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romantic spot. Here he was so astonished at the inland view presented of the weald and adjacent counties that the scene bewildered him, and he had to solicit the guidance of a shepherd into the road for Brighton. Both kindred and neighbours wondered at his non-return with his companions, and were anxious as to his whereabouts, he having been absent many hours. On the return of the " lost man " there was much rejoicing, and all assembled around to hear him relate his adventures,—the more anxiously from the fact of his exclaiming that " He had been to the Devil's Dyke." After allaying their amazement and interrogations as to what sort of place it was,—none of his listeners having ventured so far,—he concluded with the somewhat quaint rejoinder, " That he ne'er beleft the world was half so big afore." The fishermen of bygone times were remarkable for their love of home, but when not engaged in fishing they occasionally accompanied bird-catchers to the hills around old Brighton,—bird catching being a favorite pursuit of the aborigines,—though it was a very rare occurrence for them to venture far beyond their habitations into the country district,—the farthest distance being the Preston, Hove, and Southwick Fairs, which were annual events. Even to this day many of their descendants can be found who have not ventured ten miles inland.
ALDRINGTON.
Adjacent to Portslade is the so-called parish of Aldrington, which is within a mile of Hove, and without an inhabitant. It possesses the ruins of a Church, —nought but tottering walls,—which stand in the centre of a meadow field. One small window of early date is the only noteworthy feature in the remains of this edifice, the remainder comprising but crumbling walls and a |
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