With the Covid-19 pandemic upon us and the government guidelines giving the OK to take a daily walk, here are some photographs and points of interest during a gentle stroll down Castle Lane to Hadleigh Castle.
The road, you will notice, has recently been resurfaced and looks very smart, quite different from that country lane of many years ago. As the photographs show there is an interesting mix of properties, old and new, flats chalets and bungalows.
Near the first field, Castle Road crosses Castle Lane and in the distance to your right you will see the back of the row of properties in Seaview Terrace. These are owned by the Salvation Army and were originally built for employees on the Colony. Today they are occupied by tenants.
The Salvation Army Tea Rooms are closed to the public but there is access through the gate for those residents who live in Seaview Terrace and the Rare Breed Centre is active but not open to the public. However, take a look at the restored water fountain, erected in 1901 and restored in 2002, then look across the road to properties in ‘Mount Zion’, these were originally officers’ quarters but now have tenants.
Continue down the hill to the castle gate and up to the Castle itself. As you enter the Castle, there is no signage to say you cannot enter but there is a Coronavirus information sheet on the gate, with government advice about social distancing.
Enjoy the views from the Castle and look back to observe Park Farm, one of the original three farms purchased by William Booth in 1891 and site of the original market garden. Bed and breakfast was offered there for visitors, it then became the governor’s residence. Today it is fully restored and part of the Hadleigh Training Centre programme.
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Photo number 5 was my late brother and his wife’s home. It now belongs to his Granddaughter; obviously altered inside to suit a different generation.
I certainly remember the Market Garden and the Water Mill that was there. I can also remember at least two families that worked it, one eventually went to work for Southend Nurseries. That said – and very nice photos they are – but my, the grass verges in my Road were ruined when the ECC used it as a make-do detour when the Castle Lane improvement was carried out .
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