Houghton Down
Houghton Down, Houghtonparish:
county:
coords:
Houghton
Hampshire
SU3335
... From ANDOVER to STOCKBRIDGE (about seven or eight miles) is, for the greatest part, an open corn and sheep country, a considerable portion of the land being downs. The wheat and rye and vetch and sainfoin fields look beautiful here; and, during the whole of the way from Andover to Rumsey, the early turnips of both kinds are not bad, and the stubble turnips very promising. The downs are green as meadows usually are in April. The grass is most abundant in all situations, where grass grows. ...
Period - 18th century, early
Next morn, twelve miles led o'er th' unbounded plain,
Where the cloak'd shepherd guides his fleecy train.
No leafy bow'rs a noonday shelter lend,
Nor from the chilly dews at night defend;
With woundrous art he counts his straggling flock,
And by the sun informs you what o'clock.
How are our shepherds fall'n from ancient days!
No Amaryllis chaunts alternate lays;
From her no list'ning ecchos learn to sing,
Nor with his reed the jocund valleys ring.
