New-York tribune., 1908-08-30
CASTLES AMONG DOWNS
Holiday Notes IN Susser and
Kent.
Penhurst. Kent. August 10.

-. o,d South Downs is filled with medieval
ties and modern country houses. 1T is the
<.gs wooded tract where William the Con-
o-or landed and divided his new possessions
,monr l.s knights. and it has remained the
..a--oan corner of England, where nearly all the
lot estates and historic ruins can be traced to
common source Many of the feudal castles
80 cr71nhlng fragments. with more modern
,,ses adjoining them: others are medieval
,5e,ces restored repeatedly and converted
,,to centres OF social refinement and entertain
mont Pevpnsey. near the coast, is a picturesque
,Jarrnan ruin. encompassed by an ancient Roman
,-su on the cavendish estates Hurstmonceaux.
-ross = broad P4vensay level which Turner
7o,,ad TO paint because there much light
and air in IL. was eisnantied long ago for the
.ate of providing building material for ugly
mansion behind IL: but with its brick masonry.
nzerrroua with lunuriant ivy. and with the
Aanking towers of the gateway. built by war
-ior of Agincourt IL is one of the most beautiful
,i-s in the southern counties, Bodiam- in the
Eothar valley is lcveer still, for the circuit of
walls is complete. with 2 round tower at each
corner Of the rectanele and a square tower in
She middle Of each side and the moat around il
g filed with water and lily pads.
These are the best among the ruined castles.
,or there are only scanty remains at Tonbridge
and Hastings d single tower of Scosney in q
bling keep at Lewes. To these show places
which are besieged every summer by swarns
IF tourists. are added many mona site ruins The
most interesting is Battle Abbey. with a Nor
man gateway beautiful as ST. Augustines at
Canterbury. and with the Abbot's Lodge rebuilt
with medieval effects into modern residence
There is a mob OF trippers from the coast towns
every Monday within the Enclosure BY favor NJ
Mr. NJ. F. Grace, and the visitors are hustled
over the grounds by loquacious Irish guides ana
entertained with legends Of Harold, tales Of
Princess Elizabeth, anecdotes of Lord Rose
hery-s mother and mixed lot of ghost stories
42ayflaIn Abbey. behind the modern mansion nf
The Marquis of Camden, IS more ruinous. with
grey walls of church. refectory and cloisters
covered with lichens and ivy. Many other re-
mains of religious houses are scattered over fhe
Weald. some of them built into farrnhouses and
Others desolate and grown among the
woods and hop plantations
Old and new country houses abound in this
centre of Norman traditions Lord Asnburn-
hams seat is a modern house in ancient
estate. not far from Battle Abbey. and adjoining
It is Normanhurst, Lord Brassey's beautiful res
idence. which was ravaged by fire few weeks
ago Fridge Park the home of the Marquis OF
Abersavenny, has been in the possession of the
Nevills for centuries. although the house is
modern and uninteresting Only tower IN
harnyard remains relic Of Buckhurst
House the ancient home Of the Sackvilles; but
Lord de la warr's mansion is in the centre OF a
large and beautiful park Beyond the border
between Sussex and Kent is Hever Castle the
medieval home of the Boleyn family, and the
centre of the most interesting OF the many TO
,nances Of Henry Will
With a castellated gateway approached by
bridge across the Eden and with banqueting
hall and SpaC1oUS rooms
built around a courtyard. Hever is at once
feudal castle and medieval mansion. IT would
he one of the chief show places Of Western
Kent if the new owner. Mr.. Astor, were TO al
low visitors as much liberty as MI. Grace &C
cords TO them. He protects vigorously the pri-
Tacy of his own guests, and has even closed his
grounds against villagers. The old village inn is
10 be removed TO an inferior site in order that
the road 10 the castle gates may be Strengthened
and the field path from the churchyard through
his fields and meadows has been palisaded high
on each side so that there be no glimpses
of the historic estate. The casual visitor must
he content with looking at memorial brass or
Sir Thomas Boleyn in the village church and
with listening 10 uncertain legends OF font
from which probably the fair Anne's head was
sprink1ed-
At Penhurst Place, a few miles east of Hever
is an ancient house. where visitors are welcomed
with stately courtesy The estate oates from lile
Conquest and the great feudal hall with an open
hearth in the centre dates from the reign OF
Edward Ill A digniied housekeeper conducts
the visitors from this revelling place Of the re-
tainers of the Lords OF Penhurst TO the ball
ROOM the Elizabethan drawing room, the
tapestry room and the picture gallery. and
points out the Holbeins and Van Dycks, the
Eliza bethan chandeliers and Queen Victoria's
coronation kneeling cushion the cabinets with
secret drawers anu all the treasure trove OF this
wonderful house. Sir Philip Sidney's portraits
are not forgotten, for this was his birthplace
and splendid home. So fndefatigable Is the
ruide in supplying visitors with Information and
with rn.nistering TO their pleasure that they
have neither heart for crtticsing the rough
rrocesses of restoration nor time for exploring
the park for Sir Philips ancient oak. or the
famous avenue OF lines. Barbarss bower
, Penhurst ranks with Knole of the Sackvflles
as among the most historic houses in storied
Kent and there is q full measure OF English
hosnitality under either roof. No attempt is
made 70 shut OF &1e feudal mansion from tho
high road for the noble watch tower IL in line
with the parish church, and is approached
through the picturesque lych gate in the heart
OF the lovely village. with its fifteenth century
houses Lord de LIsleand Dudley respects the
tradition which connects q perfect example OF a
medieval lords residence, with an ancient Nor
man perish He makes IL the chief ornament
OF q home loving village community sno the
hI1mblest rustic feels much at his ease in tho
erand park as under the spreading elm by tho
lych gate. 1t IL q practical way OF honoring
the memory OF the most ilustrious owner OF the
house-sir Philip Sydney. who handed the cup OF
water to the common soldier the battlefield
Penhrrst would be accounted the most beau
,f,ul ptl,spe IN Kent IL Chiddngstone were not