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understood that poaching and smuggling are their more probable vocations Some of their cabins are the rudest erections of boughs, turf, and heather. Their poles for charcoal-burning are reared in huge pyramids, with the smallest end uppermost.

Many of them, like those in the woods of America, are mere squatters; but the attempt to disturb them is much the same as to disturb a hornet's nest. Conscious that there is no strength but in making common cause, they are all up in arms at any attempt to dislodge any of them."

Horses are reared in great numbers in the New Forest. They are of a diminutive breed, and are supposed to be descended from the Spanish jenets driven ashore on the coast of Hampshire in the dispersion of the Armada. They are often seen feeding together in herds of twenty or thirty, and have a very picturesque appearance amid the forest scenery. Great numbers of them are annually taken and sold. They are useful for any kind of employment, and are remarkable for the hardiness of their nature, and for their agility and sureness of foot. The forest abounds also with red and fallow deer. It likewise contains a breed of hogs, which have about them several of the characteristic marks of the wild boar. Besides these wild hogs there are many of the domesticated breed in the New Forest, who are turned out to feed on acorns and beechmast during the "pannage" month, which begins about the end of September, and lasts for six weeks. The curious mode by which they are collected and managed is described by Gilpin in his Forest Scenery, and is too well known to require to be quoted here. The New Forest is a district of great interest both to the sportsman and the naturalist, as it abounds in birds of almost every species and in winter its shores are thronged by aquatic birds. Its extensive tracts of heath render the forest a favourite resort of the honey-bee, which everywhere covers the surface of it, and is frequently a source of considerable profit to the cottagers.

The various roads by which the New Forest is traversed, including that part of the railway from Southampton to Dorchester, which traverses the forest to Ringwood, are all accurately delineated in the chart which accompanies this description. The tourist may, therefore, choose for himself the route which he will pursue, according as his time may permit, or his taste incline. We shall briefly point out such objects as are deserving of especial notice. The visitor who wishes thoroughly to explore this interesting district would do well to take some of the forest towns, such as Lymington, Lyndhurst, Christchurch, &c. as central points, and from these places as his head-quarters make excursions in various directions.

Taking Southampton as the point of departure, the road passes the pretty village of Millbrook, the churchyard of which contains a monument to Pollok, he author of the "Course of Time," who died at Shirley, near this place, in 27, at the age of twenty-nine. A mile farther on is Redbridge, at the head of buthampton Water, a place of great antiquity, which enjoys a considerable trade corn, coal, timber, &c. A little beyond a road leads off on the left to Lyndhurst, the little capital of the Forest, distant about 9 or 10 miles from Southampton. A little farther on the road passes Totton, near which is Testwood House, the

seat of Miss Bourne.

* *

Proceeding onward the tourist reaches Cadnam Park, distant between 9 and 10 miles from Southampton. From this place a pleasant excursion may be made along the valley of the Avon to Fording bridge; whence the tourist may proceed to Ringwood, a distance of six miles, by Blackford Green, and the village of Ibbesley. A short way beyond, to the right of the road, is Rufus's stone, formerly described, and to the left is Castle Malwood. Proceeding onward we reach Stoney Cross, a place much visited in summer by large parties from Southampton, Winchester, and the neighbouring towns. A little to the left is the sequestered hamlet of Minstead, which stands in one of the finest parts of the forest. "On one side,” says W. Howitt, "are open knolls and ascending woodlands, covered with majestic beeches, and the village children playing under them; on the other, the most rustic cottages, almost buried in the midst of their orchard trees, and thatched as Hampshire cottages only are in such projecting abundance such flowing lines. The whole of the cottages thereabout are in equal taste with the roof, so different to the red staring square brick houses of manufacturing districts. They seem, as no doubt they are, erected in the spirit and under the influence of the genius loci. The bee-hives in their rustic rows, the little crofts, all belong to a primitive country. I went on, now coming to small groups of such places, now to others of superior pretensions, but equally blent with the spirit of the surrounding nature-little paradises of cultivated life. As I advanced heathery hills stretched away on one hand, woods came down thickly and closely on the other, and a winding road, beneath the shade of large old trees, conducted me to one of the most retired and peaceful of hamlets. It was Minstead. ✶✶✶ Herds of reddeer rose from the fern, and went bounding away, and dashed into the depths of the woods; troops of those grey and long-tailed forest horses turned to gaze as I passed down the open glades; and the red squirrels in hundreds scampered away from the ground where they were feeding. * * * Delighted with the true woodland wildness and solemnity of beauty, I roved onward through the wildest woods that came in my way. Awaking as from a dream, I saw far around me one deep shadow, one thick and continuous roof of boughs, and thousands of hoary boles standing clothed as it were with the very spirit of silence. I admired the magnificent sweep of some grand old trees as they hung into a glade or ravine, some delicious opening in the deep woods, or the grotesque figure of particular trees, which seemed to have been blasted into blackness, and contorted into inimitable crookedness, by the savage genius of the place." Minstead Manor House is the property of H. C. Compton, Esq.

Returning to the road, and passing Bolderwood Lodge, a little to the left, we shortly after reach Picked Post, and a short distance beyond it is the pleasant village of Ringwood, seated on the banks of the Avon, which spreads near the town into a large sheet of water full of little islands. Ringwood existed during the Roman occupation of Britain, and was a place of some importance in the Anglo-Saxon times. It contained in 1851, 3934 inhabitants, who are chiefly employed in the manufacture of woollen cloths and stockings, and in brewing

ale and strong beer, for which the town has acquired a considerable name. The country around the town is rather flat. The roads from Southampton to Poole, and from Salisbury to Christchurch pass through Ringwood. At the distance of nine miles from Ringwood is the town of Christchurch. There are two roads parallel to each other which lead to it, with the river Avon flowing between them. The road on the left bank of the river passes by Kingsbar, Bistern Park (H. C. Compton, Esq.) Avon, Sopley, and Staple's Cross. In the vicinity of the latter are the mansions of Hinton House, Hinton Admiral, and High Cliff. The country between Ringwood and Christchurch is flat, and the lanes close and woody. The town of Christchurch takes its name from its church and priory, founded early in the Saxon era for a dean and twenty canons of the order of St Augus tine. William Rufus bestowed the church and convent upon Ranulph Flambard, Bishop of Durham, who rebuilt the church upon a more superb scale, and its revenues were greatly augmented by Richard de Rivers, Earl of Devon, to whom the manor was given by Henry I. At the dissolution, the annual income was L.544, 6s. Some fragments of the priory walls are still standing. The church, which is in the form of a cross, is a very interesting specimen of the Norman style, though modern additions have been made to it. Within the church, there are some curious ancient monuments; and the tower commands a delightful and extensive prospect. The town is supposed to have been of Roman origin, and in Saxon times was called Tweonea, or "the place between the rivers." Near Christchurch are Heron Court (Earl of Malmesbury) and Sandhills (W. Rose, Esq.) It returned two members to Parliament since the reign of Elizabeth; but the number was reduced to one by the Reform Act. The population in 1851 of the parliamentary borough was 7475.

The rivers Stour and Avon, after uniting about 14 miles below the town, flo into Christchurch bay, which is spacious, but shallow and dangerous. "There is a curious circumstance peculiar to this harbour and the neighbouring port of Poole in Dorsetshire,—that of the tide producing two high waters; a phenomenon quite inexplicable from the general laws of tides, and only to be accounted for by the situation of this coast as regards the Isle of Wight, and from the contraction of the channel by the jutting out of the point of land on which Hurst Castle stands.”*

In the neighbourhood of the town are the remains of a camp and entrenchments, with several tumuli and barrows.

Christchurch is about 20 miles distant from Lymington. The intervening district is flat, cultivated, and enclosed. The road is parallel to the coast the whole of the way. A little to the right of the road is a large house built by Lord Bute. It stands on a cliff directly opposite to Cherbourg, from which it about 60 miles distant. This cliff, which is termed Hordle Cliff, rises about 50 feet above the level of the sea. The flatness of the scenery is a little diverRed by various hollows or narrow dells, through each of which a small rivulet ads its way to the sea. The most remarkable are those of Chuton, Ashley, and

• Gilpin's Forest Scenery, Vol. ii. p. 146.

Efford. About two or three miles farther along the coast, stands Hurst Castle, built at the extremity of a remarkable natural causeway, which runs two miles into the sea, forming, between the castle and the Isle of Wight, a narrow channel, which, at high water, scarcely exceeds 200 yards in breadth. The castle was erected in the time of Henry VIII. Here Charles I., after being removed from the Isle of Wight, was confined for some time previous to his trial and execution. Between Hurst Castle and Lymington is the small village of Millord, which commands fine views of Alum Bay and the neighbouring part of Wight. Three miles farther on is the town of Lymington, agreeably situated on the right bank of the river of the same name. It is 9 miles from Lyndhurst, 19 from the Southampton station, and about 90 south-west from London in a straight line. Lymington is a neat well built town, and pleasantly situated. It is a corporate town and Parliamentary borough, and has returned two members to Parliament since the reign of Elizabeth. The parish church, dedicated to Thomas à Becket, contains many handsome monuments. The population of the town and parish in 1851 was 4:82, and of parliamentary borough 5282. Lymington is subordinate to the port of Southampton. unimportant, and the coasting trade is on the decline. ments have, of late years, been made in the town with the view of affording accommodation to visitors during the bathing season. The chief manufacture in the neighbourhood is salt.

Its foreign trade is Considerable improve

Near Lymington is Cadlands, the seat of A. R. Drummond, Esq., and Wallhampton, the seat of Sir G. Burrard, Bart. About two miles from Lymington is the village of Bolder, for above twenty years the scene of the pastoral labours of the Rev. William Gilpin, author of "Forest Scenery," and various other works on the picturesque. He built and endowed two schools here out of the profits of the sale of his drawings, and lies buried in Bolder churchyard. The church, which is an ancient and primitive looking structure, stands on the summit of a thickly wooded eminence, and commands a variety of interesting views. Midway between Lymington and Lyndhurst is Brockenhurst, a pleasant fo. rest village, of Saxon origin, and recorded in the Doomsday Book by the name of Broceste. Part of the church was erected before the Conquest, and the font is a very antique and curious piece of workmanship. Near the village are Brockenhurst Park and Watcombe House. The latter was, for three years, the residence of the philanthropic Howard. To the south-west of Brockenhurst there is a heath called Sway Common, over which various tumuli are scattered. The road from Brockenhurst to Lyndhurst passes through a very interesting part of the forest. Near Lyndhurst stands Cuffnells (Sir Edward Poore, Bart.) on a rising ground embosomed in trees, and most delightfully situated in the very heart of the forest. It was the property of the late Sir Thomas Tancred, of whose heirs it was purchased by the late Sir George Rose, who made very considerable additions to the mansion. The situation of Lyndhurst is very beautiful. It has been considered as the capital of the New Forest ever since the era of its forma.

tion, and the forestal courts are still held here. An ancient stirrup is preserved in the hall of the King's House, the official residence of the Lord Warden, which is said to have been that used by William Rufus at the time he was shot by Sir Walter Tyrrel. Opposite to the King's House stands a large square building called the King's Stables. A fine prospect of the forest may be obtained from the tower of the church. Lord Lyndhurst derives his title from this place. Population of parish 1851, 1527.

acres.

From Lyndhurst to Southampton is a distance of between 9 and 10 miles. The road joins that which leads to Stoney Cross at the village of Rumbridge. Before closing our description of the forest we may direct the attention of the tourist to an interesting excursion which may be made to Beaulieu Abbey. This spot may be reached by crossing Southampton water to Hythe, and proceeding from thence to Beaulieu, a distance of 5 miles. The river Beaulieu is a mere forest stream till near the abbey, when it expands into a lake covering many The Abbey of Beaulieu was founded by King John in 1204 for monks of the Cistertian order. The wall which surrounded the precincts of the abbey is nearly entire in several parts, and is finely mantled with ivy. Of the buildings of the abbey considerable parts remain. The abbot's lodge was converted, after the dissolution, into a family seat. The ancient kitchen and the refectory, and a long building supposed to have been the dormitory, are still standing. The refectory is now turned into a parish church, and was repaired some years ago at the expense of the late Lord Montagu, uncle of the Duke of Buccleuch. Beaulieu Abbey possessed the privilege of sanctuary, and it afforded a temporary protection to Margaret of Anjou, Queen of Henry VI., and her son Prince Edward, on her return from the continent, at the time of the Battle of Barnet. It also afforded shelter to Perkin Warbeck after the failure of his attempts in the west of England. At the dissolution, the manor of Beaulieu was granted to Thomas Wriothesley, afterwards Earl of Southampton. In the reign of William III. this estate became the property of Ralph, Lord, afterwards Duke of, Montagu, by his marriage with the heiress of the Wriothesleys. His son John, second Duke of Montagu, transmitted it to his daughters, Isabella and Mary, from whom, by intermarriages, the manor has descended to the Duke of Buccleuch.

At Beaulieu was also an Hospital of Knights Templars. The ruins of the hospital, which are now converted into farm buildings, stand about half a mile distant from the water, on a rising ground which commands extensive views.

The tourist may vary his route back to Southampton by sailing down the Beaulieu or Exe river to Exbury,-a distance of rather more than 3 miles, and proceeding from thence across the country to Calshot Castle, about 4 miles • "And still in merry Lyndhurst hall

Red William's stirrup decks the wall,
Who lists the sight may see;
And a fair stone in green Malwood
Informs the traveller where stood

The memorable tree."-Red King

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