Charleston Farmhouse

We started at the shop and went through the gates to the

front door. Everything in the house is priceless so we were

given a few rules!

We entered the front door into the hall and straight into

The Study, once a school room for Quentin and Julian.

Then room by room exploring the art and atmosphere.

The Studio was left to last and it was just as you would

expect after the tour we had just had memorable,

as if they had just left the room.

Nearly every room of the house

has a view of the amazing garden.

It looked very picture like from many of them.

You are not allowed to take photographs of the inside of the

Farmhouse so I brought the interiors book and it is

wonderful. The book illustrates the tour you have been on and fills in

historical context and information.

See images and information of the Charleston Farmhouse

HERE

Charleston Farmhouse,The Bloomsbury Group

Visiting Charleston the home of Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant,

members of The Bloomsbury group, has been on my wish list

of places to visit for a long time and as we were in Sussex,

we took the opportunity.

The farmhouse is situated in the middle of The Sussex Downs

not far from Firle Beacon in between

Brighton and Eastbourne.

We arrived at 1pm and the house is open by tour only.

Tours are limited to about nine and ours was at 2pm.

We went round the Exhibition in the small Gallery of

the shop. The Exhibition 'Naked', drawings, paintings and sketchbooks

of Vanessa and Duncan's based on the human form.

Then around the garden,oh! what a garden

a real painters garden a smaller scale to Monet's Garden,

(another place on my wish list)

Beautiful! and so inspirational.

We then needed another cup of tea and had this sat in

Quentin Bell's Ceramics Studio!

and watched a DVD on how the house was restored

when the trust took over in 1978.

We then waited eagerly for the tour to begin!

See more by visiting

www.charleston.org.uk

Camping Exhibition

Well, we are definitely diverse in our choice of buildings to visit

from monumental castles,abbey's and ancient buildings

to TENTS!

Stewart and I have camped nearly every year of our married life

and we were both camping before that.

On the way to Charleston farmhouse we looked in

on a Camping Exhibition.

We are always looking for items to make camping interesting.

We were looking for a front awning to our 4 man tent and

a luxury item, a camping wood burner.

( The type Ray Mears uses in his Winter Expeditions).

As you can see by the photograph it was beginning to rain!

Battle of Hastings

After walking the battlefield we decided we needed refreshment

and went into The Pilgrims Rest.

A restaurant and cafe opposite The Battle Abbey Gatehouse.

It was atmospheric and definitely Tudor.

The original Pilgrims rest was a 'Hospital' to the Abbey.

The monks who were from Marimouter in Alsace served

Pilgrims,travellers and any strangers that needed help.

The 12th Century, 'Chronicles of The Battle' mentions the 'House of Pilgrims'

and in 1340, The Pilgrims Rest is written in

The Abbey's Almoners Accounts.

Well , Stewart and myself needing a cup of tea

rested in the very Tudor Meeting Room.

The rooms we were sitting in were part of the 1420's

alterations and were very well done indeed.

Very atmospheric!

The staff were very hospitable.

See more information about The Pilgrims Rest

HERE