{"id":19431,"date":"2020-04-14T12:29:42","date_gmt":"2020-04-14T11:29:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/?p=19431"},"modified":"2021-06-01T00:10:24","modified_gmt":"2021-05-31T23:10:24","slug":"castle-sheep-signalbox-and-beer-a-photo-walk-from-robertsbridge-to-bodiam-fifteen-years-ago-april-2005","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/castle-sheep-signalbox-and-beer-a-photo-walk-from-robertsbridge-to-bodiam-fifteen-years-ago-april-2005\/","title":{"rendered":"Castle, sheep, signalbox and beer &#8211; a photo walk from Robertsbridge to Bodiam fifteen years ago, April 2005"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/robertsbridge-bodiam-walk-01.jpg\" alt=\"Castle, sheep, signalbox and beer - a photo walk from Robertsbridge to Bodiam, April 2005\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Virtual countryside walks are the only ones possible during the ongoing pandemic, so here&#8217;s a collection of 25 photos from a 2005 walk from Robertsbridge to Bodiam Castle and back, skirting the Sussex\/Kent borders.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/robertsbridge-bodiam-walk-02.jpg\" alt=\"Castle, sheep, signalbox and beer - a photo walk from Robertsbridge to Bodiam, April 2005\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The walk was one of the many (and much-missed) <a href=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/walks\/index.html\">urban75 walks<\/a> that used to happen on a semi-regular basis.<\/p>\n<p>For this sunny spring strut, we alighted at the substantial Italianate style station at Robertsbridge, which is about two hour&#8217;s train ride from Brixton.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/robertsbridge-bodiam-walk-03.jpg\" alt=\"Castle, sheep, signalbox and beer - a photo walk from Robertsbridge to Bodiam, April 2005\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Since I posted the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/london\/robertsbridge.html\">original article about this walk in 2005<\/a>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/RVRailway\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Rother Valley Railway<\/a> preservation society has started constructing a new separate station on the east side of Robertsbridge car park, and have rebuilt the line on to Northbridge Street.<\/p>\n<p>The first train on this rebuilt section ran in September 2013 and long term plans are underway to rebuild the rest of the route eastwards to join up with the Kent and East Sussex Railway, and restore services along the line (steam trains already run on another section of the line, between Tenterden Town and Bodiam, 3\u00bd miles from Robertsbridge).<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/robertsbridge-bodiam-walk-04.jpg\" alt=\"Castle, sheep, signalbox and beer - a photo walk from Robertsbridge to Bodiam, April 2005\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This fabulous 1894 wooden signal box is still in use.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/robertsbridge-bodiam-walk-05.jpg\" alt=\"Castle, sheep, signalbox and beer - a photo walk from Robertsbridge to Bodiam, April 2005\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Scarecrow with paper handbag.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/robertsbridge-bodiam-walk-06.jpg\" alt=\"Castle, sheep, signalbox and beer - a photo walk from Robertsbridge to Bodiam, April 2005\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Footpaths galore.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/robertsbridge-bodiam-walk-07.jpg\" alt=\"Castle, sheep, signalbox and beer - a photo walk from Robertsbridge to Bodiam, April 2005\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Rusted-over farming thingamabob.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/robertsbridge-bodiam-walk-08.jpg\" alt=\"Castle, sheep, signalbox and beer - a photo walk from Robertsbridge to Bodiam, April 2005\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Delicious pints of Harvey&#8217;s Sussex best bitter were very well received.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/robertsbridge-bodiam-walk-09.jpg\" alt=\"Castle, sheep, signalbox and beer - a photo walk from Robertsbridge to Bodiam, April 2005\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The Kent and Sussex landscapes are peppered with the distinctive outlines of Oast Houses, although the decline of the hops trade saw most of them being converted into private houses.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/robertsbridge-bodiam-walk-10.jpg\" alt=\"Castle, sheep, signalbox and beer - a photo walk from Robertsbridge to Bodiam, April 2005\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>My kind of lane.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/robertsbridge-bodiam-walk-11.jpg\" alt=\"Castle, sheep, signalbox and beer - a photo walk from Robertsbridge to Bodiam, April 2005\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Waiting for the crop.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/robertsbridge-bodiam-walk-12.jpg\" alt=\"Castle, sheep, signalbox and beer - a photo walk from Robertsbridge to Bodiam, April 2005\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Inquisitive (and super cute) lamb.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/robertsbridge-bodiam-walk-13.jpg\" alt=\"Castle, sheep, signalbox and beer - a photo walk from Robertsbridge to Bodiam, April 2005\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The majestic sight of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/bodiamcastle.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bodiam Castle<\/a>, built in 1385 by <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Edward_Dalyngrigge\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Sir Edward Dalyngrigge<\/a> (try saying that after a few pints) as a defence against attacks from France, after nearby Rye and Winchelsea had both been sacked and burned eight years previously.<\/p>\n<p>With Bodiam being only 14 miles upstream from Winchelsea on the river Rother, the town was also vulnerable to feisty raiding parties.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/robertsbridge-bodiam-walk-14.jpg\" alt=\"Castle, sheep, signalbox and beer - a photo walk from Robertsbridge to Bodiam, April 2005\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A look inside the castle.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/robertsbridge-bodiam-walk-15.jpg\" alt=\"Castle, sheep, signalbox and beer - a photo walk from Robertsbridge to Bodiam, April 2005\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/robertsbridge-bodiam-walk-16.jpg\" alt=\"Castle, sheep, signalbox and beer - a photo walk from Robertsbridge to Bodiam, April 2005\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Ye Olde tagging.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/robertsbridge-bodiam-walk-17.jpg\" alt=\"Castle, sheep, signalbox and beer - a photo walk from Robertsbridge to Bodiam, April 2005\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Stone stairway to the roof.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/robertsbridge-bodiam-walk-18.jpg\" alt=\"Castle, sheep, signalbox and beer - a photo walk from Robertsbridge to Bodiam, April 2005\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/robertsbridge-bodiam-walk-19.jpg\" alt=\"Castle, sheep, signalbox and beer - a photo walk from Robertsbridge to Bodiam, April 2005\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/robertsbridge-bodiam-walk-20.jpg\" alt=\"Castle, sheep, signalbox and beer - a photo walk from Robertsbridge to Bodiam, April 2005\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Well, well, well.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/robertsbridge-bodiam-walk-21.jpg\" alt=\"Castle, sheep, signalbox and beer - a photo walk from Robertsbridge to Bodiam, April 2005\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Looking over the moat and entrance.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/robertsbridge-bodiam-walk-22.jpg\" alt=\"Castle, sheep, signalbox and beer - a photo walk from Robertsbridge to Bodiam, April 2005\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/robertsbridge-bodiam-walk-23.jpg\" alt=\"Castle, sheep, signalbox and beer - a photo walk from Robertsbridge to Bodiam, April 2005\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A storm a-coming.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/robertsbridge-bodiam-walk-24.jpg\" alt=\"Castle, sheep, signalbox and beer - a photo walk from Robertsbridge to Bodiam, April 2005\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Russian-style bootfair.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/robertsbridge-bodiam-walk-25.jpg\" alt=\"Castle, sheep, signalbox and beer - a photo walk from Robertsbridge to Bodiam, April 2005\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Find out more about the walk<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/london\/robertsbridge.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Walk from Robertsbridge and Bodiam Castle and back (part 1)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/london\/robertsbridge.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Walk from Robertsbridge and Bodiam Castle and back (part 2)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Virtual countryside walks are the only ones possible during the ongoing pandemic, so here&#8217;s a collection of 25 photos from a 2005 walk from Robertsbridge to Bodiam Castle and back, &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":19432,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1765,456,17,193,90],"tags":[2264,624,29,18,1195,1200,2263,217,21],"class_list":["post-19431","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-art","category-news","category-photos","category-places","category-railways","tag-countryside","tag-england","tag-kent","tag-photography","tag-photos","tag-railways","tag-robertsbridge","tag-sussex","tag-walks"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/robertsbridge-bodiam-walk-01.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pQI7P-53p","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19431","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19431"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19431\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19438,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19431\/revisions\/19438"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19432"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19431"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19431"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19431"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}