70 THE BATH ROAD 



Before, however, we come to Hoimslow Heath, we 

 have to cast a glance round Brentford, a town which 

 holds the proud position of the county town of 

 Middlesex. Forei<>;ners mioht, in the innocence of 

 their hearts, suppose that London would hold that 

 honour ; but to Brentford, known from time im- 

 memorial, and with the utmost justice, as "dirty 

 Brentford," it lins fallen. Has Brentford risen to the 

 occasion ? It must sorrowfully be admitted that it 

 has not, and is a very marvel of dirt and dilapidation, 



and But no matter ! Until quite recently it 



also possessed, in the church of Old Brentford, the 

 very ugliest church in England, which was so very 

 ugly that it used to be credibly reported that people 

 came lono- distances to see such a marvel of the un- 

 lovely. Alas ! the church has been rebuilt, and so 

 Brentford has lost a claim to distinction. 



But Brentford has the honour of being mentioned 

 in Shakespeare, in a passage whose allusions not all 

 the efforts of antiquaries have been able to explain, 

 and distinguished itself in a peculiar way during the 

 reign of King William the Fourth, whom people used 

 to call, for no very good reason, Silly Billy. The 

 King and Queen were expected to drive through the 

 town, on their way from Windsor to London, and the 

 streets were decorated. But the inhabitants spiced 

 their loyalty with sarcasm, for hanging on a line, 

 stretched prominently across the road, was an old coat, 

 turned inside out, in allusion to His Majesty's un- 

 certain policy. Not satisfied, however, with this 

 delicate way of calling him a turncoat, Brentford had 

 another insult ready a little way down the street. 



