St John the Evangelist, Ickham Kent

St John The Evangelist

This was one of the first places on my list that I wanted to visit that day. The drive there wasn’t bad, and the weather was really nice. However, I felt a bit out of place because the town is small, and it seems like everyone knows one another. I did get some odd looks when I parked and walked to the church, but honestly, that kind of stuff doesn’t bother me at all.

Once inside the church, I didn’t spend much time looking around, as most churches tend to look similar. However, some have unique features, and while some are well-kept, others are left run-down.

This church was really pretty inside, even though it was small, and it had some really cool features.

This stunning church dates back to Norman times, with 13th and 14th century additions. It is located 5 miles east of Canterbury and was constructed mainly of flint.

Hythe Sound mirror - kent

 Hythe Sound Mirror 

The Hythe Sound Mirror has been on my to-do list for over two years. I tried to visit it once before, but I couldn't figure out how to get to the mirrors. This time, I discovered a footpath leading right up to them. I'm not sure how I missed this before, but it doesn’t matter now. Somehow, the weather was on our side, although it did become quite moody as we were heading back down. I really thought it was going to rain on us. On our way down, we encountered a group of locals walking up to the sound mirrors, so it seems to be a hangout spot for residents. The sound mirror itself was much larger than I expected, I won’t lie. It’s a shame that it hasn’t been restored or that anyone seems interested in saving it, as it's slowly crumbling and becoming overgrown. However, it was a really cool experience to see this abandoned sound mirror. The Hythe Sound Mirror is located on the roughs. In fact, there was a smaller 20-foot mirror built in 1923, alongside this larger 30-foot one, which was also constructed around the same time. These two mirrors were experimental ones, following trials conducted elsewhere in 1922. Unfortunately, the smaller 20-foot mirror collapsed, while the 30-foot one has survived but has since been fenced off due to its deterioration.

Folkstone - Crete Road West ( 2nd ROC post) - Kent

 Folkstone Roc post 

For some reason, I have been pondering this location for quite some time, and I finally got around to exploring the ROC post. Since I was already in the area, I thought I would check it out. I was expecting it to be locked, but to my surprise, it wasn’t. It looked like someone had removed the hatch. Like most ROC posts, this one was empty, except for a bit of graffiti and a post with a chair. The sky was quite moody, and I really thought I was going to get caught in a storm while I was down there. Thankfully, it didn’t rain and held off just in time. This ROC post on Crate Road West is the second ROC post in Folkestone. It opened in 1960 and closed in 1991, like most ROC posts around Kent. Interestingly, it is also up for sale for £45,000.

TYPE FW3-24 Pillbox - Wickhambreaux Kent

 Type FW3 - 24 pillbox 

This pillbox wasn’t actually on my itinerary, but since I was in the area anyway, I decided to check it out while visiting another location nearby. Most pillboxes look quite similar; the only difference is that some are empty while others still contain remnants of their past. Aside from the graffiti, this one was in better shape than most I have seen, and it also had an interesting information board nearby that provided details about the history of the area and highlighted other pillboxes in the vicinity.

The walk to the pillbox was straightforward, as there was a public footpath that led right to it, and you could also go inside the pillbox to take a look around.

The plaque explains that it was constructed by civilians in the early 1940s and was manned by seven soldiers.

All Saints Chillenden,, Canterbury

 All Saints 

While I was exploring the coastline, I came across several public churches that you could visit during open hours. One of them was a small church called All Saints, located in a village called Chillenden near Canterbury. I have to say, it’s a really lovely little village, and I definitely felt a bit out of place while visiting the church. 

I don’t know why, but I have always enjoyed exploring churches. There’s something about them that fascinates me. While most churches share similar features, each one has its own unique aspects, whether it's the layout, history, or location.

When I arrived at All Saints, I went inside and began taking photos and videos of the church, as I like to document things.

 

So it said that this church dates back to 1180 and has been a Christian place of  worship ever since, 

Battle of Britain hawking - Kent

Battle of Britain Hawking 

I have had this place on my list of places to explore for a long time. While I was out checking out the coastline area, I decided to visit this little museum as well. The day was extremely hot, so the air-conditioned room was quite nice. When I arrived at the museum, I paid for entry, which is £12 for adults and £11 for children over five years old. Unfortunately, you need to leave your phone in your car or hand it over to the reception, as photography is not allowed inside the museum. However, one of the lovely volunteers offered to take me on a tour of the outside so I could get photos of the planes on display. The museum itself is quite interesting and has a lot of history from all over the world, showcasing what people used to use and live with. Many of the items have been donated by families, and the museum sits on the RAF Hawking airfield, so some of the buildings are original from the 1940s. There is a small café on-site that offers good prices and delicious food. The staff in the café are really friendly too. Just make sure to bring your cards, as phones are not allowed while you're sitting in the café inside the museum. We must have spent a good few hours here, and it was just nice to relax and appreciate the history around us.