Woking
On both sides of the line Woking Common is seen to extend for miles, only broken by the windings of the Basingstoke Canal.
Woking to Godalming and Portsmouth
London and Portsmouth Direct Line
Three-quarters of a mile beyond Woking a line branches off to the left to Guildford and Godalming, direct to Portsmouth, from which another branch diverges at Guildford and extends to Ash, Farnham, and Alton.
Guildford
The situation of this town on the banks of the Wey, and spreading over the steep hill as it rises from the side of the river, is particularly picturesque.
Alton Branch
Guildford to Alton
Guildford
The situation of this town on the banks of the Wey, and spreading over the steep hill as it rises from the side of the river, is particularly picturesque.
Tongham, station for Aldershott.
Farnham
The exquisitely beautiful ruins of Waverley Abbey, about a mile from the town, are alone a reward for any pilgrimage that may be made from the station.
Ropley, Alresford and Itchen Abbas Stations.
Winchester
Old capital of the British Belgoe, county town of Hampshire, a bishop’s see, and parliamentary borough; stands among round chalk hills, sloping down to the Itchen.
Returning to Guildford the line takes a southerly direction, and at the distance of 3¾ miles brings us to the important town of
Godalming
This town is situated on the banks of the Wye, at a point where that river divides into several streams; it is a considerable trading and manufacturing town.
Goldalming to Portsmouth
This route is a continuation of the line via Guildford and Godalming to Portsmouth, bringing the latter place about 21 miles nearer London than by the old route, via Bishopstoke. – The stations are Milford, Witney, Haslemere, Liphook, Liss.
Petersfield, a neat little town of great antiquity. It has a population of 5,655, and returns one member to parliament. Near the chapel there is an equestrian statue of William III, built by the Joliffes of Merstham.
To the left about 9 miles long runs though Rogate and Elstead to Midhurst, in the neighbourhood of which is West Lavington Church, a neat structure, of local stone, situated on the side of a hill, from whence a magnificent prospect may be obtained. No doubt it will long be revered as being the resting-place of the mortal remains of the late Richard Cobden, Esq. and his son. Dunford, the house in which the great free-trader was born, stood on the crest of a hill, in a little wooded glen, about a mile further south. It has since been rebuilt, and formed part of the gift presented to him by the country for his national services.
It is intended, ultimately, to carry the line forward to Petworth, in connection with the Brighton system. The distance, at present, is traversed by coach.
Rowland’s Castle and Havant.
Portsmouth
Portsmouth, the first naval port in the British Islands, 75 miles, from London by the South Western Line or 95 by way of the Brighton and South Coast Line.
Spotted a mistake? Suggest a correction on GitHub.