A Total Failure!!!!

With all great intentions to capture a birds eye view over Tonbridge I joined one of the Heritage Open Day tours of the Parish Church Tower today.

Although I am not too good with heights, I was determined to climb up the medieval spiral staircase to the belfry, and then ascend the final steeper steps to the very top, where I wanted to take photographs of the old town below. I probably could have even looked into my garden (and the neighbours).

I failed completely!! It didn't help that one member of my group had brought a safety helmet along to wear (bit excessive) and that struck panic into me at the offset. After clinging on tightly for dear life to a rope on one side of the claustrophic stair well, and the wall on the other, I managed to go up about 6 steps, until fear took over, and I turned around to get my feet firmly back on the ground.

I managed this one wobbly photograph.

If you have a better head for heights than me, you'll have the opportunity to get to the top of the tower tomorrow. Tours will be running all day from 11am to 4pm.

Let me know if you do and send your photographs in so that I can include them on the blog.

Heritage Open Day at Hadlow Tower

 With my online ticket booking firmly in my hand, I turned up 15 minutes early for my allocated group slot to visit Hadlow Tower. I wasn't about to miss this golden opportunity to spend time at the restored folly, especially as the ticket was issued free of charge for Heritage Open Day.

When 'my' group had gathered we walked through the grounds, with a very informative steward who led us to the main entrance to the tower. We passed this very old tree with a wooden prop that was put into place in 1951 - half a century ago!!!

Then it was on to a small exhibition centre on the ground floor with videos, a 3D tactile model and explanatory display boards about the history of Hadlow Castle, the people who lived there, the surrounding countryside and how the Tower was restored.

Original 1901....Disrepair 1995....Renovation 2012....Restored 2013

A lift took us up floor by floor to see the refurbishment of the rooms, that now can be rented for up to six people. The living space is on 3 floors all of which, of course, have a 360 degree view aspect of the surrounding countryside.

The last climb is a 100 step spiral staircase to reach the viewing platform which offers views as far as reaching as Tonbridge. I easily spotted Quarry Hill and K College in one direction and enjoyed a wonderful bird's eye view of Hadlow Village from another.

Hadlow Church and Village

Tonbridge in the distance - K College is the white oblong centre right

Hadlow Village

Looking towards Tonbridge

Castle Grounds

The restoration is fascinating!!! I particularly loved the relationship between the internal new architecture of strong metal girders and the original brickwork together with the wooden structural beams.

Above the living accommodation and looking up to the top of the tower

The final 100 step spiral staircase

Looking down

Original structural wooden beam

The tower is open tomorrow and over the weekend during the Heritage Open Days. Booking is online through the website http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/hadlow-tower but I'm not sure if there are any slots left.  Hadlow Tower closes for the season  on the 16 September and will open again next year. It's really worth a visit.