126 



THE BRIGHTON ROAD 



XIV 



Returning to the main road, we come, just before 

 reaching Godstone Corner, to the site of the now- 

 forgotten Foxley Hatch, a turnpike-gate, which stood 

 at this point until 1865. Paying toll here " cleared," 

 or made the traveller free of, the gates and bars to 

 Merstham, on the main road, and as far as Wray 

 Common, on the Reigate route, as the following copy 

 of a contemporary turnpike-ticket shows : 



Foxley Hatch Gate 



R 



clears Wray common, Gatton, 



Merstham and Hooley lane* 



gates and bars 



it 



To Riddlesdown, the prettiest spot in Surrey," 

 says a sign-post on the left hand. It is not true that 

 it is the prettiest place, but, of course (as the proverb 

 truly says), " every eye forms its own beauty," and 

 Riddlesdown is a Beanfeasters' Paradise, where tea- 

 gardens, swings, and I know not what temerarious 

 delights await the tripper who accepts the invita- 

 tion, boldly displayed, " Up the Steps for Home 

 Comforts." 



Here an aged milestone, in addition, proclaims it 

 to be " XIII Miles from the Standard in Cornhill, 

 London, 1743," and "XII Miles From We/tmin/ter 

 Bridge." This is, doubtless, one of the stones referred 

 to in the London Evening Post of September 10th, 1743, 



