misererie seats and choir screen (fifteenth century). Tombs of
the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Lord Cobhams and other interesting tombs and
brasses.]
[Illustration: HIGH STREET, EAST GRINSTEAD.]
At Fellbridge, just past the Horley road, we enter Sussex and, after a
short rise and fall, arrive at East Grinstead (30 m.). This is one of
the pleasantest towns of the Weald, with many old houses here and there
in the High Street. The church, though of imposing appearance from a
distance, is, on closer acquaintance, disappointing; the fabric dating
from 1790. Note an iron tomb slab (1570). Not far from the church is
the Jacobean Sackville College. Here the celebrated Father Neale was
warden for twenty-five years. (In barely two miles from the centre of
the town a lane leads over the railway to the right in 1/3 mile to the
picturesque ruins of Brambletye.)
Forest Row (33 m.), on the river Medway. The road now climbs steadily
between woods to Wych Cross (35 m.). Grand views south and west. This
is one of the finest passes over the Forest Ridge and the peculiar
characteristics of the Hastings sands are here seen to the best
advantage. These high sandy moors, covered with glorious stretches of
bracken and heather, here and there clothed in dense growths of oak and
beech, with occasional distinctive clumps of Scots fir and beneath all
a thick tangle of bramble, a perfect sanctuary of wild life, are more
reminiscent of Radnor or Galloway than of the south country.
[Illustration: SACKVILLE COLLEGE.]
The right-hand road is taken at the fork and there follows a long coast
down to Danehill, where the Lewes road bears left to Sheffield Green
(40 m.).
[A road to the left would bring us in 2 miles to Fletching, where
the forces of Simon de Montfort started on their march to Mount
Harry and subsequent victory of Lewes. The village is the centre
of a delightful neighbourhood and is delightful in itself, not
only for the charm of its surroundings, but for its quaint and
attractive architecture of the humbler sort. The Early English
church has been well restored and beautified by the Earl of
Sheffield, whose estate lies to the west. Gibbon the historian
lies in the Sheffield mausoleum. Note the old glass in the small
lancet windows; this was buried in the churchyard during some
forgotten trouble and discovered and replaced during the
restoration. Several old helmets and gauntlets with
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