You have heard the throwaway phrase, 1066 and all that – but when you visit Battle (yes, the name of a village in East Sussex), with its rather impressive castle, you are aware you are stepping in the footsteps of history. For this was the start of Norman Britain – the last successful military invasion of…
Category: UK
The World’s Longest Bench?
Sometimes I come across objects on my travels which really do stir my imagination. In the rather traditional beach resort of Littlehampton in West Sussex, I came across – what I am told is – the world’s longest bench. It is apparently 324 m long (1,062 ft), is still growing and offers a seafront perch to all…
South Parade Pier: A shadow of her former self
I’ve lived in Southsea, Portsmouth for a good part of my early life and find the sad demeanour of South Parade Pier a little hard to take. I worked as a student in the gift shop at the Pier’s entrance when the Pier was at the centre of a thriving tourism industry. My brother can…
Two breezy beaches in West Sussex
Bucket and spade holidays is what I call them. Old style seaside resorts where you can come and stretch out in the sun and pass the time of day away. Here’s my favourite of all – West Wittering in West Sussex. You pay for car parking as this is private land and if you have…
Country Pub Series: The Queen’s, Selborne
Whilst visiting the gorgeous village of Selborne in Hampshire, I felt the need for sustenance …. after all, wandering around a museum, gardens and looking at village churches takes its toll on a girl. Locals directed us to an historic inn that crossed all the “t’s” and dotted all the “i’s” – The Queens, formerly known…
Regal Ruin: Waverley Abbey – a treasure lost
I love a good ruin and heard via a friend about the remains of Waverley Abbey located on a peaceful loop of the River Wey in Surrey, now looked after by English Heritage. It’s free to visit and can be accessed within “any reasonable time in daylight”. This Abbey was the first Cistercian house to be established…
Hinton Ampner – A Reflective Visit
My visit to Hinton Ampner leaves mixed memories. An enjoyable visit no doubt – helped by the friendliness of the National Trust folk there – but melancholy nevertheless. Hinton Ampner is the creation of one man – Ralph Dutton, 8th Lord Sherborne, who died without issue and bequeathed his estate in its entirety to the…
Lamppost series – 3: Westminster
For the third entry for this seminal lamppost series (*cough*), I turn to the seat of power in the land and to Westminster, or perhaps more accurately, Westminster Bridge. There are two different lampposts that interest me here – and both feature a diadem, quite appropriate in this Diamond Jubilee Year of course. I read…
Country Pub Series: The Bat and Ball, Hambledon
On 31st December 1999, we celebrated New Year’s Eve in style at The Bat and Ball, Hambledon, Hampshire, watching at midnight the first cricket match of the new Millennium as played by members of Hampshire County Cricket Club. Sitting outside with the Hound one Sunday last summer, a cricket match being played opposite, it certainly…
Spring is here – the rapeseed fields are in full bloom
Living here in Hampshire, you suddenly become aware that spring has, well, sprung, when you are surrounded by fields of the most vibrant yellow flowers – these of course are the blooms of the rapeseed plant that are farmed for bio-diesel, vegetable oil and animal feed. Rapeseed has been farmed across Europe for centuries however it was…
a3traveller.com 