Railway Adventures on the High Teas

We will take the javelin railway from St Pancras to visit the historic towns of Rye & Winchelsea in East Sussex. Rye is a medieval town suspended in time with cobbled streets & ancient passageways leading to Tudor & Georgian architectural treasures. The town has several medieval churches & the Ypres Tower which affords fine views along the coast . Rye has many literary links; Henry James & EF Benson lived here & set some of their works in the town.

Winchelsea is an “Antient town” one of the original Cinque Ports. Built in the 13th century on the orders of Edward 1, it is the best preserved medieval Bastide towns in Southern England. The stone gateways within the town walls allow access to the captivating town with many fine Georgian streets. Winchelsea has many links to artists; Turner & Millais were inspired by its charms

Plan is to alight in Winchelsea to explore the town before having lunch at the pub by the town square. We will then do the 1066 walk passing Camber Castle to reach Rye. Walk is around 4 miles. We will then explore Rye with a late afternoon tea stop in one of the tea gardens. Regular trains back so people can leave at any time. Option for a coastal walk after to Camber Sands & beaches.

Meet from 10.00am at Benugo cafe, balcony opposite Betjeman statue.
South Eastern Javelin trains depart from platforms 11-13, 10.35am. £5 for meet up fees. A good knowledge of English history is required for this event. Frequent trains back to London so people can leave at anytime.

Easy walk from Richmond to Strawberry Hill House via Ham & Teddington. We start at the Tide Table café on the terrace looking over Thames. Continue along the Thames Path to Ham House, Jacobean mansion facing the Thames. We follow the meadows to Teddington lock where we cross the river. We then reach the Georgian Gothic revival masterpiece of Strawberry Hill House. Created by Horace Walpole in the 18th century it was the inspiration for the Gothic revival in England & the setting for “The castle of Otranto” 1st Gothic novel in English language.
Walpole called his castle a ‘plaything house’ and in choosing the gothic style for Strawberry Hill he deliberately avoided the fashionable classical idioms of his time: columns, pediments, order and symmetry.
In collaboration with a group of amateur architect friends he based his designs on the architecture of the great gothic cathedrals and abbeys. Medieval tombs, arched doorways, rose windows and carved screens were models for his fireplaces, windows, doors and ceilings. Books of prints rather than the buildings themselves were his reference point and, instead of carved stone, the rooms and ornament of Strawberry Hill are wood, plaster and papier mache.
Walpole intended a tour of Strawberry Hill to be a theatrical experience. You enter a gloomy hall and pass up a staircase of grey stony appearance before finally entering the sumptuous state apartment – a burst of crimson and gold.
We can explore the house & gardens with syringas & honeysuckles along the winding paths. We will stop for lunch at the Cloister coffee house set within the gothic arches of the Great Cloister with outside seating if fine. Picnic area within gardens as well.
Gardens & café free, charge for entry & guided tour of House , national trust members reduced entry.
Afterwards easy walk back along other bank of Thames to Richmond. We will pass York House, Orleans House & Marble Hill House before crossing back. Option to shorten the walk by catching train from Strawberry Hill station (5 minutes from the House). Option for cake stop at Marble Hill coach room tea rooms if time. Regular trains back to Waterloo via Richmond.
Meet at the neighbourhood gem of Tide Table Café for drinks by the river from 11.30am. We shall be at a table on the open terrace if day is fine & dry. Look for Adventures on High Teas book on table. Walk will start at 12noon from the terrace next to the tables. £2 to organiser on the day. Nearest station to start is Richmond (4 minutes walk). On Main line from Waterloo plus on District & Overground lines. Walk is around 4 miles to Strawberry Hill with stops for views & photos and is aimed at all those interested in Georgian & Jacobean era London. Return leg in afternoon to Richmond is around 2 miles. Will be another joint walk with LGW. A good knowledge of English history is required for this walk. Both cafes are licenced so serve alcohol as well as hot drinks & food.

Historical cycle ride from Chelsea harbour to Crystal Place Park featuring a tour through the most contemporary riverside developments, parks and commons of South London and hidden corners of Victorian & Georgian London. Around 25 miles, suitable for all cycles as on good cycle tracks and quiet side roads.

We will explore Cheyne Walk with its “Blue Plaque Heaven” of artists, then cross Thames via the aesthetically stunning Albert Bridge into Battersea Park to stop at the newly opened riverside cafés serving the Power Station development. Then circling the bucolic delights of the US embassy with its inviting moat. The Wandle trail passes the famous Merton Abbey Mills, workshop of William Morris and now an arts centre with cafes and exhibitions. We will explore the National Trust estate at Morden Hall with its Snuff mill and landscaped gardens. Our route finishes at the Crystal Palace Park where we can enjoy late afternoon teas on the Grand Terrace overlooking London from the South.

We will use the excellent orbital Overground railway for part of the tour, end section on high viaduct for views over London. There will be opportunity to see and photograph significant railway architecture on the route with several outstanding mid Victorian era stations. We will also ride along the tram link to take in the light railway features. Spare cycles available. £3 for meet up fees. A good knowledge of English History required for event.

refreshments: cafes and pubs on route

travel: Overground to start and from finish. Close to stations along route.

start: 10.30am, Imperial Wharf Station, Chelsea, SW6 2ZH . Meet at coffee kiosk by entrance.

end: 5pm, Crystal Palace Station, postcode, SE19 2AZ