FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54  
55   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   >>   >|  
of rocks, of which the largest, the Toad Rock, bears a most singular resemblance to the reptile from which it is named. The High Rocks, situated further on, and just in the county of Sussex, are also very remarkable, rising from 30 to 60 feet in height. [Illustration: THE TOAD ROCK On Rusthall Common, Tunbridge Wells.] [Illustration: _Photochrom Co., Ltd._ THE PANTILES, TUNBRIDGE WELLS.] THE QUINTAIN POST AT OFFHAM AND MALLING ABBEY =How to get there.=--Train from Victoria, Holborn Viaduct, Ludgate Hill, or St. Paul's. South-Eastern and Chatham Railway. =Nearest Station.=--West Malling (1 mile from Offham). =Distance from London.=--36 miles. =Average Time.=--1-1/2 hours. 1st 2nd 3rd =Fares.=--Single 5s. 11d. 3s. 9d. 2s. 11-1/2d. Return 10s. 4d. 7s. 6d. 3s. 11d. =Accommodation Obtainable.=--"George Hotel" at West Malling. =Alternative Route.=--None. On the green at Offham, an out-of-the-way Kentish village, stands the only quintain post in England. It consists of a tall white post, having a spike at the top, upon which revolves a cross-bar. This portion, which turns on the spike, has a fairly broad square end covered with small holes, while at the opposite end hangs a billet of wood. The pastime consisted in riding on horseback at the broad end and aiming a lance at one of the holes. The rider had to duck his head at the same instant, in order to save himself from the billet which swung round immediately the lance-point caught the opposite end. Only those who were very agile saved themselves from a nasty blow. Instead of a billet, a bag containing sand or mould would sometimes be suspended on the cross-bar. This would swing round with sufficient force to unseat the rider. This quintain post is undoubtedly one of the most interesting survivals of the pastimes of the "good old days." The owners of the adjoining house have been required to keep the quintain post in a good state of repair, and it is doubtless to this stipulation in the title-deeds of the property that we owe the existence of this unique relic. The ruins of Malling Abbey, now the property of an Anglican sisterhood, are extremely interesting. The abbey was founded in 1090, and was given to the nun Avicia by the famous Gundulf of Rochester. The keep of St. Leonard, not far from the abbey, was also built by Gundulf, who is responsible for the White Tower of the Tower of Londo
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54  
55   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
billet
 

Malling

 
quintain
 

Offham

 
property
 
opposite
 
interesting
 

Illustration

 

Gundulf

 

Leonard


immediately

 

caught

 

instant

 

Rochester

 

responsible

 

largest

 

covered

 

pastime

 

famous

 

aiming


consisted

 

riding

 

horseback

 

founded

 
stipulation
 
doubtless
 

repair

 

required

 

Anglican

 

sisterhood


existence

 
unique
 
suspended
 

sufficient

 

extremely

 

unseat

 

undoubtedly

 

owners

 

adjoining

 
survivals

pastimes
 
Avicia
 

Instead

 

revolves

 
Victoria
 

Holborn

 

OFFHAM

 

MALLING

 

Viaduct

 
Ludgate