Camber Sands and Rye, East Sussex 3rd to 4th March 26

On Tuesday the 3rd March 2026 we drove down to Camber Sands in East Sussex and checked into our caravan on Parkdeans Camber Sands Site.

After a coffee in the caravan we went for a walk down to the beach.

There is this stretch of shingle beach but most here at Camber is golden sand.

Camber Sands beach is famous for the long ridges of sand dunes leading down to miles of soft golden sands. Camber has been the location for many films such as The Monuments Men (2014), Dunkirk (1958), Follow That Camel (1967), The Invisible Woman (2013), and the 2022 film Empire of Light, especially if 'desert shots' are required.

We had battered sausages and chips at Fish Me a Dish by the beach. Hands down possibly the worse sausage I've ever tasted!

We return back to the site and in time for Mel to enjoy bingo followed by a Parkdean Staff Rock show.

Wednesday 4th March 2026 - Rye East Sussex.

The next day we woke up and after breakfast we drove the short way into Rye and parked up at the Rope Street car park and we walk into town.

After a walk about we reach the famous Mermaid Street here in Rye.

Mermaid Street in Rye, East Sussex, is a renowned, highly picturesque cobbled street lined with 15th–17th century timber-framed houses. 

Famed as one of England's prettiest streets, it features historic sites like the 12th-century Mermaid Inn, a former smuggling hotspot and charming cottages, offering a quintessential medieval atmosphere.

Known for iconic, half-timbered houses and quaint facades, including "The House with Two Front Doors".

A steep, cobblestone thoroughfare that feels like a "fairy tale" or a step back in time, often crowded with photographers and tourists.

The Mermaid Inn: Rebuilt in 1420, it is famous for its history, ghost stories, and as a former stronghold for the Hawkhurst Gang of smugglers.

The Hawkhurst Gang was a notorious criminal organisation involved in smuggling throughout south-east England from 1735 until 1749. One of the more infamous gangs of the early 18th century, they extended their influence from Hawkhurst, their base in Kent, along the South coast, where they successfully raided the Custom House, Poole. After they were defeated in a battle with the Goudhurst militia in 1747, two of their leaders, Arthur Gray and Thomas Kingsmill, were executed in 1748 and 1749, respectively.

We walk up West Street Passing the NT Lamb House and up to St Marys Church.

Rye had been held by the Abbey of Fécamp in Normandy for a long time as a Royal deed of gift. This status originating from times before the Norman Conquest got lost at 1247, but until this relationship ended the profit for the parish had been so great that a large church could be built, which was called the "Cathedral of East Sussex" until recent times. During a severe raid by French marauders, the town and the parish church were looted and set on fire. The damage to the church was extensive, and the last repairs resulting from this fire were made in the 19th century. The following year a group of men from Rye and Winchelsea struck back and recovered the loot including the stolen bells. To deter potential invaders from any future attack one of the bells was hung in the Watchbell Street. The Huguenot Lewys Billiard made the "New Clock", which is one of the oldest church turret clocks that still works. It had been installed in 1561–2. A huge pendulum reaching into the church's body was added later, as was the actual face of the clock and the so-called "Quarter Boys".

During the Reformation many precious items, that belonged to the church were sold or removed. Parts of the building became secular. The Chapels were separated from the church. They were used as a gaol, for storage for many things, including the town fire pump, and also as a butcher's shop. In the 17th and 19th centuries those changes were reversed and parts of the church renewed.

The church is a cruciform building. Its chancel, the crossing, transepts and the nave were built from 1150 to 1180. Alterations were made in the 15th century. North and South aisles were added during the late 12th century., North and South chapels 1220–1250. Flying buttresses were added at the south east end of the chancel in the 15th century. Very well worked out perpendicular windows can be seen at the east end of the chancel and south chapel. Pews were installed in the 19th century, but the mayor's seat is from 1547 and it is very well worked out. During civic services it is placed near to the pulpit, which is also from that time. The stained glass windows are mostly Victorian and include a window by Sir Edward Burne-Jones (1891) in memory of Mary Tiltman. It can be found in the north aisle.

In 1742 the churchyard was the site of a crime. The butcher John Breeds accidentally murdered Allen Grebell instead of the mayor he really intended to kill. John Breeds was hanged and gibbeted. His skull, which is the only remains of him, was brought to the town hall and remains there. Both are still said to haunt the churchyard.

As we leave the church grounds we walk on down to the Rye Castle Museum, Ypes Tower.

Rye Castle, also known as Ypres Tower, was built in the 13th or 14th centuries.

The exact date of construction is unclear although the possibility of creating a castle at Rye was mentioned in documents of 1226 and 1249. In 1329 Murage was applied for and works carried out during the 14th century before and after attacks by the French. Rye became one of the Cinque Ports and was involved in both defence and trade. It was originally called "Baddings Tower".

During King Henry VIII's Device Fort programme, an artillery battery, known as the Gun Garden, was constructed adjacent to the castle overlooking the harbour. It was rearmed at the time of the Spanish Armada of 1588, and again during the 18th century wars with France. In 1830, it was still in active service with 18 guns.

The castle may have been used as a prison and in 1430 became the property of John de Iprys; which lead to the name Ypres Tower. In the 16th century it was used as a prison and courthouse with a full-time gaoler being appointed in 1796. An exercise yard was added and then a women's prison in 1837. The prison function continued until 1891. It then became the town's morgue.

View back to St Marys Church

The tower was damaged during air raids in World War II but has been repaired and restored since then.

Ypres Tower is one of two sites of Rye Castle Museum and is a grade I listed building. Exhibits in the tower include locally made medieval pottery, an embroidery depicting many aspects of Rye life and history, medieval artifacts, activities and town maps.

The East Street Site, a former brewer's bottling factory, is the main exhibit area for the Rye Castle Museum. Opened in 1999, the local history exhibits include fire fighting equipment, trade changes caused by the sea's retreat, maritime history and shipbuilding, antique toys and games, photos, town seals, and archaeological artifacts.

We walk down the steps passing the Ypes Castle Inn that sadly wasn't open yet.

Down the bottom on Fishmarket Road we walk along a bit and then back up a slope to East Cliff.

Here we reach Landgate, an iconic piece of history, standing firm since the 14th century.

Dating from about 1340, the Landgate is the only surviving gate from the town walls built to defend Rye from French attack in the 14th century. Defences included machicolations above the archway, from which stones and other materials could be dropped on attackers, as well as a portcullis, which was removed in 1735.

The Landgate, Rye, East Sussex, was built in 1329 when Edward III made grants for further fortifying the town, and of the four gateways built this is the only existing one. It has a chamber over the arch and two towers. There were gates, a portcullis and a drawbridge.

We are back near the car park again now, but decide to hunt out a tearoom before we go back to the caravan.

So we cut back through to a road called the mint and to The Cobbles Tearoom, one of the oldest tearoom in Rye.

We have a lovely Cream tea here.

We make our way back to the car and decide to drive down to Rye Harbour for a look about there.

Rye Harbour is located some two miles (3.2 km) downstream of the town of Rye.

Rye Harbour village dates from the early nineteenth century, having been built on an extension of the shingle beaches, progressively deposited by the sea over the last 800 years. These deposits limit access to the original open medieval port of Rye, now two miles (3 km) inland. The village has one of the chain of Martello Towers constructed during the Napoleonic Wars; it was built on the beachline of the time. The beachline has now advanced a further kilometre southward.

Its geography has thus been shaped by its position at the frontier with the sea and at the frontier of the United Kingdom.

The initial establishment was that of a company of dragoons in 1805, followed shortly after by the first fishermen's huts and the building of the Martello Tower (1809–10). As the Napoleonic wars ended so the smuggling trade which had long flourished all along the south coast again increased in scope and intensity, leading to the establishment of the Coast Blockade. A watch house was built about 1825 to provide shelter and support for the blockade detachments and still stands, complete with the flagstaff for signalling to shipping.

The harbour is also known for the tragedy of the Mary Stanford lifeboat. At 6:45 am on the morning of 15 November 1928, the Mary Stanford from the Rye Harbour RNLI station responded needlessly to a Latvian steamer in distress. The crew of the Mary Stanford did not know that the vessel had already been rescued by another lifeboat and, in heavy rain and seas, all of the seventeen-man crew of the Mary Stanford were drowned. The reason for this is still contested. The bodies of all but the Coxswain's son, John Head, were found and buried. A memorial service in honour of the Mary Stanford and its crew takes place every year in the village.

A beautiful Aston Martin DB6 was being treated to a detail here on the harbour-side.

We drove back to the Caravan park and Mel had an afternoon nap whilst I walked down to the sand dunes on Camber Sands to take in the views and enjoy a local Balfour Jakes Cider made in Staplehurst, Kent.

These are the only sand dunes in East Sussex, offering a habitat for wildlife and a stunning backdrop for coastal walks.

The dunes are vital to the area’s ecology and coastal protection. Visitors are advised to respect these areas and use designated paths.

Another night of Bingo and drinking in the clubhouse before the drive home tomorrow.

Sheffield South Yorkshire 15th February 26

On Sunday the 15th February 2026, we left Sitwell Arms Hotel and drove to a café nearby for breakfast. Well I was gobsmacked how cheap cafes are up here. More than half the price you'd spend in the South!

After Breakfast we drove to have a look about Sheffield.

As we entered Sheffield via Bramall Lane, we pass Sheffield Utd Football Ground. Hard to get excited about a club that made a big deal about relegation against West Ham in 2009. Ha ha no I haven't forgotten even after all this time!

After eventually finding a car park on Solly Street, we walked into the city.

We reach Sheffield Cathedral, we walk around trying to find the entrance to look about.

The Cathedral Church of St Peter and St Paul, Sheffield, also known as Sheffield Cathedral, is the cathedral church for the Church of England diocese of Sheffield, England. Originally a parish church, it was elevated to cathedral status when the diocese was created in 1914. Sheffield Cathedral is one of five Grade I listed buildings in the city, along with the Town Hall, Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet, and the parish churches at Ecclesfield and Bradfield.

The cathedral is located on Church Street in the city centre, close to the head of Fargate. Construction of the earliest section of the cathedral dates back to c. 1200, with the newest construction completed in 1966; the building is an unusual mixture of medieval and modern architecture. Cathedral tram stop, located outside the front churchyard, opened in 1994 and is today served by all four lines of the Sheffield Supertram network. Most recently, the cathedral underwent an interior and exterior refurbishment in 2013–2014.

Sheffield Cathedral was damaged in a fire on 14 May 2020, an investigation into which is ongoing; a 40-year-old woman has been arrested and charged with arson. The fire destroyed a portion of the cathedral used by a homelessness charity. A previous fire caused damage to the cathedral belltower in 1979.

I have no pictures of the inside as when we entered there was a service going on. We had programs thrust into our hands by two ladies by the door and a man of the cloth rushed over and ushered us to empty seats.

Now if anyone knows me that was like a living hell for me. I am no way religious in fact an atheist. To have to endure sitting through a service was a horror. Mel smirked at the look upon my face. I wanted to just get up and leave, but Mel was too embarrassed. I look through the program and as Karen Carpenter said "Fuck me Its only just begun!"

So we sat through a bit,listening to people murmur the same words like they were possessed or part of some kinda cult, it creeped me out! Then they were giving communion. I saw one couple leave at this point, so I nudged Mel and we quickly made our escape. We shoved the programs back into the hands of the two ladies and out into the outside. Freedom!

Once out we made our way through the city and to the Town Hall.

The current building, commissioned to replace the Old Town Hall, was designed by the London-based architect Edward William Mountford in the Renaissance Revival style and constructed between 1890 and 1897. The building was opened by Queen Victoria, using a remote control lock from her carriage, on 21 May 1897. The turning of the key in the lock triggered a light in the building which was the signal for three concealed men to open the gates.

An extension designed by F. E. P. Edwards was opened by the Prince of Wales on 29 May 1923.

The gardens were first laid out in 1938, following the demolition of St Paul's Church. Originally named St Paul's Gardens, they were immediately nicknamed the "Peace Gardens", marking the contemporary signing of the Munich Agreement.

An extension designed in the Brutalist style was added to the east of the Peace Gardens in 1977; nicknamed The Egg-Box after its appearance, it was demolished in 2002.

Outside the Town Hall is the sole surviving Police box in Sheffield. 

The boxes in Sheffield were painted green and white They also featured a design that allowed them to be used as temporary lock-ups to detain suspects. Both the telephone and a first aid kit could be accessed from the outside by members of the public or the constable.

When radio communications became available for individual officers, cities began removing the boxes. The only one left in Sheffield can be found along Surrey Street, just outside the town hall. Although no longer a police callbox, this one is still used by city ambassadors to provide tourists with a helping hand and travel information.

We pass the Peace Gardens in front on the Town Hall. 

The Peace Gardens area was originally the churchyard of St Paul's Church, which was built in the 18th century. The church was built to accommodate Sheffield’s increasing population, which had outgrown the capacity of the Parish Church (which is now the Anglican Cathedral).

A wealthy local goldsmith called Robert Downs paid for St Paul’s Church to be built and work started in 1720. However, Robert Downs later had a disagreement with the church authorities and for a short time he allowed dissenters to worship in the building. This was stopped when the church was finally consecrated or blessed in 1740.

By 1938 the Church of England had no further use for St Paul’s and it was demolished to make way for a proposed extension to the Town Hall. Unfortunately, due to the Second World War, the extension was never built and all that remained of the building were the churchyard walls.

We created a temporary garden with the remaining walls and named it St Paul’s Gardens. However the name soon changed to the Peace Gardens due to the popular desire for a return to peacetime. The name became formal in 1985.

The Goodwin Fountain has 89 individual jets of water and is dedicated to Sir Stuart and Lady Goodwin. Sir Stuart was the founder of an important Sheffield steel and tool making firm - Neepsend Ltd - and a man of considerable wealth.

Throughout their lives they donated a lot of money to a number of charities in the local area, especially hospitals. One of the donations was for the construction of a new fountain at the head of Fargate in 1961. The fountain was originally intended as a tribute to Alderman James Sterling, however, it became known as the Goodwin Fountain and was eventually dedicated to them.

In 1998, the old fountain at the top of Fargate was worn out and was replaced by the new fountain in the Peace Gardens.

The Holberry Cascades are 8 large water features that are dedicated to Samuel Holberry, who was the leader of the Sheffield Chartist Movement, and are located on either side of the 4 entrances to the main area of the Peace Gardens.

The waterfalls from the bronze vessels represent both the pouring of water into Sheffield's 5 rivers, and the pouring of molten metal used in Sheffield's metal industries.

57,000 litres of water are pumped through its water features. The system employs a water re-circulation system and is kept clean using a brine solution rather than chemicals.

For several hundred years, Standard Measures were displayed in a public place so that commercial disputes about Short Measures could be settled without an argument.

The Measures are a symbol of local government, as well as an early method of consumer protection. The Measures were originally put in St Paul's Parade, but were relocated to Cheney Row, between the Peace Gardens and the Town Hall, in 1998.

The Spanish War Memorial records the names of the volunteers from South Yorkshire who fought in the International Brigade in the Spanish Civil War in 1936-39.

The plaque also commemorates the men and women at home who worked endlessly campaigning, raising money and sending supplies, to support the fight against fascism. It is located on the ramp close to the Town Hall which leads up to Cheney Row.

We stop in Costa for a drink, before we walked on, passing the Town Hall again we reach the Winter Gardens. Sheffield Winter Garden is a large temperate glasshouse located in the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It is one of the largest temperate glasshouses to be built in the UK during the last hundred years, and the largest urban glasshouse anywhere in Europe.[1] It is home to more than 2,000 plants from all around the world. It was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 22 May 2003.

Part of the £120 million Heart of the City regeneration project that has created the Peace Gardens and the £15 million Millennium Galleries, the Winter Garden was designed by Pringle Richards Sharratt Architects and Buro Happold and is some 70 metres (77 yd) long and 21 metres (23 yd) high.

The building has background frost protection to a minimum of 4 degrees Celsius and it is one of the largest Glued Laminated Timber or "Glulam" buildings in the UK (Glulam is made by forming and gluing strips of timber into specific shapes). The wood used is Larch, a durable timber which will, over time, turn a light silvery grey colour. The larch, derived from sustainable forests, requires no preservatives or coatings. This reduces the use of solvents and also avoids the use of chemicals that could harm the plants.

The building has an intelligent Building Management System which controls fans and vents to make sure the plants are cooled in summer and kept warm in winter. The system will "learn" year by year.

The bedding plants are changed five times a year, to give a seasonal change, and all the plants are watered by hose or by watering can, as it is the only way to ensure that all the plants get the correct amount of water.

This was a lovey Oasis in the middle of a city!

We leave the Winter Gardens and in front of us we see The Crucible Theatre.

The Crucible Theatre, or simply The Crucible, is a theatre in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, which opened in 1971. Its name refers to crucible steel, which was developed in Sheffield in 1740 and drove the industrialisation of the city.

In addition to regular theatrical performances, the theatre also serves as a sports venue, having hosted the World Snooker Championship annually since 1977. The Guardian newspaper has called the Crucible the "spiritual home of snooker". The World Women's Snooker Championship and the World Seniors Championship have also been staged at the venue.

Next to the Crucible is the Lyceum Theatre.

There has been a theatre on the site since 1879 when the Grand Varieties Theatre was built. Made of wood and originally intended to be used as a circus, the theatre was managed by the parents of the music hall comedian Dan Leno in 1883, who regularly performed there in the early stages of his career. Leno's lease came to an end in 1884 and the theatre burnt down in 1893. This was replaced by City Theatre but this was demolished six years later to make way for what is now the Lyceum.

Built to a traditional proscenium arch design, the Lyceum is the only surviving theatre outside London designed by the theatre architect W.G.R. Sprague and the last example of an Edwardian auditorium in Sheffield. The statue on top of the Lyceum Theatre is Mercury, son of Zeus and Maia.

By the late 1950s, the Lyceum was experiencing financial difficulties and by 1966 bingo callers were keeping the rumoured threat of demolition at bay. The theatre closed in 1969 and, despite being granted Grade II listed status in 1972, planning permission was sought for its demolition in 1975. The building was saved in part due to campaigning by the Hallamshire Historic Buildings Society.

Over the years the building changed ownership many times, being used variously as a bingo hall and a rock concert venue. By the 1980s, the interior was in a state of disrepair. The theatre was bought by two Sheffield businessmen in 1985, with financial support from Sheffield City Council, and it was reclassified to Grade II* listed status. Between 1988 and 1990 the Lyceum was completely restored at a cost of £12 million.

The theatre reopened in 1990 and now serves as a venue for touring West End productions, as well as locally produced shows. It is part of the Sheffield Theatres complex with the neighbouring Crucible Theatre and the Tanya Moiseiwitsch Playhouse.

We made our way back to the car for the long drive home!