Fort Amherst

09.26.14 :: Fort Amherst, constructed in 1756 to protect the River Medway and Chatham Dockyard from Napoleonic invasion. The construction of the Tunnels seemed like a really good idea due to earlier attacks on the dockyard in 1667 by the Dutch.  No invasion ever occurred from the French. The Tunnels were used as a post of operations during WWII. 

natural chalk walls

Rochester Cathedral 09.26.14

Rochester Cathedral, the second oldest church in England next to Canterbury Cathedral has been a place of Christian worship since 604 BCE. It remains to flourish in activity bringing men, women and children together today to worship and tour.

 entrance door of wood and forged iron

forever in sleep

Rochester Castle 09.26.14

Rochester Castle :: visited 09.26.14 (b'twn Canterbury and London) alongside the River Medway, ruins of the first stone walls built on this site date to 1088.  In 1215 a creative siege by King John, whose men blew through an outer wall with the fat of forty pigs! Now that's resourceful!  A haunt of a place, where it is said 100 individuals were starved out over a two month period of time in 1215 within its keep, instead of succumbing to King John's rule. King Edward III continues to build onto the earlier walls from 1367-70.

Rochester Castle has one of the tallest keeps still surviving in all of Europe. An amazing journey wandering in and out of its niches, up and down spiraling stone steps.

A paddle in a punt

This morning, a number of my students and myself met at the King's Bridge and enjoyed a 40 minute tour along the River Stour in a classic "punt," or a flat bottom boat. Captain John brought close to 1,000 years to life as we gently drifted along this historical, vital waterway. Stunning views of the city from below street level! 

Drifting alongside the Marlowe Theatre 

River Stour :: Canterbury . UK

A "Dunking Chair" sits behind the Weaver's House

(the reproduction, serves as a cultural marker of the past 

with a nasty bit of history; used for everything from public humiliation, 

to the trail of witches)

GO TO :: http://www.canterburyrivertours.co.uk

a juniper grows here

Cottage #7

Separated, but not Divorced . Thomas Sidney Cooper

Duckling with 4 legs

DUCKLING WITH FOUR LEGS. 

FROM HAWE FARM . STURRY 

PRESENTED BY MRS. FLEET

this is one of my favorite finds!

ˈvʊndɐˌkamɐ' :: home for the curious

Wunderkammer

ˈvʊndəˌkamə  ˈvʊndɐˌkamɐ/  German

a place where a collection of curiosities and rarities is exhibited

The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge :: Canterbury . Kent

Wonder + Wander

A Wunderkammer in the truest sense of the word, or Cabinet of Curiosities, where cultural, natural, antiquities and art come together. The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge has been my place of 'grounding' since my arrival here in Canterbury a week ago.  As the website states; "Canterbury had been left a bequest by former resident, Dr James George Beaney (1828-1891) for the building of ‘an Institute for Working Men', with amenities for men from poor backgrounds like his own."  The Institute officially opened its doors to the public in 1899.  In 2012 the museum opened its doors again with a new addition, doubling the collection's size on view.  An extensive library and cafe is located there, that I will find my back to again and again. In addition, there is also the Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize 2013 through NOV '14, a contemporary international photo exhibition not to be missed.  Today, I wandered and wondered. 
GO to 4 more info :: http://www.canterbury.co.uk/Beaney/history-of-the-beaney.aspx
and http://www.canterbury.co.uk/Beaney/whats_on/

The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge

No doubt a Wunderkammer! I believe this over-the-top tudor style building opened SEPT 11 of 1899 (architect = A.H.Campbell) will become a favorite place for me to visit once I catch up on daily footing @ 18 High Street, Canterbury, Kent CT1 2RA, England. GO TO for more info :: http://www.canterbury.co.uk/Beaney/

Saturday flea market on High Street

where ancient & contemporary dwell

Marlowe Theatre :: Canterbury . UK

MARLOWE THEATRE :: Canterbury . UK :: named for the playwright Christopher Marlowe 1564 > 1593, the poor man died of a brutal stabbing to the eye at 29. Elizabethan dramatist producing Doctor Faustus (a personal fav), Edward II,  others. Certainly planning a few viewings during our Fall term here; Henry IV, Jasmin Vardimon Company's Park, more! For more notes of interest go to :: http://tudorstuff.wordpress.com/2009/10/18/a-wild-stab-in-the-dark-the-death-of-christopher-marlowe/

Organic Snail Gel ... for the skin

for rejuvenation + anti wrinkle cream