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Monday 8 April 2019

Pevensey, Revisited



Hi my lovely blog friends!
Hope you are having a splendid April so far.


It turns out that I'm on a sort of break from blogging.  I hope you haven't forgotten me.
 My break wasn't planned but it just sort of happened.  A lot of spring cleaning.  An awful cold.  And that was March gone and a chunkette of April.   Now I'm in Sussex and I’m adding hay fever to the mix.  I’m totally zonked out!  So no carefully considered outfits have been put together for some weeks, instead thoughtless throw ons of jumper and jeans have graced this lady’s sniffling form!


Today seems the first opportunity I've had in weeks to sit at a laptop.  So in order to buy myself a bit of breathing space to gather my thoughts I'll leave you with a little snippet of film I took a few days ago when visiting Pevensey Castle.



I've written about the castle previously.  It's a castle I'm drawn to, I think because there are so many layers of history within its sturdy walls.  And quite literally too, for the layers of history can be seen in the crumbling stonework.  So rather than reinvent the wheel I'll be so pleased if you could read the post HERE, or below, for background to my little bit of very amateurish impromptu film, blatantly unplanned and unscripted!




My Pevensey Post, Revisited
(originally written on the day of the Brexit vote)


It's a rather strange day, historically, one where my voice could not be heard, my vote could not given.  So, by way of distraction please join me on a recent trip through historical times.

The remains of Pevensey Castle lie on the East Sussex coast.  In 1066 the Normans, led by William the Conqueror, landed here in Pevensey.  A wooden camp/castle was quickly established around the remains of a Roman stone-built fort.  Three weeks after landing, the Normans marched eastwards and fought the English at the Battle of Hastings, won the battle and the rest is history.  Quite literally.

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The Normans built a stone castle on this site after the victory.



More has been added to the castle over the centuries, like the rounded buildings in the castle's keep built in Tudor times.
The castle continued to have many uses over the centuries, including during the Napoleonic wars and during WWII.


Restoration work is being carried out but this Tudor canon is left on view.




In the pathway under the window area is a grille door to an underground Oubliette ("a little forgotten"?!), where prestigious prisoners were held to ransom. 





Here is one of the remaining entrance walls built in Roman times.  Pretty amazing, huh?  A marriage of flint, brick and stone. 





I learned how the original Roman fort was established to repel landing Saxon pirates.
At that time, the fort lay next to the sea.  Over time the sea has receded from the area.





Here's more of the Roman site.  The fort covered a much larger area than the Norman castle.
With apologies for my messy-tourist look, BTW, I was reahlly suffering badly from pollen that day and had lost the will :-(.


Taking in all this information, of Roman occupation, Saxon pirates, Norman conquerers, adding Vikings to the mix and the "ethnic" Picts, Celts and Angles, I stood in the castle grounds and thought "who DO I think I am".  Genealogy is only as good as the records that are written, and in the greater scheme of things I had to reply "I haven't a clue".  Pretty humbling.
So maybe history tells me that who I am is really about where I am right now.

And that was where I left those thoughts, that day, in that ruined castle, on a piece of land we now call England.
The thoughts of a pensioner who just wanted to flop out on a sofa, with a box of tissues, indoors away from the pollen, and close her burning, streaming eyes!







And the spooky thing was that I started my hay fever whilst revisiting the castle on Saturday, and I came home and flopped out on the sofa with a box of tissues again.  Talk about Groundhog Day!





Also of historic note is that I don't seem to have been wearing anything remotely photo worthy lately.  The Photographer feels he's on some sort of break too, as I haven't been pestering him for OOTD
photos in weeks!  I'm hoping I'll muster some inclination to tart myself up a bit soon because, heck, I'm meeting up with a fellow blogger on Saturday and I don't think I'd be recognisable as my blogging alter ego right now!



Here's wishing you a great week, my lovelies,
a la perchoine,
Mary x.

28 comments:

  1. Welcome back. Sorry to hear about your hay fever. Is it a bit early this year? One advantage of living up here is that our hay fever season starts a little later. I do have a good stock of antihistamines ready and waiting!

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    1. Thanks for your greeting, JayCee! I think it's the Hawthorn pollen, there's so much of it about right now.
      And I'll know where to come if my antihistamines stash runs out!
      Have a stonkin' good week, x.

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  2. Poor you! My mum's hay fever started early this year and she reckons it's tree pollen. I love castles too, the older the better. I always imagine the lives of the people behind the castle walls. I have never been to Pevensey but my tenuous link with the place is that back in the day, I had a lovely penfriend who lived there. I have tried very hard to find her via social media, and even Ancestry, but no joy so far.

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    1. Thanks Gail. Yes, think you're mum's right with tree pollen, think it's hawthorn currently. Hope you're mum's ok.
      So right about the lives within the walls of castles.
      My cousin's husband comes from Pevensey way, if you want to private message me with the name, I'll ask him if he knows the family (it's a small place).
      Hugs and happy week wishes, x.

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  3. Castles are always brilliant places to visit and explore. It sounds as if you need a well earned break after all your renovating/cleaning so be gentle with yourself for a while and nurse that hay fever. I shall look forward to your return when you are feeling refreshed.

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    1. Awww thanks, Christy, I've just told TP you've told me to take it easy! I definitely need a re-charge to get my mojo back.
      Hope your week is going well, happy castle hunting!
      Hugs x.

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  4. Poor Mary! I normally get bad hay fever but I haven't had it for a couple of years and that's a huge bonus. Beconase helps but you have to stick with it and there are stronger meds that you can get from the doctors. I use Fexofenadine 180 for my allergies and it's amazing compared to the 10 ml you can get over the counter. I hope you can enjoy your holiday without that hay fever bothering you xx

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    1. Aww thanks, Laurie. Thanks for your tips. I get antihistamines and Budesonide from my doctor (I used to get Beconase) and I'd just used it before I read your message, so I'm giggling and looking round for your spy camera!
      Wishing you a fabulous week, hugs x.

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  5. Oh is it that time of the year again! So sorry for you. Can you believe we have never been there! Never heard of it either, can't believe it! I really hope we can meet too! I am a bit jealouse that you are now in Sussex!

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    1. Yes, I know how you love the area, Nancy. Pevensey is a short drive from your favourite Rye and the little village has such cute houses as well as an on atmospheric castle. Good pub grub can be had at The Lamb Inn, on the road about 5 mins before you get to Pevensey. Hope you make the trip.
      Have a fab week, hugs x.

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  6. I hadn't heard of that castle either, but as my single name was Norman and my DNA says I am half French perhaps my ancestors had a hand in building it.

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    1. Oh my, 50% French AND called Norman! I guess you must have Scandinavian too?
      Yes, DNA testing is a humbling experience, and it hits home standing in a place like Pevensey. Hope you get to go there, Polly, and get to see the Norman building skills!
      Have a great rest of week, x.

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  7. Oh boy, I hope you feel better soon - that is no fun! I have missed you! You really live near such amazing sites, honestly just beautiful! What do I live near? Disney. Ugh.
    Hugs to you and sweet TP!
    xo,
    Kellyann

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    1. Thanks my sweet sista, the pollen's still lurking 😭😷!! Longing to post outfit shots again.
      Just think how much pleasure Disnsey gives to millions each year!
      Happy rest of week, darlin', x.

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  8. Hi, Mary-I am so sorry about your hay fever-that is one malady that I've have been spared from (although I can't say that for Michael).

    Truthfully, I think an occasional break from blogging does one good. I've needed very long breaks this year and know now I'm much happier not feeling I have to meet some deadline-just when I feel like it.

    I always enjoy reading of vacations-I don't think we have to many really old historical ruins here and certainly no castles!

    I hope you feel better soon. XOX Terri

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    1. Thanks, Terri, you are so lucky to be spared, it seems to be an age thing!
      You are so right, it is liberating to write when it suits, without the shackles of commitment.
      There is so much history in this area, so much to see.
      Happy hugs for the weekend, x.

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  9. Sometimes life happens and we need to take a little break! I hope everything calms down soon for you!

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    1. Thanks Laura, what is it, life happening when we were busy making other plans?!
      Have a lovely weekend, x.

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  10. Sorry to hear about your cold. I hope you're feeling better. Lovely photos. This Roman fort looks interesting. Your question is a good one. Who am I? We are all related in a way. I don't think most European realize how mixed they are. If you just take look at the history of UK, and all the tribes that have historically lived there from Celtic, Norman, Germanic and Anglo tribes, you see how complicated the genealogy must be- Not to say anything of the Vikings and the Romans that visited the island quite a few times.... and that's not counting the modern times.

    https://modaodaradosti.blogspot.com/

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    1. Thanks my sweet. So true, and for that reason DNA testing is such a humbling experience, and we get to find out what a mix we really are.
      Hope you have a lovely rest of week, x.

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  11. Hope you are feeling okay Mary, these are super images. So nice to hear about new places. Thanks for sharing, do stop by and join the #chicandstylish #linkup. Jacqui Mummabstylish

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    1. Thanks Jacqui, I'll be glad when this hawthorn falls from the trees! Hope you get down to my neck of Sussex some time, there's lot's to see.
      Have a lovely weekend, x.

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  12. Sorry to hear things have been so crazy for you! I hope you feel better and fully rested soon!

    The castle looks like such a lovely spot to visit :)

    Hope your week is going well so far :) It's a busy week here!

    Away From The Blue

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    1. You're so sweet, Mica. You're always do busy, you need a break too!
      Have a restful weekend, if you can, x.

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  13. My boys would love the castle! They are excited that I am planning visits to medieval castles on our trip to France this summer.
    www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com

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    1. Oh there is so much good stuff to see in France, Mireille. Your boys would love Puy du Fou too, and I can recommend a fabulous Chateau to stay in nearby, if you're going there!

      https://thepoutingpensioner.blogspot.com/2016/09/chateau-de-la-goujonnerie_26.html

      Happy weekend, x.

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  14. Sorry to hear you have been feeling lousy! Ive joined the club! Im over it but I understand! My huuby has allergies, so your hayfever sounds like no fun either! Sometimes its best to rest and take care.
    Love the video and I find it amazing that structures like this, this old are still around. I would love to visit castles! Hoping you back on track, healthwise!
    thanks for linking!
    jess xx
    www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com

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  15. Sorry you've been feeling yucky! Hopefully you're feeling better now and life will settle down. That castle is something else. Very cool. Happy weekend! XOXO

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