Tonbridge & Hadlow
I didn't post yesterday because there wasn't much going on. I traveled via train from Eastbourne to Tonbridge and then just explored Tonbridge a bit. Honestly, this town doesn't have much going for it. I hate to say it, but yesterday I was bored! The reason I'm staying here is because it's the nearest rail station to Hadlow.
Yesterday I visited Tonbridge's small castle. It's mostly been a defensive castle, so nothing too fancy going on here.
I then walked around...a lot. Nearly nine miles yesterday. I walked to an area called Haysden Country Park which is on the outskirts of Tonbridge. Then I got a milkshake, sat, and people-watched. Then I went to a pub and had a half pint and a cheese/potato pie.
Something crazy happened at the pub! This place had two levels and the toilets were on the second level--maybe just eight steps up. I was eating on that second level. All of a sudden I hear a super loud crash as an older woman was coming up the stairs. I thought maybe she had knocked something over as she came up the stairs; nobody really reacted. No! Her husband had fallen backwards down the stairs and landed flat on his back! It sounded like dead weight and I'm pretty sure he cracked open his head because the bartender came by later with bloody paper towels in his gloved hands. The guy was knocked out--he was snoring while his friend yelled his name trying to wake him up. The ambulance came and I heard them telling him probably 20 times that he fell down the stairs. I hope he's okay, but definitely some kind of head injury occurred. I'm wondering if he was drunk and/or passed out because the way he fell it sounded like he didn't even try to stop himself. It was kind of weird to me how no one really reacted. Everyone was almost too calm. Takes a lot to rattle the English, I guess.
Today I rode the local bus to Hadlow, a nearby village that holds the most ancestry connections for me on this trip. Here's the (Had)lowdown on that:
One thing I was supposed to do in Hadlow was visit Hadlow Tower, but it got canceled because not enough participants booked. That was a bummer. Here's a photo of it from a street. It's essentially a private residence now, so I couldn't even go on the grounds for a photo.
When I arrived off the bus, I went in search of a little store and coffee shop called Weathered and Worn. It was so cute inside. Lots of vintage home décor, it was simply charming. I ordered muesli (basically raw oatmeal with nuts and berries) and a coffee.
I have trouble understanding people sometimes and have to ask them to repeat what they say. For instance, the woman at the shop asked me if I wanted oat milk with my "mucka." She meant in my coffee, in the mocha. The accent and speed at which they talk can be hard to follow!
After breakfast I walked to the church down the block, St Mary's. The church has been around for nearly 1000 years; I think it's reasonable to assume that if my ancestors did live here, they attended this church. At least one or more might be buried here. The door below is original from the year 1637.
I went inside the church to explore (I was the only one there, which I love) and did a pretty diligent walk around the cemetery looking for names. I did see the name Warren on one gravestone, which is in my family tree and I believe even this branch.
After the church I walked to a place called Broadview Gardens, which is huge area of gardens but also has a tearoom. The garden is owned and maintained by Hadlow College which kind of specializes in agricultural programs like horticulture and forestry. I walked the gardens and enjoyed it. I'm sure it's even more lovely in the high summer season when everything is in bloom.
Yesterday I visited Tonbridge's small castle. It's mostly been a defensive castle, so nothing too fancy going on here.
I then walked around...a lot. Nearly nine miles yesterday. I walked to an area called Haysden Country Park which is on the outskirts of Tonbridge. Then I got a milkshake, sat, and people-watched. Then I went to a pub and had a half pint and a cheese/potato pie.
Something crazy happened at the pub! This place had two levels and the toilets were on the second level--maybe just eight steps up. I was eating on that second level. All of a sudden I hear a super loud crash as an older woman was coming up the stairs. I thought maybe she had knocked something over as she came up the stairs; nobody really reacted. No! Her husband had fallen backwards down the stairs and landed flat on his back! It sounded like dead weight and I'm pretty sure he cracked open his head because the bartender came by later with bloody paper towels in his gloved hands. The guy was knocked out--he was snoring while his friend yelled his name trying to wake him up. The ambulance came and I heard them telling him probably 20 times that he fell down the stairs. I hope he's okay, but definitely some kind of head injury occurred. I'm wondering if he was drunk and/or passed out because the way he fell it sounded like he didn't even try to stop himself. It was kind of weird to me how no one really reacted. Everyone was almost too calm. Takes a lot to rattle the English, I guess.
Today I rode the local bus to Hadlow, a nearby village that holds the most ancestry connections for me on this trip. Here's the (Had)lowdown on that:
- William and Sarah (Burgess) Merriam born (1564 and 1570 respectively) and died (1635 and 1640 respectively) (12x Great Grandparents) - buried at St Mary's Church
- Abraham Warren born 1575 and died 1654 (12x Great Grandfather) - buried here
- Edward Henchman born 1579 (13x Great Grandfather) - likely died and is buried here
- Edward II and Elizabeth Henchman born 1605 (12x Great Grandparents) - emigrated because died in Chelmsford, MA
- Richard Hildreth born 1605 (11x Great Grandfather) - emigrated because died in Chelmsford, MA
- Edmund Callaway born 1620 (9x Great Grandfather) - likely died and is buried here
- Sarah Merriam Wheeler born 1627 (10x Great Grandmother) - emigrated because died in Concord, MA
- William and Mary (Murdock) Brown born 1629 and 1625 respectively (9x Great Grandparents - emigrated because died in Eastham, MA
- Joseph Callaway born 1646 (8x Great Grandfather) - emigrated because died in Essex, VA
- Margaret Anderson Dodd born 1806 (4x Great Grandmother) - likely died near Newcastle, England
All of these people descended from my Grandma Scheffert's mother's mother, Mary Oakes Griggs. I do take this list with a grain of salt because these are very distant connections and the further back you go, the more odds that the information is incorrect.
Even so, I really enjoyed Hadlow and liked being there. It's a very small town and is charming for that reason.
Even so, I really enjoyed Hadlow and liked being there. It's a very small town and is charming for that reason.
One thing I was supposed to do in Hadlow was visit Hadlow Tower, but it got canceled because not enough participants booked. That was a bummer. Here's a photo of it from a street. It's essentially a private residence now, so I couldn't even go on the grounds for a photo.
When I arrived off the bus, I went in search of a little store and coffee shop called Weathered and Worn. It was so cute inside. Lots of vintage home décor, it was simply charming. I ordered muesli (basically raw oatmeal with nuts and berries) and a coffee.
I have trouble understanding people sometimes and have to ask them to repeat what they say. For instance, the woman at the shop asked me if I wanted oat milk with my "mucka." She meant in my coffee, in the mocha. The accent and speed at which they talk can be hard to follow!
After breakfast I walked to the church down the block, St Mary's. The church has been around for nearly 1000 years; I think it's reasonable to assume that if my ancestors did live here, they attended this church. At least one or more might be buried here. The door below is original from the year 1637.
After the church I walked to a place called Broadview Gardens, which is huge area of gardens but also has a tearoom. The garden is owned and maintained by Hadlow College which kind of specializes in agricultural programs like horticulture and forestry. I walked the gardens and enjoyed it. I'm sure it's even more lovely in the high summer season when everything is in bloom.
I wasn't too hungry at this point but wanted to sit, so I went into the tearoom and ordered cream tea. I'm glad I did because it was yummo and I stayed for almost two hours just savoring it and enjoying!
I got on the correct bus back to Tonbridge and am now at a pub called Fuggles Beer Café enjoying a half pint of some kind of pale ale writing this. I'll probably stay at this pub for dinner and then get myself ready for London tomorrow!