BLOOMSBURY SET, CHARLESTON FARMHOUSE

You may not have heard of Vanessa Bell but you certainly would have heard of Renoir, Picasso or Delacroix. What do these great artists all have in common? The amazing Farmhouse known as Charleston in East , where you can see their artwork and more at Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell’s homestead.

For the art lover, historian and gardener it is a feast of colour providing a truly magical experience. A rural treasure with amazing ceramics, unique hand painted furniture and the perfume coming from the Mediterranean inspired garden.

Of course, it has a rather colourful past, being run as a farm by concientious objectors of WW1 who produced food for the war effort. It was a home from home for Vanessa’s sister Virginia Woolf, who used to pop over from Monks House at Rodmell near Lewes. Charleston’s famous visitors brought their own complicated love combinations with the likes of E. M. Forster, Lytton Strachey and Roger Fry that might even today make visitors blush with their antics of high spirits, laughter and jolly jinks. Don’t forget to ask about the who’s been with who in the Dining Room! Gosh!

Nevertheless, Charleston is not just about the past. It is as relevant today as it was when the Bloomsbury Set first arrived. There are many events happening that will interest a variety of Bloomsbury “The pond is most beautiful, followers as well as those keen to support this charity. The ‘Festival of the Garden’ at the end of July is one such event where a host with a willow at one side and a of acclaimed landscape artists talk about photography to poetry stone or flint wall edging it all touching on traditions old and new. round the garden part, and a With a and Sussex break, there is a wealth of things to see and do with the Glyndebourne Opera house close by near Lewes, or little lawn sloping down to it, why not pop down the road to Brighton or Eastbourne. with formal bushes on it.” www.charleston.org.uk Vanessa Bell Photo and Words by Graeme Atack

In the grounds, you can locate the wooden statue of Castle Sir Edward himself. For music lovers, there is the natural This historic 14th Century Castle offers a peek glockenspiel in the woods. If you enjoy a picnic then the back to medieval splendour where the fortress wide-ranging grounds allow you to fly a kite or perhaps with spiral staircases, battlements and wooden get more acquainted with the local flora or fauna. is everything that a child would draw if they thought of a castle. This summer, it’s all about activities for the family such as falconry where splendid birds of prey take part in falconry The castle was built by Edward Dalyngrigge, one walks. Finally, what visit to a National Trust property wouldn’t of Henry III’s knights, in 1385 and is made from be complete without going to the Castle View Coffee Shop for a sandstone. This unique quadrangular castle with good cup of tea. its two layers of defence was built to make it look www.nationaltrust.org.uk/bodiam-castle more formidable than it appeared, and although impressive on the outside, it is ruinous internally. Much of the interior was destroyed in the English Civil War and by the 18th Century the exterior was covered in ivy. By 1829, John Fuller purchased the castle setting about it restoration before it was acquired by Lord Curzon who continued to reinstate its features. When he passed away in 1925 it was donated to The National Trust becoming a popular destination for visitors and one of the earliest in its collection.

Wine lover quiz answers: 1. a 2. c 3. c 4. b 5. b 6. c 7. d 8. a 9. c 10. c

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5 exciting things for kids Bloomsbury Set

Come and let off steam!

KENT OAST HOUSES

Flackley Ash borders on the tranquil different inhalations of hops, fruit ‘Garden of England’ county of Kent, and fresh air. It was a time of cheap offering relaxation, seclusion and holidays and communal living, albeit a slice of heaven. The Oast Houses with poor wages. If you go to the through the area remind us of a Museum of Kent you can still see the long gone working time of flowery ‘hopper huts’ in which the workers hops, traditions and conical cowl used to stay. kiln roofs. In fact, the word oast also means kiln or kell to the locals. Crop picking was a hard business The earliest Oast Houses date back where the hoppers where paid by the to the 16th Century where they were ‘tally’ - a token system based on the designed for kilning or drying of hops number of bins that the worker had as part of the beer brewing process deposited. Once the green hops, which enabling the production of bitter. in some cases had an 80% moisture content, were picked they had to be It wasn’t until the 18th Century dried and cooled on harvest day in that many of the tall buildings the barn on the upper floor. This developed their eye catching roofs floor was latticed, made of wood and Probably one of the most famous to increase the air flow. The race to wire. With the fire lit below, the air Oast Houses to appear on television beer mechanisation of 1930s saw was then channelled through to dry is from the ‘90s series ‘Darling Buds of many of these iconic roofs change, the hops and eventually this humid May’ at Buss Farm, a short drive away ending a unique period of history. air went through the roof of the kiln. from Flackley Ash. They regularly have events such as their Classic Car Show. Talking of transformation and Visitors to Oast Houses are often Travel back in time just like Pop Larkin getaways, for many Londoners the surprised that there is a weather vane and experience the joys of the Oast hop-picking holidays of Kent meant in the half roofs. This is so that it could House. Why not be like the Larkins a chance to escape the great smoke swing around in the wind to maximise relax and raise a pint of hoppy bitter? and London smog and have altogether the draught to the fire burning. As they would say…. “Sounds perfick”.

www.flackleyashhotel.co.uk | +44 (0) 1797 230651 WINES IN 1066 COUNTY 1. What % of produced champagne is vintage? (a) less than 10% (b) 12% (c) almost 20% (d) more than 23% Wine

You don’t have to visit France to sample 2. A 1947 Cheval - Blanc was sold in 2010 for how much? some of the finer wines. Only 10 (a) £18,500 (b) £126,400 (c) £192,000 (d) £244,000 Quiz miles away Carr Taylor vineyard has won over 130 awards and medals. 3. A dry wine in French is referred to as (a) terrible (b) pale (c) sec (d) triste The vineyard was established in 1971 with 4. What is the best grape for sweet wines? German varieties which allows the wines to (a) Syrah (b) Muscat (c) Sauvignon Blanc (d) Chardonnay have a crisp, aromatic delicate citrus notes. 5. A Piccolo is a One enjoyable way to spend your time at (a) carafe (b) quarter bottle (c) half a litre (d) 75cl the vineyard is to take part in a self-guided tour which you can access at any time with 6. Mateus Rosé is produced in no pre-booking. Bigger groups will be (a) Italy (b) Spain (c) Portugal (d) Chile accompanied by one of their experts. After getting a map of the vineyard, you 7. In the TV programme Ab Fab - what was the girls favourite Champagne? can experience an amazing trail. (a) Moët & Chandon (b) Veuve Clicquot (c) Bollinger (d) Tattinger

Not to be missed is the bottling room and 8. An ancient wine cellar dating back to 3500 BC was found in winery where you are taken through the (a) Armenia (b) Egypt (c) Italy (d) Greece history of wine-making. Then at the end some wine tasting - well why not? 9. Berry Bros & Rudd have traded from the same www.carr-taylor.co.uk shop since 1698 which is located in (a) Soho (b) Knightsbridge (c) St.James (d) Notting Hill Just down the road from Flackley Ash you can find another vineyard: Chapel 10. Armand de Brignac - Champagne is owned by (a) Paul McCartney (b) Lord Beaufort (c Jay Z (d) Viscount Down. Wine tour anyone?! Rothermere www.chapeldown.com Answers for the quiz can be found on the back page.

WORD PUZZLE Location, Location, Location. Find the hidden words horizontal and diagonaly, backwards and forwards. Christmas Getaway A Christmas break at the Flackley Ash hotel is ideal for couples, DUNGENESS families and friends of all ages.

RYE Call Penny on +44 (0) 1797 230651 BATTLE EASTBOURNE When Hari Met Beau HASTINGS Good Guide to Dog Walks It’s that time of year to get tails wagging CAMBER and have a good sniff at the local walks. DYMCHURCH One of our favourite walks around SEDLESCOMBE Peasmarsh is in the Weald. With a wealth of stunning villages, parks and beautiful landscape we love dragging PEASMARSH out our owners to nose around the landscape. Of course, we love FOLKESTONE getting back to the hotel and having ASHFORD a snooze and a drink... Oh and so do HYTHE our masters and mistresses too! TENTERDEN DOVER BEXHILL FAVERSHAM MAIDSTONE

www.flackleyashhotel.co.ukl | +44 (0) 1797 230651 5 THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR KIDS 1. Kent & Railway (K&ESR) – Steam Railway Toot! Toot! Full steam ahead! Experience the amazing wonders of a real life steam railway. In July and September you might even meet Thomas the Tank Engine himself! Located in Tenterden – a great base with restaurants and a high street - the train takes you to ’s grounds. All aboard! www.kesr.org.uk

2. 1066 Target Sports St Leonards has the UK’s largest Indoor Family Friendly Target Sports Venue which is open to all ages. This activities centre allows visitors to participate in air rifle, crossbow, archery, live fire and more. Before going to the centre it is advisable to book and check with staff about the activities. Nerfday Parties starting at just £10 per child for unlimited play. www.1066ts.co.uk

3. Rye Heritage Centre This features an amazing hand built model town of Rye, taking you through 700 years of history and traditions. Everything is in the show from French invasions to royal visits. It is also a great place to book a tour of the town with a local historian. Check out the working old pier Penny Arcade and see what the butler saw! You can also pick up an spooky audio ghost tour from the visitor information centre. Tickets from £3.50 for adults, £1.50 for children www.ryeheritage.co.uk

4. Rare Breeds Centre Three Little Piggies went to Market? This summer is all about Pig Racing! Get down to the Rare Breeds Centre in Highlands Farm, Woodchurch near Ashford and get a chance to cheer on your favourite Porker to the finish line, 5. Smugglers Adventure the kids can also run with the porky racers too! The Let your guide ‘Hairy Jack’ take you through secretive tunnels Centre has fabulous creepy crawlies, thrilling birds of and grottos to a different era of wreckers and infamous prey displays, farm animals, play parks, an amazing shady figures bent on their ill-gotten gains. What better way Butterfly Tunnel and adventure trails. than using the tunnels, passages and caverns to the sea. A Family ticket is £35 It’s a definite hit for all your little pirates and swashbucklers www.rarebreeds.org.uk as there are over 70 life-sized characters, blood curdling sound and vision effects to bring the whole experience to life. www.smugglersadventure.co.uk

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