Many years ago it occurred to this writer that it would be an interesting thing to write and illustrate a book on the Road to Brighton. The genesis of that thought has been forgotten, but the book was written and published, and has long been out of print. And there might have been the end of it, but that (from no preconceived plan) there has since been added a long series of books on others of our great highways, rendering imperative re-issues of the parent volume.
Two considerations have made that undertaking a matter of considerable difficulty, either of them sufficiently weighty. The first was that the original book was written at a time when the author had not arrived at a settled method; the second is found in the fact of the Brighton Road being not only the best known of highways, but also the one most susceptible to change.
When it is remembered that motor-cars have come upon the roads since then, that innumerable sporting “records” in cycling, walking, and other forms of progression have since been made, and that in many other ways the road is different, it was seen that not merely a re-issue of the book, but a book almost entirely re-written and re-illustrated was required. This, then, is what was provided in a second edition, published in 1906. And now another, the third, is issued, bringing the story of this highway up to date.
CHARLES G. HARPER.
March, 1922.
THE ROAD TO BRIGHTON
| MILES | |
| Westminster Bridge (Surrey side) to— | |
| St. Mark’s Church, Kennington | 1½ |
| Brixton Church | 3 |
| Streatham | 5½ |
| Norbury | 6¾ |
| Thornton Heath | 8 |
| Croydon (Whitgift’s Hospital) | 9½ |
| Purley Corner | 12 |
| Smitham Bottom | 13½ |
| Coulsdon Railway Station | 14¼ |
| Merstham | 17¾ |
| Redhill (Market Hall) | 20½ |
| Horley (“Chequers”) | 24 |
| Povey Cross | 25¾ |
| Kimberham Bridge (Cross River Mole) | 26 |
| Lowfield Heath | 27 |
| Crawley | 29 |
| Pease Pottage | 31¼ |
| Hand Cross | 33½ |
| Staplefield Common | 34¾ |
| Slough Green | 36¼ |
| Whiteman’s Green | 37¼ |
| Cuckfield | 37½ |
| Ansty Cross | 38 |
| Bridge Farm (Cross River Adur) | 40¼ |
| St. John’s Common | 40¾ |
| “Friar’s Oak” Inn | 42¾ |
| Stonepound | 43½ |
| Clayton | 44½ |
| Pyecombe | 45½ |
| Patcham | 48 |
| Withdean | 48¾ |
| Preston | 49¾ |
| Brighton (Aquarium) | 51½ |
| The Sutton and Reigate Route | |
| St. Mark’s, Kennington | 1½ |
| Tooting Broadway | 6 |
| Mitcham | 8¼ |
| Sutton (“Greyhound”) | 11 |
| Tadworth | 16 |
| Lower Kingswood | 17 |
| Reigate Hill | 19¼ |
| Reigate (Town Hall) | 20½ |
| Woodhatch (“Old Angel”) | 21½ |
| Povey Cross | 26 |
| Brighton | 51⅝ |
| The Bolney and Hickstead Route | |
| Hand Cross | 33½ |
| Bolney | 39 |
| Hickstead | 40½ |
| Savers Common | 42 |
| Newtimber | 44½ |
| Pyecombe | 45 |
| Brighton | 50½ |