Tuesday 20th August
Today, on our way back from Rachael and Mike's, we called in to visit Audley End. The house is very old but has been updated through the ages. The ceilings are particularly decorative and there is some interesting wood panelling in the great hall.
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/audley-end-house-and-gardens/

 

We took another break at Clumber Park, part of Sherwood Forest. 



 



Monday 19th August
Today all 4 of us went for a cruise on the River Thames up to Hampton Court. The weather was lovely, just right for a river trip.

At the latter end of the trip we had to go through Teddington lock.

When we returned for dinner, the two cats Scrabble and Cinders were happily settled on the back of the settee.



Sunday 18th August
Today we all visited the Design Museum to see a really informative exhibition on the future of design. We were particularly interested in the 3D printers on show.

We walked along the South Bank later in the afternoon.



Friday 16th August
Moira and Rob took us to explore Shoreham. The tide was out and by the mouth of the river estuary we walked past an amazing collection of house boats.

This houseboat has two sides made up of half a bus.

This one incorporates a Reliant Robin in the structure.

Near the docks we walked around Shoreham Fort which appears fairly intact and possibly containing spaces underground.

We then drove to the art deco airport building which was very busy as the airstrip was being used for the take offs and landings for the Eastbourne air show.

There were many small aeroplanes, including this Spitfire, that were constantly taking off and landing.

We drove the short distance to Lancing College to have a look around the impressive chapel.

The interior is enormous and very impressive - especially as it was built as the school chapel. Moira has sung here with her choir and explained how the two organs are linked to fill the space with music.



Thursday 15th August

This was our first view of Ightham Mote which we visited this morning.

We strolled around the gardens which are varied and very well maintained.

The house is surrounded by water but is very dry inside, well furnished and the walls are lined with beautiful linen fold wood panels.

After lunch we travelled to Chartwell which has been much extended and altered by various owners from its Tudor origins.

The front terrace affords views across the formal gardens and Churchill's painting studio.

There are varied garden areas bordered by hedges and brick walls, some of which were built by Winston Churchill himself.



Wednesday 14th August
We returned today to Dover Castle to tour the extensive underground bunkers and tunnels that saw service in the Napoleonic wars and both World Wars. It was a very interesting visit but no photography was allowed inside.

We then drove through the Kent countryside to visit Sissinghurst Castle, the former home of the writer Vita Sackville-West. The gardens are beautifully maintained and the climb up to the top of the tower was well worth it for the views of the gardens and surrounding areas.

We strolled through the gardens enjoying the sunshine and making use of the many well-positioned  garden benches.



Tuesday 13th August
This is the view that we enjoyed while eating our picnic lunch at Dover Castle.
 http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/dover-castle/

On the site is the Saxon church of St Mary-in-Castro which was first built c.1000.

The interior walls of the church were restored in the late nineteenth century by Charles Gilbert Scott and are beautifully decorated with mosaic tiles.

Right next to the church is the Roman pharos (lighthouse) which was once used as a bell tower for the church.

The actual castle was built by Henry II although it has been modified over the years and it is much more extensive than we expected.

The Great Tower is on several levels with room recreations and live interpretation.

We climbed the spiral staircase to the top of the tower and were rewarded with this view of Dover.

Some of the rooms on different levels have been furnished to show what they would have been like in the Middle Ages. This is a recreation of the king's bed-chamber.

Later in the afternoon we drove to the National Trust area of the White Cliffs and hiked a very windy path to get this view.



Monday 12th August
We spent today in Canterbury, mainly looking around the cathedral. www.canterbury-cathedral.org

The scale and fine detail of the interior are very impressive.

After strolling around the cloisters we sat down for a few minutes to enjoy the peace and tranquillity there.

This intricate stone screen separates the Nave from the Quire.

If anything we were even more impressed by the architecture leading into Trinity Chapel.

In the early evening we walked around some of the ancient flint walls of the city.

We then made a second visit to the cathedral to walk around the Precincts.



Sunday August 11th
This Thames Barge is at Whitstable which we visited today because it the Regatta weekend..

It is still a working port with fishing boats tied up at the quay.

As part of the Regatta original art work was printed on sails to produce a floating exhibition called Art at Sea. We arrived just as the sails were being raised for the first time.

We sat and enjoyed watching the different types of boat being launched off the beach.

A short time later the Art at Sea yachts had a race just off-shore so that the sails could be clearly seen in use and everyone was invited to vote for their favourite.

  
As we walked along the seafront two of the Thames barges headed out to sea.

We travelled down the coast to Herne Bay and came across these dramatic towers at Reculver. They were built as the local church on the site of a Roman fort.