High Halstow Hikers (November Walk), Sunday 7 November 2010

I joined the High Halstow Hikers this morning for a nine mile trek along country lanes and farm tracks between High Halstow and Cliffe - with the farmers’ permission where there were no public footpaths. The weather was crisp and sunny and almost 20 people turned-up. We set-off from High Halstow Village Hall at just after 9.30am and headed down Cooling Road, turning into Wybournes Farm and then towards Cooling. After stopping for a quick look at St. James’ Church in Cooling, we headed for Cliffe, passing through Rye Street. The return journey to High Halstow took us through Morning Cross, Cooling Street, Spendiff and Cooling Court, before a pit-stop at The Horseshoe and Castle, in Cooling. We arrived back at High Halstow at just after 1pm.

It was nice to meet so many people enjoying a really well organised walk. High Halstow Hikers’ next event will be held in early December and posters will be displayed around High Halstow village.

RSPB Wildlife & Country Fair (Cooling), Sunday 5 September 2010

The RSPB Wildlife & Country Fair will be held on Sunday 5 September at Bromhey Farm (Cooling), from 11am to 5pm. Activities will include: ditch dipping, mini-beast hunting, bird ringing demos, sheep dog trials, pony rides, art and craft stalls, guided country walks, a car boot sale (stalls must be booked in advance), refreshments and much much more! This is a FREE event, although parking donations are welcome.

RSPB Northward Hill (main car park), Cooling, Rochester, ME3 8DS - signposted from the A228. Further information about this event may be obtained by phoning 01634 222480, or by emailing here. Alternatively, take a look at the RSPB website.

The below photographs, supplied by the RSPB, are from previous events held at RSPB Northward Hill.

Concert - St. James' Church (Cooling), Saturday 11 September 2010

The Celestine Singers will be singing light opera and songs from the shows on Saturday 11 September, at St. James' Church in Cooling from 7.30pm. Tickets are priced at £9.00. The event is organised by the Friends of St. James' Church in Cooling, who may be contacted (for further details) on 01634 220204.

Midsummer Tea Party - St. James’ Church (Cooling), Saturday 19 June 2010

St. James’ Church, Main Road, Cooling will play host to a Midsummer Tea Party on Saturday 19 June, between noon and 2pm. Although admission is free, sandwiches and refreshments will be available upon the giving of a small donation. All proceeds from the event will go towards the upkeep of the Church, as well as other projects managed by the Conservation Trust. An expert will be in attendance to talk about the history of the Church.

The Horseshoe and Castle, Cooling

I popped into this pub, located on Main Road in Cooling, with my family recently. The pub is only a couple of minutes walk from St. James’s Church and, beyond the village, marshlands stretch out to the Thames Estuary. This is a great place to unwind and relax. The pub serves a fine selection of beers and has a generous menu available - seafood being a speciality! More information about The Horseshoe and Castle can be found on their website.

Cooling Castle, Cooling

Cooling Castle has a very long history, but these photographs show one of the gatehouse towers, with a close-up of a commemorative copper plate on its walls.  The plate reads:  'Knouwyth that heth and schul be / That I am mad in help of the cuntre / In knowyng of whyche thyng / Thys is chartre and wytnessyng'.  This plate was granted following the issue of a licence to crenellate in 1381.  At one point, the castle was the property of the Lollard leader John Oldcastle, who was executed for his beliefs, and later the source for Shakespeare's Falstaff – through his marriage to Joan Oldcastell, the fourth Baroness Cobham.

Below:  Located next to Cooling Castle is Cooling Castle Barn, a privately-run venue for weddings and events.