The Henson Journals

[444]

Saturday, June 29th, 1912.

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I went to the Athenaeum, & there wrote letters to Lord Cheylesmore, to Mary, to Percy Dearmer, & another.

After attending service in the Abbey as it was the Feast of our patron, S. Peter, and listening to a very short sermon from the Dean mainly filled with the Petrine legends which he had diligently vamped up from Stanley's book, we 'took up our carriages', & travelled from Charing Cross by the slowest of trains to Strood, where we were met, & carried to the Deanery of Rochester. The Deanery is a fine house of the 17th century (mainly) with later enlargements, & attached to it there is a garden of no less than 3 ½ acres surrounded by an ancient wall, & containing some remains of Roman work. At the Deanery were staying the Dean's brother, Sir Ronald Lane, a fine–looking and amiable old soldier: & two young ladies, respectively the daughter & the niece ( Rosamond Philips) of our hosts. A Flag–lieutenant stationed at Chatham made up our dinner party.

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