HAMDON HILL, 79 



greater than it really is ; its summit being only about 240 

 feet above the level of the village of Stoke, belovv, and 

 just 426 feet above the level of high water mark at Wey- 

 mouth. The prospect from its summit is very extensive 

 and beautiful ; looking westward over the richly wooded and 

 fertile vallies that extend beyond the Tone, to the hilla of 

 Quantock and Williton ; on the north the Mendip chain ; on 

 the east the Wiltshire hüls, with the column called Alfred's 

 Tower ; and ft-om thence to the southward and westward, 

 the undulating line of the Dorsetshire hills, — Pillesdon, 

 Lewesdon, and Larabart's Castle, Whitedown, Snowdon, 

 and Castle Neroche ; thus exhibiting a variety of prospect 

 over the surrounding country, not often paralleled. From 

 its loftiest point, a panoramic view of great distance is 

 übtained, unbroken except by a small Interruption of the 

 plantations at Montacute Hill. One curious memorial of 

 the olden time, is on the south-west side — a deep combe, 

 now planted as an orchard and gardens, which was formerly 

 the regulär read from Taunton to Salisbury, and through 

 which some of the old inliabitants of Stoke, now deceased, 

 have informed me they have seen the old Taunton coach 

 soberly creeping up, on its tvvo or three days' journey to 

 London*; a not iinpleasing contrast to the rocket-like speed 

 with which we are now whisked away on the railroad, in 

 only twice as many hours. 



How often have I wished, when rambling over the vene- 

 rable spot, that it were possible to draw aside the veil of 

 antiquity, and bring to view some of the scenes of the past 

 centuries. What an interesting tale might be told ! 

 Imagination presents to us the simple, unclothed, and 

 untutored Britons, calraly tending their flocks on the down 



* This is corroborated by an old mile-stone by the road side, from the 

 liill towards Odcombe, bearing the inscription " 127 miles to London.'' 



