234 THE EXETER ROAD 



Passiusf tlirouo;li West Harnliam, a suburb of 

 Salisbury, the road immediately begins to climb the 

 downs, descending, however, in three miles to the 

 charming little village of Coombe Bissett, in the 

 water-meadows of the Wiltshire Avon, which runs 

 prettily beside the road. An ancient church, old 

 thatched barns standing on stone staddles whose feet 

 are in the stream, bridges across the water, and the 

 inevitable downs closinof in the view, make one of the 

 rare picturesque compositions to l^e found along this 

 dreary stretch of country. 



Make much, wayfarer, of Coomlje Bissett. Linger 

 there, soothe your soul with its rural graces before 

 proceeding ; for the road immediately leaves this 

 valley of the Avon, and the next l^end discloses the 

 unfenced rollins: downs, goino; in a mile-lono; rise, 

 and so continuing, with a balance in the matter of 

 gradients against the traveller going westwards, all 

 the w^ay to Blandford. 



At eight miles from Salisbury is situated the old 

 ' AVoodyates Inn,' placed in this lonely situation, far 

 removed from any village, in the days when the 

 coachino; traffic made the custom of travellers worth 

 obtaining. It was in those days thought that after 

 travelling eight miles the passengers by coach or 

 post-chaise would want refreshments. It was a 

 happy and well-founded thought ; and if all tales be 

 true, the prowess of our great - grandfathers as 

 trenchermen left nothing to be desired — nor any- 

 thing remaining in the larder when they had done. 



The curious, on the lookout for this old coaching 

 inn, will scarcely recognise it when seen, for it has 



