The adventure continues. From an impressive castle to a game changing battle, explore the southeast coast of Britain.
On the road again. New places to be seen. Up at the crack of dawn and on my way. After an hour or so drive east and a peanut butter sandwich for breakfast (got to make some sacrifices while on the road), I arrived at my first stop, Battle.
Google Maps Day 2’s route through Southeast England.
Stop 1: Battle
The aptly named Battle is a quaint little English town at the site of a military clash that changed English history forever, the 11th-century Battle of Hastings. In 1066, William the Conquer came from Normandy, in Northern France to England and faced the then king, Harold II. Long story short, William won and continued his conquering of England, claiming the English throne from himself.
The battles continue, although likely are more alcohol-fueled.
Battle Abbey now stands where the battle took place a millennium ago. William the Conqueror was ordered to do penance for killing so many people during his conquest. So, he vowed to build an abbey where the battle took place, with the high altar of its church on the supposed spot were Harold died.
The impressive gatehouse to the abbey grounds.
Only a fraction of Battle Abbey still stands, owing much of its destruction to the Dissolution of the Monasteries by King Henry VIII. Part of the abbey today is actually used by a school, which limits where a visitor can go. However, the remains of the monks’ common room and gatehouse can still be visited.
Part of the monks’ quarters and common rooms.
The school. You can still see the outlines of the cloister arches at the bottom.
Stop 2: Bodiam Castle
Built in the 14th century, Bodiam Castle looks like it is right out of a story book, surrounded by a moat, tall towers and even a drawbridge. Built to be a large, rather fortified manor house, it was in continual use until the English Civil War when it was partially dismantled to inhibit future occupation.
A drawbridge was the only land access to the castle. A not so drawbridge connects it to the mainland today.
Today the ruins are a top destination in south-east England. One can climb to the top tower and explore the cavernous passageways through the walls, only thing that is missing is the roof (the castle was restored in 1919). Reenactors even tell stories to children about magic and weaponry, and what people ate.
The inner castle from the top of one of the towers. Mostly the outer shell has been restored.
Stop 3: Rye
The next stop was the little charming Medieval town of Rye. Once a bustling port during the 12th-13th centuries, this southern village was frequently attacked by the French, who burnt it down at least once.
The gate to the old, fortified town. Instead of horses, people now ride cars through it.
Today this tiny village (population of around 4,000) is a haven for tourists. The town is quite charming after all. Mermaid Street is still cobbled and looks unchanged since it was rebuilt during the 14th century.
Mermaid Street with the 12th century Mermaid Inn on the right and The House Opposite on the left. The sign above the door to the house on the left actually says The House Opposite.
Rye is full of history. St. Mary’s Church’s turret clock is claimed to be the oldest working clock (made in 1561) in the country.
The oldest working clock in England on the side of St. Mary’s Church. Either the clock in my camera was off, or this one. Well, something was off by 15 minutes.
Last Stop: The White Cliffs of Dover
One cannot take a road trip around Great Britain without stopping at these iconic cliffs. But first, the awesome Dover Castle.
The Norman Dover Castle, still super impressive. Must have been terrifying for the locals.
Of all the castles I visited, Dover Castle is one of my top favorites. It was well reconstructed. It was all decorated up like it may have looked like in the past, complete with awesome reenactors that really knew their stuff. (I promise I did not hassle them too much.) It has a Roman lighthouse turned into a Norman tower and a sweet Anglo-Saxon Church. Okay, I will admit, my favorite part was that I got to drive into the castle. Yep, I drove over a bridge, through a tower gate, and parked inside the outer walls of the castle. Dover Castle has two sets of walls around its summit and a keep. My inner history nerd may have freaked out a bit over that whole driving into a castle thing.
The really cool historically recreated throne room, complete with a king and queen and even a bard.
It was getting late, so I headed off to the cliffs, finally. This was not the first time I saw the White Cliffs of Dover. The first time it was from the air; looking out the window, following the rolling hills and then all of a sudden, the whitest cliffs you have ever seen. They are even more impressive in person.
So amazing.
So ends another unforgettable day.
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Start at the beginning of my 30 days around Great Britain!
