We finally left our home-away-from-home Farthing Common. The Common was shrouded in fog as we left. We were going to the town of Deal, about 8 miles north of Dover. Here we would find Deal Castle, dating back to the coastal defences set up by Henry VIII in the late 1530s after he incurred the wrath of Rome by declaring himself the head of the new Protestant Church of England, and confiscating all the possessions of the Roman Catholic Church in Britain — a very good solution to a fiscal shortfall in government revenues!
We had a couple of other missions for today — to get all of our dirty laundry to a serviced launderette, and for Suzie to get her hair washed, cut and finished — it was driving her berserk!
Suzie had her hair done at the White House!
Suzie had her hair done at the White House!
We got to Deal, found the laundry and got our washing in to her, to be collected at 4pm. We found a hair salon, and booked Suzie in for 1.30pm. We found Deal Castle, and its car park, put the van in there, then walked through the town. On the way back to the hair salon, we found a barber, so Warren also got some hair attention — it only took 10 minutes. Then we walked back to the hair salon, dropped Suzie off there while Warren walked back to the van (only 5 minutes away) to do some blog preparation until Suzie got back. We had bought bread for lunch, so when Suzie arrived at the van, we had lunch — roast beef and chutney in a french baguette — delicious — then went across to Deal Castle.
The design of the castle has hexagonal symmetry, with a central tower surrounded by 6 small bastions, and outside this, 6 larger bastions offset to protect the weak points between the inner bastions. Outside this is a dry moat, protected by gun embrasures all the way round the basement level, opening directly onto the floor of the moat. Not a large castle, but formidable. In all, about 145 guns could be brought to bear on the enemy.
In its history, Deal had a box seat for the burning Spanish Armada off Calais in 1588. During the Kentish Revolt of 1648 (part of the civil wars), the Royalist garrison successfully withstood a parliamentarian siege, only finally surrendering when it was obvious that Cromwell and his roundheads had already won the war.
Flint added to the mortar increased its strength.
Also, if the defenders' musket balls struck the flint,
the resultant shrapnel was devastating!
Part of the 'Rounds', the corridor
connecting the basement gun embrasures.
Flint added to the mortar increased its strength.
Also, if the defenders' musket balls struck the flint,
the resultant shrapnel was devastating!
Part of the 'Rounds', the corridor
connecting the basement gun embrasures.
Deal castle is a fascinating part of British history. It must be mentioned that Deal is one of the seven Cinque Ports, responsible for the defence of the southeast corner of England against Continental foes. There is still a captain of the Cinque Ports installed in the castle, and the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports has his residence in nearby Walmer Castle (which we may visit tomorrow).
The view from Deal Castle, once for defence, now allows you to watch the passers-by on the beachfront.
After Deal Castle, all that was to be done was to pick up the laundry, and to find a camp for the night. We had noticed a nearby recommended caravan site in our Motoring Atlas, and so made our way to Hawthorn Farm Caravan Park — it's easier having a definite destination rather than looking about for a possible site when the sun has virtually quit for the day (which is now at about 4.30pm)!
It was dark when we got back to the launderette!
It was dark when we got back to the launderette!
Distance driven — today, 29 miles ( 47 km ); to date, 30,271 miles ( 48,717 km )
Didn't see the hair do. Glad the washing got done. loved the dogs. take care. Love Ya Cathy
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