Sissinghurst Village

On this cold March day with the weather threatening to bring another cold snap we decided that a good place to go would be one of the Weald villages so we chose Sissinghurst to wander around.  One of the pleasures of wandering around a village is that you do not have to committ yourself to a walk that is likely to take you into waterlogged or difficult areas or along paths that need hiking boots and sticks. You also get to see the village for what it is. 

On many occasions we have passed through, sometimes on the way to Sissinghurst Castle Gardens and other times as a preferred road back to Leeds.  It was a pleasant exercise to stop at The Bull and park the car, take a cup of coffee, threaten to return for a meal and start stomping. 

The first visit was to the church with the school attached.  The church is fairly modern being built in 1838, only a mere one hundred and seventy-two years old.  It looks small but it is roomy although a little dull and is without a cemetary surrounding it - the cemetary is behind the school - strange but logical. The two buildings work well together and I am sure they have been doing so for many years.  We had a quick look at Sissinghurst Place but the time for viewing the place will be on 14th March, Mothering Sunday, and Sissinghurst open day ( if the notices are right).

We took a stroll down Chapel Llane to where the Crane Brook crosses and decided to walk back again not wishing to wallow in the quagmire that surrounded the stream.  Content to walk back to the village we turned along  a public footpath that ran parallel to the road behind the houses that dipped down to the road leading to Buckhurst Farm.  From there we walked back to the village and admired the buildings. 

Left - Buckhurst Farm

Although the day was cold there were some sunny spells that on ocassion highlighted the March landscape - that washed out almost spring feeling as we wait for the bulbs to burst out of their winter shells (nice cliche) and the daylight to help the birds and daytime animals to feed.  The recent snow and rain was in evidence with ditches filled with water and in places cleared to allow flow.  The hedges showed signs of recent council and farmer vandalism in aid of clear views for road users leaving a bare skeleton for the birds.  We are losing our hedgerow birds people - stop the hedge cutting - trim not slash.  In the midst of all this moaning about vandalism we were pleased by the sun catching the poles and undergrowth of a hop garden.

This is part of the hop producing area and we expect to see at least one field - that was all we got. However, Sissinghurst village is a pretty place and with The Bull inn serving food all day and good beer the village is worth a visit.  The intention being perhaps to walk along the Crane to see lake Chad and the windmill at Cranbrook town leaving Cranbrook for a later visit. 

Right - the Sissinghurst sign and Penny Farthing

It would be pleasant in summer to perhaps combine a visit to the gardens at Sissinghurst Castle and the village instead of passing through.  Our intention would be to follow that up and maybe walk around the castle estate from the village. 

Right - an attractive houe front in The Street and below a neat looking rusty shed.

Sissinghurst is on a Roman road and as you may have noted from the location of the house shown above as on The Street we must realise that the word for street was via ( as in Via Appia). We use the word via to mean going through and as the road went from Bodiam through Sissinghurst to wherever it ended up it makes sense.  We noted that in many villages there is often a road named The Street - could the Romans have made it?


Oh, and lunch at the inn was good.  We had light meals, tea, and a glass of Sussex ale.  The presentation and the price were good with enough to satisfy without the need to leave any.  The Bull has a thoughtful touch to its bar - a supply of games to suit most tastes that will also help keep children occupied.  It offers a children's menu.  It also has a garden bar with a pond and ducks - too bloody cold to sit outside this day as the smokers are compelled to do.  Give the place a visit and enjoy a walk.