86 



THE BATH ROAD 



American romance in the genre of Bret Harte. And, 

 indeed, the houses grouped around Cranford Bridge 

 were, some seventy years ago, built on the very 

 borders of Hounslow Heath, whose dreary and 

 dangerous wastes only found a boundary here, beside 

 the still waters of the placid Crane. At Cranford 

 Bridge stands that fine old coaching inn, the "Berkeley 

 Arms," and opposite the " White Hart," which must 



THE "BERKELEY ARMS. 



have been in those times very havens of refuge in 

 that wild spot ; and away up the lane to the right 

 hand lies the village and park, as pretty a spot as 

 you shall find in a long day's march. Cranford 

 villag;e is rich in beautiful old mansions set in midst 

 of walled gardens whose formal precincts are entered 

 through massive wrought-iron gates. Beside this 

 lane is the village " lock-up," or " round-house," 

 built in 1810, and now the only one of its kind left 



