Through England on a side saddle in the time of William and MaryFiennes, Celia
History
Through England on a side saddle in the time of William and Mary
Fiennes, Celia
England -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800
There are severall good taverns at the walks and all about to supply
good wine and Brewhouses for beer and Bakers for Bread, but some of them
Come from London and spoyle the market by raiseing y^e price—so the
higlers and Hucksters in a great measure. This whole Country is full of
stone and jron, the Earth is Clay and Sand. About 3 mile off there is a
good seate of the Lord Lesters Spenshurst w^{ch} stands in a very good
parke; the house is but old—Large roomes and stone staires and windows,
a good hall and gallery full of good old pictures, and other roomes of
state; no ffurniture but old tapistry hangings. You have a most pleasant
prospect as you go to it and from it, of valeys Cover’d with woods of
great Length, and hills beyond on the other side. About 3 or 4 miles off
is a seate of the Lord Abergauneys w^{ch} is Lord of the manour in a
parke and fine woods all about it, the most of the Country is woody.
There is 4 or 5 miles off a place they Cast Gunns, there being a great
store of oare all over the Country: its a great Charge and Continuall
attendance. When they have Lighted y^e fire for to Cast bells or guns
they must be Cautiously blowing, and y^e mettle will be apt to fall down
on the nose of y^e bellows and harden; that if it be not still Cleared
off would quickly damm up the fire and put it out. There are severall
good houses all about and a pleasant place to Ride in in y^e summer and
dry weather, but a sad deep impassable Road when much Raine has fallen.
As I was Rideing about I took a view of y^e Country in many parts. There
is a Little rivulet just by the wells w^{ch} divides y^e Countys so that
y^e buildings are some in Kent some in Sussex.
About ffaint 4 or 5 mile off is a house of Lord Abergauny and parkes and
much woods about it. Another way by Lakington Green and Groombridge
about 4 mile off is an old house in a parck, pretty Large, Called
Ashurst w^{ch} they say belonged to Alderman Ashurst family, but hurst
w^{ch} signifyes grove or wood is a name all here about, as Spenshurst
Lord Lesters house 4 mile another way in a good Parke and Speldhurst
another parish 2 or 3 mile off and Goodhurst about 12 mile off the
Wells. I went by Calvery plaine and Woods gate and so to a Little Market
town Called Branklye; the way is much thro’ Lanes, being an Enclosed
Country for the most part, w^{ch} is the Cause of these names as is much
of Sussex w^{ch} joyns to Kent; there are places Called Billingshurst
and Medhurst and Pendhurst &c. This Goodhurst I went to stands on a
great hill and is seen severall miles, 2 mile from y^e first ascent
w^{ch} is at a Little village belonging to it, and to y^e top of y^e
hill w^{ch} is y^e middle of y^e place. Its a pretty Large place—old
timber houses, but y^e Extent of y^e parish is neare ten miles. They are
a sort of yeomanry Gentry, about 2 or 3 or 400£ a year and Eate and
drink well and Live Comfortably and Hospitably.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account