I’m, very fortunate that in my line of work I get to travel all over the UK…it’s a great benefit and as I realised recently, one of the main reasons I continue to do what I do. There are other reasons of course, but getting to see different parts of the country is definitely a plus. I get to work in hamlets, villages or towns that I would likely never have visited otherwise…..one of which that springs to mind is Midhurst! One of the most extraordinary discoveries ever.
Midhurst Castle
I am currently working on a farm in Kent. It’s a ‘tenant’ farm and part of a massive estate that belongs to the Archbishop of Canterbury. How awesome is that. To my delight I learned a few days ago that the farm borders The Pilgrim’s Way between Winchester and Canterbury.
The Pilgrim’s Way – Winchester to Canterbury
This is not the first farm I’ve worked on since 2008 when I joined my current agency, and on thinking about it I realised this is in fact the 7th farm I’ve worked on. Now before you get the wrong idea…I don’t hoe the ground, plant potatoes, or feed the pigs, although I do occasionally feed chickens…and collect their eggs, which is such an amazing experience. I’m not sure why, but collecting fresh, still warm eggs from the nest in the early morning has such a timeless feel to it.
No, I work as a Carer for the elderly and that is where my attention lies. However, I do get time off…usually two hours in the afternoon, and that is when I explore the surrounding area at every possible opportunity. I discover some of the most amazing places. The history of this country sometimes overwhelms me with it’s incredible twists and turns.
On one such excursion this week I had to travel to a little village called Brastead,
passing through an even smaller village called Sundridge to get there.
Enroute I saw a most extraordinary house; The Old Hall. I stopped to take photos and find out a little more. On investigation, the house; medieval in origin, was built during the 15th century at a time when Richard III was on the throne!!! How mind-blowing is that! There’s not a whole lot of information on the internet about the house but certainly sufficient to induce a sense of wonder that a wooden house that was built round about 1485…folks, that’s over 500 years ago, is still standing.
Apparently it was bought and restored in 1929 and during excavations/restoration they discovered a brick hearth in the middle of the main hall. Excerpt: “On taking up the brick flooring of the hall the original earth floor was reached, and there were discovered the remains of the ancient central hearth, roughly in the form of a circle, paved with irregularly-shaped stones. Close by was found a heap of ashes, which had been brushed aside and trodden into a compact mass.” It’s a Grade II listed building, bought in 1923 by a Thomas Munn of Hampstead and restored in 1929. Parish records show that between 1650 to 1700 there were 13 births, 2 christenings and 2 marriages in Sundridge.
I’ll write a little more about the two villages shortly, both of which are charming. In fact Brastead has a history that dates back to AD773. Sundridge overlooks the River Darent on the North Downs.
River Darent
Back in 2011 I started walking the route Chaucer’s pilgrimage to Canterbury took him, and although I have yet to do the full route, to my delight, from time to time I come across stretches of the Pilgrim’s Way, this time between Winchester and Canterbury. I managed a short walk along the route that crosses Chevening Estate (which belongs to the Archbishop as mentioned earlier).
a short stretch of the Pilgrim’s Way
It has been a delightful assignment, the little lady I’m caring for is very sweet, the peace and tranquillity on the farm has been sublime….so much so that it makes me want to stay forever…or at least be here on holiday. 🙂
It’s been marvellous to fling back the sash windows early morning to listen to the birds waken and watch the sun rise. It reminds me of another time and place when I was caring for an elderly gentleman in Newton-Ferrers – also a wonderful person and someone I still remember with great fondness. At that time I wrote a poem that seems to fit this place too albeit not with a river or boats nearby.
Most mornings and some evenings depending on the weather, I have ventured outdoors to photograph either the sunrise or the sunset. Some days when I waken at 6:30am, as I open the curtains I am left gasping at the sheer beauty of the sunrise, and thus dashing outdoors in my gown and slippers…hair asunder, to capture the splendour of a new day.
And at night the sun sets over the North Downs casting long shadows and highlighting the verdant green fields. Stunning.
A few days ago I discovered a gap in the hedge, so now I can slip quietly through the garden, through the hedge and into the fields without having to traipse along the lane in my pyjamas and slippers. So far I haven’t met anyone else…probably a good thing or I may well be writing this from behind HM four walls. LOL
the gap in the hedge….just high enough to crouch through
It’s very quiet here and we are quite literally in the middle of wide open fields and country lanes. Occasionally if the wind is blowing from the south (apparently, according to the locals) I can hear the roar of the traffic on the M25. For the rest of the day, beyond the normal household sounds and the constant mumble and grumble of my client in the background (she gabbles to herself and reads out loud all day), the only sounds I hear are the pheasants, the birds on the feeder and the mumble of the Aga cooker.
Although it’s really quiet and sometimes too quiet, especially at night, I enjoy the peace and seldom get lonely. 
As I write, if I look to my right, I have a view of the farmyard and the wonderful red-brick barns and buildings.
There’s as oast-house cluster a stones-throw away that makes a most charming scene at night with the lights shining from the windows. That’s another perk of the countryside, you can leave your curtains open at night and enjoy the darkness, the sky a canopy of twinkling stars on a clear night.
Talking of which, a few nights ago I got to watch the ISS craft fly overhead….amazing stuff! It’s very bright and moves at an incredible speed. Very exciting. I waved of course to our Tim, but I doubt he saw me LOL.
I have just two days left now before heading home. I’m booked to return in July and shall look forward to that.
“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” – Saint Augustine
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