Possibly England's smallest town, loads of history and close-by to the seaside resort of Hastings ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-XxrG5Yufvqw.html
Apparently Fordwich is Englands smallest town according to the place name going in! It’s a tiny village but because it has a town hall…! It’s gorgeous too. My partner lives in the next village on, Sturry.
Lucieni, yep the Fordwich wiki page has it down as England's smallest; I'll let the two argue it out - Whichelsea may say, "but we've always been a town", Fordwich lost that status, and regained it in 1972 - still, it's not an important issue for me. They're both lovely places. Our first pub lunch after the lockdown was at the George and Dragon in Fordwich, a great pub, well run. Thanks as always, appreciate your support Gary & Janis
What a beautiful video, I am hoping to move to Winchelsea in the near future a d would love to hear more about the town and any social events that happen throughout the year With regards Anne Sproson-Gambrill
Ann, that will be fantastic. We think Winchelsea is lovely. You'll be so close to the sea, and the stunning Rye is close by. I bet there is a wonderful community in Winchelsea. All the best for the next chapter, Gary & Janis
I visited Winchelsea village (Spike Milligan’s “I told you I was Ill” gravestone) lies in Winchelsea village cemetery, via the 100 bus route one day on my Kent/Sussex stagecoach bus rambles recently. The route goes between Rye and Hastings via the beautiful countryside of Kent & Sussex. The 101 bus route is also a stunningly beautiful route to take from Hastings via Fairlight and Pett level back through Romney marsh to Rye. I am truly privileged to be able to amble around this part of South East England very cheaply because of Stagecoach buses as I don’t have a license to drive. I look forward to many more of your excellent videos.. they are always an absolute pleasure to watch x
🙏 Thanks Lucieni, it's a lovely little place, so much history there. After your earlier comments, I'm going to make sure I include bus details in future videos. It was too late for the last video of Westerham, and the next video - well, it's a challenge, but we like a challenge. So thanks for the inspiration Gary & Janis
@@OurWorldForYou Hi! Sorry for the delayed answer.. was on holiday in beautiful Devon for 2 weeks! I also saw your answer to another video regarding a proposed tour around South Kent/E Sussex and that sounded great to me! Also the inclusion of bus routes sound like an excellent idea for people like me that don’t have a driving licence but still love to travel the beautiful counties that surround where I live (Whitstable)! I very much look forward to discovering videos of yours I haven’t yet watched and your future travels! Have a great week… it’s going to be a sunny one in Kent ;@)
No problem, we’ll be back in Kent on Wednesday. After a nice start here it’s a bit grey, but hey-ho. The last video for Scotney, the bus options were limited, there is some advice on the NT website. We’ve just filmed another Kent road trip I need to edit, and that will have bus options 🤞. Anyway another day in Bath, thanks for the comment Gary & Janis
@@OurWorldForYou Looking forward to the new vid! Scotney was lovely, I’ve never been and tbh I’d never heard of it (Disappointed in myself as I’ve been down here for over 13 years now!). Bath I have visited once… I still have the photographic evidence of being dragged into a street performance by 2 blokes! Beautiful place though, Bath stone buildings everywhere, a very classy place! A possible idea for another Kent video… Canterbury, Bekesbourne, Patrixbourne, Bridge, Barham, Elham, Lyminge, Postling or Etchinghill to Folkestone then maybe follow the coast road via Sandgate, Hythe, Dymchurch, Littlestone, Dungeness and following that road to Rye via Lydd & Camber! Ooh I’ve exhausted myself! Thanks so much for your very kind replies btw and totally indulging my local wanderlust with your lovely videos!
Lucieni, wow, that’s a great list, I’ll have a proper look when I’m home. Scotney is a bit of a challenge by bus, I checked the National Trust’s website and they only had a Monday to Friday bust arrive to the nearby Lamberhurst. Or it’s a train to Wadhurst which is 5.5 miles away. Doesn’t look easy. Thanks as always, Gary & Janis
My mum and dad owned a caravan at Winchelsea Beach Carapark (as it was known than) in the60s. Every school holiday, except winter, was spent there - happy times!!
Pamela, How wonderful, not sure it has changed too much in those years. I think Rod Hull, (of Emu fame), had a place on or near Winchelsea beach. It's a beautiful part of the world, and long may it stay that way. Stay safe. stay well and happy travels, Gary & Janis
Hi Tantija, I hope you have a great time, when in Rye make sure you also pop down to the nearby Rye Harbour (great if we have a little sun). Note to self, I need to explore a little more and create a little video of the area. Anyway, happy and safe travels, Gary & Janis
Thanks ever so much for yet another fascinating and informative tour - top shelf as always !!!! I`m quite certain I walked around this lovely little town, most likely when researching the connections between parish churches in Kent and Sussex - that still stand today, and their original benefactors - medieval monastery, priory or abbey often lost completely after the Reformation, or at best exist as only fragmentary ruins. As you have mentioned, history is all around, and Winchelsea is a delightful part of that history :) Thanks once again !!!
You are welcome, I have another couple of videos in the pipeline, probably going to land October time (Although, that's not set in stone), and that's the Romney Marsh Churches, which you might like. There are a few other little hidden gems that seem to fly under the radar that we're investigating, plus we want to create a road trip to loop Winchelsea in with must-sees in the region. Now, I have to get one with part two of this Romney Road Trip Thanks again for taking the time to comment; it's much appreciated. Kind regards, Gary & Janis
@@OurWorldForYou Thank you Gary and Janis. The videos you have in the pipeline, plus others at the planning stage sound pretty super to me - I will wait with great anticipation and excitement :) I have always ( as an historian ) had an abiding interest in history that has been all but lost - the many great monastic houses of which very little trace remains - Faversham Abbey would be a reasonable example, but examining historical records, at the British Library or the Bodleian in Oxford is often a great way to pinpoint the most likely locations. You both do a terrific job at finding interesting history, and I thank you for posting your road trips to RU-vid - wonderful :) I have been wondering though, since Janis has an obvious interest in gravestones, if she has discovered anything unexpected or historically overlooked ? thank you for finding the time to respond - genuinely appreciated :)
Thank you, we are lucky, we really enjoy exploring, and diving into the history of a region or site, adds another layer. Today, we've set ourselves a challenge to head to Maidstone, the county town of Kent, to aim to produce a post & video from this historic town. The problem is unsympathetic urban planning, traders who have little regard for the historic building they inhabit, and councils who are unwilling to preserve the past. Still, there are snippets of the past that we aim to truffle out. Hopefully, something interesting. On the headstone front, we really don't spend enough time in the cemeteries, we amble about and focus on headstones that catch out eye. Also time is not kind to some materials, and reading the inscriptions is near impossible, I think you would have to rely on parish records. If, during our research, we find a person of interest we do try to locate their grave. Interesting point of note, on the Wrotham video we did stumble across three Victoria Cross winners, one at Ightham, one at Ightham Mote (you need to watch the full video for that detail), and there's an interesting one in Mereworth which we'll get to on Saturday. I will always respond to anyone who comments. If they take the time for us, then it's the least we can do. It also provides some inspiration too, the Maidstone trip was only planned because somebody from Maidstone mentioned it. Anyway, a pleasure as always. Take care, stay safe & well Kind Regards, Gary & Janis
You missed the third gatehouse - Newgate down Pannel Lane, showing Winchelsea was much larger than it is today. Most of the older original housing was built of wood and simply decayed away after the port closed.
Peter, I will include the Newgate in the East Sussex Road trip I mentioned at about 4.5 minutes into the video, as we enter the town along Wickham Rock Lane. I have not recorded it, but it is in my notes. An interesting fact about the older wooden homes, shame they did not survive, but it does not make Winchelsea any less charming. Thanks for the comment Gary
Kevin, The town doesn't have an actual car park, but there is an area where Monk's Walk joins German Street that has some parking, also further along Monk's Walk, on the left, heading away from town. I think if you are there early enough you should not have a problem. Hope that's a help, Gary & Janis