Sunday, 17th August, 1981
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| Crown & Billet Pub (TripAdvisor) |
Up early and off deeper into rural England, through delightful named places & lanes -
past fascinating pubs "Cock Inn" "Crown and Crooked Billet
". We first went to Leigh-on-Sea. Boats waiting in the mud for a high
tide. A mildly active village at the
mouth of the Thames. All streets and lanes had the prefix "Leigh". A very small sandy beach. Fish salesmen selling cockles and muscles 70
p a pint.
Then on to Hadleigh Castle - built in 1230 by Hubert de Burgh, Earl of Kent. Reverted to royalty and over the years
granted to Queens of England as part of their dowry. Built on a hilltop with slanting green
slopes - the sea and the Thames can be seen in
the distance.
On through Battlesbridge and on to Maldon where a church
spire - 500 years old - still stands. Spent
quite a few hours there strolling down the streets which were old and winding and narrow but
well-kept. Six bells graced the bell
tower. In all these older buildings
restoration relies on subscription from visitors.
On to Southend-on-Sea.
A pretty sea village with a promenade miles long with rows and rows of
entertainment, and a sideshow alley. The
pier juts out into the sea for a mile.
We strolled leisurely along - Sean in his glory with pinball machines. I think he did his full weeks pay. We all had a go in a bingo Palace,
sat at a desk with a lighted board and shutters with red, white, yellow and
blue lines of colours you close a shutter if your number comes up. I won one game and won a washing-up dish and
because we came from Wagga Wagga he threw in a salad bowl so that night we had
coleslaw. The caller was the living
image of David Garbutt. Had lunch in the
park whilst parking officer looked on.
Then drove on to Colchester and found camping area. Very clean and
quiet, 10 p for shower, but worth it. We
are still in Essex. Settled for the night - very cold.
Monday, 18th August, 1981
Up at 7:45 a.m. best sleep we've had. Jet lag is easing and off to sight see the
castle at Colchester. Built in 1080 AD by King John. Found the ruins of a Roman fort 50 AD. It was the scene of the Colchester
siege in 1642. Pictures were taken and
postcards bought-as there was so much to see-strolled through the castle
remnants of many past eras. Had our
first Ploughman’s lunch in the "King
George Inn" - bread, salad and pickles. Very
nice! So many places have underground
dining rooms. Had laundry done £3 and
then on to Dedham -Constable country - beautiful town. Tudor shopfronts, thatched
roofs (no wonder John Constable painted such peaceful scenery). The church
featured in his paintings stands still - tall and noble. Walked around town past Hawthorn hedges and
shaded lanes.
On to Bergholt - where Constable lived and painted. What a lovely town - we bought a home -made chocolate
and made hogs of ourselves. Tudor and
Georgian houses and shops line the streets - narrow but well looked after. A sad farewell and onto Flatford to see the
mill where Constable’s mate and father lived.
This mill featured in so many of his paintings and Willie
Lotts Cottage is probably the best known in England through Constable's
painting-a delightful place still untouched by commercial trade.
The mill was owned by Constable's father, a lock has been
built into the estuary surrounding the mill.
On to Woodbridge a small port
on an estuary of the Deben
River. We are free parking here -first time - in car
park behind the town. Went for a walk
after tea, hundreds of boats down a river high on the mud waiting for high tide
at 3:15 a.m.
We are now in Suffolk
County.
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| Chigwell UK to Woodbridge, UK |
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