The south coast Dover to Battle Wed 30th April/dinner

As I did the last post at the Dover Castle I have to add a little bit more about our travels yesterday.

We drove north to Sandwich,  a really old place with super narrow streets, had to close my eyes more than once.  On the way we went past Ham. There was nowhere to park when we got there, so we were unable to get a ham Sandwich!

Back past Deal to Walmer Castle, home of The Duke of Wellington, but it really wasn't a castle, just a dark wood panelled house. He died in the house and it remains basically unchanged from then.

Back to The Eight Bells for another pub meal, steak and salmon.  

This morning it was 9 degrees and thick fog.  Not good for taking photos.   First stop was the World War 2 remembrance park outside Folkstone.  So many died in the bombing raids, we rocked up at 9.15, but like everything it didn't open until 10.  They are building another centre probably for the centenary. 

A bit further along we arrived at Folkstone.  All these coastal towns played a huge part in the defence of Britain during the war.  Before that they were heavily fortified to prevent the French from invading. A lot of the towns have an old section and much more modern development to the outsides.  We stopped at the Folkstone wharf, you have to pay £4 to fish. The old buildings are being knocked down and I bet there will be apartments built.

A waterfront hotel, shaped like a boat, and opposite the tide was out, all the boats are in the mud

A statue in the middle of the disused railway line

Rather large pelicans here, must be well fed

Next stop Hythe home of St Leonard's Church and England's most celebrated ossuary,  what's that, there are 2000 skulls the remains of Saxon or Danes killed in battle and dating to 1678. Why are they in the crypt? Well the graveyards got full, so they dug up the bodies and kept the skulls. Good story Thomas?  We waited for the 11 am tour, but nobody came, then some kind person told us May was tomorrow and the tours only start in May.  It is another beautiful church with extremely narrow lanes but I guess they hadn't invented the wheel in those days.

The church also played a part in the war, as it is on high ground.

Coffee from Swainbury's as parking was a premium, and we discovered the Maritime canals, built in 22 months at a cost of £200K  Now they are used as green space and walking paths around the town.

The we decided to take a train ride on the minature steam train.  John was in steam train heaven.  

Back along the coast road, I was fascinated by the huge steep embankments, and today the same was flat.  There are huge car parks along the road, and holiday parks everywhere.   We could only assume that the area was very popular in summer.

Then onwards to Rye, was hopeful of being able to stop in the town to take some photos, but again parking was at a premium, so we went to the wharf.  It was very windy, and there were more holiday parks there.

But we did find an interesting restaurant, making the most of an important man.  Then to Battle, the home of the Battle of Hastings.  It is a long way up the hills and must have taken a long time way back in 1066.  Hard to imagine how they managed to bring thousand of soldiers, and all their belongings, armour etc, and then get so far inland, before they met Harold and got into a battle with him.!  We will learn more about that tomorrow.

Today we have seen a great cross-section of the country areas of the south coast, and the sheep farms.  Lambing has been done, and most of the sheep have twins, bit more economical I guess. Beautiful old houses that all get used as nursing homes or private hospices, narrow laneways, and today we noticed that so many older people seem to live in the towns we have passed, bit like being in the local RSL, sometimes we seemed to be the youngest around!

Our accommodation at Lilac Tree is lovely, the gardens beautiful, Pauline is a great host, and our room is very nice indeed. 

Our to find lunch/dinner now, what will it be, as there are not too many choices in the town.  We passed signs indicating scallops for sale at the local fish suppliers, now that would be a great meal!

Another interesting day in Dover April 29th

I am writing this while sitting in the grounds of Dover Castle overlooking the French coastline, when the fog/clouds lifts.  What a huge place 400 hectares, built by William the Conqueror's grandson.  It has been added to over the years.  The castle design is the same as in London, apparently it was the family design for castle building.  It is a garrison fort, and played a huge part in defence during WW2.

We have just been through the hospital tunnel which was the first place that the wounded were taken for triage or being made stable before being sent to country hospitals.  1800 staff worked there during a normal day, and often they were encouraged to get some fresh air and sunlight.   They did, and kept a watchful eye on the German guns, as it took 36 seconds for the shell to reach Dover.

John is doing the underground tunnel tour, I am unsteady in the low light so opted out.

St Mary's Church 1100's

Castle life, Hugh kitchens, guest accommodation, butchers shop and another throne

There is also a Mi,Italy museum, and I have taken a photo of the medals that Harold Sedgwick would have been awarded in the Boer War, and which were taken from him at his Court martial, bit difficult due to the lightening, also the Crimea medal awarded to one of my great grandfathers.

Throughout the military museum they depicted all the different battles the Foot soldiers were involved with.

Earlier in the morning we tried to find River House home of Great grand uncle Robert Jennings,  but we're unable.  A little way up the road from us is Kearney, where so many of the large homes were. Our host though it was on the road, but it was River View instead, so on we went to Coldred, to find the Coldred Manor where George Jennings lived and then provided a home for his wife's family.

What a lovely village, complete with 1715 pub, opposite the lake where the used to drown the witches. Lovely!  Once again the signboard tells the story, these are all over the place and are most helpful.  The Manor is a Georgian style building.  The whole area was in his day sheep lands, as are the various other buildings, would all have been on the estate.  Wonder where all led to Lyndon another small village where George's wife was born, daughter of Peter Harnett,  but we couldn't find anyone who knew the family name, but no doubt she was christened in the church, which is made of stone, maybe flint.

With good Internet reception on top of the hill, I have a few more photos to share as a reminder of our stay in Dover.

The White Cliffs, Dover Castle, our accommodation and the Mini minor cars

St .Peter and St Pauls Church, the family had connections to it, just behind where we are staying.

Beulah House built 1890