The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1956-03-30

community. There we turn right,
along the path to Leith Hill and
from there take a long look at
the lovely view while we relax.
When rested we back track to
Friday Street and by footpaths
to Abinger Hammer and Gomshall,
we return to Shere, the White
Horse Inn, large, satisfying tea
and a lazy evening before bed.
1t is good to know something
of the history of the country side
through which we walked, so here
is what information / have at my
disposal about two of the places
mentioned.
"Leith Hill is the most ele-
waited hill in the southeast of
England. On the top of the hill
is a Tower, commanding a very
extensive view. Some compute the
distance of the circumference (of
the view at 260 miles and from
it can be discerned II or Is coun-
ties, with part of the sea through
Shoreham Gap. The Tower was
completed in 1866 by Richard Hull,
Esq, of Leith Hill Place, on part
of the wasteland of Wotton Estate,
granted to him by Sir John
Evelyn, Bart. on certain conditions.
1t bears on the west side the fol-
lowing inscription, showing the
purpose for which it was built:
TRANSLATED from the Latin)-
"That you, traveller, may see the
County happy on every side, this
Tower, visible from afar, was built
at the expense of Richard Hull,
Esq, of Leith Hill Place, in the
reign of King George III, A. D.
1866, not solely for his own pleas
ure, but for that of his neighbors
and everybody"
"Mr. Hull was, by his own direc-
ton, buried under the Tower and
within the building on the east
wall is a tablet of Portland Stone,
thus inscribed: Underneath this
floor lieth the body of Richard
Hull, Esq, native of Bristol, who
departed this life, January 18th,
1772, in the 83rd year of his age.'
t:'Till the year 1876, the building
served as a Prospect Tower, in ac-
cordance with the wishes of Mr..
Hull; the privilege, however, was
thought to be abused, and it was
said to have been a harbour for
Migrants and smugglers, so about
1896, the entrance was closed up
at the instigation of W. P. Perrin,
Esq, of Leith Hill Place, and the
neighbouring gentry.
"It was found in this state in
1868, when the Lord of the Manor
had it re-opened. Thus the found
er's wishes were again respected,
but the Memorial tablet remains
buried beneath Mr.. PERKINS, ce-
ment.
During some excavations on
Leith Hill in 1887, an earthen jar
was discovered containing three
sovereigns of Henry VIII, who is
represented on his throne, four of
Edward vi 1.-TWO without crowns),
one of Queen Elizabeth, a rose of
Henry VIII; and twenty angels of
the same reign. These coins are
now preserved in Wotton House.
Regarding the village of Abinger
Hammer, a lovely little place
where l have spent many relaxed
hour over good tea with water
cress grown in the Inns own cress-
beds, the records show much his
tory that in its day would produce
anything but peace and quiet for
those living near to.
Before the discovery of coal,
the greater portion of the Iron
foundry of England was carried
on on the edge of the ancient
forests of Sussex, but as the for
ests became destroyed through
the advent of agriculture, and
from the making of Charcoal,
which was used in the Sussex
blast furnaces, so the industry of