This was the next place of interest. The grounds, nearly twelve acres in extent, were enclosed in a high brick wall, which went all round. The lodge stood at the corner of what is now Pembury-road, and through the gates one could catch a glimpse of the beautiful hydrangeas, and other flowers bordering the carriage drive, leading to the mansion, which stood not far from Lordship-lane. It was a good old house, with a fine entrance hall; it struck me as being very gloomy upstairs, the bedroom doors all being painted black. There were many pretty, shady walks in the gardens and fields; in one part was a nut walk.

When the hall was pulled down in 1867 a portion of the ground was thrown out to widen Lordship-lane, which was at that time very narrow.

There was a row of pretty, small cottages on the right-hand side of the lane, several of them built of wood. The tenants took great pains with their gardens and grape vines, which were covered with bunches of white grapes. The houses that came next, called Bruce-terrace, were built by Mr. Thomas Finney, an ironfounder. They have one peculiarity—each house has an iron step at the gateway in lieu of stone. From this point to Bruce Castle grounds there were fields on both sides. On the left-hand side there was a row of majestic elm trees. The white house in the middle of the field was the residence of Mr. Francis Fox.