152 THE BRIGHTON ROAD 



de Warennes, ancient and bitter enemies of the de 

 Clares ; probably in the wars of the twelfth century, 

 between King Stephen and the Empress Maud. 



It is an eminently undesirable situation for a 

 residence, however suitable it may have been for 

 defence ; and the Saxons who occupied it must 

 have known what rheumatism is. Dark woods 

 now enclose the place, and cluttering wildfowl form 

 its garrison. 



The " Chequers ' at Horley is not quite half way 

 to Brighton, but in default of another it is the half- 

 way house. Its name derives from the old chequy, 

 or chessboard, arms of the Earls of Warren, chequered 

 in gold and blue. They were not only great personages 

 in this vale, but enjoyed in mediaeval times the right 

 of licensing ale-houses : hence the many " Chequers " 

 throughout the country. The newer portions of the 

 house are typically suburban, but the old-world front, 

 with its quaint portico, the whole shaded by a group 

 of ancient oaks, remains untouched. 



Horley — the " Hurle " of old maps — is very 

 scattered : a piece here, another there, and the parish 

 church standing isolated at the extreme southern end 

 of the wide parish. It is situated on an extensive 

 flat, reeking like a sponge with the waters of the Mole, 

 but, although so entirely undesirable a place, is under 

 exploitation for building purposes. A stranger first 

 arriving at Horley late at night, and seeing its long 

 lines of lighted streets radiating in several directions, 

 would think he had come to a town ; but morning 

 would show him that long perspectives of gas-lamps 

 do not necessarily mean houses to correspond. 

 Evidently those responsible for the lamps expect a 

 coming expansion of Horley ; but that expectation 

 is not very likely to be realised. 



Much of Horley belongs to Christ's Hospital, which 

 is said to be under obligation to educate two children 

 of poor widows, in return for the great tithes long 

 since bequeathed to it, and is additionally accused 

 of having consistently betrayed that trust. 



