APPLEDORE

 

(place of the apple-tree) Isn't their village sign beautiful in its simplicity?

Appledore was the setting for A. A. Milne's famous verse poem, "The Knight Whose Armour Didn't Squeak". Milne lived 29 miles (47 km) west in Hartfield, Sussex. The fictional village of Plummergen, in the "Miss Seeton" series of crime novels by Heron Carvic, is based on Appledore.

It is an attractive village with medieval houses and a 14th century church St Peter and St Paul. The little square, and the exceptionally wide main street, leading up from the canal, is a reminder of the former importance of the village. The village has a Post Office, village store, three pubs, and antique shops. 

(below) the west window which has glass depicting the Shepherd and his flock with Fairfield Church in the background. There is a rabbit in the field, and along the bottom, below the dedication, are very good depictions of birds found locally – kingfisher, lapwing, curlew, black-headed gull, and redshank.

The oldest parts of the building are the north chapel and west tower, the only parts of the building to escape damage during the French raid of 1380.The remainder of the church was so badly damaged by the French that it had to be rebuilt. You can still see fire marks on the tower arch. In front of the altar is buried Sir Philip Chute, standard-bearer to Henry VIII.

Beautiful stump work linear 'tapestry', charting the history of Appledore. This is just small sections of it.

The village has quite a war-like history. The Danes certainly knew Appledore, for they landed here in AD 892 to launch an invasion of England. The French did the same in 1380 when they burned the village and destroyed the church.

In the following year, the men of Appledore joined the Peasant's Revolt, and broke into Horne's Place manor house, stealing 10 pounds worth of goods. Appledore also joined Jack Cade's Revolt in 1450. The village overlooks the Royal Military Canal, built in 1804 as a measure against Napoleon invading. It used to stand on the banks of the Rother, when it was a port, until the river changed course, leaving Appledore some 8 miles from the coast.

Lovely pub, this, which has a good reputation for food. Apparently, as well as black lions, they welcome black lion cubs and four-legged black lion cubs too! (that's their words, not mine)

Previously called  the Red Lion, this popular establishment can be dated back to the early 1800's.