work with the lumpy, inexpressive, and meaningless stone-carving that disfigures so many of our modern churches built "to the glory of God" cheaply and by contract, and how great and distressing the contrast!
As we drove out of Buckden, we noticed what a fine coaching inn it boasted once, namely the "George and Dragon." The original extent of the whole building, in spite of alterations, can still be easily traced; its former size and importance may be gathered from the fact that there are thirteen windows in one long line on its front, besides the great archway in the centre, that is such a prominent feature in most old-fashioned hostelries.
A couple of miles or so beyond Buckden stands the pretty village of Brampton, and here we made a short halt, as, besides its picturesqueness, Brampton had a further interest for us in being the birthplace of that celebrated Diarist and old-time road-traveller the worthy Mr. Samuel Pepys, who was born here on 23rd February 1632, though the event is not to be found in the parish register, for the excellent reason that "these records do not commence until the year 1654." I find in the preface to the new edition of Lord Braybrooke's Diary of Samuel Pepys, edited by H. B. Wheatley, it is stated: "Samuel Knight, D.D., author of the Life of Colet, who was a connection of the family (having married Hannah Pepys, daughter of Talbot Pepys of Impington), says positively that it was at Brampton" Pepys was born. The father and mother of the ever-entertaining Diarist lived and died at Brampton, and were buried there.
