Bucket & Spade Run 2023

There is an annuual car show on the sea front here known as the Bucket and Spade run. I should perhaps participate at some point but so far I have only ever been as a member of the public. Having missed a couple of years on top of Covid cancellations I was keen to get back today. Fortunately the weather played ball so here are some of the many cars that were in attendance:

Scotney Castle

Scotney Castle is really a stately home. Construction began in 1837 for Edward Hussey III and it remained a family home until the third generation of owners - Christopher Hussey - died in 1970. At this point the house was left to the National Trust although Christopher's wife remained in residence until she died in 2007 and this was when it was first opened to the public. As the house is less then 200 years old and was lived in until recently it is a little more modern than some but still contains an interesting collection of furniture and artefacts covering the occupation of the family. The main feature of Scotney is an impressive garden, the highlight of which is the original Scotney Castle. It was the poor state of repair of the original that led to the new build in 1837 and the old castle was then transformed in to a ruin that became a prominent feature of the garden. We went for a look for the first time yesterday and at the moment the rhododenron collection is especially impressive. However the garden as a whole is very appealing with lots of attractive vistas and is doubtless worth another look. Here are a few images from my visit.

El Galleon

El Galeon , or Galeon Andalucia, is a replica of a 17th century Spanish galleon and was launched in Spain in 2009. Original galleons were armed merchant vessels deigned to establish trade routes between Spain, the Americas and Philippines. This one is a floating museum and is currently in my local harbour so I grabbed a few cell phone snaps in my lunch break today.

Also in the harbour is the brigantine Morgenster, a former herring lugger launched in 1919 but converted in the early 1980s as a sail training and sea experience vessel.

Bayham Abbey

 Bayham Abbey is in Kent, close to Tunbridge Wells and a little over 60 miles away from me and, until last week, I had never visited.

The Abbey was built over 800 years ago, being founded in 1208. It was home to Premonstratensian Canons. These were ordained priests leading a strict monastic life. The Abbey relied on the financial support of locals, which was forthcoming, but also enjoyed the support of some important benefactors including Edmund Abingdon, the Archbishop of Canterbury. 

Further impressive building works were carried out in the 15th century but in 1525 the Abbey was dissolved on the order of Cardinal Wolsey. Despite some violent protests by locals which enabled the dissolved canons to return for a short while the dissolution order remained and the Abbey gradually fell in to disrepair.

Eventually the ruins became a feature of some impressive gardens of a new house built close by. Around 200 years ago some repair and consolidation work was undertaken and the ruins were opened to the public. They remain open, under the control of English Heritage and are free to enter.