There are two Goodnestones in East Kent. This one is between Wingham and Aylesham, east of Canterbury. The name, once Godwineston, means “Godwine’s farmstead” probably referring to earl Godwin of Essex, father of Harold II last Saxon King of England.
To a visiting walker it consists of The Street with church of Holy Cross, a primary school and Fitzwalter Arms pub. And a modern culdesac where i parked. At the end of the street is Goodnestone House, a palladian mansion. Extensive gardens are open to the public. Jane Austen’s brother lived at nearby Rowling. She often visited the area and found inspiration for the houses and characters in “Pride and Prejudice”
Last Sunday awoke about six to a thunderstorm with heavy rain. Overcoming worries about weather and my fitness i joined DATROWS for a three mile walk from Goodnestone, led by Mike Weston. Raincoat was not needed.
Seven of us met at the end of the street. We turned into School Lane and walked an anticlockwise circuit. According to the Ordnance Survey map we passed through Loverswalk Wood and the Serpentine.
Mostly easy walking: no mud but two tricky stiles. Saw two men with dogs not on a public path. I waved. One said “Good morning … or is it afternoon?” Later, where the walk crossed a road a police car stopped. We were asked if we’d seen these suspicious men.
Horses in fields. Ragwort (separate): looked for cinnabar moth caterpillars but found none.
Talk. Cricket: Kent cricketers we remembered. England’s Test defeat by India. The dreadful Hundred, seemingly intended to take cricket away from the counties. And why should we, in Kent, support any of the teams? Housing: massive building in the interest of developers not local needs. Built without infrastructure: water, roads, sewerage.
A pleasant walk and it didn’t rain. Mike gave away surplus beans and cucumbers from his garden.
Reference; Judith Glover, “The place names of Kent” Wikipedia. “A rich seam” by White Cliffs Countryside Project.
Rambling Brummie 