“This most commanding down is crowned with the grassy mound and trenches of an ancient earthwork, from whence there is a noble view of hill and plain.  The inner slope of the green fosse is inclined at an angle pleasant to recline on, with the head just below the edge, in the summer sunshine.  A faint sound as of a sea heard in a dream—­a sibilant ’sish, sish’—­passes along outside, dying away and coming again as a fresh wave of the wind rushes through the bennets and the dry grass.”  (Richard Jefferies.)

[Illustration:  WOLSTONBURY.]

The views from Ditchling, though fine, are not nearly the best, for there is a tameness in the immediate country to the north.  A glorious walk, however, can be taken by keeping along the edge past “Black Cap,” the clump of trees about two miles east, and then either over or round Mount Harry to Lewes.  Those who must see all the settlements of men should proceed downwards to Westmeston, a beautiful little place embowered in trees, some of which are magnificent in shape and size, particularly the great ash at the east of the church which is literally overshadowed by the Beacon.  The building is uninteresting and the mural paintings dating from the twelfth century, which were discovered about fifty years ago, have not been preserved.  It was near here that Baring Gould speaks of seeing the carcasses of two horses and three calves hanging in a elm; on inquiry he was informed that this was considered “lucky for cattle.”

About a mile and a half north and two miles east of Ditchling village is the lonely hamlet of Street.  The “Place” is a grand old house dating from the reign of the first James; behind the chimney of the hall was once a spacious hiding place and a story is told of a Royalist fugitive who rode into it on his horse and was never again seen.  The restored church has a number of iron grave slabs and a monument to Martha Cogger, who was a “Pattern of Piety and Politeness.”

Nearly two miles on the Lewes road is Plumpton, chiefly famed for its steeplechases which are held two miles away in the Weald and close to Plumpton station.  The church is uninteresting.  The “Place” is an old moated house, the property of Lord Chichester.  The Leonard Mascall who lived here in the sixteenth century is said to have introduced the first carp from the Danube, the moat being used as their nursery.  Notice the great V in firs on the face of the Downs; this is a memorial of the Victorian Jubliee; not particularly beautiful and leading one to speculate upon its permanence.  A cutting in the chalk would probably recommend itself to the pious care of coming ages when the personage commemorated had either been entirely forgotten or had developed into a legendary heroine of fictitious character.  That even cuttings are not always permanent is proved close by, for only occasionally can the cross cut to commemorate the great battle of Lewes be seen; the turf shows but a different shade of green at certain times and under certain atmospheric conditions.