"Ut terram undique beatam videas viator hæc turris de longe CHAP. II. spectabilis sumptibus Richardi Hull ex agro Leith Hill Place Armigri. regnante Georgio Tertio, Anno Dom. MDCCLXVI. Extructa fuit, Oblectamento non sui solum sed vicinorum et omnium."

Within the tower, against the east wall was a Portland stone (now dashed to pieces), containing an inscription which is here preserved :

"Underneath this floor lieth the body of Richard Hull, Esq. a native of Bristol, who departed this life, January 18, 1772, in the 83d year of his age. He was the eldest bencher of the Inner Temple, and served many years in the parliament of Ireland, where, by probity and vigilance, he zealously supported the interests of his constituents, and, after a long and faithful service in that station, he retired from the exercise of public to the enjoyment of private virtues; the testimony of a good conscience being his reward. He was a person eminent for the accomplishments of his mind and the purity of his heart. He lived, in the earlier part of his life, in habits of intimacy with Pope, Trenchard, Bishop Berkeley, and many other shining characters of those times; and, to wear off the remainder of his days, he purchased Leith Hill Place for a retirement, where he led the life of a rural philosopher; and by his particular desire and direction, his remains are here deposited in a private manner, under this tower, which he erected a few years before his death.”

This place was formerly much resorted to during the summer, thirty or forty private carriages being there in one day. The number of visitors of course declined on the destruction of the prospect-rooms; and, the custom of frequenting watering-places being gradually introduced into the fashionable circles, Leith hill may now be said to be almost deserted. Some well-intentioned individuals, however, endeavoured to re-establish this spot in popular favour, by proposing to hold an annual fair on the highest point of the hill; but the attempt was unsuccessful.

Soon after Mr. Hull's decease, his house and property

BOOK V. here were sold by his nephew and heir, to Mr. Thompson, an Oporto merchant; but as no provision was made for keeping the tower in repair, it was wholly neglected, idle persons broke in, destroyed the staircases, floors, and windows, and left the place a mere shell. About 1795, this estate was purchased by William Philip Perrin, Esq. who resides at Tanhurst in this parish. This gentleman has thoroughly repaired the tower; and, by raising it some feet higher, has rendered it still more conspicuous as a sea-mark; but the lower part is now completely walled up, so as to form one solid mass, and to deprive the curious visitor of the pleasure which its founder designed to afford.

Leith hill
Place.

Tanhurst.

West

Betchworth.

Leith hill Place, on the southern slope of the hill, is a small neat mansion; which was altered into its present form by Lieutenant-general Folliott. On his death, in 1748, this estate was purchased by Richard Hull, Esq. The house is placed in a retired situation, environed with woods and plantations, and is now in the occupation of the Rev. George Keylock Rusden.

Beyond Leith hill Place, is Tanhurst, commanding a beautiful and extensive prospect to the south. This residence was formerly the retreat of the lamented Sir Samuel Romilly, one of the able and inflexible representatives of Westminster. It now belongs to G. A.

Ogilvie, Esq.

Returning to the neighbourhood of Dorking, on the east side of the town, is West Betchworth, an old mansion standing on the site of an ancient castle, occupying an eminence on the banks of the Mole. At the time of the general survey, the manor belonging to it formed part of the possessions of Richard de Tonbridge, and afterwards of the earls of Arundel. In 1377, John Fitz-Alan, second son of Richard, earl of Arundel, who

died the preceding year, having succeeded to this estate, CHAP. II. had licence to embattle his manor-house here. A similar licence was granted in 1449, to Thomas Brown, Esq. in whose possession this estate then was; who had also permission to impark his manor, to have free warren in the same; likewise court leet and court baron, and an annual fair on Tuesday in Whitsun-week. In the family of Brown, of which Ambrose was, in 1627, created a baronet, this estate continued vested till the death of Sir Adam, in 1690, when it devolved to his sole daughter and heir, married to William Fenwick, Esq. who pulled down the greater part of the castle, and turned the remainder into a dwelling-house. It is now the property of William Peters, Esq. who has made great improvements, and enlarged the estate by various purchases. The park is remarkable for the noble timber with which it is adorned. The outer park is skirted with chestnut trees of very large dimensions, and the inner, at the extremity of which the house is situated, has two fine avenues, the one of elms, the other, three hundred and fifty yards in length, composed of a triple row of limes of extraordinary size and height.

In the village of Betchworth is the elegant mansion of the Right Honourable Henry Goulburn, chancellor of the exchequer. It was formerly the property of the Honourable W. H. Bouverie, and contained several fine portraits, and some ancient statues. The residence was built in the time of James I. by Sir Ralph Freeman, who purchased this estate of the trustees of the earl of Abergavenny. In the chimney-piece of the drawingroom is a piece of sculpture from Herculaneum, representing boys riding on bulls and horses.

Wonham, one of the manors in this parish, was pur- Wonham. chased in 1787 by the Honourable Charles Marsham,

BOOK V. the late earl of Romney. He rebuilt the house on a larger scale than before; and on his accession to the title sold it to John Stables, Esq. who, in 1804, disposed of it to Viscount Templetown. The grounds comprehend one hundred and twenty acres, including a park of sixty-six, which is in part bounded by the Mole.

Broom.

Brockham green.

The
Downs.

In Upper Betchworth is Broom, the tasteful residence of William Kenrick, Esq. On the east is a lawn, surrounded with fine plantations. The grounds are well watered by ponds, supplied from a spring which rises in the neighbourhood. In the plantations near the road formerly stood a mill for sawing boards, containing twenty-two saws, which were worked by a stream. It was erected by C. Kilby, Esq., formerly proprietor of this villa, who also built a curious edifice, called the Priory, and several other ornamental seats.

Skirting the Holmwood is Brockham green, a tithing belonging to Betchworth, properly called Brookham, from being situated near the brook or river; here is Brockham court lodge, the delightful retreat of Captain Charles Morris, author of some of the best lyrical ballads in our language.

The Downs, which rise to a considerable elevation from the east bank of the Mole, are finely chequered with yew and box trees of great antiquity, which form a scene not less venerable than pleasing. Of the latter, in particular, there was formerly such abundance, that the part of the Downs lying contiguous to the stream, and within the precinct of the manor of West Betchworth, has always been known by the name of Box hill. It commands an extensive view into the neighbouring counties, being four hundred and forty-five feet per