A Hidden Treasure
A Hidden Treasure
It nestles at the mouth of the River Medway facing the remains of the old Chatham Dockyard and the new Chatham Industrial and housing estate. It has offered protection to the Medway towns since it was commissioned in Elizabethan times.
In 1667 it played a vital role in defending the Medway from the Dutch invasion of England. Now it is almost a forgotten castle, not many people, even locals, know of its existence.
No where near as majestic as Dover Castle, standing proud and menacing looking over the Channel, nor as serene and beautiful as Leeds Castle (Kent) in the middle of a great lake.
Just a small castle built with one purpose in mind, defence of the Medway and the towns beyond.
Upnor Castle sits at the end of Upnor village, if you can call one small street and 2 pubs a village. Arriving at the village you have to leave your car at the top of the road and then walk. But do not worry it is only a few hundred yards.
Leaving the car park you see a large pub restaurant on the corner, excellent menu, food and service, though the choice of ales was not too good.
Strolling down to the riverside we were attacked by a number of cats all demanding a stroke and ear rub as payment to pass through their domain, a domain that they keep free of rodents.
The street is every bit as pretty as some of the famous Cornish streets, but without the hordes of tourists and ‘kiss me quick’ hats. The houses are probably Georgian, or maybe earlier and are nearly all inhabited by locals. No ‘holiday lets’ or vacant properties. One gets the impression that the locals would not tolerate such an invasion to their private paradise.
Towards the bottom is the second pub, here the food is more ‘bar snack’ but good quality and the ale is certainly better, being from the local Shepherd Neame Brewery (the oldest brewery in England) at Faversham slightly further down the Medway.
Then to Upnor Castle What the castle lacks in beauty it gains in its magnificent view or the Medway, a river that divides Kent into 2 and has caused wars between the two sides for centuries. To the West of the Medway we have the Kentish Men, people who accepted the Norman invasion fairly readily. To the East of the Medway we have the Men of Kent who fought long and hard against the new king. So the rivalry between the Kentish Men and the Men of Kent shall always be. Me I am a Man of Kent.
It nestles at the mouth of the River Medway facing the remains of the old Chatham Dockyard and the new Chatham Industrial and housing estate. It has offered protection to the Medway towns since it was commissioned in Elizabethan times.
In 1667 it played a vital role in defending the Medway from the Dutch invasion of England. Now it is almost a forgotten castle, not many people, even locals, know of its existence.
No where near as majestic as Dover Castle, standing proud and menacing looking over the Channel, nor as serene and beautiful as Leeds Castle (Kent) in the middle of a great lake.
Just a small castle built with one purpose in mind, defence of the Medway and the towns beyond.
Upnor Castle sits at the end of Upnor village, if you can call one small street and 2 pubs a village. Arriving at the village you have to leave your car at the top of the road and then walk. But do not worry it is only a few hundred yards.
Leaving the car park you see a large pub restaurant on the corner, excellent menu, food and service, though the choice of ales was not too good.
Strolling down to the riverside we were attacked by a number of cats all demanding a stroke and ear rub as payment to pass through their domain, a domain that they keep free of rodents.
The street is every bit as pretty as some of the famous Cornish streets, but without the hordes of tourists and ‘kiss me quick’ hats. The houses are probably Georgian, or maybe earlier and are nearly all inhabited by locals. No ‘holiday lets’ or vacant properties. One gets the impression that the locals would not tolerate such an invasion to their private paradise.
Towards the bottom is the second pub, here the food is more ‘bar snack’ but good quality and the ale is certainly better, being from the local Shepherd Neame Brewery (the oldest brewery in England) at Faversham slightly further down the Medway.
Then to Upnor Castle What the castle lacks in beauty it gains in its magnificent view or the Medway, a river that divides Kent into 2 and has caused wars between the two sides for centuries. To the West of the Medway we have the Kentish Men, people who accepted the Norman invasion fairly readily. To the East of the Medway we have the Men of Kent who fought long and hard against the new king. So the rivalry between the Kentish Men and the Men of Kent shall always be. Me I am a Man of Kent.
3 Comments
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Comment by DebinSC on July 3, 2009 at 4:03pm - Looks to be in good condition to have stood so long. Thanks for the tour! I supposed the brick bits are later repairs, though even that looks pretty old - certainly ancient by American standards. Good work checking out the pubs, too. ;>
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Comment by ricks rants on July 3, 2009 at 6:02pm - Debs, I always check out the pubs. probably too often.
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Comment by MecheleP on July 11, 2009 at 5:18pm - Wow this is great...Thanks for sharing!
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beauty TW!
beautiful soft focus!!
I think I would have...that is really gorgeous, TW.
Roses are wonderful frame fillers.
Exquisite, GTO!
Would you have recognized this flower as an anemone if I hadn't told you?
Congratulations, Keith and well deserved!!!!!
still an awesome shot Keith!!
beauty Deb! that foreground plant and still waters make this shot!!
And they'll never die!
This is wonderful! I love it. Five stars.
Nice study in blue and green.
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