SELBORXE SOCIErV XOTICES 
199 
Norwood Green and the canal bridge to Hanwell Station, leaving by train at 
9 o’clock. A cordial vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Lawrence for his able 
guidance. 
Saturday, September 5. — A day of bright sunshine after a week of rain was a 
pleasant surprise to the Selbornians who met at South Croydon Station to walk 
to Addington. Owing to the previous wet weather the walk through Foxglove 
Woods was abandoned and the party took the road, known locally as “ The Land 
of Goshen,” to Addington Woods and Park. Entering by the West Lodge, and 
following the road leading to the Palace, the former dwelling of the Archbishops 
of Canterbury (built by Sir John Leigh in 1544), they walked through the private 
pleasure gardens and farm to the church. 
Addington Park Estate was purchased in 1808 as a residence for the Archbishops 
of Canterbury, six of whom lived here in succession. After the death of Arch- 
bishop Benson in 1896, Addington Park and Manor were alienated from the See. 
Addington Church, a stone and flint building, is believed to date from the Saxon 
period. Archbishops Manners-Sutton and Howley lie in the vaults beneath the 
church, and Archbishops Sumner, Longley, and Tait’s graves are in the church- 
yard. The chancel was restored and decorated in 1897 as a memorial to 
Archbishop Benson, who resided at Addington, but was buried in Canterbury 
Cathedral. The restoration, which was partly planned in Dr. Benson’s lifetime, 
consisted in the re-opening of the Saxon window over the Communion table and 
the construction of a very beautiful white alabaster reredos with statuettes of four 
Archbishops under canopies. Archbishops Theodore and Benson are the principal 
figures, Cranmer and Laud being at the North and South ends. In the North 
wall of the chancel is a large monument erected by Sir Olliph Leigh in memory 
<.f his father, John Leigh, Esq., and his wife Joan, and on the floor are brasses to 
the memory of Sir John Leigh, his wife Isabel, and their five children. 
The guides here drew attention to the beautifully carved angel, part of a can- 
delabrum that had lately been placed in the chancel as a memorial to Miss 
Benham, a missionary (one of the daughters of Canon Benham, a former Vicar of 
Addington). This was carved by Peter Rendl, who took the part of St. John in 
I he last Passion Play at Oberammergau. The windows in the nave are to the 
memory of Archbishop Tait, his son, the Rev. Ciauford Tait, and Sir George 
Johnson, one of the physicians to the late Queen Victoria. Leaving the church 
and walking through the village, passing the schools on the right, the party again 
entered the Park by the Lion Lodge, and taking the path up Fir Grove came to 
I he monument erected in 1811 by Archbishop Manners-Sutton, who planted a 
cedar-tree at the same time to commemorate the fiftieth year of George III.’s 
reign. Walking on past the Lily Pond, the part of the Park known as -Scotland 
was reached. The heather here was in full bloom and added to the charms of the 
scenery. Leaving the Park by the Swiss Lodge, the Selbornians came into the 
road near Shirley Church, and spent a few moments in viewing the tomb and 
reading the inscription placed by John Ruskin in memory of his father and 
mother ; and then, walking by the footpath to Upper Shirley along the Oaks Road, 
came to Coombe Road, and by the lanes to Park Hill House, where they were 
hospitably entertained to tea by Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin Latham. 
A very cordial vote of thanks to the guides. Miss Latham and Miss Flint, and 
to Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin Latham, was passed on the motion of Mr. Hunt, 
seconded by Mr. Watt. In replying to this Mr. Latham greatly interested the 
members by recounting some of the great changes that had taken place in 
Croydon since he first came to the borough half a century ago. Of particular 
interest was his description of the old atmospheric railway, the first railroad built 
in this country, which proved an utter failure. One of the old boiler-houses of 
this railway has been re-erected in the grounds of Park Hill PJouse for use as a 
coach-house. 
Library. — The Honorary Librarian has pleasure in announcing the following 
additions to the Library, all kindly presented by the Editor : “ Boy’s Own Nature 
Book,” by W. Percival Westell, b'.L.S., M.B.O.U. ; “Nature Rambles in 
London,” by K. M. Hall, F.L.S., F.Z.S. ; “North American Skunks,” by 
A. H. Howell ; “Food Habits of the Grosbeaks,” by W. L. McAtee. 
