House and Garden 
HIGH ALTAR AND CEDARS 
famous “curse of Cowdrey,” The monk 
told him that by fire and water his line should 
perish. Two hundred and fifty years later 
the curse was fulfilled, Cowdrey house was 
burnt to the ground, and the last Viscount 
Montague, the lineal descendant of Sir 
Anthony, was drowned in the Rhine. The 
property was sold in 1901, and now has an 
American owner. 
Sir Anthony deserved his curse (though it 
was a long time in working), for he pulled 
down the noble church, the chapter-house, 
cloisters and other monastic buildings. In 
spite of this Battle Abbey remains one of the 
most interesting mansions in the Kingdom. 
One comes away with confused memories of 
grey walls embraced by white clematis and 
red rose, gloomy underground caverns with 
double rows of arch¬ 
es, benignant cedars, 
fragrant limes, and a 
sweet fountain or rose 
garden with fantastic 
beds. The camellia 
walk and the yew-tree 
path attract the pass¬ 
ing pilgrim, while in 
the grounds he feasts 
his eyes on the lily 
pond, and the three 
ancient stew ponds 
of the Abbey, wherein 
the fish were preserved 
which provided the 
monastic tables with 
food on fast-days. 
120 
Within the high surrounding 
walls of the precincts flourish 
oaks and limes, sycamores, 
poplars, chestnuts, scobel firs, 
and some fine auracana imbri- 
ca'ta. We will try to describe 
each part of this pleasant pic¬ 
ture. 
First, we come to the grand 
gateway where many a pilgrim 
has come to view the relics, 
and many a criminal has 
knocked to claim sanctuary. 
On the right of the gate is the 
old almonry house, a fine, half- 
timbered building erected for 
the accommodation of pil¬ 
grims. T he gateway, one of the finest in 
England, is a noble example of Late' Deco¬ 
rated work, and has not suffered from “res¬ 
toration.” It was built mainly by Abbot 
Retlynge about the year 1338 when, as I 
have said, Edward III. granted license to 
crenelate and fortify the Abbey. It has a 
f rontage of 150 feet, and consists of a central 
portion and two wings of unequal length. 
Retlynge built the central and east wing, 
utilizing the west wing which was built in 
the late Norman period, and transforming 
it by inserting decorated windows and 
ornamentations. At least that is the story 
which the stones tell. The central tower 
rises to a height of 54 feet and is 35 feet square. 
There is a large gate and a postern. There 
is a vaulted ceiling, and heads appear in the 
RUINS OF DORMITORY 
