What to See in England | Page 8

square
Norman tower owes its red hue to the Roman bricks used in its
construction. One remarkable feature is the length of the nave, which is
only exceeded by Winchester. Every style of architecture is represented
in the interior from Early Norman to Late Perpendicular, and in the
triforium of the north transept are to be seen some Saxon balusters and
columns. The shrine of St. Alban is in the Saint's Chapel, with the
interesting watching-loft on the north side. The west end has been very
much renovated by Lord Grimthorpe.
At Gorhambury can be seen the tower of the ruined house formerly
occupied by Sir Nicholas Bacon, and visited by Queen Elizabeth. In the
antique church of St. Michael in Verulamium is Lord Bacon's

monument.
[Illustration: F. Frith & Co., Ltd.
ST. ALBANS ABBEY.
Showing the Central Tower constructed of Roman bricks from
Verulamium.]

STOKE POGES CHURCH, BUCKS
=How to get there.=--Train from Paddington. Great Western Rly.
=Nearest Station.=--Slough (2-1/2 miles from Stoke Poges). =Distance
from London.=--21-1/4 miles. =Average Time.=--Varies between 3/4
to 1 hour.
1st 2nd 3rd =Fares.=--Single 3s. 0d. 2s. 0d. 1s. 6d. Return 5s. 0d. 3s.
6d. ...
=Accommodation Obtainable.=--Windsor--"White Hart Hotel," "Castle
Hotel," "Bridge House Hotel," etc. =Alternative Route.=--Train from
Waterloo to Windsor, 3 miles from Stoke Poges. London and
South-Western Railway.
"The curfew tolls the knell of parting day" has immortalised the
otherwise unimportant district of Stoke Poges--a parish embracing
numerous small hamlets.
Leaving Slough by the north end of the railway bridge, one turns first
to the right and then to the left, and soon after leaving the uninteresting
bricks and mortar of the town, one enters some of the most beautiful
lanes in the home counties. At the first cross road one turns to the right,
and again through an open gate to the left, and thence a field path leads
to the churchyard.
The little church, which is always open, has walls of old red brick and
flint, with patches of rough plaster. It is wonderfully picturesque, with

its partial covering of ivy and beautiful background of fine old trees,
and no one can view the scene at sunset without recalling Gray's
immortal Elegy written in a Country Churchyard--those exquisite
verses which breathe in every line the peace of an ideal country scene.
To a lover of Nature there can be nothing more beautiful than the
lines--
Now fades the glimmering landscape on the sight, And all the air a
solemn stillness holds; Save where the beetle wheels his drony flight,
And drowsy tinklings lull the distant folds.
Near the east wall of the church is the red brick tomb where Gray
sleeps his last sleep, and in the meadow by the chancel window stands
the huge cenotaph raised to his memory by John Penn. Of the little
cottage where he spent his summer vacations and wrote the Elegy
nothing now remains. Gray was born in London in 1716, and died at
Cambridge in 1771.
The interior of the church has lost its high old pews and galleries, so
that it lacks the interest it might have had, for until these were removed
the building was almost exactly what Gray knew so well.
[Illustration: Mackenzie Fine Art Co.
STOKE POGES CHURCHYARD.
Associated with Gray's Elegy.]

WINDSOR
=How to get there.=--Train from Paddington. Great Western Railway.
=Nearest Station.=--Windsor. =Distance from London.=--21-1/4 miles.
=Average Time.=--Varies between 1/2 to 1 hour.
1st 2nd 3rd =Fares.=--Single 3s. 6d. 2s. 3d. 1s. 9d. Return 5s. 6d. 4s. 0d.
3s. 4d.

=Accommodation Obtainable.=--"White Hart Hotel," "Bridge House
Hotel," "Castle Hotel," etc. =Alternative Route.=--Train from Waterloo.
L. and S.W. Railway.
The chief interest of Windsor centres in its castle, without which
visitors to the town would probably be few in number. Some of the old
streets are narrow, and there are many architecturally interesting
buildings. The business portion of the town lies nearest to the Castle,
the residential parts being chiefly round the Great Park. The Town Hall,
in the High Street, was commenced in 1686, and was completed under
the direction of Sir Christopher Wren.
The history of Windsor Castle commences with the granting of the site
of the castle and town to the Abbot of Westminster by Edward the
Confessor. William the Conqueror, was, however, so struck with its
splendid military position, that he revoked the grant, and where the
castle now stands built a fortress of considerable size. Of this there is
no description extant. The first court was held at Windsor by Henry I.,
and during his reign many splendid functions took place there. Edward
III. employed William of Wykeham to rebuild almost the whole castle.
Henry VII., Henry VIII., and Elizabeth all made additions to the
buildings. Many magnificent paintings were added during the reign of
Charles I. George I. made Windsor Castle his