Hopping Down in Kent (the music and pictures of hopping)
Michael and I caught the train from Victoria Station to
Orpington in Kent to start the next phase of our journey. We picked up our hire car and then took a
drive to see the Rainham Kent war memorial.
I had wanted to see my great uncle’s name which is inscribed
thereon. We arrived in Rainham and
located the memorial only to discover that it was covered up for restoration. We were disappointed but decided to take
photos anyway. Whilst were looking at
the memorial we both puzzled over the fact that it was a different shape to
what we had seen pictured on the Internet.
We walked to the local café and upon looking the memorial up again, we
discovered we were in the wrong Rainham!
What country has 2 towns of the same name within an hour of each
other? Anyway, back to the car we went
and this time found the correct village.
The memorial is located outside the perimeter of St Margaret’s Church
and is in the form of a Celtic style, Cornish granite cross. We located Lance Corporal Reginald John Uden’s
name and once more I was struck by the eerie sensation of seeing a memorial to
a family member that I had never met. We
decided to enter the church to have a look around and discovered that the
church has been there since 1282, with some of the Norman remains still in
use. The majority of the church dates
from the 14th century with the tower having been added in the 15th
century. It was wonderful wandering
around such a beautiful building steeped in history. There is even a 1000
year-old yew tree in the grounds.
The next day was Matthew’s birthday and he joined us down in
Orpington where Anne & Phil were staying with Margaret & Peter. I have mentioned Margaret & Peter before
as we have visited them on our previous trips.
Anne & Margaret have been friends for many years since nursing
together. Michael had hired a 7- seater
car, so we all piled in. There was
Matthew and I in the rear with 4 OAPs ranging in ages from 77 to 84. Trying to get everyone organised, seated and
strapped in was like trying to herd cats!
Much laughter ensued and then we were off for a trip down memory lane.
Anne was born in Goudhurst, so it was there that we headed
with Anne acting as tour guide. We saw
the house that she used to live in which was right by where the train station
used to be. Originally the house was the
lodge gate to Finchcock Estate. We then
drove a little further onto the Estate and met a woman riding a lawn mower who
knew of Anne’s family. In the course of
the conversation, the lady informed us that she had never travelled more than 3
miles from her home (she was in her 40’s)!
Anne then took Michael & Matthew to see her grand father’s house,
which used to be the other lodge gate for the Estate.
Anne then guided us into the village of Goudhurst itself,
pointing out the old dentist, butcher and grocer along the way. The village school that Anne attended was no
longer there, much to her disappointment.
Next we walked up the hill to St Mary’s Church where Anne talked about
the choir and polishing the brass plaques.
The cemetery outside the church is where Anne’s parents are buried and
Michael was surprised to discover that there are no headstones to mark their
graves.
We celebrated Matthew’s birthday lunch at the Goudhurst Inn
which was very pleasant. Anne really
wanted Phil, Michael and Matthew to see the Hop Farm in Paddock Wood as she
thought it would be of interest to them.
Unfortunately, when we arrived, we discovered that the hop museum had
been badly flooded earlier this year and is now closed. The Hop Farm is now just another family
amusement park and another little bit of history has been lost. Anne was very disappointed and try, as we
might, we couldn’t find a single hop garden for her all day.
Matthew has gone to Paris for 4 days to see the end of the
Tour de France so it was just the 6 of us left to have fun. We drove to Chartwell, which was once the
home of Winston Churchill. I was really
looking forward to the visit however, when we arrived, we discovered that the
studios Churchill used to paint from were not open until later that day and
Michael really wanted to see them. We
didn’t want to keep everyone waiting until then so unfortunately we didn’t go
in. We shall just have to go back
another day.
Hever Castle was our next stop and what a wonderful place it
is. It began as a country house in the
13th century and it was here that Anne Boleyn grew up. There were wonderful displays about Henry
VIII and his wives and it was easy to imagine what living there then was
like. In the 1900’s, Hever Castle was
purchased by William Waldorf Astor, who used it as his family residence. He added the wonderful Italian Gardens, which
are simply magnificent to walk around.
Michael and I had a lovely time wandering around whilst the others
enjoyed sitting in the sunshine.
We visited Down House, which is where Charles Darwin and his
family lived. Michael, Phil and Anne
toured the house whilst Margaret and I sat in the garden and talked. Margaret is a lovely lady who reminds me very
much of my mother. She has a very
English sense of humour with a sense of the ridiculous, so many a time, we were
bent double, roaring with laughter over something silly. I felt a little guilty not going around the
house but I was having such a good time. Anyway, it gave the others a chance to
read all about Darwin and his theories of evolution.
Next on the agenda was a trip to Canterbury. It is a beautiful, old walled city and as it
was Sunday, the bells were ringing throughout the town.
We didn’t stay long as I wanted to see the
sliding house in Margate. An artist has
transformed a derelict house by making it look like the façade has slipped into
the front garden. Part of the upper
floor of the four-storey house is exposed as curving bricks, windows and a door
below give the illusion that the front of the house is sliding away. Anyway, I enjoyed seeing it however I am not
sure how the others felt about it.
It was a long day of driving today, so long in fact that the
four OAPs fell asleep. Michael remarked
on what a peaceful drive home it was!
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| Margate Beach |
The following day we stopped on the way to Hastings at the
town of Battle. Michael visited the
Abbey whilst the rest of us browsed the shops and stopped for coffee. Michael found the museum very interesting and
I think he enjoyed having a little time to himself. Then it was off to Hastings, which is another
lovely old town. We had fish and chips
for lunch and Anne was indignant that they were offered the OAP special (it
came with a cup of tea and slices of white bread and butter).
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| Battleground of Battle near Hastings |
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| Old Cathedral on the Battle ground |
The drive home was excruciatingly slow as there had been an
accident on the M20. Michael suggested
we stop at McDonalds to let the traffic ease.
It was the first time Peter had ever been to McDonalds – not bad for
84! Somehow, I don’t think he will be
rushing back.
Matthew returned from Paris with tales of everything he saw
and did. He certainly made the most of
his time – I got tired just listening to everything he packed in. Once again we all piled into the car, this
time to visit the seaside. Brighton was
our destination and once there we headed to the Royal Pavilion. This pavilion
is a former royal residence and is remarkable for its exotic oriental
appearance. The décor inside is Chinese
and is very over the top in most cases.
I did like the magnificent dragon chandelier though.
We have been so lucky with the weather during our trip, as
once again we were here for another heat wave.
Today it was a sunny 28 degrees, which was perfect for a stroll along
the Brighton Pier. I have always wanted
to visit Brighton ever since reading Brighton Rock as a teenager. The pier was packed with holidaymakers and it
was fun just to walk along and soak up the sights and sounds. There were even jellied eels, winkles and
whelks for sale and of course Brighton Rock.
Oh! I do like to be beside the seaside!
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