Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-19
ENGLISH BEAUTY SPOT.
Historical Associations of Cheddar
Gorge.

Letter to the London Spectator.
Some Of US in Bristol as we watch the
solemn grandeur of our beautiful gorge
being quickly and noiselessly taken away
under our very eyes have much sympathy
with the steady support you are giving
in your columns to the national trust in
it's attempt to save Cheddar from the
hand Of the quarryman. We have read
your article on the Literary Associa-
lions Of Cheddar Gorge with a great
deal of interest. No doubt many cleaners
might profitably follow the writer into
the pleasant field where he has been
|reaping.
It has not, however, been observed, as
far as 1 know, that Cheddar has historf-
cal associations which ought not to be
left altogether out Of account in this con-
nection. A thousand years ago. when the
young Dunstan was out OF favor at the
court of Edmund the Magnificent, &C.
cording to the old tale. the king was
hunting on the high ground near Ched-
dar when the deer. closely followed by
the dogs, made for the cliffs and dashed
over the precipice with the dogs after
him. For the moment It seemed certain
that the king. who was riding q hard
mouthed horse. would follow and be
dashed to pieces on the rocks below. Like
la fash Of lightning some Of the incidents
|of his past life flashed before him, and
he called to mind the injury he had done
to the young Somersetshire monk who
was already 50 brilliant q figure in the
Saxon Church and world. Edmund was
saved on Cheddar cliffs as by miracle
and, sending for Dunstan, rode with him
forthwith to the great house OF Glaston-
bury and made him abbOt-some would
have us believe-at the age Of eighteen.
This was In 943.
You have mentioned in your article
Lord Macaulay and De Quincy. These
men belong to literature. William Will
berforce belongs to history, but his visit
Ito Mrs. More deserves a place beside
theirs. In 1859, when staying at Bath, he
ltoo came over to visit the sisters In their
country cottage. One day he drove over
Ito the gorge in a chaise for days sight
seeing. Cheddar was a place in the
eighteenth century where every prospect
was still pleasing, but man was motor
Iously vile. Here In this Mendip village
Wilberforce, who was giving his life foI
the cause of the slave abroad, woke up
|suddenly to the needs of men who were
living lives of extreme savagery and ig-
norance at home. He came back to Cow
slip Green oppressed and silent. At last
he broke out: Mrs. More, something
must be done for Cheddar!" This was
the beginning of the great phflanthropic
work In Somerset which had so wide an
influence ana winch was now begun Dy
Hannah and Patty More In the Cheddar
valley. The story deserves: ! think. a
place in history, as illustrating In a par
|ticularly interesting way the revival Of
religion and the close connection between
the evangelical movement and philan-
thropy In the later years OF the eight
|eenth century.
Whatever injury may be done to the
cliffs at Cheddar. the pretty struggling
village with its amazing caves, and the
clear stream yelling out at the foot OF
the gorge from its mysterious subterra-
mean channel. will always remain a place
Of pilgrimage; but 1t Is devoutly to be
hoped that while so much OF the country
side in the Cheddar valley must inevi-
tably change. the gorge itself may yet be
sayed-perhaps even a new race of for
bearing visitors will allow the beautiful
Cheddar pink to grow once more upon
it's native rocks unmolested-so that gen.
erations to come may see what Dunstan
saw, and what the many distinguished
visitors at Barley Wood came to see
when they drove over in the chaise. with
the well packed luncheon basket under
the seat, to explore the wonders Of the
Mendip world.