118 The Neiv Forest : its History and its Scenery. 



side of the town, with its avenue of limes, and its yews, now 

 spoilt by being dipt. The windows of the nave are Early 

 Decorated, whilst those of the clerestory are Perpendicular. 

 Against the north pillar of the south chancel arch is fixed a 

 late brass. The upper part of the east window is spoilt by its 

 ugly Tudor headings, and the lower portion by the Commandment 

 tables. The high-pitched open Perpendicular roof of the north 

 chancel, however, possesses some real interest, both on account 

 of its height and its richness of detail,— the tie-beams faced 

 with mouldings, and the spaces above ornamented with tracery, 

 and the braces below also carved, and the purlins enriched with 

 bosses, whilst carved projecting figures bear up the whole. 



Before, however, the traveller leaves Fordingbridge he should 

 go to Sandyballs and Castle Hill, where are still the remains 

 of a camp, and traces of habitations, probably used in turn 

 by Kelts, Romans, and West-Saxons, and where, perhaps, 

 Ambrosius entrenched himself before the battle of Charford. 

 From here is one of the best views of the Valley. Behind us 

 stands Godshill inclosure, and the Forest with its dark moors 

 and woods. Below winds the Avon, with its orchards nestling 

 on the hill side, stretching its silver coil of waters along the 

 green meadows, the sunlight gleaming on each bend and turn. 



Looking up the stream, the village of Wood Green, and the 

 woods of Hale, and the two Charfords, one by one appear. 

 Charford is especially noticeable, formerly Cerdeford, without 

 doubt the Cerdices-ford of The Chronicle and of Florence. Here 

 it was for the last time that the gallant Ambrosius Aurelianus, 

 Prince Natan-Leod, father of the great Arthur of Mediaeval 

 legends, after his many defeats, rallied the forlorn hope of the 

 Romanized Kelts. Here, too, he fell on the greensward by the 

 side of the Avon, with five thousand of his men, and was buried 



