Wandering About In East Sussex

[poliphilo]

I bought a novel by Rose Tremain in a charity shop in Heathfield for 75p, got it home and only then discovered it was a signed first edition. Now I feel like I've robbed somebody.

Heathfield used to be called Heffle. That's according to Kipling. Maybe it still is.

As the light was failing- round about 4 o'clock- we stopped in Brightling- where there's a large stone pyramid in the churchyard- erected in the 1830s by local landowner, MP and folly-builder "Mad Jack" Fuller. Legend says he was buried inside sitting at a table, fully clothed with a bottle of wine in front of him. Sadly, it isn't true.

Burwash lies between Heathfield and Brightling. We paused there long enough for me to take this picture of the war memorial.

Comments

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

“Have you news of my boy Jack?”
Not this tide.
“When d’you think that he’ll come back?”
Not with this wind blowing, and this tide.

Thank you for that.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I was singing that in the car yesterday- to the tune invented for it by Peter Bellamy. I was pleased to find I knew all the words.

Re: Warrior.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I'm pleased to know he has a grave. I had thought he was one of those who simply disappeared into the mud of the Western front.

[puddleshark.livejournal.com]

I love the idea of "Mad Jack" Fuller's Viking burial - the sort of wild local tale that is told to gullible visitors in the pub...

[davesmusictank.livejournal.com]

Lucky you, finding a first edition in a charity shop. Personally, if i found one like that i would not feel guilty at all. I will put it down to serendipity.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

The same story is told of an eccentric, folly-building squire in Hadlow- the village where I spent my teens.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I don't suppose its worth much in monetary terms, but it's a nice thing to have.

[lblanchard.livejournal.com]

Did you see "My Boy Jack"? I found it very moving.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I did. I loved it.