The Jam Factory

Hi folks,
continuing on from the air display we arrived at Tiptree to finish our day with a look around the museum and a cream tea.

This jar made me chuckle which was in a cabinet in the museum, it was filled with chocolate cars.

A 1947 cherry stone removing machine, quite an elaborate piece of machinery for its day.

Well this picture speaks for itself.

Lastly Sue, Margaret and Roger waiting in anticipation for there cream teas which I must add were delicious.

A very enjoyable day all in all, Mike

Trip to Clacton with a Difference

Hi folks,
well back after our long weekend away in Winnie and time to catch up.
Thursday last week Sue and I with Margaret and Roger went with a group to Clacton and then on Tiptree to visit the famous jam factory. All went ok until we approached Clacton and got caught in a massive traffic jam, after an extra hour or so on the road we arrived. The town was heaving with people for a weekday and as it was late arriving we plumped for fish and chips as you do.

Looking out to sea with loud music playing on the beach, whats going on I asked myself?

Even a Thames Barge made an appearance off shore.

The police launch made a brief run across the shoreline. Then it happened, the Clacton Air Show was about to start!

First was a Sea King (I think) with a display of flying taken from the Pier.

Followed by the Breitling wing walkers.

A fantastic display by them.

Well I could go on but it was 3pm and we had to leave to go to the jam factory so that was it from Clacton as the wing walkers sailed into the distance. Still we got to see part of the display which was a bonus as even the coach driver had no idea the event was on.

What about the jam factory, well that's another story.

 Regards, Mike

Cobham Hall, continued.

Hi folks.

to continue from the previous blog
More of the hand crafted wallpaper but from a different angle.

By enlarging the following picture you will see more clearly the cricketing history and the history of "The Ashes" associated with Cobham Hall, also below is a link.  The England team who beat Australia in 1883 and won back this really "jokey" trophy from Australia, was captained by Ivo Bligh who was a part of the "Darnley Dynasty" and "The Ashes" tournament was then born. 

Click the link below to find out more
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/23241494

We were in the Library and our guide, Christoph Ball a very knowledgeable local historian is standing in front of one wall covered in shelves and books.  The door knob that you see was originally concealed and the door opened by pressing together two books. 

Many of the paintings and artifacts were sold over the years the Darnley family owned the Hall to try to pay off debts but a few remain, this one is of two brothers looking proudly out with beautiful gilding all around.  

The ceiling of the Gilt Hall is two-storey high, covered in gilding and coats of arms, we wondered if the girls now living and studying there ever stand back and admire although perhaps not suitable for our 21st century living rooms!

The organ below was built by John Snetzler in 1778-9.

The balcony at the other end of the Gilt Hall.

Back outside we had a brief look around the grounds between the showers.

even a few fungi made an appearance.

We walked on into the sunshine.

As the sun appeared once more we stopped to admire the Cobham Golf Course with the clubhouse in the distance.

Glad the day stayed fine, thanks for looking, we hope you enjoyed our tour. Regards, Mike

Cobham Hall, Kent

Hi folks,
at the weekend we had a chance to tour this interesting building which had previously belonged to a local distinguished family, plenty of local history from the year 300 until the present day.

North entrance now the reception area and leading through into the estate.

This building stands in 150 acres of parkland and abuts Cobham Golf course, the main A2  road, woods which incorporates a Mausoleum which had been built for the family but never used and a Public Park.

Whilst lived in by the family the building was used during the 1914-1918 world war as a military hospital for the British Army and Australian Officers and in the 1939-1945 war as a home for evacuees and for RAF Officers from the Battle of Britain fighter squadron based at an aerodrome in nearby Gravesend.

The second and the seventh windows show the Darnley Crest with a Griffin and the others are related family member crests.

Due partly to Death Duties, spending and costs the Darnley family had to leave Cobham Hall in 1957 and it was purchased by the Ministry of Works who spent alot of money in repairs.  In 1962 it opened as a Girls Private School with 50 students, at present it has boarders as well day pupils and the following picture reflects this.

 

The paneling covers up the original windows which enabled more works of art to be displayed, these were over time sold.  This next picture shows part of the wall and window behind the Cobham Hall Guardians plaque which our Guide opened for us to see.  (The Guardians are the schools' Head Girls). 

Family motto, Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense which means basically "Shame be to him who thinks ill of it" or "Shame on him who thinks evil" depending on where you look.

Walkway from the North Wing to the South with the boarding to the left due to a film being made.

This room originally had handmade wallpaper the same as the next room but it was taken down, rolled up and sold by the family.

Handmade wallpaper covered this room which had been a bedroom.

Thanks for looking, I will continue shortly with part two.

Regards Mike

Tilbury Fort 2

Hi folks,

Through the doors and out into the rear of the fort and a bridge to an island and another bridge across the moat, with a wonderful defence system in place.  The fort is completely surrounded by water.

Back in the main area at the rear of the fort, these copper doors leads to the gunpowder store to stop sparks.

Barrels stacked in special wooden frames.

Part of the munitions store with many tunnels below ground.

Lots of precautions had to be taken to stop explosions within the store as the notice below shows.

The walls are still scattered with WW2 armaments fitted to stop the possible invasion.

Looking out towards Gravesend from the fort in Essex.

Lastly an early picture of Daisy, our granddaughter below the statue of Pocahontas in the Churchyard in Gravesend Kent on the side of the Thames.

Thanks for coming on our trip to the Historic parts of Gravesend and Tilbury. Regards,Mike

Trip to Tilbury

Hi folks,

Yesterday the four of us, Sue, Trevor, Daisy and Myself took a trip to Gravesend and then across the water to the Fort. Not a bad day and the sun shine was a bonus. Parked in the town centre and shared the cost, then walked to the landing stage which had moved a bit further down the river, this was the view across to Tilbury.

We missed the Ferry by a minute, still gave me time to get a shot of it as it sailed across the Thames.

On the Essex side we had a walk and passed this rather inviting pub so as it was nearly mid-day we popped in for some lunch, nice it was too. Just a rider about the Ferry, It cost us all of £2 for Daisy and being over 60 it was free for the rest of us as we all had bus passes that you could use on the Ferry. The Worlds End was a funny name for a pub but the food was out of this world.

After a short walk we entered the Fort by the magnificent entrance which was built to ward off any attackers as it stood high above the sea defenses.

Inside still left were remnants of World War Two dotted around.

Lots of space for Daisy to run around whilst we took pictures.

The Fort is actually below the water line on the river and it is held back by a wall which runs the length of the Fort keeping the Thames at bay.

At the rear of the Fort is a large defensive gate taking you beyond, will look at the other side later.

Thanks for looking, Mike