The road to Lewes continues under the shadow of Mount Harry and eventually drops to the Lewes-London highway near Offham, remarkable as being the first place in the south where a line of rails was used for the passage of goods.  A turn to the right and we soon reach Lewes near St. Anne’s Church.

CHAPTER V

SHOREHAM AND WORTHING

Public conveyances run from Brighton to Shoreham several times each day by Portslade and Southwick; the railway to Worthing also follows the road and little will be lost if the traveller goes direct to New Shoreham.  Portslade and Southwick churches have some points of interest, the latter a one time church of the Knights Templar, but they are not sufficient compensation for the melancholy and depressing route.  After passing Hove the road is cut off from the sea by the eastern arm of Shoreham Harbour, and there follows a line of gas works, coal sidings and similar eyesores, almost all the way to Shoreham town.  However, the explorer will be amply recompensed when he arrives at the old port at the mouth of the Adur.

The original Saxon town had its beginnings at Old Shoreham, but, as the harbour silted up, the importance of the new settlement under Norman rule, exceeded all other havens between Portsmouth and Rye.  The overlords were the powerful De Braose family, who have left their name and fame over a great extent of the Sussex seaboard.

[Illustration:  PORTSLADE HARBOUR.]

King John is known to have landed here after the death of Richard, and Charles II sailed from Shoreham after the Battle of Worcester.  The fugitive came across country accompanied by Lord Wilmot, and at Brighton fell in with the Captain Tattersell, whose grave we have seen there.  An arrangement was made by which he was to leave Shoreham in the captain’s vessel; this was done the next morning and the King in due time reached Fecamp safely.  At the restoration the gallant captain received an annual pension of one hundred pounds.

Shoreham is decidedly not the town to visit for an hour or two or for half a day.  No one can possibly gain a correct impression of these smaller English towns by a casual call, as it were, between trains.  A short stay, or two or three day visits (not on “early closing” day) is the least one can do before claiming to know the place.

New Shoreham is almost certain to disappoint on first acquaintance.  In fact it may be described as mean and shabby!  Other and competent judges have felt the charm of this old Seagate and one—­Algernon Charles Swinburne—­has immortalized it in his glowing lines “On the South Coast":—­

“Shoreham, clad with the sunset glad and grave with glory that death reveres.”

Shoreham church is second only to the Cathedral at Chichester and Boxgrove Priory in interest.  As will be seen by the fragments in the churchyard a nave once made the building cruciform, and its proportions then would not have disgraced a small cathedral.  A movement has been on foot for some time to rebuild the nave on the old site and an offertory box for this purpose will be seen within the church.