Lewes Castle, East Sussex

Could not be so close to Lewes Castle and not visit

1066 - 1100

After the Norman conquest King William decided to copy the way land was owned in France. The King owned all the land but leased it to his barons in  return for military service, money and an oath of loyalty.

He granted Lewes to William de Warenne, one of his closest advisers.

William de Warenne had to build a castle quickly. This was to show  his dominance over the local people. It was also to provide somewhere safe for him and his family if the castle was attacked.

We have parked the car quite a distance away, having managed to find a space, and are now walking towards the castle through the narrow winding streets of the town, uphill all the way

We pass what was obviously a poor house in times gone by but now a privately owned cottage

and make our way towards the castle entrance

I tell you it is freezing cold and taking my gloves off to use the camera is painful!

under the archway and we will be nearly there

passing a couple of houses to the right

and one to the left

before arriving at the castle entrance

with lots and lots of steps to climb

the Barbican to the right

up and up with a good view of the snow covered downs

just before we go inside and ascend the towers

we pass this old fireplace

and inside looking down on what is left of the original spiral stone staircase

Arrows fired from here

and now we are at the top looking down on the

Barbican and town

viewing the other side of the town

In the next post I will take you a walk around the town

(plenty of good exercise today)

House Church Weekend Away

It snowed over night again prior to our House Church weekend away. We had planned to leave very early to make the most of the day but as it happened we did not leave until midday when we knew that the main roads were clear

We found this very nice place to have lunch on the way

This cafe was part of a garden centre and more and more are popping up all over. One does not go to the garden centre just to buy plants any more but to have coffee, lunch or afternoon tea

In my next post I will be posting on an interesting local town and castle that we visited as we did not have to be at the conference centre until late afternoon

Early morning light the next day

For me the weekend was very much up at the top for weekends away, leaving aside the basic rooms and shared facilities.

There was a good balance of meeting time, sharing time, relaxing time and leisure time. At no time did I feel rushed or pressured as in many previous weekends that I have attended over the years. The atmosphere was great. There was a deepening of relationships as we spent quality time together.

There was a sense of freedom with opportunity for freedom in the Spirit. Everyone seemed relaxed. I think we all came away much more of a ‘family’ and with a greater understanding and appreciation of each other.

Food was great (4 star in fact), hosts were great and 24 hr access to dining room and drinks helpful.

To sum up – a great time of engaging in the Spirit and with each other while enjoying some great food together.

Saturday afternoon Alan and I drove to the coast and ascended Beachy Head so some good photos coming up

Restoration House, Rochester

Off tomorrow for a House church weekend away and hopefully we will not be subjected to very severe weather again although it is snowing right now
  Well prepared this weekend though


I'll leave you with another taste of August

This house is like a secret jewel hidden away in a side street in Rochester

It derives it's name from the visit to Rochester of King Charles II on 

28/29 May 1660 when travelling from Dover to London for his restoration as king after 15 years of exile.

The house is said to have been built between 1580 and 1600

Archaeological research during conservation of the building has, however shown that it was built in several phases

It is the Satis House of Dickens' Great Expectations

The gardens are designed as separate 'rooms' on different levels

The side yard

leading to an outside toilet which at one time would have been the only one - note the herbs strew across the floor

This was the only way of  deodorising a place in time gone by 

I am able to take you inside by permission of the current tenant

who allowed me to take just a few photos

generally photography not allowed

The King's Room

The panelling in this room at one time hid doorways

Part of the Great Hall

Because of the limits to the pictures I could take I did not get a shot of the Great Chamber (Miss Havisham's Room)

but was very grateful to be allowed to take some not compromising security

There is an archaeological dig continuing alongside this property