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[roseway]

Few of you will have heard of Chilham. It's a tiny village on the top of a hill, a few miles from Canterbury. But it attracts visitors from all over the world, who come to see its beautifully preserved 15th century village square and its castle with a 12th century Norman keep. The castle is really a very grand manor house built in 1616 on the site of the old castle.

The castle grounds are open to the public on alternate Tuesdays through the summer, and I went there to have a look round.


The castle






The Norman keep




The lake in the castle grounds






The village square

[UncleUB]

Lovely location Eric,and very nice photo's. 

The last but one reminds me of the Mermaid Inn in Rye.

[scottiesmum]

Lovely place  -  lovely photos Eric   

I was interested in the history of the place, and a recurring item says that Thomas Becket might have been buried in the churchyard there   ........   isn't there a memorial to him in Canterbury Cathedral   ?  It's  aeons since I visited Canterbury but remember something about Becket.

[roseway]

Phil, I see what you mean about the Mermaid Inn.

Kate, although I've lived half an hour's drive from Canterbury for 15 years, I've never actually visited the cathedral.   I must correct that very soon. Beckett, of course, was murdered in the cathedral, and there's an altar as his memorial where the deed took place.

[stevie]

Chilham village is indeed a lovely place, I`ve been there a few times in the past, but I`ve never been into the Castle.

I`m sure they have Medieval re-enactments sometimes?

I`ll have to get my backside down there again and have a look round the castle grounds.

[roseway]

If you want to visit the castle grounds you have to go on the right day. I was there (by lucky accident) last Tuesday 14th June, and it should be open on alternate Tuesdays, so the next open day is on the 28th, and so on.

[broadstairs]

I've never actually visited the cathedral.   I must correct that very soon.

The rather annoying thing about the cathedral in my view is that you now have to pay to take a look around. This changed some years ago and we have not been in since. You only get in for free if you attend a service or live in one of the central Canterbury parishes.

Stuart

[roseway]

I imagine that the cost of maintaining a building like that must be enormous. As the cathedral is one of the main reasons for the flocks of tourists in Canterbury, I can understand their wanting to get those tourists to pay towards the upkeep.

[scottiesmum]

Of course  !  Becket was murdered in the cathedral      it's all coming back to me now        Apparently,  Jane Austen's   'Emma'  was filmed in Chilham for the BBC production   .... I must watch the DVD again.

I don't mind paying, or making a donation,  to look around any historical building, be it a Cathedral, Church or  Stately Home  (Châteaux)  if it means they remain open to the public.   

[UncleUB]

Mermaid Inn, Rye






Eric's Chilham village photo.

Not exactly the same,but as soon as I saw that photo it made me think of the Mermaid Inn.I stayed there many years ago.

[roseway]

I think your posting may need some TLC, Phil. I can only see the Chilham photo. Is your Rye picture a hotlink to an image on another site?

[chrissie]

We visited Chilham some years ago now it's a lovely place but didn't get to see the castle.  Isn't the village considered to be one of the most haunted places in Kent or am I getting that mixed up with somewhere else? 

We don't get to Canterbury now since I don't drive too far atm, we used to go to the market some weeks which we enjoyed doing and only 40 odd miles away was a nice trip out.  Went to the Cathedral years ago before the payment was introduced, it was lovely to walk round, would like to go back one day if we can.

Chrissie

[roseway]

We visited Chilham some years ago now it's a lovely place but didn't get to see the castle.  Isn't the village considered to be one of the most haunted places in Kent or am I getting that mixed up with somewhere else?

I think that's Pluckley. It's got at least 12 ghosts (so they say).

[UncleUB]

I think your posting may need some TLC, Phil. I can only see the Chilham photo. Is your Rye picture a hotlink to an image on another site?

I what to apologise for stupidly hot linking a photo form another site.It was a genuine mistake on my part.I have removed the offending photo and replaced it.

[roseway]

No harm done.