Hurst Beach and Castle. 151 



up prettily amongst its trees, and the church itself is a good 

 example of our village churches, built in three or four different 

 styles. The tower is Early-English, surmounted by a string- 

 course of Norman heads. In the north side stands a curious 

 inserted doorway, with trefoil heading, whilst two Norman 

 arches remain in the nave joined by Early-English, springing 

 from black Purbeck marble shafts. 



To the south stretches the long Hurst beach, formed, in 

 much the same way as the more famous Chesil Bank, of 

 the rolled pebbles brought up from the Barton Cliffs by the 

 strong tides aided with the westerly gales, making a breakwater 

 to the whole of the Solent. Now and then close to it appear the 

 floating islands, known as the Shingles, sometimes rising for 

 only a few hours above the sea, and at others remaining long 

 enough to become green with bladderwort and samphire. 



Across to the Isle of Wight, at the narrowest point, it is only 

 a mile ; and so fast does the Solent tide,* when once the ebb is 

 felt, pour itself along the narrow gorge, that it fills up Christ- 

 church Bay, higher than at the flood, thus making, in fact, 

 a double high-water. At the extreme end stands Hurst Castle, 

 built by Henry VIII., from the ruins of Beaulieu Abbey. 

 Whatever opinion we may have of Henry's private character, 

 there can be but one as to his foresight and energy in defending 

 the country. Much for this may be forgiven. Hall wrote in no 

 exaggerated strain when he said : — " The King's highness never 



* " That narrow sea, which we the Solent term, 



Where those rough ireful tides, as in her straights they meet, 



With boisterous shocks and roars each other rudely greet ; 



AVhich fiercely when they charge, and sadly when they make retreat, 



Upon the bulwark forts of Hurst and Calshot beat, 



Then to Southampton run. Polyolbion, book ii. 



151 



