Today, the Hainsworth/Bennetts drove to Dover along the ocean to visit Dover Castle which towers above the town on top of the White cliffs. We got out of the car at St. Mary's in the Sea, to have a look at the ocean which is hidden behind huge walls that run for miles along the coast. There are steps down to the ocean and we assume there must be sand somewhere, but the tide was too high to see it this morning.
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| Pharos lighthouse (120 AD) |
Then it was on to the castle - travelling in off-peak tourist season has some real advantages - there was hardly anyone at the castle this morning. It dominates the skyline as you drive into Dover - or at least it does when it's not blocked out by fog. We lucked into a sunny morning today and spent a happy few hours wandering about this ancient site. The oldest building dates from 120 AD - a lighthouse that warned Roman ships away from the coast. Then, a castle built by Henry II in 1200 (Henry II was father of "Bad" King John (of Robin Hood fame). The tower keep has been refurbished to look as it must have when Henry lived here - sumptuous wall coverings, thrones, money rooms and kitchens.
A picnic lunch while the fog rolled in until you could see nothing beyond the battlements. Another tour of the secret World War II tunnels that were used to coordinate the withdrawals of troops from Dunkirk in 1940. It's an immense site that sprawls over the tops of a hill, high up above Dover, which was the most heavily bombed English town during WWII. Sobering. All this war, and fighting and then you drive through these lovely little towns called Peasmarsh, and Rye Foreign, and Beckley where all is green and blooming and peaceful.
Today, the Hainsworth/Bennetts drove to Dover along the ocean to visit Dover Castle which towers above the town on top of the White cliffs. We got out of the car at St. Mary's in the Sea, to have a look at the ocean which is hidden behind huge walls that run for miles along the coast. There are steps down to the ocean and we assume there must be sand somewhere, but the tide was too high to see it this morning. 
A picnic lunch while the fog rolled in until you could see nothing beyond the battlements. Another tour of the secret World War II tunnels that were used to coordinate the withdrawals of troops from Dunkirk in 1940. It's an immense site that sprawls over the tops of a hill, high up above Dover, which was the most heavily bombed English town during WWII. Sobering. All this war, and fighting and then you drive through these lovely little towns called Peasmarsh, and Rye Foreign, and Beckley where all is green and blooming and peaceful. 
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