .23» if t‘. t I, t I; 5, . E l *3 '[ 335 J perhaps any other, ever produced. The parilh of Bilhopf. bouin, in which this feat ltands, was to called becanfe it was given by lcing Kenulph, at the requell: of archbilhop Atheland, to the priory of Chrilt-Church. In the church are feveral good monuments, particularly that of the Rev. and learned Mr. Richard Hooker, author of the Ecclelialli- cal Polity, who was rettor of this parilh; and in the feat of Bourne-place, is a molt curious painted window executed from Hollztnd. From the welt end of the Down we defccnd into the vil- lage of Bridge. This place took its name from a bridge over a branch of the Stour‘ which runs through it. It rifes from a fpring in the parifh of Bilhoplbourn, and is fome times almolt dry; at other times 3. Hood comes down from fprings about Elham, with great rapidity, till interrupted by what the neighbours call fwallows, where it links into the eart.h till that is {aturat-ed, then rulhes on again to the next interruption of the fame ‘kind, fo that :1 ftranger might be amazed at walking near this river's lide and down the ilream till he has lofl it, and finds the channel dry. Near a. mile to the right is the {mall village oi‘Patriclt£bo-urn; for- merly it had the name of Cheney, and was the refidence of the noble family of Cheney, before they removed to Shur- lnncl in the iile of Shepey. The church is a building of confiderable antiquity; over the fouth door is a- curious Saxon arch, carved with a variety of figures. In this parifh flood the ancient and very pleafant feat called Bifrons, the rcfidencc of the Rev. Edward Taylor. “ It was built,” '5 This bridge being decayed and othcrx-vife inconvenient for carriages, a new and more commodious. one has been built by l'ubfeription, fior which the public are much indebted to the afiiduity of the Rev. M . Taylor, a M0 for his great attention to the improvements on the road up Bridge hill, l:c:‘o.c the tenairs under the late t‘.1X‘r‘..pil{c aét. fays l l l [ 337 ] ‘......g..~»~—4 I4" “WPL fays Dr. Harris, “ by Robert Bargrave, efq. or one would “W35 - rather think by his lady, if one mayjudge by this motto bmmp which was placed upon it : _ iehliiecvh. Dirum z:*zz’.'ficat zzxor Lona, zed/firata dim/2'2‘ zrzaftz. efiaHi_ The old houle was pulled down in Feb. 1775, and is now ‘ {eat of rebuilt on a modern and more commodious conllruflion. A fluted 1 Near this village is that of Bekelbourn, which anciently _ ‘ ' belonged to the cinque port of Haltings, and enjoyed the ‘°_ V he ViI_ {ante privileges. Henry de‘Beke held certain lands in this bridge ' parilli by grand fergeantry, to. find one {hip each time It fires Henry III. pallcd the fea. 'Ph1llpOt- lays, the branch of the -H: fome Stourrwas navigable to this place in the reign of‘Edward ~ 1 from III. Fhere was a chantry in the church, founded in i3i.t, _u ted .-t by one James of Bourne, the revenues of which were traiill ,_“~ lrited to Cokyri’s hofpital in Canterbury, in i362. The to [Fe archbilhops of Canterbury had here a ftiizill but elegant pa- mi h’ ‘ lace, of which the gate-.way fitll remains. Near Bel-:c£ ghei bourn is the new erected feat of ifaac Bough, cfq. who Year a bought the ellate of Sir Philip Hales, bzirt. and ‘pulled '. fir- down I-lowletts, the ancient refidctice of the Hales family. ’ ‘ fl From Bridge to the city of Canterbury we meet with ;t nscsui: nothing remarkable till we come to St. Laurence, the {cat _ _ of the late colonel john Graham, near which, on the left, 3 m_3 of lies the high road to Romney iiiarlli. This {cut is between I i ””°_uS the goth and 57th mile-llone. ' I. :9‘""1£h. VVe have now brotight our traveller to the end of our in-- 6" :L:iiit;,L; tended route; and if we have given him that entertctitimcnt ‘ E which might be cxpeéted from this little volume, we fliall mg - 1 be happy on at future occalion to accompany him to fotiie :\i‘.L\_. other part of the county of Kent, :3 county ltill fruitful in tier, 21 various events, and which has ever made fo dillinguillied an-.1 «Sr M‘, I principal a part of our Englilh liitlory. {Ln 5 ' G 3 INDEX