This is the third post in my blog series exploring the lovely villages in the Weald and showcasing local businesses & suppliers. I am hoping to entice you to visit these areas, shop locally and enjoy the area as much as I do!
Please feel free to comment and feedback on what you have enjoyed on your travels with me!
⭐️The official bit…!
Sissinghurst is a small village in the county of Kent in England. Originally called Milkhouse Street (also referred to as Mylkehouse), Sissinghurst changed its name in the 1850s, possibly to avoid association with the smuggling and cockfighting activities of the Hawkhurst Gang. The name was changed to a derivation of De Saxingherste, a former family name at Sissinghurst Castle.
Situated between the town of Cranbrook and the village of Frittenden, Sissinghurst makes the perfect stop on a tour of the Wealden countryside in Kent.
Although, it is a small village, it has everything one needs to have in an English country village: a church, a school, an independent local grocery shop, a restaurant, a pub, a collection of pretty white clapboard cottages, including a stripy one, as well as a handful of shops for browsing.
But from visiting it again, I found so much more…on the main street all of the houses were well maintained with beautiful little maintained gardens. There are signs that the residents are proud of their vicinity to Sissinghurst Gardens and clearly are influenced by their wonderful plantings!
Sissinghurst
Sissinghurst
Sissinghurst
Sissinghurst
Sissinghurst
Sissinghurst
Sissinghurst
Sissinghurst
There is a fairly newly built primary school http://www.sissinghurst.kent.sch.uk/ with a ‘Good’ Ofsted and preschool The Learning Tree.
The nearest commuter station is Staplehurst offering a route into London Bridge (50mins) and Charing Cross (60mins) and Ashford International.
From Sissinghurst between the houses you can spot amazing views on a clear day across the Weald and the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty!
⭐️What’s there for the kids?
Sissinghurst Gardens NT
Sissinghurst Gardens NT
Sissinghurst Gardens NT
Sissinghurst Gardens NT
Sissinghurst Gardens NT
Sissinghurst Gardens NT
Sissinghurst Gardens NT
Sissinghurst Gardens NT
Sissinghurst Gardens NT
Sissinghurst Gardens NT
Sissinghurst Gardens NT
Sissinghurst Gardens NT
Sissinghurst Gardens – National Trust
History:
The site that Sissinghurst Castle Garden sits on was once a Saxon pig farm, it would have been originally called ‘Saxenhurst’, with ‘hurst’ having meant woodland.
The tudor buildings were used as a prison for up to 3,000 French sailors who were captured by the British during the Seven Years War, between 1756 – 63. The sailors referred to Sissinghurst as ‘le chateaux’ hence ‘castle’ being adopted in to its name, although not a direct translation.
In 1796 the Cranbrook ‘Councillors’ took out a lease on Sissinghurst from the owners at the time, the Mann-Cornwallis family and it was used as a poor house for the able bodied. Around 100 men were offered housing, employment and food.
When the estate reverted back to the Cornwallis family in 1855 it was the beginning of a great period of Victorian ‘high farming,’ the Sissinghurst farm was deemed to be the best on the whole of the substantial Cornwallis estate.
Sissinghurst Gardens NT
Sissinghurst Gardens NT
Sissinghurst Gardens NT
Sissinghurst Gardens NT
When Vita Sackville-West and Harold purchased Sissinghurst in early 1930 it looked quite different to the present day. The buildings were used to house farm workers, the current famous garden had yet to be laid out and was mostly growing vegetables for the workers. The surrounding farm was growing cereals as well as having well established orchards and hop gardens.
Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson were the last private owners of Sissinghurst Castle. After Vita’s death in 1962, Harold decided that Vita’s beloved Sissinghurst should be given over to the care of the National Trust. It has been looked after by the National Trust since in 1967.
[Extracted from the NT website]
What you can enjoy:
- Climb the tower for fantastic views over the gardens and Wealden countryside
- Explore the White Garden
- Enjoy a scrumptious cream tea in the great cafe on site
Sissinghurst Cricket Club
Junior cricket at Sissinghurst CC is really popular and there is often a waiting list for new members especially in the U9s, U11s & U13s. Coaching runs from April – July on Sunday mornings and is really well run and great for parents to get to know each other too!
http://sissinghurst.play-cricket.com/
⭐️Focus on a local business – Sissinghurst Pigs & Supperclub
It’s always exciting when new businesses appear and this focus is on one that covers off not just adding value to a community and village but also our favourite topic, shop local too. Find out a little in my interview with Sally from Sissinghurst Pigs & now Supperclub too (as well as little flower stall!)
🐷Tell me a little about how your businesses started?
In 2014 we (Sally & Andy) and our two children made the move from South London to Crossways in Sissinghurst, Kent with the plan to embrace country living and make a great life for our family while continuing the daily grind!
We restored a 16th Century Country home and have made a start on the gardens, but more recently we ripped up the original plan, quit the London rat race and we are now farming a herd of rare breed pigs and growing as much on site as we can.
SISSINGHURST PIGS – Having had a long-term dream to rear a couple of pigs for ourselves, we started with 2 rare breed British Saddleback Pigs. Following lots of interest from friends we decided to rear a few more to help cover our costs, increasing to 4 pigs then to 8 and to 12 and before long we had a small herd of rare breed pigs of 30+.
Our herd are predominately British Saddlebacks, though we also have a few other rare breeds for specific cuts/meat such as Tamworth’s (slightly gamier in flavour), Landrace (great bacon), Large Black’s (ham) and The Mangalitza (aka The Sheep Pig) which is great for making charcuterie.
All our rare breed pigs are free range reared all year round with plenty of space to roam around and forage in the grassland and under the trees in the woods. Our pigs are not given any antibiotics or growth stimulants in their feed, they are all fed on a diverse diet of East Sussex made pig nuts, locally sourced fruit & vegetables and as many acorns and cobnuts as we can lay our hands on!
Given all our pigs grow at different rates we can’t say the exact size that joints will arrive to you, we will try to be as close as possible to the stated or requested weight.
www.sissinghurstpigs.co.uk
Sissinghurst Pigs
Sissinghurst Pigs
SISSINGHURST SUPPER CLUB – We have set up Sissinghurst Supper Club (SSC) which will be hosted in our warm and friendly kitchen/diner that can seat up to 30 people with the aim of offering you an evening and meal to remember.The ethos of SSC is to try and use as many ingredients as possible grown at Crossways or sourced locally from trusted suppliers. We are pretty much self sufficient with vegetables & salad from the end June through September.We want SSC to be relaxed and fun. We have a Games Room where you can play pool, table tennis and darts. We have a record player with a substantial collection of vinyl (please bring your own to play too) and also Spotify where you can select your own playlist.
We can cater for all allergies but the kitchen is not a nut free environment.
www.sissinghurstsupperclub.com
🐷What do you love about Sissinghurst?
- We love our friendly neighbours
- We love our local pub
- We love all the walks we can do from our door
- We love that there are so many different forms of outdoor activities so close by i.e. Bewl water, Bedgebury, Sissinghurst Castle etc
- We love how friendly everyone is
- We love Sissinghurst Tennis Club
- We love Sissinghurst Cricket Club
- We love Biddenden Squash Club
🐷What suppliers locally do you use & love?
- Our kitchen garden which I try to make us self sufficient from mid June until end Sept
- Chittenden Farm Shop for all our fruit and veg (that we don’t get from our own garden)
- Fishmongers at Hartley Dyke
- Wilkes or Hartley Dyke Butcher – obviously apart from pork!
- Wylde & Shrub for all our preserves and condiments (once you’ve tasted you will never go back)
- Bardsley Farm – fruit juices
- Turners Cider – you can’t beat their rhubarb cider – mmmmmm
Note from Editor: Totally agree on the cider!! Thank you for sharing all about your business!
⭐️Shop Local & other businesses:
Sissinghurst
Sissinghurst
Sissinghurst
TN17 Food and Wine
This well run local shop is a fantastic offering for Sissinghurst and the surrounds. It is open good hours until 8.30pm weekdays and Sat and even on Sundays until 8! That’s amazing for the Weald and satisfies my husband’s need for evening sweets! They have a great selection of local produce and a good choice of wines and are knowledgable about them too which is helpful. #shoplocal
The Milk House
The Milk House is a village pub with a lot to offer! When we first moved to the Weald it was derelict and a real eye-sore in the village. Luckily, it was bought and renovated incorporating 4 bedrooms, a restaurant, great bar and outdoor space. In the Restaurant the food is kept simple and is locally sourced and follows the seasons. It is unfussy with a mix of high quality pub fare and a more adventurous a la carte menu to suit all.
In the Summer, the garden comes to life and has a traditional wood-fired pizza oven and outside bar huts inspired by hop-pickers huts from the past as well as an all-important play area for the kids!
The versatile space allows for music and bands as well as the infamous Milk Fest on the August Bank Holiday.
Bootfair: Sissinghurst CC
This very popular bootfair runs through the Summer and the next event are listed below. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for weather cancellations!
- Sunday 23rd July
- Sunday 20th August
- Sunday 24th September
Website: http://sissinghurst.play-cricket.com/website/web_pages/186000
Ning’s Kitchen
A fantastic addition to the local area! The last Friday of every month is Ning’s Kitchen Thai night! It’s simple – order the set menu online, pay by paypal, let Ning know your anticipated collection time and hey, presto, Thai food in the Weald! Find out more here: https://www.facebook.com/ningskitchen/
Rankin’s Catering
http://www.rankinscatering.co.uk/ Outside Catering or in-house dining for up to 30 but specialising in canapé receptions
Sissinghurst Farmers Market
http://www.kfma.org.uk/Sissinghurst The market will be open this year on the second and fourth Fridays, May to September: 10.00am to 3.30pm
Local and seasonal produce as well as craft items and artisan breads
B&B – If I have enticed you enough then come and stay in this delightful B&B http://www.sissinghurstcastlefarmhouse.com/
Sissinghurst
Sissinghurst
Sissinghurst
Sissinghurst Tandoori
The boring bit: All views are my own and I cannot be held responsible for any incorrect information.