St Mildred’s Church, Tenterden, Kent.

We had a family day out in March to Tenterden, in the Weald of Kent, a beautiful little town with wide streets, and nice shops to spend our money in. Visible from just about everywhere is the Church, and as I think most of you know, churches are like magnets for me, so we had to have a look round.

Approaching the church

My son on the left lighting a candle

The beautiful lectern, I think it is made of brass.

St Mildred’s Church is a Medieval building dating from about 1180, with various additions and alterations taking place over the centuries, including a complete restoration of the building which took  place in 1864.

The church is beautiful inside, spacious, and welcoming with the sense of peace that is present in most churches. There are some beautiful carvings, on the barrel shaped roof, the pulpit and the Rood screen. The sun was shining through the stained glass windows filling the church with wonderful muted colours.

The amazing roof

The pulpit.

We all enjoyed the visit to this beautiful church, and to this lovely town. I need to go back and get some photos of the rest of the town. The photo below is of The Lemon Tree, a lovely restaurant where we had lunch and returned later for tea and cakes

Spring at Walmer Castle

The Queen Mothers Garden

We are very lucky to have two castles within walking distance of our home. Walmer Castle has beautiful grounds and is a favourite with me, because it so relaxing walking round the gardens and the woodland.

Beautiful walking through the woods.

These photos were taken last month, as you can see the spring flowers were on show, and the sun shining through the bare trees was lovely. I am always surprised that not many people take the time to walk through the woods, but the lack of people makes the woodland a very peaceful area of the Castle grounds.

The wobbly Yew Hedge

Violets

Walmer Castle was  built during the reign of Henry Vlll one of three castles built on the Kent coast to defend the stretch of water known as The Downs. Walmer is the most southerly of the castles, Deal Castle is about 2 miles further North, and the 3rd Castle was at Sandown, further north again. Sandown Castle is no longer in existence, all  that is left is a very small part of the original walls, the rest of the building has been claimed by the sea.

Beautiful primroses

Walmer Castle has been the official residence of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports for about 200 years. The Queen Mother used to visit the Castle frequently when she held the title of Lord Warden. The helicopter bringing the Queen Mother used to land opposite our house in what was The Royal Marines Barracks, and we used to wave to her as she drove past our house  on her way to the Castle.

Not so many photos this time but I hope you enjoy them  

Spring :)

Here we are in April already, the year is zooming past, and my blogs are getting fewer! I am about to rectify that, I have a few new blogs in the pipeline, but decided to do an odds and ends themed post, so you can see that although I have been quiet on the blog front I am still taking photos.

    

   

Camellias in my garden

Pieris in the hidden garden, Sandwich

Snowdrops still in bloom.

Taken from the pier.

Sunset last night, photo taken from my front door.

Rewind – Cambridge 2008

I have been sorting through my photos for various reasons, and I came across the blog photos I used on Windows Live Space a few years ago. It was lovely looking through the old blogs, and it reminded me of many lovely things.

Crossing a bridge to ‘The Backs’

Kings College

The Mathematical Bridge

Way back in 2008 our daughter was applying for Universities, one of which was Cambridge, so we visited this beautiful city twice in 2008 for Alice to have a look round, and for me to take lots of photos!

The Bridge of Sighs, St Johns College

Henry Vlll watching over the city.

A beautiful garden in one of the Colleges.

The photos from the first visit were taken on my very old ‘point and shoot’ camera, but already the photography bug had taken hold, and by the time we made the second visit I had upgraded my camera to the Canon G8 which I loved. That camera was replaced in 2011 for a Canon G12 which I am still using.

Approaching The Bridge of Sighs from the inside.

Proudly bearing the date.

The Bridge of Sighs

Combining the photos of the two visits for this blog I can tell the difference in the two cameras, and we visited Kings College Chapel when I was using the old camera – sadly the photos of the interior are not good, so perhaps I need to go and visit again?? Good excuse I think

Kings College Chapel from The Backs.

Wonderful carving in the Kings College Chapel.

The magnificent ceiling in the Chapel.

I love the colours spilling on to the window sills.

Both visits to this beautiful city were amazing, our daughter went to University at SOAS (School of African and Asian Studies) where she got her degree in Chinese Studies. She is now working in a Translation Company near Gerards Cross in Buckinghamshire, and ultimately she is hoping to move to Beijing to work at some time in the future.

Queens College.

I hope you have enjoyed the rewind, I must see what else I can find in my saved photos!

And to finish there are Angels – there had to be Angels!