Last chapter we were in Portelet Bay, Jersey and this week we are going to jump across the English Channel to Sussex. Specifically an area called the Weald and we’ll throw in a bit of folklore too.

#AdelaideLouisaHaslegrave (1857-1937) was born in London. Her father was rector at St Peter’s Church, Islington. Adelaide became an artist best known for the painting of pastoral scenes in oil and watercolour. She worked out of a block of studios off the King’s Road – 10 Trafalgar Studios – in Chelsea. Fellow studio renters were Frank Brangwyn and Edward Onslow Ford. Adelaide exhibited with the Royal Academy and the Society of Women Artists from 1890 until 1916.

The watercolour shown depicts a view of the Weald of Sussex near Devil’s Dyke. The Weald is a geographical area beginning south of London and stretching to the south east coast and contains outstanding natural beauty and a fascinating history. The Weald stretches across Kent, Surrey, and Sussex.

Devil’s Dyke is a 100m deep v-shaped valley. Lore is told that it was dug by the devil to allow the sea to flood into the Weald of Sussex to destroy the many churches in the area but an old woman lit a candle which caused a cock to crow making the devil think that morning was upon him. He fled leaving the trench unfinished and his last shovelful of earth was thrown over his shoulder to land in the sea forming the Isle of Wight.

A beautiful part of the country filled with amazing history.