Wynmelvin » Pluckley http://blog.wynmelvin.com [ the blog ] Sat, 06 Aug 2011 10:15:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 en hourly 1 October 4th, 2009 http://blog.wynmelvin.com/2009/10/october-4th-2009/ http://blog.wynmelvin.com/2009/10/october-4th-2009/#comments Tue, 06 Oct 2009 08:39:01 +0000 Russell http://blog.wynmelvin.com/?p=523 HIGH HALDEN — This morning I drove down to Battle to visit Battle Abbey and the site of the Battle of Hastings. I did the audio tour and took the long option which led you right around the battlefield. The site is not quite as it was in 1066 as the top of the hill was subsequently levelled to build the abbey and the field was terraced for the abbey’s use. There are probably a few more trees now as well—so you had to use your imagination a little.

When I’d finished looking around the battlefield and abbey I drove to Rye, a pretty medieval town and cinque port. I took the opportunity of climbing to the top of the church tower for a magnificent view over the town and countryside. The way to the top involved narrow passages, steep ladders and multiple ‘mind your head’ signs.
I also couldn’t resist stepping through the door of an old-fashioned lolly shop and succumbing to temptation.

In the evening I went back to St Nicholas’ Church in Pluckley and attended the evening service. Apart from taking the opportunity to see inside the church, the Maidstone Salvation Army Band and Songsters were providing the music.
Driving back to my lodgings was the first time driving at night this trip, this car. Took a while to find the light switch, and I’m glad I’d driven the road several times before during daylight hours—’twould be so easy to get lost at night if you’re unfamiliar with road.

]]> http://blog.wynmelvin.com/2009/10/october-4th-2009/feed/ 0 October 3rd, 2009 http://blog.wynmelvin.com/2009/10/october-3rd-2009/ http://blog.wynmelvin.com/2009/10/october-3rd-2009/#comments Tue, 06 Oct 2009 08:34:40 +0000 Russell http://blog.wynmelvin.com/?p=521 HIGH HALDEN — There’s not a lot to say about today. I visited four, no five, churchyards looking for tombstones. The first was at Egerton from whence the Russells came. From Egerton I went on to Pluckley, and from Pluckley to Little Chart.

The church at Little Chart was in ruin due to a doodlebug that was shot down and there were not many tombstones left to see as a result.

My next stop after Little Chart was Westwell. One half of the churchyard was well kept, the other half was decidedly less so—overgrown to the point that I was able to give myself a big fright by disturbing a brace of phesants that took to the air with a lot of sqwarking and beating of wings.
 
One tombstone at Pluckley gave me a clue that led me to my next churchyard at the medieval market town of Lenham. Nothing definite found here but certainly a parish to look into further on Tuesday at Maidstone.

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