.
Just to get the perspective on Kent here are some maps.
By the way, if you haven't figured out where our nearest village , West Malling, which features so much in our saga is, click this link for a Google map. West Malling in Kent.Also, the BBC have a great site devoted to West Malling in the form of a tour by a young fellow called, Matthew Doyle. Well worth a visit.
This page, also provided by the BBC, has moving panoramas of West Malling -highly recommended. Last, but not least, here is a wonderful web gallery of pictures that capture the atmosphere of this fascinating Kentish village.
Back to Royal Tunbridge Wells... Click this link to read all about Royal Tunbridge Wells -briefly.
Also, this link to read a great Blog by an enthusiastic resident of RTW.
We caught the bus in West Malling and bought two day tickets at £6 each. We then settled down for a ride that took around 45 minutes to an hour. An obliging gentleman advised us to get off at a certain point in order to catch a group of three or four antique shops. These were rather disappointing as they seemed very pricey and had little to offer in our particular area of interest. This, by the bye, is: small and preferably old, sometimes quirky, and/or Kiwi (which we will buy and return to its native land), and, most important, something that catches Barbara's discerning eye. I, sadly, have no 'eye' at all, unless it has square sails and is either/or artistically pleasing and accurate. By accurate I mean that it must look seaworthy and have at least some semblance of being credibly rigged. Alas, this usually means that what catches my eye is way out of my price or size range.
We walked on and found our way down the main street and round and about
and finally found
Christ Church, Royal Tunbridge Wells▲
our way into Christ Church to rest. This was a striking, modern, up-market, city, Anglican Church with a very friendly and welcoming lady in attendance who invited us in to 'sit and rest awhile'. We did, and found some striking recent examples of stained glass window making.
This demonstrates that it does not have to be many hundreds of years old to be worth a look. I think the architects have created a extremely attractive, light, comfortable, airy, place of worship.
and finally foundChrist Church, Royal Tunbridge Wells▲
our way into Christ Church to rest. This was a striking, modern, up-market, city, Anglican Church with a very friendly and welcoming lady in attendance who invited us in to 'sit and rest awhile'. We did, and found some striking recent examples of stained glass window making.
From here we continued prowling around the charity and antique shops. Again, pickings were slim. We rather think that the eyes have been picked out by the time the donations of gifts make it onto the shelves. Car boot sales are the place to go. Barbara's gleanings there are very good -as my sore back and shoulders bear testimony after playing pack horse for several hours!
◄In due course we found our way to the Pantiles. For those uninitianted into the mysteries of RTW, a 'pantile' is a clay tile fired in a square pan. The Information center in the heart of the Pantiles has one on display to dispel all doubt. The buildings are very beautiful and owe their origin to the discovery of a 'bubbling spring by a young nobleman, Dudley, Lord North' in 1606. As a result the place grew into 'a fashionable spa resort - royalty and gentry being among the many visitors who came to taste the allegedly health-giving waters'. Later still, it became known as 'The Chalybeate Spring'. The 'pantiles' do not enter the story until 1698 when the the Duke of Gloucester, the then Princess Anne, later Queen Anne's son, fell on the slippery ground. As a result she was moved to 'give £100 for the paving of the walks with small square clay tiles known as pantiles'. Now all the walks in this spot are called 'The Pantiles'.
▲John, being interviewed by a young University Student earning her daily bread outside the Information Center, The Pantiles.
▲The upper promenade of The Pantiles
▲Another angle -John in the background; see the cap!From RTW we caught the bus back to Tonbridge. Here we found some better charity shops and enjoyed a cup of coffee and our pack lunch of Ryvita, one boiled egg each, some Red Leicester Cheese which was a 'BOGOF' deal. 'BOGOF' translates as, "buy one get one free!" This with, lettuce, figs, dark chocolate and
almonds. The Bridge over the River Medway in the heart of Tonbridge with ▲ Tonbridge Castle overlooking it all.
I mention this with some trepidation in light of the Andrew Doctrine enunciated in the 'Active Survivalist'. If you're unclear on this you should check it out by scrolling to the extreme end of this Blog and clicking on 'AAs Blog' link, then 'Active Survivalist'.
This little town sits on the River Medway and has its own castle for visitors to check out. We enjoyed our visit and then walked our little hearts out going the wrong way to catch the bus for Maidstone. We then waited an hour or so for the Arriva bus to pick us up giving us our first trip on a genuine double decker bus. We went straight to the top floor and as it emptied out finally got the front seat. You need great faith here that the contractors, probably those with the lowest bid, have trimmed the trees exactly right as there is no, I repeat, no margin for error!
England is beautiful. The weather is exceptional -maybe around 27ยบ. We are in some sort of weather warp, I think. Anna wrote and said how wet and miserable it was in Hamilton. I feel for you all deeply. Truly I do.
In Maidstone we got off at the depot, near, or rather, underneath, the Chequers Shopping Center, and after about a 40 minute wait caught the West Malling bus for home. Our day trip tickets did us good service on four buses, so no complaints there at all.
▲In the Bus Depot, Maidstone.
▲It's nice to get some grub. Waiting for the bus home.
almonds. The Bridge over the River Medway in the heart of Tonbridge with ▲ Tonbridge Castle overlooking it all.I mention this with some trepidation in light of the Andrew Doctrine enunciated in the 'Active Survivalist'. If you're unclear on this you should check it out by scrolling to the extreme end of this Blog and clicking on 'AAs Blog' link, then 'Active Survivalist'.
This little town sits on the River Medway and has its own castle for visitors to check out. We enjoyed our visit and then walked our little hearts out going the wrong way to catch the bus for Maidstone. We then waited an hour or so for the Arriva bus to pick us up giving us our first trip on a genuine double decker bus. We went straight to the top floor and as it emptied out finally got the front seat. You need great faith here that the contractors, probably those with the lowest bid, have trimmed the trees exactly right as there is no, I repeat, no margin for error!
▲I will get some photos of the narrow margins I've mentioned, however, these of the country between Tonbridge and Maidstone will have to do for the nonce.▼
It's not as if English roads are not narrow enough, the trees have this great tendency to arch completely over the road and are only kept in check by the assiduous, and I assume, very regular pruning by the afore mentioned contractors. My view is, that whatever they are paid, its not enough, as they seem to do an unbelievably accurate job. Perhaps they use some sort of herbaceous micrometer as the margins are 'cut' very fine indeed.
In Maidstone we got off at the depot, near, or rather, underneath, the Chequers Shopping Center, and after about a 40 minute wait caught the West Malling bus for home. Our day trip tickets did us good service on four buses, so no complaints there at all.
▲Also from the top deck, front window, of the bus.
▲The Bridge over the River Medway in Maidstone.
▲The Bridge over the River Medway in Maidstone.
▲In the Bus Depot, Maidstone.
▲It's nice to get some grub. Waiting for the bus home.Next time, the inside scoop on the British supermarket giant, Tesco and we visit Jenny's home with the babies and more...
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