Battling around Battle

On this exciting day of wind and rain we spent a few hours in Battle. We made the border crossing past Hawkhurst and followed the signs leading to the A21. We followed the signs to Battle and parked in the Abbey car park with the intention of looking around Battle but did the trip to the Abbey as well. Even on a grey day with occasional sunshine, heavy rain and wind the place is impressive. The autumn colors set off the dreariness of the old buildings although the town is attractive. We had intended to walk the battle of Hastings site but the weather was not helpful and we decided against getting wet and cold and confined our stroll to having a look at the battlefield from Harold's point of view. A bit one eyed you might say but under the circumstances a wise move - which is more than could be said of Harold.

The battlefield does not create much of an impression until you can imagine a wall of Saxon shields on the ridge looking down on the approach (the line of trees mark the flat where Willy had to come) knowing that whatever you did the buggers would still be up there on the hill ready to hammer the daylights out of you if you backed off. An uncomfortable feeling even for expert fighters such as the Normans.

As the seat of our modern history it is underplayed which means that we get to see it without all the trappings of hyped up tourism in the off season. The idea of walking around the battlefield is excellent in warmer weather but the day was not conducive; nevertheless we saw much and gathered much potted information from the hand held speaking guides. Still, it was a sly French trick to use better tactics and win thus setting the pattern for the English propensity for turning certain victory into utter defeat. We learn that Harold was a little over hasty to get to grips with William and stretched his forces out too much. He had no back up and instead of directing the fighting from above he was part of it and could not see what was happening. When the Normans did their false retreat his lot lost the plot and raced after the retreating soldiers and were in turn surrounded and murdered. Mind you - Henry V got his revenge in the return match at Agincourt (but by then most of England was Norman anyway). We determined to return in more favourable weather and 'do' the walk. In the meantime exploring Battle itself was a treat despite the obvious. One of the treats was seeing Anglo-Saxon names for streets and places. So did William really win?

Battle is old so we expected to find old buildings popping up all over the place. Right beside the Abbey gate there are two ancient buildings both eating houses and worth a visit and these form part of a town square with ancient buildings on all sides functioning as thriving shops and stores. The council workers were putting up the Christmas Tree (Yes, Christmas Tree) doing a manful job in the wind. They seeemed to be enjoying the job adorning what is a delightful town centre with a seasonal - sorry Christmas Tree for a Christmas celebration - bringing the thought that it is that time of the year again.

We walked a public footpath and got our bearings admiring the Police Station as we passed it and the new Library building that both seeemd to fit in; the former from an earlier time and the latter modern and tasteful instead of modern and 'orrible.

On the way we saw the Old Court Cottage and the magnificent Old Court house, now a dwelling, and a Tudor building that looked like something out of Disney movie.

We will be back later, next year maybe, to walk the battlefield and to explore the town and environs. Having explored much of Kent and enjoyed that we decided on a sudden whim to explore Sussex. Notable is the change of countryside as we move across the border into Sussex.

The High Weald seems different and the buildings are built differently to those of Kent which adds a sense of the new to what we are seeing. It will be a pleasure to explore our neighboring county.

Bodiam Castle - Sussex

A sunny afternoon, a pass to get into the National Trust properties and a desire to see the castle again led me to this crowded venue. Not only was I reminded of Monty Python's Holy Grail but there was also the sketch about Llamas coming to mind. However, the first thing was to take in the fact that the place was crowded with families enjoying the day and events going on in the grounds.

Sir Edward Dalyngrigge began the castle in 1385 and as you can see from the photos it was never finished. From the outside it looks pretty good sitting in a lake that is filled with carp of great size that were once destined for the larder of the inmates. The castle is attractive and it is obvious that its purpose was mainly as a residence that could be defended. You can tell from the defences reconstructed in the models on display that the castle was a household controlling the village and farms on the estate. Also when the castle was built it was certain the river was a busy waterway. Inside either the building work stopped or the stone was nicked for local use. Again you have to look at the plan and I suggest do what I did - pay the place a visit.

Summer attracts the visitors so the volunteers and actors, performers and traders, a small fairground, archery and Llamas. It was not easy taking clear shots of the castle but the view from the top was fantastic.

The volunteers were friendly and obliging dressed in costume in the castle to set the atmosphere with Knights and monks enacting stories in the 24 degree heat. The women's clothing looked cool but I would not want to dress as a Knight even if the armor was plastic and the cloth light and thin.

The young woman on the gate was at least in the cool.

And here are the Llamas! For a fee you can walk the Llamas although I simply took photo and thought of how well they looked. The Llamas were tied up but were quite used to people and seeemd to take the fuss made about them as their just dues. They seemed happy.

The Llamas refused to pose.

I did not find the Holy Grail but I did meet some Normans (French visitors) who unless they were hiding the animals under their clothes - they were quite fat people - seemed harmless and did not hurl insults at me. However, as I was on my own I mounted my Ford Fiesta Coconuts and galloped off elsewhere. (Go away you silly Englishman!)