64 A KENTISH PARISH 



of course they drove up in their own carriages, baiting 

 half-way at the " Bull " at Brackenbury. The " Red 

 Lion " at Oakenhurst, and the " Godwin Arms " did 

 but an insignificant business in post-chaises ; but post- 

 chaises were always to be had in profusion at the 

 famous establishment of the " Hop Pole " at Low- 

 beech, where the sixty coaches changed horses in the 

 twenty-four hours, and relays of postilions were per- 

 petually on duty. The " Red Lion " and the 

 <c Godwin Arms " had tolerably lively times on the 

 market-days, when the farmers were talking hops or 

 wheat while their good wives were laying in haber- 

 dashery or groceries. Otherwise the place must have 

 stagnated in a comfortable sort of fashion. Most men 

 managed to pay their way, and few cared to press a 

 neighbour ; indeed, where everybody was gossiping on 

 everybody's affairs, credit could rarely be granted 

 recklessly. And to say nothing of the neighbouring 

 squires, who made a point of dealing with the local 

 shopkeepers, the prosperous residents in certain solid 

 brick mansions set a good deal of money quietly in 

 circulation. Now the approach of the railways has 

 changed all that, without carrying the place off its legs 

 in a rush of traffic, and Oakenhurst, though it still 

 affects airs of prosperity, has rather been slipping 

 down between two stools. 



Should it succeed in raising the requisite capital for 

 the branch line from Lowbeech which it has latterly 

 begun to sigh for, it is probable that there may be 

 brighter days in store for it. For the parish only needs 



