Part 7

+----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Date. | | Time. | |----------------------------------------------------------------------| | | |h. m. s.| |1784, July 25. |Prince of Wales rode horseback from the | | | | "Pavilion," Brighton, to Carlton House, | | | | London, and returned |10 0 0| | | Going | 4 30 0| | | Returning | 5 30 0| | | | | | " Aug. 21. |Prince of Wales drove phæton, three horses | | | | tandem, from Carlton House to "Pavilion" | 4 30 0| | | | | |1809, May. |Cornet Webster of the 10th Light Dragoons, | | | | rode horseback from Brighton to | | | | Westminster Bridge | 3 20 0| | | | | |1831, June 19. |The "Red Rover" coach, leaving the "Elephant | | | | and Castle" at 4 p.m., reached Brighton | | | | 8.21 | 4 21 0| | | | | |1833, Oct. |Walter Hancock's steam-carriage "Autopsy" | | | | performed the distance between Stratford | | | | and Brighton | 8 30 0| | | (Halted 3 hours on road. Actual | | | | running time, 5 hrs. 30 mins.) | | | | | | |1834, Feb. 4. |"Criterion" coach, London to Brighton | 3 40 0| | | | | |1868, Mar. 20. |Benjamin B. Trench walked Kennington Church | | | | to Brighton and back (100 miles) |23 0 0| | | | | |1869, Feb. 17. |John Mayall, jun., rode a velocipede from | | | | Trafalgar Square to Brighton in "about" |12 0 0| | | | | | " Mar. 6. |W. M. and H. J. Chinnery walked from | | | | Westminster Bridge to Brighton |11 25 0| | | | | | " April 14. |C. A. Booth rode a velocipede London to | | | | Brighton | 9 30 0| | | | | |1872, Sept. 19.|Amateur Bicycle Club's race, London to | | | | Brighton; won by A. Temple, riding a 44-in.| | | | wheel | 5 25 0| | | | | |1873, Aug. 16. |Six members of the Surrey B.C. and six of the| | | | Middlesex B.C. rode to Brighton and back, | | | | starting from Kennington Oval at 6.1 a.m. | | | | Causton, captain of the Surrey, reached the| | | | "Albion," Brighton, in 4 hrs. 51 mins., | | | | riding a 50-in. Keen bicycle. W. Wood | | | | (Middlesex) did the 100 miles |11 8 0| | | | | |1874, April 27.|A. Howard cycled Brighton to London | 4 25 0| | | | | |1878, --. |P. J. Burt walked from Westminster Clock | | | | Tower to Aquarium, Brighton |10 52 0| | | | | |1884, --. |C. L. O'Malley walked from Westminster Clock | | | | Tower to Aquarium, Brighton | 9 48 0| | | | | |1886, April 10.|J. A. McIntosh walked from Westminster Clock | | | | Tower to Aquarium, Brighton | 9 25 8| | | | | |1888, Jan. 1. |Horse "Ginger" trotted to Brighton | 4 16 30| | | | | |1888, July 13. |James Selby drove "Old Times" coach from | | | | "Hatchett's," Piccadilly, to "Old Ship," | | | | Brighton, and back | 7 50 0| | | Going | 3 56 0| | | Returning | 3 54 0| | | | | |1889, Aug. 10. |Team of four cyclists--E. J. Willis, G. L. | | | | Morris, C. W. Schafer, and S. Walker-- | | | | dividing the distance between them, cycled | | | | from "Hatchett's," Piccadilly, to "Old | | | | Ship," Brighton, and back | 7 36 19| | | | -2/5| |1890, Mar. 30. |Another team--J. F. Shute, T. W. Girling, R. | | | | Wilson, and A. E. Griffin--reduced first | | | | team's time by 4 mins. 19-2/5 secs. | 7 32 0| | | | | | " April 13. |Another team--E. R. and W. Scantlebury, W. W.| | | | Arnott, and J. Blair | 7 25 15| | | | | | " June. |F. W. Shorland cycled from "Hatchett's" to | | | | "Old Ship" and back ("Geared Facile" | | | | bicycle, pneumatic tyres) | 7 19 0| | | | | | " July 23. |S. F. Edge cycled from "Hatchett's" to "Old | | | | Ship" and back (safety bicycle, cushion | | | | tyres) | 7 2 50| | | | | | " Sept. 3. |C. A. Smith cycled from "Hatchett's" to "Old | | | | Ship" (safety bicycle, pneumatic tyres) and| | | | back | 6 52 10| | | | | | " " 30. |E. P. Moorhouse cycled (tricycle) from | | | | "Hatchett's" to "Old Ship" | 8 9 24| | | | | |1891, Mar. 20. |E. H. Cuthbertson walked from "Hatchett's" to| | | | "Old Ship" |10 6 18| | | From Westminster Clock Tower | 9 55 34| | | | | |1892, June 1. |S. F. Edge cycled from "Hatchett's" to "Old | | | | Ship" and back | 6 51 7| | | | | | " Sept. 6. |E. Dance cycled to Brighton and back | 6 49 1| | | | | | " " 9. |R. C. Nesbit cycled (high bicycle) to | | | | Brighton and back | 7 42 50| | | | | |1893, Sept. 12.|S. F. Edge cycled to Brighton and back | 6 13 48| | | | | | " " 17. |A. E. Knight " " | 6 10 29| | | | | | " " 19. |C. A. Smith " " | 6 6 46| | | | | | " " 22. |S. F. Edge " " | 5 52 30| | | | | | " " |E. Dance " " | 5 52 18| | | | | | " Oct. 4. |W. W. Robertson (tricycle) " | 7 24 2| | | | | |1894, June 11. |W. R. Toft " " | 6 21 30| | | | | | " Sept. 12. |C. G. Wridgway " " | 5 35 32| | | | | | " " 20. |Miss Reynolds cycled to Brighton and back | 7 48 46| | | | | | " " 22. |Miss White cycled to Brighton and back | 7 6 46| | | | | |1895, Sept. 26.|A. A. Chase, Brighton and back | 5 34 58| | | | | | " Oct. 17. |J. Parsley (tricycle) | 6 18 28| | | | | | " Nov. |J. H. Herbert cycled backwards to Brighton | 7 45 0| | | | | |1896, June 26. |E. D. Smith and C. A. Greenwood (tandem) | 5 37 34| | | | | | " --. |W. Franks walked from south side of | | | | Westminster Bridge to Brighton | 9 7 7| | | | | | " July 15. |C. G. Wridgway | 5 22 33| | | | | | " Sept. 15. |H. Green and W. Nelson (tandem) | 5 20 35| | | | | | " Nov. 14. |"Motor-car Day." A 6 h.p. Bollée motor | | | | started from Hotel Metropole, London, at | | | | 11.30 a.m., and reached Brighton at 2.25 | | | | p.m. | 2 55 0| | | | | |1897, April 10.|Polytechnic Harriers' walk, Westminster Clock| | | | Tower to Brighton. E. Knott | 8 56 44| | | | | | " May 4.|W. J. Neason cycled to Brighton and back | 5 19 39| | | | | | " July 12.|Miss M. Foster cycled from Hyde Park Corner | | | | to Brighton and back | 6 45 9| | | | | | " " 13.|Richard Palmer cycled to Brighton and back | 5 9 45| | | | | | " Sept. 11.|W. J. Neason cycled from London to Brighton | | | | and back | 5 6 42| | | | | | " Oct. 27.|P. Wheelock and G. J. Fulford (tandem) | 4 54 54| | | | | | " --. |L. Franks and G. Franks (tandem safety) | 5 0 56| | | | | |1898, Sept. 27.|E. J. Steel cycled London to Brighton and | | | | back (unpaced) | 6 23 55| | | | | | " " " |P. F. A. Gomme, London to Brighton and back | | | | (tricycle, unpaced) | 8 11 10| | | | | |1899, May 6.|South London Harriers' "go-as-you-please" | | | | running match, Westminster Clock Tower to | | | | Brighton. Won by F. D. Randall | 6 58 18| | | | | | " June 30.|H. Green cycled from London to Brighton and | | | | back (unpaced) | 5 50 23| | | | | |1902, Aug. 21.|H. Green cycled from London to Brighton and | | | | Brighton and back (unpaced) | 5 30 22| | | | | | " Oct. 31.|Surrey Walking Club's match, Westminster | | | | Clock Tower to Brighton and back. J. Butler|21 36 27| | | | | |1903, Mar. 14.|J. Butler walked from Westminster Clock Tower| | | | to Brighton | 8 43 16| | | | | | " May 1.|Stock Exchange Walk, won by E. F. Broad | 9 30 1| | | | | | " June 20.|Running Match, Westminster Clock Tower to | | | | Tower to Brighton. Won by Len Hurst | 6 32 0| | | | | | " Aug. |Miss M. Foster cycled to Brighton and back | | | | (motor-paced) | 5 33 8| | | | | | " Nov. 7.|Surrey Walking Club's match, Westminster | | | | Clock Tower to Brighton and back. H. W. | | | | Horton |20 31 53| | | | | | " --. |P. Wheelock and G. Fulford (tandem safety) | 4 54 54| | | | | | " --. |A. C. Gray and H. L. Dixon (tandem safety, | | | | unpaced) | 5 17 18| | | | | |1904, April 9.|Blackheath and Ranelagh Harriers, inter-club | | | | walk, Westminster Clock Tower to Brighton. | | | | T. E. Hammond | 8 26 57| | | | -2/5| |1905, July 19.|R. Shirley, Polytechnic C.C., cycled Brighton| | | | and back (unpaced) | 5 22 5| | | | | |1905, --. |J. Parsley (tricycle) | 6 18 28| | | | | | " --. |H. S. Price (tricycle, unpaced) | 6 53 5| | | | | |1906, Sept. 22.|J. Butler walked to Brighton | 8 23 27| | | | | | " --. |S. C. Paget and M. R. Mott (tandem safety, | | | | unpaced) | 5 9 20| | | | | | " --. |H. Green (safety cycle, unpaced) | 5 20 22| | | | | | " --. |R. Shirley " " | 5 15 29| | | | | | " --. |L. Dralce (tricycle, unpaced) | 6 24 56| | | | | | " --. |J. D. Daymond " " | 6 19 48| | | | | |1907, June 22.|T. E. Hammond walked to Brighton and back |18 13 37| | | | | | " --. |C. and A. Richards (tandem-safety, unpaced) | 5 5 25| | | | | | " --. |G. H. Briault and E. Ward (tandem-safety, | | | | unpaced) | 4 53 48| | | | | |1908, --. |G. H. Briault (tricycle, unpaced) | 6 8 24| | | | | |1909, May 1.|T. E. Hammond walked to Brighton | 8 18 18| | | | | | " Sept. 4.|H. L. Ross " " | 8 11 14| | | | | | " --. |Harry Green cycled Brighton and back | | | | (unpaced) | 5 12 14| | | | | |1910, --. |L. S. Leake and G. H. Spencer (tandem | | | | tricycle, unpaced) | 5 59 51| | | | | |1912, June 19.|Fredk. H. Grubb cycled (paced) Brighton and | | | | back | 5 9 41| | | | | | " --. |E. H. and S. Hulbert (tandem tricycle, | | | | unpaced) | 5 42 21| | | | | |1913, --. |H. G. Cook (tricycle, unpaced) | 6 7 4| |----------------------------------------------------------------------| |NOTE.--The fastest L. B. & S. C. R. train, the 5 p.m. Pulman | | |Express from London Bridge, reaches Brighton (51 miles) at | | |6.0 p.m. | 1 0 0| +-------------------------------------------------------------+--------+

X

We may now, somewhat belatedly, after recounting these varied annals of the way to Brighton, start along the road itself, coming from the south side of Westminster Bridge to Kennington.

No one scanning the grey vista of the Kennington Road would, on sight, accuse Kennington of owning a past; but, as a sheer matter of fact, it is an historic place. It is the "Chenintun" of Domesday Book, and the Cyningtun or Köningtun--the King's town--of an even earlier time. It was indeed a royal manor belonging to Canute, and the site of the palace where his son, Hardicanute, died, mad drunk, in 1042. Edward the Third annexed it to his Duchy of Cornwall, and even yet, after the vicissitudes of nine hundred years, the Prince of Wales, as Duke of Cornwall, owns house property here. Kennington Park, too, has its own sombre romance, for it was an open common until 1851, and a favourite place of execution for Surrey malefactors. Here the minor prisoners among the Scottish rebels captured by the Duke of Cumberland in the '45 were executed, those of greater consideration being beheaded on Tower Hill. It is an odd coincidence that, among the lesser titles of "Butcher Cumberland" himself was that of Earl of Kennington.

At this junction of roads, where the Kennington Road, the Kennington Park Road, the Camberwell New Road, and the Brixton Road, all pool their traffic, there stood, in times not so far removed but that some yet living can remember it, Kennington Gate, an important turnpike at any time, and one of very great traffic on Derby Day, when, I fear, the pikeman was freely bilked of his due at the hands of sportsmen, noble and ignoble. There is a view of this gate on such a day drawn by James Pollard, and published in 1839, which gives a very good idea of the amount of traffic and, incidentally, of the curious costumes of the period. You shall also find in the "Comic Almanack" for 1837 an illustration by George Cruikshank of this same place, one would say, although it is not mentioned by name, in which is an immense jostling crowd anxious to pass through, while the pikeman, having apparently been "cheeked" by the occupants of a passing vehicle, is vulgarly engaged, I grieve to state, in "taking a sight" at them. That is to say, he has, according to the poet, "Put his thumb unto his nose and spread his fingers out."

[Sidenote: KENNINGTON GATE]

Kennington Gate was swept away, with other purely Metropolitan turnpike gates, October 31st. 1865, and is now to be found in the yard of Clare's Depository at the crest of Brixton Hill. It was one of nine that barred this route from London to the sea in 1826. The others were at South End, Croydon: Foxley Hatch, or Purley Gate, which stood near Purley Corner, by the twelfth milestone, until 1853; and Frenches, 19 miles 4 furlongs from London--that is to say, just before you come into Redhill streets. Leaving Redhill behind, another gate spanned the road at Salfords, below Earlswood Common, while others were situated at Horley, Ansty Cross, Stonepound, one mile short of Clayton; and at Preston, afterwards removed to Patcham.[6]

Not the most charitable person could lay his hand upon his heart and declare, honestly, that the church of St. Mark, Kennington, which stands at this beginning of the Brixton Road, is other than extremely hideous. Fortunately, its pagan architecture, once fondly thought to revive the glories of old Greece, is largely screened from sight by the thriving trees of its churchyard, and so nervous wayfarers are spared something of the inevitable shock.

The story of Kennington Church does not take us very far back, down the dim alleys of history, for it was built so recently as the first quarter of the nineteenth century, when it was thought possible to emulate the marble beauties of the Parthenon and other triumphs of classic architecture in plebeian brick and stone. Those materials, however, and the architects themselves, were found to be somewhat inferior to their models, and eventually the public taste became so outraged with the appalling ugliness of the pagan temples arising on every hand that at length the Gothic revival of the mid-nineteenth century set in.