THE VALLEY OF THE ROTHER

Pulborough on Stane Street was once a Roman station.  Relics of the occupation are constantly turning up in the neighbourhood.  Near the church is a mound, on which stood the “castellum.”  A glance at the map will show the commanding position the station held over the meeting of the Arun and Rother.  There are traces of a Roman villa at Borough Hill north-east of the village.

The fine church is mostly Perpendicular, though there are Early English portions.  Note the archaic Norman font and several interesting brasses, especially that of Thomas Harlyng, Canon of Chichester and rector here in 1420; also the restored sedilia and beautiful modern reredos.

Not far from the church are the remains of the ancient “Old Place” once belonging to the Apsleys; the neighbouring barn is even older than the house; “New Place,” a little farther north, is another picturesque house with a fine hall.

Pulborough is, with Amberley, a Mecca for weekend anglers; it has a famous inn, the “Swan,” and is a good halting place before proceeding westwards, in which direction our road now runs.  A mile out of the town we take final leave of the Arun at Stopham Bridge, a fine medieval structure of many arches.  The Rother joins the larger river just below the bridge and between the two streams may be seen Stopham House, the home of the Bartelotts, seneschals of the Earls of Arundel; their monuments and brasses for several centuries are in the church, an ancient building among trees some distance from the bridge.

We now approach Fittleworth, another favourite place for anglers, whose rendezvous must be looked for nearly a mile away near the bridge and station.  The Early English church, unrestored and interesting, has in the vestry a curious stone coffin lid with a Greek cross upon it.  The famous “Swan” Inn is a well-known feature of the little town and a great resort for artists, who find endless subjects in the beautiful district we are now traversing.

Egdean has a church dating from the early seventeenth century.  About fifty or more years ago it was “restored” in a way which even among restorers must be unique, “Early English” details being imposed upon the original work.  Byworth is picturesque, as Miss Vigers sketch will show; but, apart from its situation, it calls for no other comment.

The scenery around Petworth is characteristic of the Lower Greensand country and the picturesque wooded outcrop north-east of Byworth is perhaps as beautiful as any other part of this distinctive belt.  In no part of this miniature range, about three miles long, is the altitude over 450 feet, but the charm of the woodland dells and meandering tracks which cross and traverse the heights between the “Fox” on the north-west and the Arun at Hardswood Green, is quite as great as in localities of more strongly marked features and greater renown.

[Illustration:  BYWORTH.]