Hilaire Belloc bought King's Land (in Shipley, Sussex), 5 acres and a working windmill for £1000 in 1907 and it was his home for the rest of his life. Belloc loved Sussex as few other writers have loved her: he lived there for most of his 83 years, he tramped the length and breadth of the county, slept under her hedgerows, drank in her inns, sailed her coast and her rivers and wrote several incomparable books about her. "He does not die that can bequeath Some influence to the land he knows, Or dares, persistent, interwreath Love permanent with the wild hedgerows; He does not die, but still remains Substantiate with his darling plains."

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Tuesday 11 September 2012

The Walk - photos...




Mrs Shipley...

The Belloc walk, in and around 'Kingsland', took place on the 18th of August. It was a highly enjoyable day which was rounded off, rather nicely, by a wonderful evening of music (courtesy of Chris Hare's folk singers and the indefatigable Jacobite minstrel Jamie Bogle).

We gallivanted across open fields and weaved our way through the narrow bridle paths so beloved by the great writer. We read poetry at his grave, picnicked at his old parish church and sang thirsty songs amidst the throbbing banter of a Sussex pub. 

Here are a few pictures which, I think, capture the flavour of the day. There will be a further event, later in the year, in central London. If you would like to be on the mailing list for future outings, and events, please send your e- mail address to: 

thehilairebellocblog@gmail.com


The beginning...

Lilia is hot and thirsty.  Later she shares her aquatic spoils with us...

Knepp Castle in the background; a fair maiden in the foreground...

What a female archer! Jan is amused, Aidan bemused, Piers open-minded and Jamie sceptical...

Poetry at Belloc's resting place. John Kingston takes a grave view of the proceedings...

Just before the harvest...

The candle still burns...

'Kingsland'!

The pub. Good cheer, good honest English Ale and good music...



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