Chiddingstone
With January already behind us, Mrs P and I decided it was high time we took our first day trip of 2022. So yesterday I spent some time looking online at details of various National Trust sites within an hour or so drive from our home. I also looked at similar places of historical note that are run by other bodies. Sadly, many are either partially or totally closed for the present. It would appear that from January to March many of these sorts of tourist attractions spend time repairing, refurbishing and preparing for forthcoming events. Grounds also have to be maintained. Hence, we were somewhat lacking in choice for suitable destinations. However, as the weather forecast was mild, today we opted to visit the village of Chiddingstone so we could walk in the grounds of the local castle and along the various footpaths in the area.
Petworth House and Park
On Thursday 21st of October, Mrs P and I decided to use our recently acquired National Trust membership and visit one of the many sites within driving distance. After perusing the brochure in true old school fashion, we decided to visit Petworth House and Park in West Sussex. This was primarily due to the collection of paintings on display by such artists as Turner, Gainsborough, Reynolds and Van Dyk. However, as I am a “non-driver” I made an error while planning the route. It wasn’t a navigational issue, I simply didn’t consider the distance and hence the time required to get there and back. So we spent over five hours travelling in comparison to just eighty minutes at the Petworth House. We wished to spend another ninety minutes or so walking around the grounds and Deer Park but decided if we wanted to get home at a sensible time, it was best to leave straight after viewing the paintings. This error didn’t spoil the day but the lesson has been learned and it’s not a mistake I’ll make again.
Burwash
The last few days have been very warm here in the UK. Sadly, this pleasant weather isn’t going to last and in two weeks time it will officially be Autumn. So we decided to make the most of the sunshine and take a trip out to East Sussex. Today’s destination was the village of Burwash, situated in the High Weald of Sussex. This rural community grew in size during the 13th century after King Henry III granted permission for a weekly market. It became a hot spot for smugglers during the 18th and 19th centuries, with contraband coming up from Hastings via the River Dudwell, a tributary of the River Rother. Burwash High Street has been designated a Conservation area by Rother District Council. Many of the period buildings along the High Street have been given listed building status by English Heritage. St Bartholomew’s Church is also of note. Although extensively restored in 1856, the tower dates back to the Norman period.