Fordwich and it's Link to Canterbury Cathedral.

Hi folks,

continuing on from the last blog I go into the important history of Fordwich and its link to Canterbury Cathedral.

This is the Town Hall, built around 1480 and still used today for its Town Council Meetings, note the old Stocks still in place to the right and the Gail to the left which is no longer used.

The Gail was last used to confine two poachers convicted in 1855, it was a very dark large wooden box really with the only light coming in from the shuttered window to the right.

The room above the Gail was used by the Jurats to administer justice for the area.

The Ducking Stool was displayed on the rafters but was originally used on the hoist over the River Stour and mainly used for women who had dishonored their men. 

By the Ducking Stool was displayed the Town Drum.

This is Val who very kindly opened the Town Hall for me, she is standing behind the Prisoners Bar looking towards the Jurats' Bench.  The prisoners were brought up the stairs behind her from the cells to have Justice administered.  Behind Val is a small room used for deliberation of the Jurors.

In the Jury Room was a flap with a hole for the Jury Members to relieve themselves as they were not permitted to leave until after the case was finalised.

Against the wall stood the Town Trunk used to keep documents (not like today where we have hard drives).

From the River Stour at the back of the Town Hall is the hoist that was used with the Ducking Stool and also for unloading the Stonework for building Canterbury Cathedral. The stone was shipped across the channel from Normandy and up the Stour  The stone was then transported by horse and cart into Canterbury, a lot of stone.
The trade was killed by the opening of the Canterbury to Whitstable Railway.  The river was much wider and barges were still trading up to Fordwich late into the 1800's

The River Stour, the end of the journey for shipping as the river was too narrow to proceed any further so goods and stone were unloaded here. hence two Pubs in the town

Lastly a view of The Fordwich Arms sign together with the St Mary's the Virgin church.

Hope you enjoyed the history lesson of this quaint little village outside of Canterbury which did so much in the building of the Cathedral.

Thanks for looking,  Mike

Fordwich, the Smallest Town in England

Hi folks, Sue the wife went to work in Canterbury yesterday so I took her to work and set off on a rather miserable day to find something in the area to photograph. I left Canterbury and proceeded on the Sturry Road until I found this village with a church and something special which I will tell you later.

I found St Mary's Church next to the Fordwich Arms, that's the place with the four chimneys on the right. The Church spire looked a bit wonky but it was next to the River Stour and suffered in the past from poor foundations. It closed for worship in 1995??

The river that caused the flooding and in the twelfth century which made the spire lean. The river had a great bearing in the town as I will explain later.

Looks like a fairly new pouch and outer doors.

On the wall outside was the "new " plaque put up by the Churches Conservation Trust.

Inside the porch was an older door with original looking beans above.

I opened this old door with it's lovely old knocker and entered.

I was greeted by this lovely Norman Church extended in the twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth century's.

By the Pews was this old collecting box with St Mary the Virgin on it's side.

Box Pews adorned the church and were rented out to provide income.

Carving detail in the doors of the Pews.

This was called the Fordwich Stone and was thought to be part of the Nornan shrine of St Augustine and was first recorded in the church in Seventeen Sixty.

Above the chancel arch is the Royal Arms of 1688 and was ordered to be displayed  in all churches in the 17th century.

You may well ask the question, what all this doing in a small be it the" smallest town" in England?

All will be revealed later on and it will amaze you.

Keep looking at the blog, it's very interesting. Thanks for looking, Mike

Sheffield Park Autumn Colours .

Yesterday I had a smashing day out taking Autumn colours with a few colleagues from the ME Photographic based on the internet under a Facebook group. No words needed at all in this wonderful place. Needless to say I had the time of my life.

Hope you enjoyed it, Mike

Blue Bell Railway, East Grinstead

Hi folks,
whilst away last weekend we ventured into the town if East Grinstead and a highlight was the Train changing ends in the station. The train had just arrived from Sheffield Park..

Lovely old carriages made of wood and well preserved.

Crest on the carriage.

Couple of shots inside.

All hooked up and ready to go.

Back to Sheffield Park Station.

Thanks for looking, Mike

Nymans, the Final Few.

Last look and well worth a visit.

Thanks for looking, Mike