24 THE BRIGHTON ROAD 



IV 



Erredge, the historian of Brighton, tells something 

 of the social side of Brighton Road coaching at the 

 beginning of the nineteenth century. Social indeed, 

 as vou shall see : 



" In 1801 two pair-horse coaches ran between 

 London and Brighton on alternate days, one up, the 

 other down, driven by Messrs. Crossweller and Hine. 

 The progress of these coaches was amusing. The one 

 from London left the Blossoms Inn, Lawrence Lane, 

 at 7 a.m., the passengers breaking their fast at the 

 Cock, Sutton, at 9. The next stoppage for the purpose 

 of refreshment was at the Tangier, Banstead Downs— 

 a rural little spot, famous for its elderberry wine, 

 which used to be brought from the cottage ' roking 

 hot,' and on a cold wintry morning few refused to 

 partake of it. George IV. invariably stopped here and 

 took a glass from the hand of Miss Jeal as he sat in 

 his carriage. The important business of luncheon took 

 place at Reigate, where sufficient time was allowed the 

 passengers to view the Baron's Cave, where, it is said, 

 the barons assembled the night previous to their 

 meeting King John at Runymeade. The grand halt 

 for dinner was made at Staplefield Common, celebrated 

 for its famous black cherry-trees, under the branches 

 of which, when the fruit was ripe, the coaches were 

 allowed to draw up and the passengers to partake of 

 its tempting produce. The hostess of the hostelry 

 here was famed for her rabbit-puddings, which, hot, 

 were always waiting the arrival of the coach, and to 

 which the travellers never failed to do such ample 

 justice, that ordinarily they found it quite impossible 

 to leave at the hour appointed ; so grogs, pipes, and 

 ale were ordered in. and, to use the language of the 

 fraternity, ' not a wheel wagged ' for two hours. 

 Handeross was a little resting-place, celebrated for 

 its ' neat ' liquors, the landlord of the inn standing, 

 bottle in hand, at the door. He and several other 

 bonifaces at Friars' Oak, etc., had the reputation of 



