Thirty miles farther over main-traveled highways brought us for a second time to Winchester.  Here we stopped for the night after an unusually long run.  An early start soon brought us to Southampton, which is known everywhere as a port of arrival and departure of great merchant steamers and which, aside from its commercial importance, is one of the most ancient and interesting cities in the Kingdom.  The most notable relic is a portion of the Saxon wall, the part known as the “Arcade,” built in a series of arches, being the most remarkable.  Close by, in a little street called Blue Anchor Lane, is a house reputed to have been the palace of King John and said to be the oldest in England, although several others contest that distinction.  At the head of Blue Anchor Lane is a picturesque Tudor house, once the residence of Henry VIII and his queen, Anne Boleyn.  This is open to visitors and we were shown every part of the house by the tenant, who is also custodian.  With all its magnificence of carved oak and wide fireplaces, it must have been a comfortless dwelling measured by more modern ideas.

Leaving the city, we crossed Southampton Water on a steam ferry which was guided by a chain stretched from bank to bank.  Two or three miles to the southward lies Netley, a small village with the remains of an abbey dating from the reign of Henry I. The road to Netley followed the shore closely, but on nearing the village suddenly entered an avenue of fine trees which so effectually concealed the ruin that we stopped directly opposite the abbey to inquire its whereabouts.  Leaving the car standing in the road, we spent a quarter of an hour wandering about the ruin and trying to locate the various apartments from a hand-book.  The custodian here did not act as a guide, and we were left to figure out for ourselves the intricacies of nave, refectory, cloister, etc.  Only the ivy-covered walls of the building are now standing, but these are in an unusual state of completeness.  The chapel or church was cruciform in shape and built in the early English style.  The walls of the west end have practically disappeared, but the great east window is fairly well preserved and its most remarkable feature is its two beautifully proportioned lights, the stone tracery of which remains almost intact.  A legend in connection with this abbey no doubt grew out of the desire of some of the people to prevent the destruction of the beautiful building.  After the abbey had been dismantled, the church was sold to a contractor, who proceeded to tear it down for the material.  He was warned in a dream by the appearance of a monk not to proceed with the work, but disregarded the warning and was killed by the falling of a portion of the wall.  If incidents of this kind had happened more frequently England would no doubt be richer in historic buildings.