Friday, September 18, 2015

England, Day Nine, Part Two



♫ Greensleeves ♫


After seeing the beautiful Seven Sisters we traveled to East Sussex.  The English countryside is such a joy to view.  I must tell you that we both wore permanent grins on our travels.  The pace was quite intense as we wanted to see as much as possible.  So come along with us as we continue on to see Bodiam Castle.  This is the view as traveled along the coastline.




We have small roads to travel as we come to Bodiam Castle.  It reminds us of the roads in the Lake District.




Today is a Bank Holiday and the castle is a popular place for families to come.  Bodiam was built in 1385 by Sir Edward Dallingridge.  There is a debate as to whether he built the castle for defense or to show off his power and wealth.  It is known that it was a working estate with farmland, a wharf and a flour mill.




Bodiam Castle would have originally been elaborately landscaped with ponds and moats as we see today.  These ponds and moats would have added to the defenses, but also made a scene to impress visitors.  Okay---I'm impressed!!




The castle became unlivable during the English Civil Wars.  The most notable restoration occurred from Lord Curzon, Vicroy of India, who left the castle to the National Trust in 1926.




Let's walk around and go into the castle.




Look over the railing, there are many fish in the moat.  The dark shadows are some very large fish!




Walking inside of the ruins we see the Weald Stone interior.












We have no intention of climbing walls, but I see many children that are just itching to do so!  The children here are enjoying themselves so much--can you imagine being able to visit a real castle as a child?




Just outside of the moat there is a fair going on. --A lot of families having picnics and enjoying the various craft tables set up.  There are kiddie rides of all sorts to delight the children.  It's a beautiful afternoon and no one is wasting the gorgeous day!






Walking back to the carpark, I am reflecting on the piece I read about Bodiam Castle written by the National Trust.

A Castle of Wonder
"Where brooding walls rise
majestically from a moat; where
you can be a real knight or
princess for the day...Let the
castle capture your imagination. "




We have worked up quite an appetite since having breakfast early this morning.  There is a lovely tearoom here on the grounds we should visit.  I hope you will join us!  Grayden and I are sharing a one pot chicken meal and potato and leek soup.  We've enjoyed the best meals here in England.  They know how to make the best soups!  I know we are going to enjoy it.  The one pot chicken was a soup like meal served in a bowl with yummy root veggies and a large breast of chicken.  There is a large piece of crusty bread to enjoy alongside our meal.  Of course I'll have a pot of tea along with my meal.  Enjoy your lunch as we have two more places to visit before we end our day.  See you soon! ♥



22 comments:

  1. Sweet not so little castle. All castles should have moats I think. I am imagining a fair maiden with one of those tall cone headpieces...there must be a name for it...walking along the moat's edge just there.

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    1. Vee, a hennin or steeple cone headpiece. I had to look it up! It was reserved for nobility. Yes, that would set the scene very nicely. ♥

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  2. Oh, imagine, indeed being a child exploring a castle {no surprise that I did that very thing on many a school trip} the majesty, the magic, the dark dungeons, reliving those days of old when knights were bold.
    Dear Martha Ellen ~ when I worked for the National Trust part of my job {probably the worst part, actually} was selling memberships and I used to use the tea rooms as one of my top selling points! You will always get good, home cooked food with local produce, a lovely cup of tea and some cake, and a warm welcome at a National Trust Tea Room. I'd suggest people plan their journeys around NT properties and tea rooms for a welcome break rather than take the fast lane to the motorway service stations.
    I wonder, did you come home with some of the NT cook books?
    I am sad that our tour is coming to a close so very soon, but you know what? I think in your next life you will come back as an English Country Homes and Gardens Tour Guide ~~~Deb xoxo

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    1. Oh dear Deborah, what a lucky child you were to take trips to real castles! What a magical time it must have been for you.
      Selling would be my worst job also, but not the great National Trust! I can't sing praises enough to this great organization! We did indeed, as you may have noticed, plan our trip around NT sites! Sadly, I did not come back with NT cookbooks as we were packed to the gills and not much room for extras. What I did have room for is a storehouse of wonderful memories that I will cherish forever. I would dearly love to come back as an English Country Homes and Gardens Tour Guide!! xoxo ♥

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  3. What a special place, Martha Ellen! Bodiam Castle is just lovely. You captured it so well in your photos! I have been blessed to visit many castles, but none of the castles I've visited had moats. It only adds to the charm! Through your travels, you have shown us the important work of the National Trust in historic preservation. The tea rooms are a wonderful addition to these treasures! Thank you for sharing another perfect day with us. I'm sure you will both be wearing your grins forever, as you think back on so many memorable moments in England! Grateful hugs, my friend! ♡Dawn@Petals.Paper.SimpleThymes

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    1. Bodiam was so lovely, Dawn, with its moat and surroundings of wild plants and flowers. It is quite unique to see castles with the moats intact. I remember seeing Chambord and Chenonceau in France,with moats, but I can't recall any others having a moat intact. I'm very thankful to the National Trust in England! They are doing such important work! We must not forget what has gone before us. Thank you, dear one, for sharing all of our memorable moments! xo ♥

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  4. Hi Martha Ellen! I hopped over to visit your blog and fell in love with your post featuring travels in England....absolutely enjoyed every minute! What a fabulous time you must be having! Safe travels!!!

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    1. Thank you for coming over, Betsy! We had the best time in England and I'm blogging about our trip from May of this year. I'm dragging it along as I can't bear to leave England again. ♥

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  5. Of course I enjoyed this as I love a good castle, even in ruins. I can imagine you spent a lot of time smiling. You have done so well in including us in your journey.

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  6. Oh my goodness, these castles in England are so old and interesting. These are wonderful pictures, Martha Ellen! When my niece was studying abroad in England, she didn't want to leave.

    Have a good week ahead.

    ~Sheri

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    1. Sheri, I'm with your niece---It was difficult leaving--I want to go back! I don't know how to put my finger on the hold that England has on me! I hope your week is filled with joy! ♥

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  7. I do adore your travelogues! Martha, how long were y'all in the UK?

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    1. Sandra we were in England only 11 days. We sure got our money's worth--but we planned our days full of touring. Thank you for your kind words. ♥

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  8. Oh, it is just gorgeous. Don't you feel homesick when you look at the photos you took. Sigh. I do know what you mean about packing a lot into a trip. Airfare is now so expensive that a person gets as much as possible out of it...or a cruise. We've not been to that part of England and I so enjoyed seeing these photos.

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    1. I do get homesick for England, Judy! A piece of my heart is still there--I must return one day! You understand my feelings, dear friend. ♥

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  9. Again I say that you could write some sort of travelogue and get paid a handsome sum to promote tourism for some place!! Your pictures are so good and capture the essence of what you've seen. Thank you for teaching us about Bodiam Castle today.

    Come on...you and Grayson weren't tempted to climb those walls? ~wink~

    Love the moats!! Sort of makes it a quintessential castle!

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    1. Thank you, Cheryl. When you have wonderful places to share it's quite easy. I'm secretly just trying to still be in England.
      Grayden and I would have a hard time climbing anything--oh to be a child again! ♥

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    2. I am so sorry I called Grayden by the wrong name!! I need to double check before I write someone's name! :/

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    3. Oh Cheryl, it's okay. He's been called Grayson before. He says, just so you call him for dinner it alright with him! ♥

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  10. Hi Martha! Oh, how gorgeous! I loved the tour. There is just so much history to see in the UK, isn't there? Thanks for popping in to see me and I'm going to scroll down and read some more of your posts!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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    1. Shelia, there is so much history in England that has me yearning for more. England is such a special place. I look forward to seeing where you went. ♥

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