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318 THE SUSSEX COAST
that of the castle, so that the object of the plot of the wife of the Sweeper of Gravesend was wholly frustrated, while the ruined castle pours everlasting infamy on her name.
The Sweeper's eldest son, Francis Hare-Naylor, best known for his History of Germany from the Landing of Gustavus to Treaty of Westphalia, was extremely democratic in his views, and altogether an interesting personality. He had married Geor-giana, a daughter of Bishop Shipley, of St. Asaph, whose sister was the wife of the great Indian scholar, Sir William Jones. She was a good scholar and a noble woman, who had the courage to defy her father when, somewhat backward in practising the ideals he had vowed to preach, he wished to arrange for her a " better " marriage— in plain English, one more commercially advantageous. So with her husband she lived at Bologna when they could not afford to live in England, and when they inherited Herstmonceux they occupied it for eight happy years. On her death, however, in 1806, it was sold, and has several times since changed hands.
Much of the castle, especially the great gateway tower, was in danger of speedy collapse, but the new purchaser (Claud Lowther) is repairing and repointing the ruins and rebuilding part in the most careful and judicious way ; metal girders are being extensively used, but, of course, kept out of sight; the gateway vault is rebuilt in thin bricks, much as it originally was ; and everything is being done to restore the original character of the place (May, 1911). It is a good work, for which he deserves the sincerest thanks of all true Sussexians.
But we have not yet done with the Hares of Herstmonceux. Under the old yew-tree in the |
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