liament. The population of the borough and Cinque Port was 17,011 in 1851. Hastings is 64 miles distant from London. Hastings is now completely joined to St. Leonards, there being no longer any space without houses between the two. About seven miles north-west from Hastings is the market-town of Battle, which takes its name from that memorable contest, commonly called the Battle of Hastings, which put an end to the Saxon line of kings, and placed the crown of England on the head of a Norman. In the year following his victory, William, in fulfilment, it is said, of a vow made on the night previous to the battle, caused to be founded a splendid abbey, which, however, was not completed till seven years after his death. His conquering sword, and the robe which he had worn at his coronation, were offered at the altar. Here also was deposited the " Roll of Battel Abbey," consisting of a table of the Norman gentry who came into England with the Conqueror. This abbey was one of the mitred ones which conferred on the abbot the honour of a seat in Parliament. At the dissolution of the monasteries a grant of the house and site of the abbey was made to Sir Anthony Browne, the ancestor of the Montagu family, who continued to reside here in a part of the abbey which had been converted into a mansion, till the beginning of the eighteenth century, when it was sold to Sir Thomas Webster, Bart.; and it has lately passed by purchase to Lord Harry Vane. The abbey, when in its complete state, formed a square, three sides of which are now partly occupied with

its ruins.

The town of Battle is celebrated for its manufacture of gunpowder. Pop. of Parish (1851) 3849.

Ten miles east from Hastings stands the ancient town of Rye, situated on a rock near the mouth of the Rother. It was strongly fortified in the reign of Edward III., and part of the walls and some of the gates are still standing. Its harbour having been choked up by sand, a new one has been formed by cutting a large canal in a more direct line to the sea, sufficiently spacious to admit vessels of 200 tons up to the quay. The only objects worthy of notice are, the church, a very large stone building; Ypres Castle, originally built for the defence of the town, by William de Ypres, in the twelfth century, now occupied as a prison; the TownHall and the Market-place; and the remains of the town gates and walls. The fishermen of Rye send considerable supplies to the London market. Rye has for centuries been celebrated for a very extensive illicit trade, which is now, however, greatly diminished. Rye is one of the Cinque Ports; and, before the Reform Bill passed, returned two members to Parliament. It now, in conjunotion with some of the neighbouring parishes, returns one. Rye, Parl. Borough, in 1851 was 8541. The population of

To the westward of Rye is the disfranchised borough of Winchelsea, formerly a place of considerable importance, but now greatly reduced, in consequence of the sea having deserted it. A part of one of its churches is all that remains out of three which it formerly possessed. It contains two monuments of Knights Templars, and there is a third in the vestry. swallowed up by the sea in a tempest. The new town was built by Edward L The whole of Old Winchelsea was Between Winchelsea and Rye, and about two miles from the former, are the ruins of Winchelsea or Camber Castle, built by Henry VIII.

XIX. LONDON.-EPSOM.-DORKING.-HORSHAM.-AND

WORTHING, 56 MILES.

21|

241

Knepp Castle, Sir C. 131 M. Burrell, Bart.

311

361