Sandwich contains some of the richest bits of mediaeval architecture in England. There are some traces of the walls to be seen, and one ancient gateway is perfect, Fisher's Gate, near the quay. On the north is the Tudor barbican gate. St. Clement's Church possesses a central Norman tower. The nave is in the Perpendicular style, and the chancel is Decorated. Both have fine roofs. St. Peter's Church (thirteenth century) has a tower, but its south aisle was destroyed in 1661. The session-room at the town hall has some curious seats for the mayor and aldermen, and the hospital of St. Bartholomew's has an Early English chapel. The best of the ancient houses in the town are in Strand Street and Lucksboat Street. Manswood Grammar School dates from 1564, and has a Flemish front.
At Richborough can be seen some Roman rectangular walls about 10 feet high, with a subterranean concrete building in the centre.
[Illustration: Photochrom Co., Ltd.
FISHER'S GATE, SANDWICH.
A picturesque survival of the days of the town's importance as a Cinque
Port.]
NEW FOREST, HAMPSHIRE
=How to get there.=—Train from Waterloo. L. and S.W. Railway.
=Nearest Station.=—Lyndhurst Road Station (3 miles).
=Distance from London.=—85-1/4 miles.
=Average Time.=—Varies between 2-1/4 to 3-3/4 hours.
1st 2nd 3rd
=Fares.=—Single 14s. 2d. 9s. 0d. 7s. 1d.
Return 24s. 10d. 15s. 8d. 14s. 2d.
=Accommodation Obtainable.=—"Grand Hotel," Lyndhurst; "Crown
Hotel," Lyndhurst; "Rose and Crown," Brockenhurst, etc.
The popular story as to the creation of what was then the "New" Forest by William the Conqueror has been probably much exaggerated, although we all believed in our school days the old chroniclers, who averred that the king destroyed fifty or so churches and numerous villages, and exterminated their inhabitants. The fact is that the harsh feudal forest laws were rigidly enforced by the Conqueror, who no doubt in some places swept away the villages and churches of rebellious foresters, but the very qualities of the forest soil disprove the fact that the land was once all "smiling pastures and golden cornfields," as some of the old historians would have us believe.