| Worthing, West Sussex Thursday 14th May We set off for Northbrook Farm Caravan Club site which is near Worthing in West Sussex. About 2 minutes away is my mum's house, so we were combining a family visit (to show off the new caravan) with a visit to the Weald and Downland Open air museum at Singleton near Chichester and Arundel Castle. Although I was born and brought up in the local area I had never been to Arundel Castle and my last visit to the Weald & Downland museum was about 25 years ago. We arrived about 12:30 and were able to choose our pitch so took a couple of turns around the site to find the best spot for us – quiet and with trees (I love being near trees!). Then we spent the next hour or so setting up. The site has no toilet/shower block so we were using our own toilet and shower cubicle fully for the first time. We subsequently found out that the site is to close in the near future and a replacement is currently being built at Lyminster which is not far away. Next we went to the local supermarket to get our food supplies and spent a lot more than we expected! (Note: never go shopping on an empty stomach) After lunch of salad and pies I phoned mum then collected her and her friend Tony to take them back to the caravan. My younger sister and her boyfriend also came to see us and the caravan and we spent the remainder of the afternoon with them all in the caravan chatting and laughing. We were going to go to the local pub (the Trout) for dinner (it was curry night and Kenny is rather partial to a good curry) but as our lunch was so late and mum offered us tea at home we decided to try the pub another day. After tea we got back to the caravan and read for a while then watched a film on the laptop, using the new speakers Kenny had bought earlier in the week. It was raining quite hard by the time we set up the bed and retired for the night but we both slept well despite the sound of heavy rain pounding intermittently on the roof. |
| Caravan Adventures with Christine & Dorothy |
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It remained grey and miserable but we had decided to take a trip out to the Weald and Downland open air museum at Singleton and nothing was going
through Chichester. We arrived and parked easily in the car park but it was still drizzling and the temperature had dropped considerably (probably why
not many people were there). Kenny convinced me I would warm up whilst we walked round but I wasn't convinced!
Kenny admitted to being over 60 to get his £1 reduction in the entrance fee (normal adult price £8.95) and the woman at the desk didn't ask for proof
which left him feeling a bit miffed! As we made our way to the first exhibit it started to rain quite hard so we decided to stay round the central group of
buildings and start the walk around the grounds when the weather cleared, as I assured Kenny it would. Being a Friday there were many groups of
small school children barely under the control of their teachers. There was much running and screeching but thankfully we weren't too distracted as
they spent only a small amount of time at each exhibit.
through Chichester. We arrived and parked easily in the car park but it was still drizzling and the temperature had dropped considerably (probably why
not many people were there). Kenny convinced me I would warm up whilst we walked round but I wasn't convinced!
Kenny admitted to being over 60 to get his £1 reduction in the entrance fee (normal adult price £8.95) and the woman at the desk didn't ask for proof
which left him feeling a bit miffed! As we made our way to the first exhibit it started to rain quite hard so we decided to stay round the central group of
buildings and start the walk around the grounds when the weather cleared, as I assured Kenny it would. Being a Friday there were many groups of
small school children barely under the control of their teachers. There was much running and screeching but thankfully we weren't too distracted as
they spent only a small amount of time at each exhibit.
Friday 15th May
Next morning I was concerned about being restricted to a 6 minute shower (that's how long
the hot water will last apparently) as I have to wash my long hair every day, but it worked fine.
mushrooms on toast with coffee (that is becoming our regular caravan breakfast) and got
ready at leisurely pace hoping the rain would stop before we set off. No restrictions of
breakfast start and end times like in a bed and breakfast, we could do what we wanted when
we wanted.
Next morning I was concerned about being restricted to a 6 minute shower (that's how long
the hot water will last apparently) as I have to wash my long hair every day, but it worked fine.
mushrooms on toast with coffee (that is becoming our regular caravan breakfast) and got
ready at leisurely pace hoping the rain would stop before we set off. No restrictions of
breakfast start and end times like in a bed and breakfast, we could do what we wanted when
we wanted.
| Christine & Dorothy on site |
The weather turned out to be very spring-like with clear blue sky but a still noticeable breeze which kept the temperature down slightly. Being from the
local area I can recommend that the weather forecast should not be taken too seriously as the coastal plain on which Worthing and the surrounding
Sunday 17th May
It was time to head for home but before hitching up we visited my mum to collect some plants for the garden and say goodbye. We had a lovely time.
Julie
May 2009
local area I can recommend that the weather forecast should not be taken too seriously as the coastal plain on which Worthing and the surrounding
Sunday 17th May
It was time to head for home but before hitching up we visited my mum to collect some plants for the garden and say goodbye. We had a lovely time.
Julie
May 2009
| Market Place from the east |
| House from Walderton |
| Market Hall Titchfield |
The exhibits are all buildings saved from
demolition and re-built on the site many with
demonstrations like the smithy and the water
mill that makes flour you can buy. The grounds
are very beautiful and after having tea and cake
in the tea rooms (also an old rescued building)
the yellow route which of course we did
backwards, neither of us very good at following
the norm!
demolition and re-built on the site many with
demonstrations like the smithy and the water
mill that makes flour you can buy. The grounds
are very beautiful and after having tea and cake
in the tea rooms (also an old rescued building)
the yellow route which of course we did
backwards, neither of us very good at following
the norm!
| Pugmill House Redford |
| Watermill and wheel |
We had a very pleasant time wandering in
and out of the old buildings and reading all
turned into a lovely day.
The museum is set in 50 acres and has
nearly 50 historic buildings dating from the
13th to the 19th century. Many have
period gardens immaculately maintained
and we were lucky enough to talk with the
head gardener who was in one of the
outbuildings tying bundles of herbs to
hang from the beams to dry. What a
fantastic job to have!
and out of the old buildings and reading all
turned into a lovely day.
The museum is set in 50 acres and has
nearly 50 historic buildings dating from the
13th to the 19th century. Many have
period gardens immaculately maintained
and we were lucky enough to talk with the
head gardener who was in one of the
outbuildings tying bundles of herbs to
hang from the beams to dry. What a
fantastic job to have!
| Wagon shed from Wiston |
| Stables from Watersfield |
| Medieval cottage from Hangleton |
| Poplar cottage from Washington |
The shepherd’s hut was of particular
interest to me as my great grandfather
(George Humphry) was a well-known
Sussex shepherd and a bit of a local
celebrity. He has been featured in many
books about the Downland shepherds and
his crook and branding irons are in the
Worthing museum.
We took a different route home and went
via Midhurst, Petworth, Bury and Arundel
which was prettier and quicker as it
avoided the traffic congestion found
around Chichester.
interest to me as my great grandfather
(George Humphry) was a well-known
Sussex shepherd and a bit of a local
celebrity. He has been featured in many
books about the Downland shepherds and
his crook and branding irons are in the
Worthing museum.
We took a different route home and went
via Midhurst, Petworth, Bury and Arundel
which was prettier and quicker as it
avoided the traffic congestion found
around Chichester.
| Shepherd's hut |
| Granary from Littlehampton |
We were going to go to the Trout pub for dinner but it started raining and neither of us felt hungry enough to get cold and wet so we stayed in the
caravan, watched a DVD and munched our way through much of the food we had brought with us!
Saturday 16th May
During the night it was very wet and windy (enough to make the caravan rock) and we thought our Saturday trip to Arundel would be a wash out. But by
morning the wind had blown the clouds away and the weather was bright, though there was still a fresh wind. We didn't rush to have breakfast and
shower as the castle didn't open until 10:30 and we drove the short distance to Arundel arriving just after 10:30. We parked in the Lido car park which
was almost empty and bought an all-day ticket for £4 as we didn't want to be restricted by time.
caravan, watched a DVD and munched our way through much of the food we had brought with us!
Saturday 16th May
During the night it was very wet and windy (enough to make the caravan rock) and we thought our Saturday trip to Arundel would be a wash out. But by
morning the wind had blown the clouds away and the weather was bright, though there was still a fresh wind. We didn't rush to have breakfast and
shower as the castle didn't open until 10:30 and we drove the short distance to Arundel arriving just after 10:30. We parked in the Lido car park which
was almost empty and bought an all-day ticket for £4 as we didn't want to be restricted by time.
| Arundel Castle from Lido car park |
First we took a walk around the town and into some of the many antique shops which were
interesting but we didn’t buy anything. Then we had an ice-cream before starting our tour of the
castle. We decided the silver ticket costing £8.50 each was the most suitable for us which included
the gardens, grounds, Fitzalan Chapel and castle keep.
With the weather so sunny we walked around the grounds and gardens first and also looked
round the Fitzalan Chapel. I got a lovely picture of Arundel Cathedral from the formal castle
gardens. The walled kitchen garden was a treat and we wished our own garden was big enough to
recreate the vegetable plots and hot beds! Kenny particularly liked the cordon fruit trees while my
favourite was the companion planting in the vegetable plots which helps to reduce pests the
organic way.
interesting but we didn’t buy anything. Then we had an ice-cream before starting our tour of the
castle. We decided the silver ticket costing £8.50 each was the most suitable for us which included
the gardens, grounds, Fitzalan Chapel and castle keep.
With the weather so sunny we walked around the grounds and gardens first and also looked
round the Fitzalan Chapel. I got a lovely picture of Arundel Cathedral from the formal castle
gardens. The walled kitchen garden was a treat and we wished our own garden was big enough to
recreate the vegetable plots and hot beds! Kenny particularly liked the cordon fruit trees while my
favourite was the companion planting in the vegetable plots which helps to reduce pests the
organic way.
| Arundel Cathedral |
The grounds were magnificent and much
larger than we imagined. Inside the castle its
history was explained clearly with details of
the various extensions and additions from
the 11th century to Victorian times. The
castle certainly has an interesting history.
larger than we imagined. Inside the castle its
history was explained clearly with details of
the various extensions and additions from
the 11th century to Victorian times. The
castle certainly has an interesting history.
| Arundel Castle entrance |
| Water feature in formal gardens |
| Arundel Castle keep |
We had a tasty lunch in the uncrowded restaurant
(surprising for a Saturday) before exploring the castle
keep then we walked around the grass moat which we
had to ourselves apart from the butterflies visiting wild
flowers along the banks that rise steeply up to the
castle walls.
(surprising for a Saturday) before exploring the castle
keep then we walked around the grass moat which we
had to ourselves apart from the butterflies visiting wild
flowers along the banks that rise steeply up to the
castle walls.
| Arundel Castle from the east |
| Arundel Castle some |