|
|
|
Page 186:-
Here is one of the sweetest spots that fancy can imagine. The
woods, the rocks, the river, the grounds, are rivals in beauty of
style, and variety of contrast. The bends of the river, the
bulging of the rocks over it, under which in some places it
retires in haste, and again breaks out in a calm and spreading
stream, are matchless beauties. The ground in some places is
bold, and hangs abruptly over the river, or falls into gentle
slopes, and easy plains. All is variety, with pleasing
transition. Thickets cover the brows; ancient thorns, and more
ancient oaks, are scattered over the plain; and clumps, and
solitary beech trees of enormous size, that equal, if not
surpass, any thing the Chiltern-hills can boast. The park is well
stocked with fallow deer. The side of the Kent is famous for
petrifying springs, that incrust vegetable bodies, such as moss,
leaves of trees, &c. There is one on the park, called the
Dropping-well.
At a small distance is Hincaster, where the Romans had a camp.
Within the park is Kirkshead, mentioned by Camden as a place
frequented by the Romans, yet nothing of late belonging to that
people has been discovered at either place. Levens-hall was the
seat of a family of that name, for many ages; then of Redman, for
several descents; afterwards it came to Bellingham, and Alan, or
his son James Bellingham, gave it the present
|
