CHIPSTEAD 137 



lets nothing of his worth escape you, so prolix 

 is it.* 



It was while delving amid the chalk of this tramway 

 cutting that Edward Banks first became acquainted 

 with this village, and so charmed with it was he that 

 he expressed a desire, when his time should come, to 

 be laid at rest in its quiet graveyard. When he died, 

 after a singularly successful career, his wish was 

 carried out, and here, in this quiet spot overlooking 

 the highway, you may see his handsome tomb, begirt 

 with iron railings, and overshadowed with ancient 

 trees. 



The little church of Chipstead is of Norman origin, 

 and still shows some interesting features of that period, 

 with some unusual Early English additions that have 

 presented architectural puzzles even to the minds of 

 experts. Many years ago the late Mr. G. E. Street, 

 the architect of the present Royal Courts of Justice 

 in London, read a paper upon this building, advancing 

 the theory that the curious pedimental windows of 

 the chancel and the transept door were not the Saxon 

 work they appeared to be, but were the creation of 

 an architect of the Early English period who had 

 a fancy for reviving Saxon features, and who was the 

 builder and designer of a series of Surrey churches, 

 amoiw which is included that of Merstham. 



* " Sir Edward Banks, Knight, of Sheerness, Isle of Sheppey, and 

 Adelphi Terrace, Strand, Middlesex, whose remains are deposited 

 in the family vault in this churchyard. Blessed hy Divine Providence 

 with an honest heart, a clear head, and an extraordinary degreelof 

 perseverance, he rose superior to all difficulties, and was the founder 

 of his own fortune ; and although of self -cultivated talent, he in 

 early life hecame contractor for public works, and was actively and 

 successfully engaged during forty years in the execution of some of 

 the most useful, extensive, and splendid works of his time ; amongst 

 which mav he mentioned the Waterloo, Southwark, London, and 

 Staines Bridges over the Thames, the Naval Works at Sheerness 

 Dockyard, and the new channels for the rivers Ouse, Nene, and 

 Witham in Norfolk and Lincolnshire. He was eminently 

 distinguished for the simplicit3 T of his manners and the benevolence 

 of his heart ; respected for his inflexible integrity and his pure and 

 unaffected piety ; in all the relations of his life he was candid, 

 diligent, and humane ; just in purpose, firm in execution ; his 

 liberality and indulgence to his numerous coadjutors were alone 

 equalled by his generosity and charity displayed in the disposal of 

 his honourably-acquired wealth. He departed this life at Tilgate, 

 Sussex ... on the 5th day of July, 1835, in the sixty-sixth year 

 of his age." 



