'I date with as much particularity as if my writings were to be read, or quoted hereafter...'

the honourable john byng's  tour into sussex was conducted from the 15th to the 26th of august 1788 - a journey through tonbridge, rye, hastings, brighton, lewes and back through croydon.

his editor, david souden, says this of byng's writing;

'his travel journals are a day to day account of his sightseeing and his feelings, written up from notes made at the time, which he intended for his family and for others who cared to read his opinions. occasionally, one suspects that he hoped that posterity would heed his views.' 

horsemouth will endeavour to follow his itinerary. 

15th august 1788

'at seven o'clock on friday morning, august 15th 1788 (for I date with as much particularity as if my writings were to be read, or quoted hereafter), I mounted this famous poney at westminster bridge...' 

byng sets off from westminster bridge (having walked there with his wife).

'the sky, the wind, were all sweetness and serenity. long, lazy, lewisham, might have been well named formerly, but now it is a smart village and the stream is turned out of the road...'

he travels with a 'famous pedestrian'  known her only as I.D. (he meets him at the bell inn in bromley). their route takes them via madams court hill, pratts bottom, richmore hill, riverhead and the royal oak inn at sevenoaks before they make it to tonbridge. 

on the first day make it as far as the rose and crown inn in tonbridge (probably this one - they were not impressed by the facilities). 

more tomorrow when they are off down the rye road. 

horsemouth's accessions diary 14/08/24 (visit to hereford)

- robert holdstock mythago wood (rspca £1.50). now this is a book he has heard about and seen but never read. it was around at the same time as christopher priest's break out novels (dream of wessex, the affirmation etc.). interesting to see that it is set in herefordshire.  it's very much in that alan garner mode.  

- john clare selected letters (oxfam £4). john clare is another person who does great walks (in his case back from the lunatic asylum in epping forest to his home in  northborough). 

- a. wainright a pictorial guide to the lakeland fells (book 6, un-named charity shop - £3.99). it is all hand-drawn and hand-lettered. this was mentioned in a graphics design course that horsemouth once took notes on. it is indeed a thing of beauty and it is dedicated 'to those unlovely twins my right leg and my left leg staunch supporters that have carried me about  for over half a century, endured much without complaint  and never once let me down.'