WELLS'S GRAVE 301 



celebrated jockey, lies. Russell's sons still carry on 

 the business.' Not only John Wells, Sir Joseph 

 Hawley's favourite jockey and John Porter's life- 

 long friend and comrade, but Wells's wife, George 

 Manning, the trainer, and a son of Charles Marlow's 

 rest in the shadow of Kingsclere's ancient church. 

 The first chapter in the history of the venerable 

 piles begins in Saxon times. Of that building, 

 however, no trace remains. The fine church of 

 Kingsclere which we see now is mainly of Norman 

 date, and the architecture shows that its erection 

 must be ascribed to the time when the Abbey of 

 Hyde held the advowson. At about the end of the 

 thirteenth century this benefice was the wealthiest 

 in the diocese of Winchester. It is noteworthy 

 that revenue contributed by Kingsclere helped to 

 build Rouen Cathedral, and that a palace at 

 Winchester was built by funds partly derived from 

 the same source. 



Whether it be taken before or after Sir Joseph 

 Hawley's favourite Kingsclere breakfast — which 

 consisted of trout, a chop, and strawberries— the 

 stroll through Kingsclere ' town ' and thereabouts 

 is a pleasant experience. Only, to enjoy it 

 thoroughly, you must now and then ' mark time ' 

 in the antiquarian sense in company with the 

 Monkbarns of the place or the oldest inhabitant. 

 'The clanging rookery,' the saddlers' and wheel- 

 wrights' shops, the doctor's, Mr. Drake, the brewer, 

 a mill and a mill-stream which would delight ' Red- 

 spinner,' the post office and telegraph office (in 



