Two More Villages: Forest Row & Great Wishford

We landed at Gatwick and were picked up by Wendy's friend from her Winnipeg days.  Ann moved back to England 20 years ago and lives in Forest Row, a small village about 30 minutes south of Gatwick. It's a beautifully decorated very old house.  Narrow with 2 rooms and a small kitchen down and 2 bedrooms up, all rooms in a row.  It's what might be called row housing in Canada, very common in England. Originally had a washroom up on the top floor and toilet out in the back yard but it has now been renovated to modern standards. It's very evident Ann's main hobby is gardening.  Her garden in the back is beautiful.  We had a great visit with Ann, lots of catch up chat and a wonderful dinner out at a local Portuguese restaurant.  One of our best meals on this trip.

We headed off the next day to East Grinstead Rail Way station to travel to Salisbury.  Through Clapham Junction which is one of the main RR stations for changing trains in southern England.  We are getting good at this station as we passed through it 3 times on this trip.  Every amenity you can imagine is available up on the bridge joining the many different tracks.  Food of all kinds, a card store, place to buy nice scarves, shoe shine, drinks, etc etc etc.

And so on to our last small village for this trip.  Great Wishford, just 10 km outside of Salisbury and the home of our friend Pam who we both knew in Winnipeg when all 3 of us were Guiders there.  Pam moved back to England about 25 years ago. Her house is just on the other side of this church yard and the middle house of a row house.

Pam has a lovely garden in her back yard with vegetables, fruit trees and a summerhouse at the very back.  She uses it as her studio for painting, sewing and other crafting.

We spent a day exploring downtown Salisbury.  Much of that time in the famous Salisbury Cathedral.  Construction was begun in 1220 and was completed in just 38 years, which is very quick in cathedral building circles!  Because it was completed so quickly its architecture is more uniform than many other Gothic churches.  It also has the tallest spire in England although it is leaning by approx. 2 feet.  Another interesting feature is the very modern baptismal font - with an infinity pool effect.  

The cloisters of the cathedral.  I always love seeing the green space that was set aside all those years ago for the clergy for quiet contemplation.  It is one of the largest cloisters in England.

We also visited the Chapter House which holds one of the 4 remaining copies of the Magna Carta. (no photos allowed). It is the best preserved and most legible copy still existing.  When this "Great Charter" was drafted, copies were made to be sent throughout the country. This one came through the Canon of Salisbury who was involved in the negotiations that resulted in the document. It is on one piece of sheepskin, written in abbreviated old Latin, and in very small careful script.  Sorry not to be able to share an image with you. 

Some views of the town - 

We thought Salisbury was a lovely town.  Lots of very cute shops and pedestrian walkways.  And some very interesting old Dickens style buildings, half timbered with the top floor projecting out over the ground floor.  I'm sure there is a word for that but I don't know what it is. 

Thank you Pam; we so enjoyed our visit with you.  It was great re-visiting our Manitoba Girl Guide camping days and having a great chin wag over numerous cups of tea. 

Signed - two of your little flowers!!!