YE OLDE MERRIE ENGLANDE!!

[PistonBlown]

As you can see The Bell is no more! It's presently being converted into flats....

Unfortunately the way of many old pub, either that or some sort of eatery where just ordering a beer is frowned on.

I do wonder how many people have fallen or tripped on that last step after having a few inside as it looks perfect for catching you out when your at the 'carefully does it' stage:-)

[47ModelBrit]

As you can see The Bell is no more! It's presently being converted into flats....

Another one bites the dust! Very sad! When I lived there in the 60's there were 5 pubs in the village, now there are just two. But at least those two are open all day. Remember how they used to close in the afternoon?

[OJ UK]

The first was Mereworth (Pronounced Merry-Worth!)
The church is an extravagant building which dates from the mid-18th century and
is built in the Palladian style. Nevertheless it makes for an interesting visit.


The village has very few saving graces and is home to many London commuters.

[OJ UK]

Leaving Mereworth I travelled the short distance to Offham.
Offham has many great old buildings but the star of the show is this:
Now can anybody tell me what it is?

A beautiful 15th. 16th. century stone-built cottage.


Don't see too many of these phone boxes anymore!


Sleepy village.


Beautiful old lath and plaster farmhouse.

[OJ UK]

My final village today is the old village of Wrotham ( A prize will be awarded to anyone who can tell me
how that is pronounced! No Cheating!!)
A thriving village with gorgeously built houses and a traditionally styled school building! Obviously no longer a school.


Here's the church.....

Nice isn't it?

[OJ UK]

Large window


The Nave



Ancient timber roof



Well worn entrance.

Originally built somewhere between the late Anglo-Saxon period to the early Norman era (pre AD1066), St George’s Church in Wrotham is recorded in the Domesday book (1068), and was probably built on the foundations of an even earlier structure.As an important church belonging to the Archbishop of Canterbury on the main road from London to the ports, it was almost completely rebuilt in the 13th Century, and there are only a few places in which parts of the original 11th Century structure remain.Among its distinguishing features are its large number of brasses, its clock (one of the oldest working ones in the country) and an unusual archway underneath the bell tower.

[OJ UK]

A list of past rectors



And an unusual passage beneath the bell tower.

[wyliec]

roo-tem

[vided]

O U T S T A N D I N G pictures.

[OJ UK]

roo-tem

Correct!! Well done!
Now I have to think about your prize......

[Peter Aawen]

That pole & arm device you wanted someone to tell you what it is - is a Quintain, used by knights to practice jousting....



here's a pic of one from the web

[OJ UK]

Thanks Peter....Although knights did use it , it was more commonly seen at medieval village fairs where the young
horsemen used to take part to see who was the quickest and smoothest. The winner was pronounced 'Lord of the Fair'.

[Peter Aawen]

That 'King of the Fair' thing went on well into the 20th Century....

I vaguely remember a story about the Offham Quintain being removed during WWII so that it couldn't be used by an invading army as a landmark to aid navigation; and that meant that even tho it was eventually re-fitted in its original spot, it wasn't ever used for a fair again - shame, I can think of a few young fella's who might benefit from a few turns with one of them!! Especially with that lump of wood on the flail end instead of a sandbag!!

[wyliec]

Correct!! Well done!
Now I have to think about your prize......

The prize was already given- all those great pictures.

Can you tell me what camera you used?

[OJ UK]

The prize was already given- all those great pictures.

Can you tell me what camera you used?

Nothing fancy an 8 year old Lumix FZ7 is all....I am not getting on too well with the
Nikon F510 and that may well be being changed for the new Lumix FZ with the 60x zoom.

EDIT: The Nikon went on eBay and I bought the new Lumix FZ72 with a 60x zoom (1200mm)!

[granpa in Cincy]

How far from London are these villages that they missed the blitz?

[OJ UK]

Surprisingly close! No more than 20 minutes flying time I would guess.
The Germans weren't interested in villages though they were after strategic targets like factories and docks,
as were we when we returned the favour! Any damage in the countryside was due to bombs being dumped
from stricken aircraft and aircraft which went down with a full bomb load.

[gkamer]

Ok Guys 'n gals I though I'd put up a couple of pics (and it is only a couple at the moment!)
of life on a Spyder in England....
This picture was taken at an old coaching house, where coaches would stop to
allow passengers and horses some refreshment. It was built in 1512. (That's older than some of Bob Denmans jokes!!)
They serve excellent food and of course beer!!

Here I am just about to leave the parking area of a nearby 14th century manor house where they
serve afternoon tea in the gardens.....all very quaint!
These were taken on a friend's phone. I have just bought a new Nikon camera so I hope that this year's pictures will be more plentiful
and bigger!!

We don't have as much history here in the US as you do in England, but that's only because we got a late start.

[OJ UK]

Only this time I didn't take them as they're in North Yorkshire!
So here's a link to Google Images and an old fishing village called Staithes:

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=st...FQNG2wodnfULUQ

This is one of those English 'picture book' villages which has been used as a subject by many photographers and artists.
It's interesting to compare the artist's various interpretations of the village. You can spend a happy hour or so just looking at this place!

[OJ UK]

No-one liked this little contribution??
I guess you're all taking advantage of the weather and riding!

[ARtraveler]

All great pictures OJ. Please keep them coming. I believe I mentioned my grandfather was born in Yorkshire--so, special thanks for those pictures.

[OJ UK]

Saturday saw me and my friend Steve going on a short day trip to Hastings and Winchelsea in the county of Sussex. The weather was glorious and from the park we could see France and the White Cliffs of Dover in the distance.

As you can see the park is quite high up. The fourth pic shows the nuclear power station at Dungeness. The wind farm is also visible.

[OJ UK]

Winchelsea was built in the late part of the twelfth century after the original town became part of the English Channel after a 'Greate Tempeste'
They'd built it on a shingle bank and Mother Nature's forces which put the bank there in the first place decided to move it! So the 'Drowned Winchelsea'
is now out in the sea.
The church has something of a shroud of mystery hanging over it. When the town prospered the church was built the size of a small cathedral and the original nave
stretched back almost as far as the west wall of the cemetery. How it came to be so reduced in size seems to be a matter of some conjecture.
Some say it was razed during a raid by the French in 1506. However the consensus of opinion say that it was an economic move. The town was in decline after
the opening of the nearby port of Rye and many residents moved away, in fact, it is said that much of the old church was used to build Rye harbour.
Here's a link to the Winchelsea web site so you can make your own minds up what happened! http://www.winchelsea.net/visiting/w...story_pt10.htm
One of our great comedians/writers Spike Milligan is buried there.
Being the comedic genius that he was, his gravestone bears the words (Gaelic..he was of Irish descent.) "Duirt me leat go raibh me breoite", or "I told you I was ill", and the English words "Love, Light, Peace."

More to come!!

[Bob Denman]

Beautiful pictures!!

[OJ UK]

1. Rose petals litter the entrance....Someone's happiest day!
2&3. The remains of the original structure.
4&5. The rather more modern clock showing that it's tea time!