Organic pigs and the Black Death

One of the nicest things about going places you have never been before is that they turn out to be places you want to visit again.  Luddesdown, a small village close to Cobham and Meopham in the Gravesham area of Kent is one such a place. With a choice of pubs to stop at I chose The Old Lion over The Cock Inn not because it is better but simply because it was reccomended by a local who told me the food was good. I cannot say the same for the beer but I did like my snack.

The feature of Luddesdown is Luddesdown Court and the Parish Church as well as the organic farm where you are invited to walk and enjoy. The farm is not exactly the hub of the walks in the area but is centered there in such a way as to be an integral part of a walker's pleasure.  There are a number of country parks close by and from there some of the walks, including the WealdWay either include it in circular walks from Sole Street, Meopham or Cobham and Shorne Country Park or as part of walks around the North Downs Way which is excellent.  As a result I met a number of people on various hikes and learned much about the area.  I met a group of teenagers loaded up with backpacks and camping gear on their way to make camp at Meopham and learned they were doing part of their Duke of Edinburgh award - well done folks!

I drove to the church and parked, had a wander around and took a short excursion along part of the WealdWay and returned to investigate the Village Hall.  A local resident and his dog told me the history of the hall which was once a school with the school master's house alongside.  The school operated teaching most ages up until 1956.  It faces over a valley, part of the organic farm, and down on a cricket pitch part of which is on a slope! 

From the pub where I stopped for a pint and a chat with a local I walked up to the Dode church meeting a horse rider on the way who directed me to where it was.  The story of the church is that it served a village until the 1300's when the population was hit by the Black Death and decimated.  The Parson ran away, so it is said, and left his parishioners to their fate. The village buildings fell into disrepair and disappeared but the stone church remained and was converted to use as a barn.  Today weddings are held there albeit using a registrar but access is limited as it is on private property.  The girl serving in the bar said she and her friends used to go up there when they were children but would not go there at night - spooky, she says.

I walked back via WealdWay and to Luddesdown Court and watched the cricket match for a while but needing a lunch I left them to it and wandered back via a footpath across the fields back to the pub.