Memorial: Octavia Hill seat
{Carved in large lettering on the back of the seat:}
This land was given in memory of Octavia Hill, 1915.
1838 - 1912
Site: Octavia Hill seat (1 memorial)
GU8, near Hascombe, Hydon's Ball
Well outside the M25, by no stretch of the rules is this in London but Octavia is a London person so we had to collect this giant seat which we came across by chance on a country walk. We decided the little mouse-holes are to allow the water to drain away from the seat.
This land is now part of the National Trust, of which Octavia was one of the founders. Also known as 'Hydon's Cup' this hill was the site of a time-signalling station (involving telescopes and a series of hills on which frameworks held large balls which were dropped). Here's a ditty about it:
On Hydon's top there is a cup
And in that cup there is a drop
Pick up the cup, and drink the drop
And place the cup on Hydon's top.
