South East England Tourist Guides Association

05/11/2023

Want to explore ?

Why not take the opportunity for some fresh air and gentle exercise and join our regular walk?

The weather is calmer and drier today and we even have the sun shining ! Discover lots about this friendly Sussex city and its fascinating history with your Green Badge City guide.

Meet by the Cathedral Bell Tower in West Street PO19 1RP for an 11.30am start and discover the of for yourself.

Tours take approximately 90 minutes for just £10 pp.and take place each Sunday morning.

Alternatively, contact us to book other tours or talks at a date and time to suit you, family, friends or group. ⏰️ Check our website www.chtg.co.uk and get in touch.

Destination Selsey Chichester & District Archaeology Society South East England Tourist Guides Association British Guild of Tourist Guides The Great Sussex Way The Novium Museum Chichester BID Chichester District Council Chichester Peregrines Chichester Cathedral

02/11/2023

An opportunity to become a Tourist Guide in Canterbury!
- Do you have an interest in history?
- Are you passionate about the city of Canterbury?
- Would you like to share your passion with others?

We are delighted to be holding a Green Badge Course, starting in October 2024. It will take place in the city on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings, and lead to a professional qualification as a Canterbury Green Badge City Guide accredited by the Institute of Tourist Guiding.

Visit https://www.canterburyguidedtours.com/GreenBadgeCourse to find out more.

British Guild of Tourist Guides Visit Canterbury South East England Tourist Guides Association

07/08/2023

A prominent former pub described as a “town’s roughest” has been transformed into an eye-catching boutique hotel with a fine-dining restaurant.

27/04/2023

Our Blue Badge Tourist Guide training course is progressing well! Great session in East Kent! Only one module to go before the summer break work on individual projects!

05/04/2023

Hollywood star Tom Cruise has returned to the county for filming on one of his newest movies.

02/04/2023

Holy Week Reflections by The Archbishop of Canterbury, 3-5 April, 19:00-20:15

Join Archbishop of Canterbury as he reflects on three emotions – optimism, despair, and hope - and how they are relevant to humanity today. This theme will be amplified by works of art from the Cathedral, and discussion with clergy, psychiatrists & neuroscientists

http://ow.ly/LIlT50Ny2fs

06/03/2023

Muddy Stilettos recently named Tenterden one of the best places to live in all of Kent

21/02/2023

27/01/2023

As part of our Induction weekend, last Friday we invited our new students to the regional CPD. This time we learned about Coal Mining in Kent and went on a refresher walking tour in Sandwich led by our colleague Yvonne Leach. It was an excellent day and we are very grateful for the hospitality of Betteshanger Park and Elvington and Eythorne Heritage Group! Our colleague Liz Findlay has written a very interesting blog about that day. The link is in comments. Follow the link and you won’t regret!

24/01/2023

This weekend saw the Induction of our new South East England Tourist Guide Training Course. We were lucky enough to have two rather chilly but sunny days in the beautiful city of Canterbury. A warm welcome awaited us at Warnborough College and the tea and biscuits were also most welcome. This before venturing out with Blue Badge Guide: Bob Collins on a voyage of discovery from Roman times to present day on our walking tour of Canterbury. An evening at the Foundry Pub with good food and good company rounded off the first day of the weekend. Early Sunday morning and we all met up for our morning panoramic coach tour to the Isle of Thanet led by another Blue Badge Tourist Guide Yvonne Leach. We stopped to visit the Royal Harbour in Ramsgate and the Creative Quarter of Margate – The skies were worthy of any JMW Turner painting - before returning to Canterbury for our afternoon and a visit to St Augustine’s Abbey. A great start for our new students and thank you everyone who was involved and for the great weather!
Warnborough College, UK Visit Kent Visit Canterbury VisitThanet

01/01/2023

Happy New 2023 Year to all our guides, followers and guests! 🎉🎄🥂

19/12/2022

So much work behind the scenes so that visitors can enjoy this magical place during the warmer seasons!

08/12/2022

Great picture! Magnificent Castle! One of the big favourites of our Blue Badge Tourist Guides! It’s such a joy and a privilege to be able to show our guests round this castle!

Brrr, it's a cold frosty morning here in White Cliffs Country and definitely a day for layering up (especially as it's National Christmas Jumper Day!). Looking back at winters past, here's a wonderful snowy scene showing Dover Castle over a century ago, c.1900, from the junction of Connaught Road with Castle Hill Road. Apart from different railings, more trees and no telegraph poles, the scene is very similar to what you'd see today (on a rare snowy day).
Wrap up warm and toasty ❄️
Photo reproduced with kind permission of Dover Museum (Dover Museum Archives).

01/12/2022

We are so excited and happy to see the amazing newly restored Canterbury Cathedral's Christ Church Gate! The scaffolding has finally come down after several years. The official unveiling ceremony will be held at 2pm tomorrow, on December, 2.
British Guild of Tourist Guides

27/11/2022

Guided tours by our professional Green and Blue Badge Tourist Guides will make your Canterbury Christmas experience even more pleasurable and memorable! 🎄

British Guild of Tourist Guides

24/11/2022

Smallest Town

Written by Blue Badge Guide, Yvonne Leach

Where, but in England, could arguments rage about whether one puts the milk or tea in first into the tea-cup, whether we should put jam or cream first upon our scones ? Let alone, how we pronounce ‘scone’ – to rhyme with BONE on BONN ?

But, here is a huge debate, which has taken place between the neighbouring counties of Kent and East Sussex in South East England. Which is the smallest town in England ? Well, I guess we first have to consider exactly what constitutes a ‘town’ and the answer is that it should have its very own Mayor and Corporation. Traditionally, towns meet this criteria, whereas villages are served by their parish councils, and are part of a wider town or borough council. OK, let’s go back in time, and check out a few facts, and see whether we reach any kind of conclusion.

First, let’s look at Fordwich, in Kent, near to the city of Canterbury. Fordwich is a beautiful and ancient port on the River Great Stour. Although Fordwich has never boasted more than a few hundred inhabitants, its right to style itself a town dates from 1184, when King Henry II granted it a Merchant Gild Charter, reflecting its importance as the de facto port for Canterbury. In the Domesday Book, it was described as a small burgh, one of only seven burghs in Kent. Since the 13th century, Fordwich has been involved with the Cinque Ports (they who protected this Kingdom before the advent of the Royal Navy) through its geographical and institutional links with Sandwich, once a major important port, and Gateway to England. Fordwich Town Council today is, in legal terms, a parish council, where members are elected or appointed. The original Fordwich Corporation, with its liberty and privileges, was abolished in the local government reorganisation of 1886. However, the chairman of the council is still styled ‘The Mayor’, and on ceremonial occasions wears a chain of office and other Mayoral Regalia. By custom The Mayor of Fordwich also serves as Mayor Deputy to the Mayor of Sandwich, keeping in place its historic Cinque Ports links. So, with Grandfather rights, and with fewer than 400 residents, Fordwich can certainly lay claim to being the smallest town in England.

Now, let’s look at Winchelsea, in Sussex, near to Rye. Well, certainly, like Fordwich, Winchelsea is a member of the Cinque Ports, it comes fully equipped with its own Mayor and Corporation. Together with Rye, Winchelsea was designated an ‘Antient Town’ supporting the five original ‘Head Ports’ maintaining the defence of the realm of England. The population numbers fewer than 600 residents, so we can quite see why the townsfolk claim that they are the smallest town in England. The Cinque Port, and smallest town reputation is defended proudly by its residents, who after the local government restructuring in the 19th Century (that which affected Fordwich) fought tooth and nail to ensure a separate act of Parliament was pushed through to maintain its status. Despite the mayor and corporation losing their powers under the same act, the positions still remain in a ceremonial capacity.

So it sort of looks as if, at least initially, Fordwich lost its town status, but it has, because of its role in our history been given back, whereas, Winchelsea fought hard to see, effectively, that it was never lost, if only in a ceremonial capacity.

Hats off to Winchelsea for never surrendering! And hats off to Fordwich for surviving with the least number of residents, a fantastic town hall and a very real claim to fame. What do we think? – Personally, I am proud that the two smallest towns in England are in the South East of England and that is why it is such a joy to be a SE England Blue Badge Tourist Guide and share these treasures with our visitors! Check the link to our Training page in comments ⬇️

22/11/2022

Isn’t it absolutely beautiful?! Can you imagine yourself visiting such places, telling your guests about them and getting paid for it? Do you think you’ve got what it takes to be a Blue Badge Tourist Guide? Check a new course training page on our website. The link is in comments ⬇️

20/11/2022

Undercover of the Night, Roguery in Rye

Written by Blue Badge Tourist Guide, Liz Findlay

Smuggling in East Sussex is thought to trace back to the start of the 14th century. Local smugglers were sometimes called Owlers and were involved with the smuggling of wool.
Although smuggling was rife in Rye, they were rarely brought to trial, although it is known that some were housed in the Ypres Tower gaol.
These “Free-Traders” (as they called themselves), are often portrayed in the rather romantic light of the honest thief. At that time many saw smugglers as a “public benefactor” and supported their efforts. All levels of the community could be involved with smuggling: from the farm labourer to the priests and Magistrates.
However, smugglers could actually be violent and vicious criminals. They thought nothing off bashing in the head of a customs officer with a bat or torturing a curious passer-by. They were willing to bribe officials to get their own way, and if that did not work, brutal force would be used instead. They were not the honest thieves of folklore by any imagination!
The Hawkhurst Gang, probably the most notorious of all the smuggling gangs along the South Coast, was possibly the largest, dominating much of Kent and Sussex. They have a colourful history of violence towards anyone who got in their way or dared show an interest in their dealings. It is believed that the gang could raise a force of 500 men with just a few hours of notice. The leader of the gang, until he was hung in 1747, was Arthur Gray. He was then succeeded by Thomas Kingsmill who later met his comeuppance when hung on a gibbet at Goudhurst.
They frequently visited Rye favouring the Mermaid Inn on Mermaid Street as their base when in town. According to some historians, the Gang were often observed seated in the window of the Inn, carousing and smoking their pipes with their located pistols on the table before them.
Smugglers also made up names for themselves, as their intentions were to hide their identity. However, judging by some of the names they chose, it could also be possible that there were chosen to instil fear, or were given to them because of a particular event. Examples of these names, which leave little to the imagination, include Butcher Tom, Stick-in-the-Mud, Poison, Towzer, Nasty Face, Pouncer, Rough Tickner, Footsey, The Miller.
Who could have thought that this fascinating history is just on our doorstep. If you would like to learn more about the South East and then share it with your guest, why not apply for a Blue Badge Tourist Guide Course which is about to start. The link is in comments ⬇️

17/11/2022

The Knights Templar

Written by Blue Badge Tourist Guide, Yvonne Leach

So many, not insignificant, parts of our history are hidden away, maybe beneath our feet, behind a hedgerow, or high on a hill surrounded by grazing land. Old stories and facts, shrouded in the mists of time, and much myth and legend confuse us, modern day authors give us amazing fiction, but cause us to question the realities. However, the work carried out by historians and archaeologists enlighten us, and pieces of ancient jigsaw puzzles begin to come together. Such a story is that of the Knights Templar, and their presence, and influence on cities like Canterbury, ports such as Dover, and tiny rural villages, and settlements comprising, now, farmland and meadows. An example is the village of Temple Ewell, located just North West of Dover in the Kent Downs. So who were the Knights Templar ? The Templars were founded in Jerusalem on Christmas Day 1119 at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, on the spot, which is said to mark the crucifixion, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This was a religious order, but of fighting Knights. Dressed in their white uniforms, emblazoned with a red cross, they assumed their responsibility to protect pilgrims en route to, and in the Holy Land.

Originally just known as Ewell, the village of Temple Ewell, probably took its name from the natural sources of water which arise there. The Manor was granted to the Knights Templar during the 1160s. It is thought that they built their Preceptory on Temple Hill, on the East side of the Village. Not a sign of this can be seen today, and countless generations of schoolchildren have played in those hills, never knowing of what stood there hundreds of years earlier. Certainly, the Organisation was responsible for building the magnificent Parish Church of St Peter &St Paul, with the first recorded vicar being one John Sacardos, under the Patronage of the Master of Temple, in 1185. It is believed that King John, after a period of Excommunication, in the spring of 1213 met with the Pope’s envoy, Pandulph Varroaccio, at this church in the village. Here a second meeting was arranged, and this, we think took place in the Preceptory on Temple Hill. Here, the King effectively paid homage to Pope Innocent 111, surrendering his crown, and promising to pay a hefty sum each year, in recognition of the Pope being the Overlord for the whole Kingdom. The act was to buy the Pope’s allegiance should there be an invasion from France. A stroke of genius really, as any invasion attempt would be against the Pope rather than King John, with dire results for the French King.

I used to think that this ceremony may have taken place at another little known, and very well hidden site in Dover itself. Indeed, high up on the White Cliffs (Western Heights) – one can see the remains of a small chapel, also a Knights Templar Church. (see picture) However, it is because of interpretations from the Latin, and it is now thought that the wording which says ‘ at a temple near Dover ‘ might well be Temple Hill, rather than the clifftop chapel.

Another sighting of our search for the Knights Templar is in Canterbury. Perhaps, in the unlikely location of looking at the Old Synagogue in Kings Street. This is now part of the Kings School. A wonderful example of Egyptian Revival architecture, it now serves as the school’s music recital hall. When we have marvelled at the building itself, stand back, and look down to the pavement, and here we learn that this was once the site of a Medieval Knights Templar Hospice.

The story of the Knights Templar has a sad ending. There was much concern and distrust about secret initiation ceremonies, and dislike of financial dealings which gave the Organisation great wealth and power. By 1307, many of the Order’s members were arrested and tortured, probably into false confessions. The Order was disbanded in 1312. Strangely, many of their lands were given over to an earlier Order; The Order of the Knights of the Hospital of St John in Jerusalem. Their story is also an interesting one, and their associations with Kent and Sussex are numerous, but that is for another day. All around us is a magnificent heritage, you just have to peep behind the scenes. All part of the here in South East England.

15/11/2022

South East England is such a beautiful part of the country! The landscapes are so diverse: magnificent cliffs, rolling hills, valleys, woodlands! We have picture-postcard villages, stunning gardens, manor houses and castles! Everything is right here on our doorstep: museums, galleries, cathedrals, local wines, ciders, beers and other amazing local produce. Do you love living here as much as we do? Would you like to share your enthusiasm and experiences with your guests? Have you ever thought of being a tourist guide and enjoying all this whilst earning money at the same time? Check our Blue Badge Tourist Guide training page https://southeastbestguides.org/training-course/ We look forward to hearing from you soon!

A new training course for those wishing to become qualified South East England Blue Badge Guides has been developed by South East England Tourist Guides Association (SEETGA) in association with the British Guild of Tourist Guides. The course is fully accredited by the Institute  of Tourist Guiding ...

13/11/2022

Did you have a chance to visit a beautiful Kent seaside resort of ?

Written by Blue Badge Tourist Guide, Tanya Firth

Looking at the pictures of beaches in Folkestone today, it is difficult to imagine, that over a hundred years ago, this seaside town, made fashionable by the Victorians, played a very important role in the First World War with approximately 10 million troops and others, including nurses, passing through its port. For many soldiers who left for the Western Front from Folkestone, its harbour was the last sight of home.
However, Folkestone’s story is about far more than troop movements. It also encompasses the arrival of thousands of Belgian refugees and severe loss of civilians’ lives during the air raids from Zeppelins and the German Air Force.
Folkestone was also very important as a centre of military intelligence in World War One. Because of its location, the town, which provided a point of entry and departure to Britain, was an ideal target for German spies.
In 1939-1940 the town once again found itself in the epicentre of the new developing world conflict. Folkestone was declared a “Garrison Town”, and anyone could be challenged by a soldier with fixed bayonnet and you had to do it right. “Halt. Who goes there?” “Friend” “Advance friend and be recognised”. The authorities were very worried about spies, for this reason they challenged people all the time even if while they were walking somewhere in the area to see their relatives.

The harbour again played its vital part in late May-early June, 1940 when it received numerous troops returning home after successful evacuation from Dunkirk.

In 1944 all the main road junctions between the Central Station and the harbour were dug up and relayed with reinforced concrete to prevent tanks from churning up the roads. There was also a large slipway built down from the fish market so that they could be loaded onto tank landing craft, and dummy LCTs (Landing Craft Troops) were floated around the harbour. All those activities and accumulation of military vehicles and facilities had a special purpose: all this was to fool the German forces into thinking that the invasion of Europe was to take place across the Straits of Dover.

For this reason, it is not surprising, that the shelling of Folkestone throughout WW2 was very frequent, especially from the middle of 1943 until the German guns in France were over-run by the Canadian troops in September 1944.
Today, on November 13th 2022 people of Folkestone and everywhere observed a national two-minute silence to remember all those who have died in conflict since the First World War which was so close to home here, in Folkestone.

08/11/2022

Would you like to be able to guide in Windsor Castle?

Written by Blue Badge Tourist Guide, Sue King

Tantalising glimpses of Windsor Castle peep above the trees when travelling along the M4 motorway in either direction. Even from a distance it is impressive, and my clients are always visibly excited by the prospect of their visit. It is one of the two official residences of the monarch in England, and therefore it is both a palace and a castle – facts which often perplex visitors from abroad. The large Round Tower atop a natural chalk cliff in a bend above the Thames is flanked by an upper ward containing the State and private apartments of the monarch. As we approach closer to the castle visitors are eager to see if the Royal Standard is flying which denotes that the king is in residence, and there is then the faint possibility we might catch a glimpse of him.

The lower ward contains St George’s Chapel and the residences of the Military Knights who have performed duties in the Chapel for over 600 years. The castle was built by the Normans soon after their invasion of England in 1066. It was built as part of a ring of nine defensive castles which surrounded London, several on the river Thames, and within a day’s march of the neighbouring castle.

Within a hundred years it developed into an occasional royal residence and several kings have added to the defences, and the royal apartments through time. The State apartments reflect the taste of previous monarchs, particularly of Charles II and ‘Gorgeous’ George IV who both loved beautiful things. The apartments are stuffed full of art works of the major artists from the Royal Collection, as well as impressive furniture, tapestries, armour, clocks, and ceramics. St George’s Hall, restored after a disastrous fire of November 1992, is used for state banquets and contains the names and coats of arms of over 1,000 Knights of the Garter of the last 600 years. From the windows of the State Apartments visitors peer across to watch for a royal presence in the quadrangle, along the Long Walk or peeping out of a window.

St George’s Chapel is used as the spiritual home of the Knights of the Garter, the highest order of chivalry in England, founded by Edward III in the mid 14th century. This elite order of 24 knights is still within the personal choice of the monarch, and they process every June on Garter Day in their glorious robes and blue and gold garters worn just below the left knee. The Chapel is the burial place of 11 monarchs, including the resting place of our late Queen Elizabeth II. She is buried alongside her husband, Prince Philip, and with her father, George VI, and mother, Queen Elizabeth. During current visits, there are long lines of people waiting to enter St George’s Chapel to see her grave. As a Blue Badge tourist guide, I am permitted to guide small groups inside, or to give larger groups an introductory talk sitting in the nave. There is ample opportunity to inform a small group about the wonders which surround them, as we snake our way around to view the new gravestone.
Windsor Castle is a much-loved and frequently visited tourist site, and it is included as one of our modules for the SE tourist guiding course which we plan to deliver from January 2023.

26/09/2022

A tourism guide holiday return
"I was coming back from the Netherlands, where I spent some days on holidays with my husband. As we drove there, we had to cross the English Channel on our return.We always choose to cross by ferry. It was sunny and though a little breezy, we spent half our Channel crossing standing on the open deck of our ferry boat.
As we were approaching the English side, we started seeing Dover Castle and the White Cliffs clearer and clearer. That’s when I remembered the first time I came to Britain, about 20 years agoBack then I was a tourist myself, travelling on a coach trip across Europe. At that time, I travelled from England to France by ferry as well. I remember standing on the open deck, watching the Castle disappear in the mist.
The feeling was instant: I had to come back one day.
Little did I know that I would later become a Blue Badge Tourist Guide. And that I would be sharing my passion for Dover Castle and the White Cliffs with other people!
Having approached the Dover port and still looking at the Cliffs, my husband said to me: 'Well, here’s your office!' And indeed, the following day back from my holidays I was inspiring someone else’s holiday, introducing them to the beauty, culture and history of the place I’m honoured to call 'my office'."
- Story sent by our guide Englandplustours

Learn everything you need to know about becoming a BBG tourist guide in the South East here: https://bit.ly/SEETGATraining

04/09/2022

Canterbury has mathematically been proven to be more beautiful than the likes of New York, Athens and Paris, according to a new study. Researchers found the city's architecture matched the desired 'golden ratio' on more occasions than many global cities. Read more: https://bit.ly/3TvEOC8

23/08/2022

"Reflects exactly what it stands for: Spirit of the Few. You can see the sparkle in the eye, the bravery. It makes you feel they’re right there with you, in real life.” - Blue Badge Tourist Guide, Tanya Firth from Englandplustours

A day at the unmissable memorial, Spirit of the Few, at The Kent Battle of Britain Museum.

Photo taken by the talented Englandplustours with the museum’s permission. Many thanks!

21/08/2022

Picture this:
You're a guide (Blue Badge, of course). It seems like a normal day at the office for you. You're guiding a North American couple in East Kent. You stop at a large pink guest house and start telling them all about it. They realise the place sounds familiar...
On checking the address it turned out that your client's great aunt had been born at that exact pink house many years earlier, in the late 19th Century. Great Excitement! But there's more.
A few months later, you receive a request from this couple in the US to record a short video from the pink home. They want to use the vid for their uncle's 100th birthday celebration. But who's this uncle?
He is the son of the person who had been born there well over a century earlier!
Want to read the cherry on the cake? A few days later and a bouquet arrived with thanks for making a hundredth birthday one to remember!
Oh, the people you'll meet and the joys you get to be part of as a guide! And it all started as a normal day in life.
Story sent by our lovely Blue Badge Guide, Yvonne. She says "I had fun recording it! Absolutely did not want to accept payment."

For those of you who'd love to be part of stories like this, join us as a South-East England Blue Badge Guide! Our training course is currently open to applications. Get all the info here: https://bit.ly/SEETGATraining

25/11/2020

A map of the Hundred-Acre Wood by Ernest Shepard,1926.

A drawing showing a map like aerial view of the 'Hundred-Acre Wood' with all the characters from Winnie-the-Pooh represented in their homes or localities. Given to the V&A Museum, London by Mrs Norah Shepard, on behalf of her husband, E.H. Shepard.

*If you enjoyed this post, then please donate a cup of tea for TQE @ ko-fi.com/tqe

23/11/2020

The perfect place to escape from it all on an Autumnal walk 🧡 🍂



📸 Photo: White Cliffs Photography Edit: Spaceman Creative Studio