are still left, and the remains of most of the others are easily discovered. The most perfect is that called the Friars, founded by William de Buckingham. The greater part of the chapel is standing, particularly an arch of uncommon beauty, the span of which is twenty-five feet. The view from the Gothic windows of the choir is very extensive, including Rye and its harbour, Camber or Winchelsea castle, Dungeness, Romney marsh, and in the distance the cliffs of Dover.
The Friary is to be seen only on Mondays, being private property, and, like most of the other ruins of Winchelsea, it is situate in a garden.
The hill on which the town stands is two miles in circumference, and was regularly divided into squares of about two acres and a quarter ; the exact number is not known, but thirty-nine are still discernible. The streets are spacious, and intersect at right angles. Few towns have had the advantage of being laid out on so regular a plan, and adapted so well, both to health and convenience, as Winchelsea, which, when in full population, must have had a beautiful and commanding appearance.
The approaches to the town are three, and each of them was fortified by agate, called severally New-gate, Strand-gate, and Land-gate : they are all in pretty good preservation. The former of these you pass through in going from the village of Pett. It is hardly perceived, being embosomed in trees, till you are under its arch. This gate is distant from the others about three-quarters of a mile, and these respectively from each other a quarter of a mile. Strand-gate, the one passed through in going to Rye, has circular towers. The Land-gate is a square building, and now but little used as a thoroughfare. The present road to Icklesham led formerly only to a wharf or dock, consequently did not require to be -
