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A Summer Holiday in Sussex

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A Summer Holiday in Sussex

August 8, 2013
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Is anyone ever PLEASED to be back from holiday?

I doubt it very much. But back I am. Boo. Caution, as ever with holiday posts this contains lots, and lots, of photos!

All the way back in 2011 I talked about taking a holiday in a train, with a list of funky places where you can sleep in train carriages. So when I was looking to book this years getaway I was SO excited when I found the Prince Regent Carriage Bodiam in Sussex.

It was built in the late 1800s for a Fairground owner called WC Jones, who apparently lived in it with his wife for years. It was refurbished, at some point in the 1970s I believe, and now lives on a farm in Bodiam as a Holiday cottage. I have no idea if it ever went on rails as a train, but it’s now on carriage wheels, outside is all deep red paint and gilding. Inside is a small sitting room and bedroom. It’s amazingly decked out in mahogany, with what are apparently the original cut amber glass handles, velvet seats and cut crystal windows and mirrors. There’s even the original “Showman’s Seat” right by the doors and all the original slide out desks and filing are still there. It’s a masterpiece of how to fit a lot in a small space!

Prince Regent Cottage

Prince Regent Carriage Bodiam

Prince Regent Bedroom

You have to leave the carriage to go to a separate kitchen and shower room which are on either side of a covered decked area, which is where I spent much of last week sitting with an array of different drinks taking in the view, which included apple orchards and Bodiam Castle itself.

Prince Regent Balcony

Tropical Drinks

decking

I totally recommend it as a holiday destination. It’s quirky and beautiful. There is a steam railway in walking distance that during the day can take you to Northiam and Tenterden. In the evenings there is a pub less than a mile away and another called the White Dog about a mile and a half away in nearby Ewhurst Green that does delicious food, and that’s about as far as you can get without a car. You probably want to make sure you have reflective clothing and a torch to get back from them in the dark as well. It was pretty blissful to not be able to do anything except sit on a porch and watch the sun go down.

So what did we do with ourselves all day and night?

Well, we went on a steam train, and then for a long country walk home via several pubs. At the Bodiam station of the Kent & Sussex steam Railway is a small railway carriage that has been turned into a museum. It’s called the Cavell carriage and it’s the railway carriage that carried the body of executed WWI nurse Edith Cavell back to England. She came from Norfolk, which was a little coincidence and made it all the more interesting for me.

steam train

109 (2)

114 (2)

119

We went to Battle Abbey on the only day it rained (and spotted Tony Robinson in the tea room, that’s the second time he’s been in the same place as me, I think I’m being stalked)

battle abbey

Untitled-1

We walked down to Bodiam Castle on a stupidly hot day, looked at fish and then hid inside it’s nice cool Medieval walls. Mr Chick had a go at archery, I decided no one needed to die today so stuck to my usual job of moaning about how hot it was.

Bodiam me

bodiam roof

bodiam1

fish

We drove to Eastbourne during the day to win tat from 2p falls machines and eat the mandatory seaside meal of fish and chips on the Pier.

199

EASTBOURNE BOAT

EASTBOURNE PIER

EASTBOURNE

SCAMPI AND CHIPS

We went for sunset walks around the farm.

rail

trees

And then we went back to the porch, bought the TV outside and watched Indiana Jones, just because.

Indiana

Sussex might not pop up highly on your list of go to Holiday destinations, but it should, if you fancy a proper country break. We ate Sussex cheese, drank Sussex cider and beer and the country side is full of gorgeous cottages that are probably all owned by Londoners as weekend homes, but I like to pretend are owned by Farmers and people who do country crafts (and I’m sure some of them still are!)

Here are some links to where we stayed, and where we visited. (p.s.I want to go back to the Prince Regent carriage next year, so if you steal my week I will have to hate you forever)

❤ Prince Regent Carriage ❤ Bodiam Castle ❤ The White Dog Inn – Ewhurst Green ❤ Battle Abbey ❤ Kent & East Sussex Railway ❤

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47 Comments

  1. kittybonkers says:
    August 8, 2013 at 12:22 pm

    That looked like the most perfect holiday ever! As a city girl, I do love living in my small micro-city, but every now and then its nice to take a break away from the over crowding and constant noise, and this looks perfect, I love all things old (I studied Archaeology) and I love old train carriages too, I totally want to save up and go on a holiday like this now!

    • Gemma says:
      August 8, 2013 at 1:48 pm

      It wasn’t that expensive! Considering it’s high season!

  2. Julie Mellor says:
    August 8, 2013 at 1:15 pm

    Julie Mellor liked this on Facebook.

  3. Miriam McDonald says:
    August 8, 2013 at 1:16 pm

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  4. Sara Jayne Lethbridge says:
    August 8, 2013 at 1:16 pm

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  5. Sally Sutton says:
    August 8, 2013 at 1:16 pm

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  6. Shannon Gallaway says:
    August 8, 2013 at 1:16 pm

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  7. Susana Duarte says:
    August 8, 2013 at 1:16 pm

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  8. Caroline Seager says:
    August 8, 2013 at 1:16 pm

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  9. Linzi Stirrup says:
    August 8, 2013 at 1:16 pm

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  10. Beth Ackland says:
    August 8, 2013 at 1:16 pm

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  11. LandGirl1980 says:
    August 8, 2013 at 1:19 pm

    This looks amazing!!!!

    • Gemma says:
      August 8, 2013 at 1:49 pm

      It was. Can I go back now?

      • Lisa Carlson says:
        August 8, 2013 at 3:04 pm

        Lovely blog and really great photos!

  12. MulberryCotts says:
    August 8, 2013 at 2:25 pm

    @Retrochick_uk yes of course! Great blog and fab photos, love it!! Did you receive our email?

  13. MulberryCotts says:
    August 8, 2013 at 3:07 pm

    Love this blog by @Retrochick_uk about the fabulous & quirky Prince Regent //t.co/OTzeXBB3fE #theprinceregentmc #mulberrycottages

  14. mrshpresents says:
    August 8, 2013 at 3:10 pm

    That looks like such a chilled out holiday. Loving the train carriage holiday let, can’t wait to tell my dad about it.

  15. Bunny says:
    August 8, 2013 at 3:42 pm

    Oh that vacation looked dreamy. And romantic to boot. I love it. I cannot wait to have a getaway with my hubby-we need one badly LOL Thank you for sharing yours with us! xox

  16. MulberryCotts says:
    August 8, 2013 at 3:42 pm

    @Visit1066 We thought you would love this blog, great shout out about Sussex and The Prince Regent //t.co/GiVztHRy5G

  17. MulberryCotts says:
    August 8, 2013 at 3:48 pm

    @KandESRailway we love this blog about The Prince Regent carriage, great mention of the Cavell carriage //t.co/GiVztHRy5G

  18. Eva-Lynn says:
    August 8, 2013 at 3:49 pm

    Beautiful pictures! x

    fashionistainthedark.blogspot.com

  19. MulberryCotts says:
    August 8, 2013 at 3:51 pm

    @TheWhiteDogPub have you seen this blog, nice mention of your pub. We’ll send guests at The Prince Regent your way! //t.co/GiVztHRy5G

  20. Visit1066 says:
    August 8, 2013 at 4:21 pm

    RT @MulberryCotts: @Visit1066 We thought you would love this blog, great shout out about Sussex and The Prince Regent //t.co/GiVztHRy5G

  21. MulberryCotts says:
    August 8, 2013 at 8:27 pm

    @Retrochick_uk I hear you! No rush but we’d love to have you back

  22. evangelineh says:
    August 8, 2013 at 10:00 pm

    RT @Retrochick_uk: I went on holiday in a 19th century fairground owners carriage. Lets pretend I’m pleased to be back. //t.co/QnsU73R…

  23. holidayaddict23 says:
    August 8, 2013 at 10:05 pm

    A Summer Holiday in Sussex //t.co/5KI7v7qZ3O via @retrochick_uk #ttot

  24. WW2HistoryGal says:
    August 8, 2013 at 10:10 pm

    @Retrochick_uk @evangelineh That looks incredible!

  25. mytravellicious says:
    August 8, 2013 at 10:12 pm

    RT @holidayaddict23: A Summer Holiday in Sussex //t.co/5KI7v7qZ3O via @retrochick_uk #ttot

  26. evangelineh says:
    August 8, 2013 at 10:16 pm

    @WW2HistoryGal I’m jealous of her holiday. @Retrochick_uk

  27. WW2HistoryGal says:
    August 8, 2013 at 10:19 pm

    @evangelineh @Retrochick_uk ME TOO.

  28. emilythomson4 says:
    August 8, 2013 at 11:02 pm

    @Retrochick_uk that looks so beautiful!

  29. Cosmic_Sister says:
    August 8, 2013 at 11:48 pm

    RT @Retrochick_uk: I went on holiday in a 19th century fairground owners carriage. Lets pretend I’m pleased to be back. //t.co/QnsU73R…

  30. TrifleRabbit says:
    August 9, 2013 at 7:03 am

    RT @Retrochick_uk: I went on holiday in a 19th century fairground owners carriage. Lets pretend I’m pleased to be back. //t.co/QnsU73R…

  31. TrifleRabbit says:
    August 9, 2013 at 7:04 am

    @Retrochick_uk I love your holiday 🙂

  32. Karen James-welton says:
    August 9, 2013 at 8:41 am

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  33. Tracey O'Connor says:
    August 9, 2013 at 8:41 am

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  34. Eleanor Bell says:
    August 9, 2013 at 8:41 am

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  35. Sue Walters says:
    August 9, 2013 at 8:41 am

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    August 9, 2013 at 8:41 am

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  37. Jana Beasley says:
    August 9, 2013 at 8:41 am

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  38. Lemon Astrid says:
    August 9, 2013 at 8:41 am

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  39. Kerry Synott says:
    August 9, 2013 at 8:41 am

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  40. Eva-Maria Streicher says:
    August 9, 2013 at 8:41 am

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  41. MsNotWeirdAtAll says:
    August 11, 2013 at 10:06 am

    Just discovered you’re blog and like your sense of style very much. Vintage is one of my passions too but I usually try to mix it with modern style. I’m looking forward to get some inspiration from your lovely pictures. 🙂

  42. Perdita says:
    August 11, 2013 at 8:01 pm

    Sussex is ace! I go there a lot, there is definitely more than just Brighton – so much history and nature too.

    Love how your hair always looks good, even when hiking! Genius!

  43. Akram Taghavi-Burris says:
    August 15, 2013 at 4:49 am

    @Retrochick_UK you have the best holidays and such amazing photos. If I’ve make it across the pond to merry old England I’ll have to ask you wehere I should visit. Oh and I love your blog 😉

    • Gemma says:
      August 15, 2013 at 8:36 am

      Do. I’ll be happy to help if I can think of anywhere!

About Me

Gemma
Incurable cancer, cocktails & fitness. Size Inclusive Personal Trainer, red lipstick wearer, cocktail drinker. Multiple Myeloma June 2021. Norwich, UK
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