'A Highly Original Work'

A Review by Walk  

The Magazine of the Ramblers

It's a highly original work and the well-written guidebook, with maps, black and white photos and lots of practical information, is full of interesting historical information including smugglers' tales, rebellions, industry and murders.

 

The route is fully accessible by bus and train and the loop around the High Weald visits Cranbrook, Lamberhurst, Burwash, Robertsbridge and Benenden.'

 

Andrew McCloy

The Ramblers

 

Walking the High Weald (2nd Edition) Three Castles and an Ironmaster's House

 

The cornerstones of this 50-mile (80km) circular history walk are the four great National Trust properties of Bodiam Castle, Sissinghurst Castle, Scotney Castle and Bateman's (hence Three Castles and an Ironmaster's House).

This spiral wire bound Guidebook to Walking the High Weald - Three Castles and an Ironmaster's House explores the history and the industrial past of the High Weald in this part of Kent and East Sussex and is an opportunity to take the time to explore the castles and houses and towns and villages along the route.

It follows man’s ingenuity and progress and a changing industry from agriculture to iron, to sheep, to the woollen trade, smuggling, hopfields and back to agriculture.

There is a soul to this walk; one that reflects the passions and industry of man and also the tensions of war and rebellion. It is now a very pastoral walk with only occasional reminders of the noise, smoke and fire of the iron industry.  The ironmasters and the rich woollen trade are survived by their architecture at Sissinghurst, Cranbrook, Burwash and Brightling.  The derelict hoppickers cottages, next to the River Teise in Lamberhurst, provide a startling contrast to the rich and landed.

And such a varied landscape brings together tales to tell of Mad Jack Fuller and Bloody Baker, Admiral ‘Foulweather Jack’ Norris, and Captain Swing. There are tales of smugglers and Mechanical riots, Napoleon’s horse, aliens in Robertsbridge and, of course, that ‘vengeful dragon’ in Angley Wood.​