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The village of Tonge is situated 1 mile east of Sittingbourne close to the Swale, and its grade II listed Mill dates from 1837. However, it is the mound by the mill that is steeped in history. On an ancient mound where a farmhouse stands now, Tonge Castle stood long ago, and evidence can be found of its Saxon builders as well as an ancient sword.

The story is that Hengist and Horsa – the first of the English – arrived here and defeated the old Chief Vortigern, and dined with him in his castle at Tonge. Hengist brought with him his beautiful daughter Rowena, who captivated Vortigern so that he gave Hengist half of his kingdom. It is also said that Hengist, after his first battle, asked for some land from Vortigern. He was said to reply that he could have as much land as ‘yon poor hide would compass.’ He then had the ox hide cut into thin strips (thongs) and laid these out to give around 80 acres. Hengist later became King of Kent and built his castle on his new land. It is said that this is the origin of the villages’ name.

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The impressive church of St. Andrew’s is approached from the north-west corner of the triangular village green, past an avenue of lime trees and several buildings of great character. In fact, John Newman ('The Buildings of England') wrote that one could imagine a novel of Jane Austen’s being acted out here.

The church is of the late 14th century, with chancel and nave with lean-to aisles and a West tower, and inside there is much to be enjoyed. We find wall paintings of angels in the nave and above the East window, and the nave roof painted sky-blue and dotted with stars. There is also a 14th century window in the South aisle depicting John the Baptist showing Salome waiting for his head; an ancient lamp from Venice, and the stunning east window, dated 1896, a wonderful piece of Art Nouveau design – an Annunciation with many angels executed in a semi-opaque mottled glass. The donor of the window was Count James Gallatin of New York; and according to the New York Times of the same year, this was the first commission in Europe given to American glassworkers.

Another fascinating find is in the churchyard - the resting place of a revered 'Dambuster', Squadron Leader David Maltby, DSO DFC. He flew with Guy Gibsons famous band of brothers but in September 1943, when returning from an aborted mission, he and his crew died when their aircraft came down in the North Sea. Only David's body was recovered by a rescue launch. A commemoration ceremony is held annually in the village to his memory.

The charming village of Wickhambreux is situated 5 miles east of Canterbury, on the banks of the Lesser Stour, and was once one of the estates of the original Fair Maid of Kent, the princess Joan Plantagenet. Born in 1328, she was the daughter of Edmund, Earl of Kent and grand-daughter of Edward I. She was married, while still very young, to Sir Thomas Holland, one of the first Garter Knights, and had a son who succeeded to the Earldom of Kent in 1361. When Sir Thomas died, Joan was courted and won by Edward the Black Prince and was married with great pomp at Windsor in 1361. She had two more sons, the second of whom was Richard of Bordeaux, who became Richard II.

Joan was very much a power behind the throne, so much so that when she was returning to London from a pilgrimage to Canterbury - and a visit to her estate here in Wickhambreux - she found her way barred by Wat Tyler and his rebels on Blackheath. They not only let her through unharmed, but saluted her with kisses and provided her with an escort for the rest of her journey.

Joan died in 1385, and was buried beside her first husband, but her second husband, the Black Prince, built a chantry for her in the crypt of Canterbury Cathedral, and to this day all the wives of Men of Kent and Kentish Men are given the courtesy title of Fair Maids.

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Built in 1119 by Robert de Crèvecœur to replace the earlier Saxon manor of Esledes, the castle became a royal palace in 1278 for King Edward I of England and his queen, Eleanor of Castile. Major improvements were made during his time, including the barbican, made up of three parts, each with its own entrance, drawbridge, gateway and portcullis.

The castle was captured on 31 October 1321 by the forces of Edward II from Margaret de Clare, Baroness Badlesmere, wife of the castle's constable, Bartholomew de Badlesmere, 1st Baron Badlesmere who had left her in charge during his absence. The King had besieged Leeds after she had refused Edward's consort Isabella of France admittance in her husband's absence; when the latter had sought to force an entry, Lady Badlesmere had instructed her archers to fire upon the Queen and her party, six of whom were killed. Lady Badlesmere was taken and kept prisoner in the Tower of London until November 1322.

Richard II's first wife, Anne of Bohemia, spent the winter of 1381 at the castle on her way to be married to the king. In 1395, King Richard II received the French chronicler Jean Froissart there, as Froissart described in his Chronicles.

Henry VIII transformed the castle in 1512 for his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. A painting commemorating his meeting with Francis I of France still hangs there. His daughter, Queen Elizabeth I was imprisoned in the castle for a time before her coronation.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leeds_Castle

Pentax SF7
Fuji Superia Reala 100 (rated @ ISO80)
Pentax-A 28-80mm lens

Pentax SF7
Fuji Superia Reala 100 (rated @ ISO80)
Pentax-A 28-80mm lens