Smallhythe Place revisited

Smallhythe Place in Tenterden is well worth a second visit, but we visited again for a special reason.

Previous blogs on this lovely place can be seen here:

https://poppysplace-poppy.blogspot.com/2022/11/smallhythe-place-tenterden-kent-part-1.html

https://poppysplace-poppy.blogspot.com/2022/11/smallhythe-place-tenterden-kent-part-2.html

We visited last month (August) when the roses were still in bloom, which was lovely :)

Below is the reason we had to re-visit - the famous Beetle wing dress was on show :)

This dress was worn by Ellen Terry when she played Lady McBeth in 1888.

The beautiful Beetle wing dress, a gorgeous head dress and another dress worn by Ellen Terry.

Above and below are close ups of the dress, in my last blogs I referred to this as a Beetle shell dress which is wrong. I was pleased to read that they are Beetle Wings not shells!

More about the beetle wings used in making the dress.

This beautiful headdress was on show alongside the two dresses, 

below is a photo of Ellen Terry wearing this headdress.

Beautiful items shown in the display cases.

This caught my eye, a fireback, maybe old? I just liked it :)

The beautiful embroidered bedspread in Ellen Terry's bedroom.

Part of Ellen Terry's bedroom.

I loved this, mantlepiece ornaments, one red, one blue. Unfortunately the photo of the blue one did not come out very well!

The beautiful sewing box, I even spotted a bone lace bobbin in the box. I would love a workbox like this :)

Beautiful items in display cases 

I am sure these items could tell a tale if they could speak :)

We all really enjoyed our second visit, there is just so much to see in this beautiful house, and it was well worth going back to see that amazing dress.

 

Rough sea 2007

Please note, these photos were taken in November 2007, on an old camera. I have just got a new laptop and knew I needed to sort out my old photos stored on an external hard drive. I found these and thought it might be nice to share them :) 

As you can probably guess it was pretty windy that day, but lovely and sunny :)

Dirty brown waves smashing against the shore.

Photos taken from the start of the pier, showing the amazing waves.

Waves rolling in,

Waves rolling out!

Oh dear! This photo was taken half way along the pier, showing how high the tide was - the deck showing is the lower deck where many people like to go down to for fishing.

Good opportunity for getting photos :)

Waves pushing up through the decking.

The lower deck was closed, not surprisingly.

Waves pushing up through the planks and metal plates.

Yes  that is rough....!

In between the waves can be seen where the planks have been lifted with the force of the water.

I am almost sure that most if not all the planks on this level have now been replaced with the metal type. I haven't been on this deck for a few years, but i really don't like walking on those metal 'planks'

I am glad I wasn't down there, but it was amazing to see :)

I was standing on the main deck of the pier taking these, it was pretty spectacular :)

The power of the sea.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing these very old photos, I can remember enjoying taking them :)

I wonder what else I will find when I go through the rest of my photos :

 

Walmer Castle Gardens in Spring

I can't believe it has been so long since I last blogged, time seems to run away with me now!

Walmer Castle is always worth a visit, the gardens are beautiful, these photos were taken in April and May this year.

Lovely Spring flowers

In the Queen Mothers Garden.

Lovely walking through the wooded areas :) I am not sure what the flowers are in the above photo, but they looked lovely.

Part of the woodland walk. There is always such a sense of peace there.

Hiding under the trees - I love primroses :)

Fritillaries, I don't remember seeing these before, but they were beautiful :)

The main lawn.

Tulips and Narcissi growing in pots in the Kitchen Garden.

Garden full of gorgeous Tulips :)

I am not sure what these are, but they were really gorgeous.

The picnic area, so tranquil when I was there.

 In the summer lots of families bring their picnics here.

The Magpie was enjoying the peace and quiet :)

The famous wobbly hedge as seen from the picnic area.

I am pretty sure this is a Crow, he was enjoying the peace too :)

Apple blossom.

The espaliered Apple trees in the Kitchen Garden.

I hope you have enjoyed my visits to the Garden, I will try not to leave it so long until the next blog!