ELLEN TERRY AND RYE

The weather is still very ordinary and we decided to drive down to Kent and have a look at the Southern coast, and on the way to call in to visit the Ellen Terry cottage which is National Trust.

The 16th century cottage leans this way and that but I guess is remarkable in that it still stands! Inside there is a very good presentation of memorabilia from the Theatrical career of Ellen Terry who was the most famous actress in the late 19th century. She had owned the cottage for many years, principaly as a place of retreat, and I was surprised to learn that she could access London within two hours by the old steam train line which no longer exists. It would take two hours to drive to London today.!!

At the rear of the cottage is a converted Barn which is used as a Theatre by amateurs and professionals, and whilst fairly basic, is very popular with the "in" theatre crowd.

We stopped at a Pub en route to Rye and had an excellent Pub lunch in a very friendly environment and it din't cost an arm and a leg. Then we arrived at Rye which is one of the most charming towns we have visited. The Pay and Display carpark was on the blink and swallowed our money without producing a ticket which was not a good start. But we walked up the cobbled streets to the 13th Century church and strolled through the quaint streets lined with buildiings dating back for hundreds of years.
The town evokes the feeling of the island it once was surrounded by the Rivers Rother,Brede and Tillingham and looming above marshland and sea. The area is reminiscent of the Fens which we loved so much at Ramsey.

We took the coast road home skirting the Romney Marsh and stopped briefly at Dymchurch to peer over the seawall and find a long stretch of sandy beach - yes real sand.The wind was blowing a gale- so we gazed and got!
Then into Hythe and onto the M20 and a fast run home with Carol Schumaker at the wheel.