Sunday, September 30, 2007
6th September Southease Bridge and village.
On a beautiful September morning we drove to the south of Lewes.
Our first stop was Southease Bridge, spanning the River Ouse - which has its source near to Ardingly and flows through Lewes down to the sea at Newhaven.
Southease is a part of camp (childhood holidays) really - though some distance from it. We regularly rode our bikes to Newhaven to swim, explore rock pools and play.
There were 2 possible routes and sometimes we would return on the far side of the river, entailing a crossing of the bridge.
It it was always a rickety bridge, I thought. But underneath was much machinery and cogs so that the bridge could be opened to allow for the passing of taller boats using Lewes.
Nice creatures cows!
We stopped briefly in the village of Southease - about half a mile from the river.
We left Southease after admiring some of the cottages.
Our first stop was Southease Bridge, spanning the River Ouse - which has its source near to Ardingly and flows through Lewes down to the sea at Newhaven.
Southease is a part of camp (childhood holidays) really - though some distance from it. We regularly rode our bikes to Newhaven to swim, explore rock pools and play.
There were 2 possible routes and sometimes we would return on the far side of the river, entailing a crossing of the bridge.
It it was always a rickety bridge, I thought. But underneath was much machinery and cogs so that the bridge could be opened to allow for the passing of taller boats using Lewes.
The tide was quite low when we were there - Southease is only about 4 miles from the sea.
In the middle of the bridge you can see the little hut where the bridge keeper would have spent his working life, ready to open the swing bridge when needed.
You can see how the near section sits on a device that can be turned.
You can see how the near section sits on a device that can be turned.
It would not be necessary these days - tall ships do not pass up river to Lewes now. In fact I would guess they mostly sailed down to Newhaven for in the last century Lewes had a small ship building industry.
I must have seen this view many times - over the bridge to Iford Hill - the next one to Beddingham Hill - where the tents were sited.
You may have heard of the author Virginia Woolf. I confess I have read none of her work, for it always seemed rather intense and difficult.
She was an intense woman and committed suicide in the river. I somehow always thought that she threw herself from the bridge; maybe her body was found quite near it. She lived in the next village, Rodmell, and when her mental illness became intolerable she filled her coat pockets with heavy stones and walked into The Ouse quite near her home. Her body was not discovered for almost 3 weeks. This was in 1941.
But for us this was a joyful place - look at the brilliant blue sky.
But for us this was a joyful place - look at the brilliant blue sky.
We are looking across the river and the water meadows towards Lewes.
You can just see the white stone castle ruins towering above the town.
Through the gateway is Mount Caburn - a constant view from camp, though at a different angle of course.
The cows were very friendly and came along to greet us as we walked by the river.
Through the gateway is Mount Caburn - a constant view from camp, though at a different angle of course.
The cows were very friendly and came along to greet us as we walked by the river.
Nice creatures cows!
Blackberry bushes along the lane. Those at the top of the bush in this picture don't appear to be large and luscious, but I assure you that lower down were some very good and tasty fruits.
We stopped briefly in the village of Southease - about half a mile from the river.
Note that the church has a round tower.
In childhood, Dad was always keen to help us notice things and learn and so the 3 round towered churches of Sussex are part of my memory. The other 2 are in the adjacent villages of Rodmell, where Virginia Woolf lived at Monk's House, and at Piddinghoe, such a delightful sounding name.
We left Southease after admiring some of the cottages.
