Kent

However appealing may be the picture conjured up by the once popular song, it would be a rare sight indeed to see bluebirds flying over the White Cliffs of Dover! Passengers on liners though, do crowd the rails of their ships to catch E first, or last, glimpse of the famous cliffs that have such a place in the hearts of the people of this country. To anyone not familiar with this feeling however, they are merely the point where the lovely county of Kent reaches the sea.

Inns and their customers all over the country have reason to be grateful for the rich, well drained soil of Kent and for its climate, which makes it ideal for the growing of hops, so necessary in the production of the beer for which these Inns are noted. Hops have been grown in Kent for over four hundred years and, until the advent of modern machinery, the hop picking season was a time of frantic activity for both local workers and whole families from the cities, particularly London, who would descend on the area in late August to earn extra money in the fields.

After picking, hops have to be dried very carefully, and it was this requirement that gave rise to the peculiarly attractive oast houses with their conical roofs and rotating cowls, looking strangely like a blend of farmhouse and windmill. These coast houses are a great feature of the county and add enormously to its charm.

In addition to hops all manner of fruits are grown in the fertile fields of Kent. Apples, pears, cherries and plums all find their way to such markets as London's Covent Garden, and thence to outlets all over the land. The countryside is particularly noted for its beauty in the spring when all the blossom is in flower, and it comes as no surprise to hear the county referred to as 'the garden of England'

Because of the nearness of the Kentish coast to Europe, and thus the fear of invasion by this route, there is a wonderful legacy left to us in the many castles which are to be found in the county. These vary greatly in age and grandeur, from the Roman remains of Richborough Fort to the immense power of Henry VIII's artillery fort at Deal Castle and the picturesque fortified manor house known as Scotney Castle.

In addition to the glorious cathedral city of Canterbury, Kent has many holiday resorts that have been the favorites of countless generations and are still as popular today. Of the towns and places which offer so much in the way of interest and beauty, one that cannot be overlooked is Royal Tunbridge Wells. Like its one time rival, Bath, it came to prominence as a spa, and this is commemorated by Bath Square, where the health giving springs were discovered. The Pantries, a lovely colonnade of Regency houses and shops, are but one feature that reminds the visitor of those days. It well deserves to be known, as it still is, as one of the most elegant towns in England.

Canterbury Cathedral

In England's county of pastures, blossom and an abundance of fruit. there are to be found the most typical of English villages and towns. There is also the city of Canterbury and its cathedral, the focal point and Mother Church of Anglicans everywhere. Without the cathedral Canterbury would still be a city of outstanding beauty, with Its walls built on Roman foundations and its wealth of historic and beautiful old buildings.

There is no doubt, however, that the magnet that draws visitors, and has brought pilgrims for many hundreds of years is its cathedral, the seat of the Primate of all England. In Saxon times it became the cradle of Christianity in England when Saint Augustine arrived here from Rome and, despite much ill usage, it has retained its eminence to the present day.

In churches of great antiquity there are bound to be associations with events that have had far reaching consequences. Perhaps because of the romanticism and tragedy of the story, not even the ordination of the many Archbishops can compete with the fame that came to Canterbury after the murder of one of their number in 1170. For it is to stand at the site of the assassination of Thomas a Becket by Henry II's Knights that still brings many of the countless visitors who come to Canterbury every year. Having made the journey for that purpose, and having seen what they came to see, they are invariably even more rewarded by the many other splendours and charms that both the cathedral and the city have to offer them.

Kent Hotels

The George Hotel and Brasserie - Stone Street, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 3HE Tel: 0870 860 8412
Hempstead House Hotel - London Road, Bapchild, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 9PP Tel: 0870 860 8422
Little Silver Country Hotel - Ashford Road, St. Michael’s, Tenterden, Kent TN30 6SP Tel: 0870 860 8413
The Pilgrims Hotel - 18 The Friars, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 2AS
Hotel Relish - 4 Augusta Gardens, Folkestone, Kent CT20 2RR Tel: 0870 418 8053
Romney Bay House Hotel - Coast Road, Littlestone, New Romney, Kent TN28 8QY Tel: 0870 418 8063
8/9 Wellington Terrace, The Esplanade, Sandgate, Kent CT20 3DY Tel: 0870 418 8056