212 ON SURREY HILLS. 



land, ultimately to find its way to the river far away 

 below. 



Wood only is still burned in the huge fireplaces. 

 The woodwork is all oak inside and out, and a grand 

 oak staircase leads, from what in the olden time was 

 an entrance hall, to the quaint and comfortable sleep- 

 ing chambers. 



Sunshine and life floods the whole as we pass one 

 of these, and the people who inhabit it we know to 

 be kindly and courteous to all who may travel their 

 way. 



The marten-cat, by the way, has been killed not 

 far from Holmbush Tower. Nearly all these old 

 mansions and manor-houses have or have had a 

 belfry, or a bell-tower ; and never a bell-tower yet 

 in Sussex but has its owls, that lodge there in 

 numbers. 



The weald of Sussex is rich in traditions, and full 

 of interest to the antiquarian as well as the field 

 naturalist. 



In bygone days the cattle were often driven into 

 those walled farms, the drawbridges were raised, and 

 the bell was tolled to let all around know that raiders 

 were out. There was good cause for moats and high 



