66 197 The Chalk Downs are not the only hills in Surrey; south of these is a long line of high commons, sometimes rising into hills, like Leith Hill, to the south-west of Dorking, the highest in the county. These commons are generally bare and dreary enough,-broad wastes, covered with furze and heath. Godalming, where is the Charterhouse School, is the chief town in this part of the county. Below the commons begins the pleasant woody Sussex Weald, which lies between these North Downs and the South Downs of Sussex. III. THE "SURREY BANK." WE can only speak of a few of the interesting places on the Surrey bank of the Thames. Going up the river, there is Kew, with its delightful Botanical Gardens. Richmond is a pretty and pleasant town at the foot of, and stretching up the slope of Richmond Hill, whereon is a Park and a Terrace. From this terrace you look down upon the Thames, as "Soft and slow, It wanders through the vale below." Richmond has the remains of the old Sheen Palace, in which Queen Elizabeth died. Sheen was the old name of the town; it received its present name from Henry VII., who was Duke of Richmond in Yorkshire. Higher up the river is the true Kings' town, Kingston, where, standing in an open space railed in, is a famous stone, upon which seven of the Saxon kings were crowned; for Kingston was a royal town in Saxon days. A quaint and pleasant old town it is still-the old part that is-with in and out streets, and queer corners, and houses meeting over narrow alleys. One other place we must speak of. On the bank of the Thames, close by the Berkshire border, there is to this day a marshy flat called Runny-mead (or meadow). In the days of King John, here lay the great barons of England, while on the opposite bank the king and his people were encamped. And king and barons met on an island in the river, which thus lay between the two camps, to discuss the Great Charter. On this spot the barons compelled the king to sign that charter which has done so much to make the English a free and great nation. Map Questions. 1. Name six towns on the Surrey side of the Thames. What two counties are opposite to Surrey, on the northern side of the river? 2. From what county do the North Downs enter Surrey? What is the first hill in the range called? What tributary of the Thames breaks through the Downs at the end of this long hill? What town stands in this opening? By what town does the Wey join the Thames? What town lies to the south of Guildford? 3. What tributary of the Thames breaks through the Downs at Box Hill? What town stands in this opening? What hill, not in the Downs, lies to the south of Dorking? Name three considerable towns in the east of Surrey. 4. What counties border Surrey on the east, west, and south? ( 199 ) THE NORTH BANK OF THE THAMESOXFORD, BUCKINGHAM, MIDDLESEX, ESSEX. I. THE Thames washes the southern border of these four counties. They all have low hills and spreading vales; but, whatever there may be of hill and dale, the general slope of the land is towards the river, which is bordered by flowery meads and shady trees. Leaving Gloucester at Lechlade, where the Leach joins it, the Thames takes its course through a most pleasant green vale, between Berkshire on the south and Oxon and Bucks on the north. The Windrush joins it a few miles below the Leach. Oxford, the city of palaces, with many stately halls and colleges, stands in wide, tree-shaded meadows, where the Cherwell enters the Thames, which is here called the Isis. The "fruitful Thame," whose course is partly through the fertile Vale of Aylesbury, joins the Thames at a point near to which was fought the battle of Chalgrove Field. It was hardly a battle, only a skirmish of the Civil War, but a man fell here whose death was a sorrow to the whole English nation, even to the king against whom he was in arms-the noble patriot, John Hampden :-"the loss of Colonel Hampden goeth near the heart of every man that loves the good of his king and country." Perhaps the prettiest part of the Thames Valley is where the river makes a bend to wind round the southern end of the Chiltern Hills. These hills, part of a long chalk range, run in a north-easterly direction through Bucks and Bedfordshire, generally in a waving line. Sometimes they are clothed with thick woods of beech, now they swell into wide and open downs, and now show their white chalk sides amidst the dark foliage of the beech trees. Oxfordshire is still famous for its beech woods, though much land is now farmed which not very long ago was forest. Amongst the beeches, at the foot of the Chilterns, upon the bank of the Thames, nestles the pretty town of Henley. Leaving Henley, the river skirts Buckinghamshire, another county of beeches, which is said to have got its name from the Saxon buccem, a beech tree. The Thames flows on "Though deep, yet clear; though gentle, yet not dull; through deep, shady meadows, with, here and there, a border of forget-me-nots; past Great Marlow, where pins and paper are made; and close by the foot of Woburn Hill. The beauty of the river becomes more striking as it takes its course through the trees of Windsor Forest, with the stately castle crowning the hill on the Berkshire side, and the buildings, stately also, of Eton College rising from among trees on the other. This is an old college, founded by Henry VI. for the education of twenty-five "poor and indigent boys." Some seventy "King's Scholars" are still taught at Eton; but besides these there are from 900 to 1000 other THE NORTH BANK OF THE THAMES, ETC. 201 scholars, the sons of the most noble and wealthy persons in the country. Round the college buildings are gardens, and large and beautiful playing fields. "Unmuddled by commerce, but flowing free and pure, amid the greenest meadows, scattered villas, and trees overhanging its clear waters, and adding to its glad aspect the richness of their beauty," the Thames continues its course. At Staines it is joined by the Colne. The chief beauties of the river are on the Surrey side now; Middlesex has, however, the grand front of Hampton Court Palace, Bushey Park, and Twickenham, where the poet Pope lived. 66 Bushey is laid out with a fine sheet of water, and with splendid rows of horse-chestnut trees on each. side of the public road which runs through it to Teddington and Twickenham. It is a very pleasant drive through this park, especially when the chestnuts are in full blossom. "A visit to Hampton Court is one of the bravest pleasures that a happy party of friends can promise themselves."* We do not see this stately palace, which outshone all the king's houses, at its best. Much of Hampton Court, as it was built by the proud cardinal, has been pulled down and replaced by less stately building. Here had Wolsey full room for the thousand persons, servants and gentleman attendants, who waited upon him. Here he kept great state, and entertained king and court with music and feasting, shows, and other delights. When his fall was approaching, he presented his Hampton Court Palace, one of the finest in Europe, to the king. *Wm. Howitt. |