SPIKE MILLIGAN TRIBUTE WALK

Come and stay at Flackley Ash and take the Spike Milligan Tribute walk from Rye to Winchelsea

This is a wonderful circular walk in beautiful Sussex countryside, where you can see two of its most perfect towns: Rye and Winchelsea.

And if you love both the late, great WELCOME TO THE SPRING 2017 EDITION comedian and walking, you get a double bonus. Spike lived in Rye, he is buried in Winchelsea, beneath a tree in St Thomas’s churchyard, and the epitaph on his gravestone – in Gaellic which translates as ‘I told you I was ill’ – has been voted the nation’s favorite.

He got to know the area because the producer of , Peter Eton, lived at Winchelsea. Spike would often come down for weekends. He Photography: www.wildandwonderful-photography.com lived in a house called Carpenters in Blind Woman Lane, just outside Rye in Udimore and claimed to find it so Almost immediately you enter When you reach the A259 at the ugly that he put up an alternative this road, take the footpath on bottom, cross over and turn left. name sign: The Blind Architect, and the right that leads alongside In a few hundred yards you’ll reach even put it in Room 101 when he the Royal Military Canal. Ferry Road, on your right. A few appeared on that BBC show with Paul hundred yards down this lane – which Merton. The path takes you over marshland all also leads to Winchelsea railway 5 ALTERNATIVE THINGS TO DO the way to the outskirts of Winchelsea. station if you fancy training it back to In Rye, Spike enjoyed jazz sessions at About a mile along the way you Rye – you’ll find a footpath on your 1. Rye Country Market 3. Horse Riding 5. Wildlife Watch the Plough at Cock Marling and held pass Camber Castle, built by Henry right beside a bridge over a stream. book signings at Rye’s Martello Books. VIII When, approx 1.5miles after the Open every Friday until mid- Explore the countryside, take Rye Harbour Nature Reserve castle, the path meets a road – it’s the The path takes you directly across December at the Rye Commu- to the sands; why not have a is great place anytime of year Spike is buried at St Thomas’s in road to Winchelsea Beach – turn right. the fields and back to Rye. It’s well nity Centre. Treat yourselves lesson or maybe a hack and see to take a walk and watch na- Winchelsea, in a plot he could see from In a few hundred yards you’ll reach the signposted, and there is generally to home baked cakes, pies, the Sussex countryside from ture, with beautiful views of Carpenters. The Prince of Wales sent A259 Rye- road. a clear path through any crops. preserves and savouries or why a different perspective. There Camber. Follow the walk along a wreath of white roses with a hand- written card that read: “For Dear Spike, Turn left onto it and, just past the You emerge back on the A259 not take home local produce, are plenty of local schools and the beach path and you’ll in grateful and affectionate memory.” Strand House B&B, you’ll reach a with Rye on the hill ahead of you. plants, fresh flowers and hand one on Camber Sands Beach. get to Winchelsea Beach. narrow lane leading off left and Turn left to get back to town. crafted gifts. The Walk steeply uphill into Winchelsea. 4. There is a monthly Saturday This route is covered on Ordnance Follow the lane until you come to St Survey Landranger map Thomas’s, on your left. 2. Land Yachting Bexhill On Sea club for children aged 5-11 189. Allow about three hours. Spike Milligan’s grave is on the north A short drive away to the south An iconic modernist building by who want to know about the side of the church, beneath a tree. Just east coast of Romney Marsh on the sea, the pavilion is a centre natural world and the special Begin at St Thomas’s Church follow the flattened grass. Greatstone beach is one of the for arts and culture, hosting a wildlife. Each session takes on in Watch Bell Street, Rye. finest land yachting sites in the variety of original events and a different theme with craft Turn left out of the church and walk to Just beyond the churchyard is the New For more local tips follow us: the end of Watch Bell Street. Inn, which is a good place for lunch. UK. An exhilarating experience exhibitions to suit all tastes. activities, bird watching, pond Take the steps or footpath down to facebook.com/flackleyash that combines sailing and mo- From comedy to cinema, music dipping, mini beast discovery the A259 and turn right, following the The return journey tor racing powered by the wind to shows - visit, you won’t be and exploring the reserve. twitter@FlackleyAsh road past Strand Quay until you reach Retrace your steps down the hill you which can accelerate the yacht disappointed. Harbour Road, which leads off to the took into Winchelsea. left, and is signposted for Rye Harbour. instagram.com/flackley_ash_ on wheels to up to 40mph. www.dlwp.com www.ryesussex.co.uk/events wildlife-watch- rye-harbour

www.flackleyashhotel.co.ukl | +44 (0) 1797 230651 www.flackleyashhotel.co.uk | +44 (0) 1797 230651 HISTORIC BATTLE MORE AT FLACKLEY ASH

Flackley Word Puzzle - Find the hidden wordsZONTALLY, DIAG-

Photographer: Nick Briggs

MAPP & LUCIA’S RYE BATTLE Tapestry has frequently been rest of the century. Its lists of Discover the quintessential used or reimagined in a variety of ingredients, cooking times and You must have seen this stunning charm of Battle approx.10 miles different popular culture contexts. other innovations provided a period drama on television, drive from Flackley Ash Hotel. It has been cited by Scott model for the cookery section of based on E.F. Benson’s novel. Battle review from Daniel Defoe McCloud in Understanding the best-selling Mrs Beeton’s Book Set in the fictional seaside town 1722 described the town as Comics as an example of early of Household Management (1861). of Tilling, it was actually filmed in being “remarkable for making narrative art and Bryan Talbot, our very own Rye, where the River the finest gun-powder, and a British comic book artist, has GUNPOWDER Tillingham flows through. the best perhaps in Europe”. called it “the first known British The first gunpowder mill in The tour is a must for fans of the Battle was the site of the Battle of comic strip”. At least two panels of Battle was built in 1676 when FLACKLEY ASH RESTAURANT GARDENERS WORLD series www.mappandluciarye.uk Hastings, where William, Duke of the tapestry are missing, perhaps John Hammond was granted Take a step back in time Normandy, defeated King Harold even another 6.4 m worth. This permission to build a mill on land The House restaurant seats Our resident gardener Mel says: and walk in the footsteps of II to become William I in 1066. missing area would probably have owned by the Abbey. A gunpowder 100 people and overlooks our the Tillingham society. It is situated in the heart of the included William’s coronation. works was located in Powdermill beautiful landscaped gardens. “With the days slowly warming designated High Weald Area of Lane – the remains of which have Open 7 days a week, it welcomes up now is the time to think Outstanding Natural Beauty. BONFIRES been converted to a Hotel. both residents and non -residents about re-designing boarders The local Battle Bonfire Boyes is from 7:30 am breakfast time and the circular bed in front of SEWING claimed to be the oldest of the to last orders at 21:30 pm. the restaurant has been our Famous as the subject of Bayeux Sussex Bonfire Societies. The focal point. Opting for a bright Tapestry - an embroidered cloth importance of Bonfire Night in Head Chef Kris Krzykowski showy spring/summer display nearly 70 metres (230 ft) long Battle is that it is located in the embraces the local produce of we have chosen irises, grasses, and 50 centimetres (20 in) tall, wooded Weald of Sussex. Most the area and offers tempting tasty nepeta and euphorbia as a which depicts the events leading of the area was heavily wooded, dishes. For those with a penchant back drop for a colourful mix up to the Norman conquest of which provided oak and other for fish why not try our pan seared of summer bulbs and phlox. England concerning William, timbers for Navy shipyards, power The Flackley Ash Country whole Rye Bay Scallops with As the soil becomes more Duke of Normandy, and Harold, for making cannons (shipped House Hotel could be chunky chorizo and pea puree hospitable we are able to divide WHEN HARI MET BEAU Earl of Wessex, later King of to or Chatham), exclusively yours. or Plaice caught off the coast of existing perennials and plant England, and culminating in cannonballs and gunpowder. Hastings and Rye, accompanied by new ones. Annual seeds can be Hari and Beau live with Penny the Battle of Hastings. For weddings, private parties Romney Marsh Samphire or what planted on a windowsill or in a our General Manager and can COOKERY and corporate events, about trying our very own Hickory greenhouse promising billowing often be seen snoozing at The COMIC STRIP Battle was the birthplace in smoked duck breasts - using colour and that “infill” that Flackley Ash. Good doggies are It resembles a modern comic 1799 of Eliza Acton, author of traditional methods here at the always brings plants together.” also welcome to visit and stay. The Call Penny on strip or movie storyboard, is widely the pioneering Modern Cookery Flackley, accompanied by a sweet doggie rate is £8.50 per night - recognised, and is so distinctive for Private Families (1845). This +44 (0) 1797 230651 tomato and red onion compote; For more tips from Mel look check with reception for which dog in its artistic style, the Bayeux continued to sell well for the one of our most popular starters. out for her in our grounds. friendly bedrooms are available.

www.flackleyashhotel.co.ukl | +44 (0) 1797 230651 www.flackleyashhotel.co.uk | +44 (0) 1797 230651