Location: Great Farthingloe

Date: 11th October 2023

Blog Written by: Helen (Disabled Walk Leader)

The weather was finally on the turn today, the Indian Summer gently became autumn. We met at the gate for Farthingloe Barn and after Laura unlocked it, we headed up into the mist.

As is often the case on the Dover Cliffs, there was a strong breeze blowing. However, we were still in the low cloud cloaking the Downs.

We travelled Westwards, towards Capel, noting the autumnal colours and fruits. I decided that the blackberries needed tasting, despite being warned about displeasing fairies after the 29th September.

The tarmac surface of the byway was easy to travel on. The National Trust have a White Cliffs of Dover grassland conservation scheme and there were posters up in a couple of places encouraging owners not to let their dogs off the path into the fields with cattle.

The gorse was having an out-of-season second flowering, which sometimes happens when it has been a dry and/or a particularly long summer. The flowers smell of coconut - a bit like Hawaiian Tropic or Malibu Rum!

We saw a boundary marker inscribed with “Dover Borough 1934 Morecroft Mayor”.  Apparently there was a boundary review that year and Frederick H Morecroft was the mayor at the time, so his name is now preserved in stone. We also noted the redundant and crumbling army buildings along the way, all part of the extensive land, sea and air defences created to protect Britain from the continent in World War II.

We set off back to Little Farthingloe Farm and went into the Kent Women’s Land Army Museum to see the exhibits. It was very interesting to see the original documents, humorous post cards and motivational messages of the time when women volunteered to provide farm and forestry labour during WWII. 

Laura identified the winnowing machine in the museum as she used to work one at her parents farm. She knew exactly where the wheat was poured into it and the blower system used to sort weed seeds and other impurities from the grain. The only difference between her family’s one and the museum’s ancient example was that hers was still operated manually whilst the other had an electric motor!

Finally, we ate an exceptionally good lunch in the cafe. We had a laugh after we finished eating because they ceremoniously brought a sausage over on a plate. The chef had forgotten to serve it with Laura’s salad.

📸 Image Credit: Laura