Winchelsea

[Bamboo Grove]

Crawley Town progress to the 5th round of the F.A. cup had me searching for it on the map. It was a pleasant surprise to see it is located in Sussex as I spent two great summer months in Brighton in the mid 70's. But it was even a more pleasant surprise to find a place called Winchelsea on the map. Has anybody visited the place, Caller, Chelsea?

[caller]

BG, Winchelsea is famous to many generations of schoolkids as one of the Cinque Ports, being very important to English history, but no doubt not taught anymore in favour of our worldwide 'heritage'!

I cannot admit to ever having knowingly visited and as for Crawley? Well its history is intertwined with Gatwick. Pretty much all there is to say abpout the place, really (thankfully).

[STEVE G]

On a similar vein, there's a village near Huntingdon called Godmanchester!

[Bamboo Grove]

I think, I have a plan for my next trip to Blighty. From London to Battle to Winchelsea to Rye. All sound splendid and as it seems, full of history.

[lindosfan1]

I first went to winchelsea many years ago, I like it, Rye lovely old town, also worh going to Dungeness it is classified as a desert very strange place, also thru there runs the romney hythe and dymchurch railway the only 15 inch guage railway running a public service, it was built by a caotain Howey in 1927, also you have at dungeness the precursor to radar, concrete ears. A deive along the coast to new romney isw also interesting let me know of any info you want is is my favourite area in the UK

[caller]

Echo Lindos above BG, fascinating area. I have been to Rye and its a lovely town that used to have an annual Thai festival, not sure if that still exists? Romney Marsh is odd and reclaimed land. Lots of isolated and abandoned churches and importantly, Shepherd Neame pubs!!! The brewery is the oldest in the UK, I believe?

http://www.shepherdneame.co.uk/

And do visit Dover, not for the harbour, but for the tour of the strategic commands and cliff defences for WW2.

[Jimbob]

I once passed through Crawley many years on public transport which meant a slow disjointed journey. It's a small village converted into souless New Town, probably now full of Reginald Perrins and their families

[lindosfan1]

Caller you are spot on Shepherd Neame are the oldest brewery in britain, The has been a great tradition in Kent of growing hops, a lots of the oast houses (used for drying the hops) are now prime residences. Shepherd neame make 3 real ales master brew, bishops finger and my favourite spitfire but all very good ales.
BG
Winchelsea is one of the original cinque ports strange name as others are hastings dover deal romney sandwich which is more than 5.
Hastings is a bit run down now but if you go to the east end of the sea front it is very interesting old houses and some very strange looking tall sheds which are used to store fishing nets.
Rye lovely old town retaining its original charm.
Caller not sure about the Thai festival in Rye but there used to be a thai "village" on the a259 between Rye and Dungeness, selling all sorts of Thai items. f not sure if still there as i have not been for 10years.
Further Down the A259 you will come to Lydd and Dungeness. Lydd a small town
Dungeness as i said earlier is classed as a desert, it also has a strange collection of haphazard bungalows some made out of old railway carraiges all protected as a site of historical interest. Although it is a desert it has the largest amount of wild plants in one area in the UK over 600.
There is a very good bird (feathered) sanctuary besides several old gravel pits.
Dungeness one of the better sea shore fishing places in the UK is the western terminus of the romney hythe and dymchurch railway. Good way of looking at the local scenery best value is a rover ticket for the day great fun. Dungeness has 2 pubs the pilot and the britannia the fish and chips in both are excellent if you eat seasonal or ask which is fresh best in the country IMO.
Driving up the A259 from dungeness thru new romney you will see Martello towers erected in the napoleonic wars. Further up the coast you have folkestone and dover,
Inland in Kent Canterbury (cathedral) Tenterden (country town) Whitstable (oysters) the best way to explore the area is to get an ordnance survey map and only use the minor roads many hidden charms in the garden of England.

[Bamboo Grove]

Interesting information, all. Thanks.

[Arcadian]

Lindosfan`s mention of Lydd reminded me of when I was a travel agent many years ago, a cheap way of getting to Paris was by the "Silver Arrow", train Victoria to Lydd, fly Lydd/Le Touquet, train to Gare du Nord.