Day Four

On Thursday I had my breakfast, which I did every morning at the castle dining room. The breakfast was always the same, but I got addicted to the chocolate croissants and tea (ah, the English and their tea!) so it was great. On this day, my group went to visit Chartwell, the home of Winston and Winnie Churchill. Dad would have certainly enjoyed this, as it was not only a beautiful garden and a beautiful art studio, but the home itself had so many political and interesting things of historical significance.

Chartwell

Winston

Winnie 

Winston's studio

Tired but happy tourist

This tour was followed by a tour of Sissinghurst, the home of Vita and Harold Nicolson.  Sarah Griswold talked to us about both Chartwell and Sissinghurst, which was very interesting, but Michael Jones spoke about Churchill himself. The highlight was that Michael really had the stature of Winston and could do voice interpretation and we all loved it! To return to Sissinghurst without my mother was a bit sad, but to be able to go back and sit in the garden was a highlight. It is such a special place and for anyone who is interested in Sissinghurst, there is a book by Sarah Gristwood on Vita and Virginia, and the whole story associated with their lives.

Sissinghurst

Vita Sackville West

Beautiful gardens at Sissinghurst

The Kent countryside-LOVE!

More Sissinghurst garden

A happy day

The infamous white gardens of Sissinghurst

We then, of course, went back to the castle and had another lecture by a visiting historian. The subject was tournaments in medieval history. It was a bit grizzly and demonstrative, so I didn't listen to much of it. We then had dinner that night at a pub called the Leicester Arms in Penshurst, not far from Hever Castle. Love the pubs!

The pub!