An account of our Holiday to Kent

KENT HOLIDAY - JUNE 2025

An account from one of our members...

"Fancy a holiday based in Rochester?" I asked my beloved.
"We've been there" he replied "did Dickens, castle, cathedral,,,,."
"Audley End? I'd like to see that" said I.
"What again?" he queried.
"Well, we had the kids in tow, so spent more time outdoors that in Canterbury?"
"Done that!"
"Yes, over 55 years ago, worth seeing again!"
"Don't think it will have changed much!"
Then inspiration struck - "Chatham Dockyard, ships, submarine, lifeboats....."
"Hmm"
"....and ....(my ace card) a ropery!", I had him hooked!
So, on June 19th, thirty-six of us set off, with temperatures set to beat the Caribbean
for the next five days. I can see why Jill had not bothered to book a trip to the Isle of
Barbados. Luckily our lovely Mercedes coach (driven by the equally lovely Geoff)
was air conditioned, as was our hotel. But first our visit, in time for lunch, to Audley
End, which had been conveniently built between the M1 and the B184. It's a huge
Jacobean ‘prodigy' house, even if two-thirds of it was demolished during the first half
of the eighteenth century - took long enough to walk round what was left! Not busy
that day, so we all dispersed to explore. Before Countesthorpe u3a, James I and his
queen had visited Audley End, (a few centuries earlier, obviously) and in preparation,
the separate King's and Queen's entrances and separate, lavish suites of rooms, were
built. On hearing their host, Thomas Howard, conveniently placed as the Lord
Treasurer, boast of how much this had all cost, James became suspicious. Thomas
ended up in the Tower! Later Charles I bought Audley End as a base for visiting
Newmarket races. There is still a Jacobean feel to the state rooms with wonderful
decorative plastered ceilings throughout. My husband spent a good 20 minutes with
the guide spotting various images in the library ceiling while I lounged about on the
furniture (well, it was hot!). We admired the obligatory state bed built in 1794 for
George III, who didn't turn up, and the huge picture collection throughout the state
rooms. but best of all, in a corridor, was a small closed cabinet which was opened to
reveal nearly two dozen miniatures, (behind glass) including a superb portrait of
Louis XV surrounded in diamonds. I love a little something in diamonds,
unfortunately it was guarded by a guide, as was the nearby beautiful ormolu clock, he
half jokingly (I hope) mentioned something about checking my pockets on the way
out! On the top floor, probably to keep children out of sight and earshot, was a
nursery, it was interesting and spacious but by far the hottest part of the house.
Others had braved the outside sunshine and had managed to explore the gardens and
stables before the journey to our hotel.
Friday, and Knole House. Another Jacobean ‘prodigy' grand pile. Too hot to spend
long exploring the 1,000 acre deer park, and the house offered a lot to see - a
renowned collection of art and furniture, especially state furniture of the 1600s,
‘acquired' from royal palaces by Knole's owner Charles Sackville, who was nicely
placed as Lord Chancellor to William III. So, lots of silverware (behind glass!) and
absolutely loads of portraits (saves on wallpaper) of sombre cavaliers and by contrast,
the beauties of the court of Charles II. There again was the obligatory state bed,
made for the marriage of the future James II, (‘acquired' by guess who), but I
preferred the Spangled Bed from around 1700, with it's silk hangings adorned with
silver ‘spangles' or sequins, must have brought sparkle to any marriage! And not
forgetting the original Knole sofa, c. 1635-40 - probably worth many thousands,
cheapest I've found, if you're interested, is a second hand one on e-bay for £450. Not
to be missed was the visit to the huge medieval barn, home to the renowned
conservation studio, as seen in the BBC2's ‘Hidden Treasures of the National Trust',
and handily opposite the cafe for tea and cream scones! Quick visit to the Orangery,
with a Peter Rabbit exhibition (Angie and I had already had photos taken as Mrs
Tiggy-Winkle and Mr Tod, but we won't share them, so don't ask!) then past the
Gatehouse Tower (not sure if anyone had actually ventured up all the steps inside),
before our return to the coach.
The next day - Canterbury. Stroll through the city via M&S (air-conditioned cafe for
coffee) and onto the oldest Cathedral in the UK. Four of us toured together, helping
Joyce with her temporary rollator and all the steps and different levels. First stop was
to accommodate Christine's wish to see the site of Thomas Becket's demise. I
opened the map near the wall plaque commemorating the event, but we all looked for
ages but could see nothing else, we went through the tunnel under the Quire steps to
find a guide and were directed back to where I'd opened the map, and yes, I'd been
standing on the one word ‘Becket' chiselled into a small flagstone marking the
alleged spot! Won't put in print what the others said! Anyway, thanks to the rollator
(or we might not have chosen this route) we headed to a lift via the cloister, we found
the water tower with lift nearby, which took us to the Cathedral's silverware (behind
glass - nobody is very trusting!) and the upper water tower with projections from
medieval manuscripts beamed onto the floor, including pictures of monks sitting on
the toilet (!) then through a wheelchair friendly, iron bound and studded, ancient
automatic door into the upper level and the Quire and Trinity Chapel. Stunning
space, wonderful soaring gothic architecture and colourful stained glass windows
complemented by a 16 metre long hand woven textile ‘Moon Landing' hanging in the
Quire, which also housed many ornate and finely carved tombs, although Christine
thought the painted decoration to the side of one looked like Laura Ashley wallpaper,
and she wasn't wrong! Back down to the crypt, enormous space and so cool! 32
degrees outside! Meanwhile, others were exploring Canterbury, a couple of museums
to visit perhaps, some strolled to the river and Hilary for one enjoyed a river cruise.
I'm sure some retail therapy went on, after all, Fenwicks (nicely situated by the coach
stop) had a sale on, so time there before the coach ride back to our base at Rochester.
Sunday and highlight of the week for Mike - Chatham Historic Dockyard. Brilliant
day, lots to chose from, including two large on site cafes, Our first stop was the
Ropery, joined by Honor and thus there were three of us, the number required to
make some rope, so we did, ten more visits and I'll have enough for a rather thick
washing line! In the commercial rope works, Mike walked the quarter of a mile there
and the same back alongside the rope making machinery's track, the staff use bikes!
Like others, we visited the two historic warships and looked at HM Submarine
Ocelot, I didn't fancy the confined space or the perpendicular steps - some brave
agile (and skinny) souls did! Must be mad! Nearby was the architectural marvel of 3
slip, built 1838, the largest covered slip in Europe and, housed in an adjacent slip is
the RNLI historic lifeboat collection, which I didn't explore fully but Mike and
Malcolm did and were well impressed! Lots of galleries to explore, including the
dockyards story, the building and history of HMS Victory and the evolution of
shipbuilding. The Commissioner's House gardens were visited by some but no-one
mentioned whether they'd managed to book the ‘Call the Midwife Location Tour'.
So much to see, another memorable day.
Monday and homeward bound, but not before a visit to St. Albans on the way. We
were conveniently dropped in the city centre right opposite M&S, another air
conditioned coffee venue, Geoff did take care of us! I ought to point out in fairness,
that there are other coffee venues. Speaking of which, we visited the small but
perfectly formed museum, finding half our fellow travellers there, along with Jill,
who was drinking coffee in the witness box or was it where the jury sat, or even the
dock? Either way the long arm of the law had finally caught up with her, but too late,
as the courtroom was now part of the museum's cafe! We found a lot more of our
party in the cathedral later, some having lunch. Meanwhile, I think a few made it to
Verulamium Park, the museum of everyday life in Roman Britain, We are a cultured
lot, but you can't beat such venues for lunches, coffee stops and loos! We completed
our journey with no hold ups and the sun was still shining, can't remember when we
ever had a UK break with no rain, didn't even need a jacket or cardigan. To match
that, maybe Jill and her team might, for next time, consider Barbados?????
A few weeks later ........ "Fancy a holiday with the u3a to the Isle of Wight?" said
my beloved.
"We've been there, with Jill and the u3a before" I replied "Bembridge, Osborne
House.....
"Some time ago and worth seeing again........"
I feel we've had this conversation before!
"........and it's on my birthday and this can be my present, end of conversation" he
finished and went back to his reading.
Not the Isle of Barbados then! And undoubtedly far more enjoyable - so note to Jill
thank you in advance.