238 THE DOVER ROAD 



the hostess for that old-time Kentish deUcacy, the 

 " pudding-pie," that was once to be had for the asking 

 at any inn during Easter week. The " pudding-pie " 

 has almost entirely vanished from Kent, but, " once 

 upon a time," not to have tasted one was regarded as 

 unlucky, and it was the usual thing for ale-house 

 customers to ask for a " pudding-pie " as a right. 

 " Neow, missus," the Kentish yokel would say, " let uz 

 teaste one o' them 'ere puddeners o' yourn," and the 

 " missus " would hand him a flat circular tart, about 

 the size of a saucer, and filled with custard sprinkled 

 thinly with currants. 



Downs extend all the way from here to Lydden, 

 three miles away, and Lydden itself lies enfolded in 

 a chalky botton through which the road runs steeply. 

 Downs stretch on either side of the tiny village and 

 frown down upon it, making its insignificance more 

 marked and its little cottages and little church look 

 like toys. On the left hand, at the distance of half 

 a mile, goes the railway, past that old village of 

 Siberts would, which railway directors in a conspiracy 

 with Kentish rustics have agreed to call " Shepherds- 

 well," and it continues in a deep, precipitous cutting 

 through the chalk to Kearsney station, another three 

 miles ahead ; and so presently into Dover. And 

 now the road leads uphill to Ewell, where the springs 

 of the little river Dour burst forth and gem all the 

 valley hence to Dover with gracious foliage. The good 

 folk of Ewell have recovered the " Temple " prefix to 

 the village name. As " Temple Ewell " it was 

 anciently known, for here once was situated a 

 Preceptory of the Knights Templar. 



The Dour, whose name means simply " water," 

 bubbles up in springs at Temple Ewell, and is fed by a 

 stream which comes down the valley on the right, from 

 Alkham, two miles or so away, and from Drellingore, a 

 further mile. That stream is intermittent ; being a 

 " nailbourne," or chalk stream ; storing up water in its 

 caverns until, these being filled, either by exceptional 



