Past times.

[saxonaxe]

After the wet mild weather of late, there has been a change locally. The wind has gone into the North and the little Snowflakes falling on the forum Home Page I feel may soon be appearing for real around this way..
I went up onto the Downland for a wander, it's as beautiful as always but the North wind was cutting like a knife so I chickened out and came down to the nearby small Nature Reserve which adjoins the shoreline.

http://i.imgur.com/4RwyYKcl.jpg

There was once a Mill here which served the Downland farmers who brought their grain harvests down for milling. The mill was operated by the ebb and flow of the sea tides running through the course of the old river which although no longer used as access to the nearby Port, still flowed strongly enough to turn the mill machinery.

http://i.imgur.com/zKEwvM3l.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/rEWxy89l.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/39AzJvel.jpg

A small thriving village surrounded the mill and a railway halt served both local passengers and goods trains collecting grain from the mill.

http://i.imgur.com/uPRgHkhl.jpg

This is the remains of the railway 'station' and the Station Master's Cottage.

http://i.imgur.com/H8Vc007l.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/euzoaqLl.jpg

I'm happy to say there's some excavation going on and items of interest are being found.

http://i.imgur.com/mdrHVlil.jpg

The lovely Sussex round flint walls of the village finally suffered at the hands of soldiers when the village was finally evacuated during the war and used for training purposes. A Coastal gun battery was installed nearby.

http://i.imgur.com/ziEgT7ql.jpg

The adjoining Nature Reserve has benefitted from the heavy rains, the Reed beds are thriving and already the annual punch-ups between the local Drakes sorting out potential mates are beginning..:D

http://i.imgur.com/EoUnG6Gl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/SqSn2gol.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/r5Ew0jJl.jpg

The Willows stand happily with their feet in the flooded ground

http://i.imgur.com/NfNmrv6l.jpg

Meanwhile a few hundred metres away the cargo ships arrive and depart and the balance between Man and Nature seems to be working well here..:D

http://i.imgur.com/dMXqxoWl.jpg

[Thumbcrusher]

T^:happy-clapping:

[Humakt]

And there was me, thinking it was going to be a thread about a shop that sells over-priced, kitsch, tat.
The Downs (North Downs in my case) are my home and those pictures capture the spirit of the rolling hills and why they are a special place to be - at once they are open, curious, worked, forgotten, embracing, hostile, and welcoming. And they always reward an adventurous spirit. Great pictures and an even greater journey.

[BJ]

I very much enjoyed the photographs and captions, It has brought back some memories. T^

[shepherd]

really enjoyed seeing this thread... lots of info too.. thanks

[Peaks]

Very enjoyable - thanks

[LoneWalker]

I enjoyed reading that. Nice post. I will have to get to that part of the country one day.

[OakAshandThorn]

T^ Aye, good to see human establishment and Nature coexisting well :). Reminds me of the town of Essex, situated beside the Connecticut River in my state, where the same coexistence lives on by the shores, and in the Canfield Woods as well as Gillette Castle and Selden Neck State Parks that border the river. Full of history, personal watercraft, and wetland/estuary wildlife in a small town all rolled into one :).

[rossbird]

Another great read John.
I'm beginning to feel like I know your neck of the woods
☺