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HA RD WICKE ' S S CIENCE- G O SSIP. 



gentry to get rid of the evil referred to, nor wonder- 

 ing why they did not pull down the tower and scatter 

 the remains. Without doubt the latter would have 

 been much the easier task, and would have had the 

 effect of effectually destroying what was principally 

 intended for the use of visitors to the neighbourhood. 

 Quoting from "Tallis's Topographical Dictionary 

 of England and Wales," the little book before 

 mentioned states : " The Hill is crowned by a small 

 structure traditionally said to mark the spot where an 

 eccentric farmer of the neighbourhood was buried on 

 horseback upside down, so that when the world was 

 turned, as he believed it then soon would be, topsy- 

 turvey, he might at last come up in the right 

 position ! " 



The visitors' book kept at Leith Hill Tower, 

 exhibits the usual amount of Cockney wit, or rather 

 attempts at it, in the way of forged signatures of 

 many peers, statesmen, and other persons of renown, 

 and the absurd propensity of Englishmen of the 

 lower class to cut their names or initials upon every 

 object of curiosity or antiquity has been gratified to 

 such an extent on the tower itself and its surroundings 

 that initials cut with evident care, and no doubt 

 much inconvenience, may be observed for a consider- 

 able distance up the inside of the leaden water-spout 

 in the wall of the flagstaff tower. A few convictions 

 for wilful damage might have a beneficial effect on 

 some of these gentry, who are evidently fully alive to 

 the fact, that the memorials they leave behind them 

 in this way are likely to be the only ones which will 

 carry their memory to posterity. Leith Hill is only 

 about 25 miles from London, and should be visited 

 by all Londoners who appreciate rural and pictur- 

 esque scenery and fresh air. The nearest railway 

 station is that at Holmwood, on the London, Brighton, 

 and South Coast Railway, which is distant about 

 three and a half miles. 



We did not leave the hill until it was getting dark, 

 so had little time to lose on making our way across 

 country to the village at which we expected to lodge 

 that night. Our intention had been to stop at 

 Abinger, Gomshall, Shiere, or Albury in the evening, 

 but having reached Abinger we found to our dis- 

 appointment that the only inn in the village was full. 

 With the assistance, however, of the graphic 

 directions given by a friendly countryman, we found 

 our way to Holmbury St. Mary, a little village not 

 usually marked on maps, but near Holmbury Hill, 

 and here after some difficulty and loss of time we 

 succeeded in obtaining a very agreeable lodging for 

 the night at a private house next to the inn. The 

 latter had been entirely filled by visitors from London. 

 The countryman before referred to explained to us 

 that Holmbury St. Mary was not shown on maps 

 owing to the fact, that the post oflice of the 

 neighbourhood was at Pitland Street, and the 

 neighbouring village at Holmbury St. Mary had 

 consequently been left without a name by the 



Ordnance Survey authorities. This explanation, 

 being highly satisfactory to all parties, we parted 

 with our friend somewhat relieved from serious 

 apprehensions of a night out, which alternative we 

 had considered by no means improbable, having 

 regard to the fact, that the village recommended was 

 in no way shown on the map of the county which we 

 carried with us. It may be useful to my readers who 

 intend to go over the same ground to make a note of 

 this fact, for as Holmbury St. Mary is but a short 

 distance from Abinger, and the inn at the last- 

 mentioned place appears to be extensively patronized 

 by visitors from London, it is desirable to have a sort 

 of relief station in the event of failure to get a lodging 

 at Abinger. 



The country which we passed through, on the 

 first day of our walk, consisted chiefly of commons, 

 woods, and heaths, the latter of which, notwithstand- 

 ing the early date, were by no means monotonous, 

 relieved as they were by occasional clumps of hollies, 

 sallows, and other trees and shrubs. 



The walk from Epsom to Abinger — taking Leith 

 Hill upon the way — would be a delightful one in 

 summer to any one who can find enjoyment in miles 

 of purple heather, interspersed with woodlands of 

 the most delightful description alive with the usual 

 inhabitants of such localities. To the entomologist, 

 the walk would, without doubt, in proper season, be 

 productive of many specimens for the cabinet, and 

 certainly ornithologists and botanists would have no 

 cause to be dissatisfied. 



On the 24th we continued our journey up Holm- 

 bury Hill and along the ridge of hills to which it 

 belongs, Holmwood and Hurtwood Commons, and 

 through woods and heaths to Farley Green and 

 thence through Sheep Walks to Shamley, where we 

 stopped some time for necessary refreshment. After 

 leaving the last -mentioned place, we crossed a tribu- 

 tary of the river Wey and the branch of the London, 

 Brighton, and South Coast Railway, which runs here 

 parallel with the Surrey and Sussex Canal and pro- 

 ceeded by the main road to Bramley, and thence by 

 country lanes and footpaths to Godalming. After 

 leaving Bramley we met for the first time with some 

 little difficulty, for it was dark, and there is no direct 

 road from that place to Godalming. Owing to this 

 fact, quantities of matches were used at every finger- 

 post, and references to the county map were necessarily 

 made by means of the same illumination. Owing to 

 these delays, our progress was retarded to such an 

 extent that we only succeeded in reaching Godalming 

 shortly before eleven, and only just in time to obtain 

 a lodging for the night. We had intended to visit 

 Hambledon, a little village a few miles to the south 

 of Godalming, celebrated as the birth-place of cricket, 

 but as we were exceedingly doubtful as to whether 

 we should obtain accommodation there for the night, 

 we deemed it expedient to make for Godalming, 

 where there was little doubt of obtaining comfortable 



