Wednesday, March 07, 2012
Out in the country
After much humming and haaing, we decided that yesterday was a day for Dorking, a place which we used to visit reasonably regularly, say several times a year, but which I do not recall visiting, except for the purposes of concerts at Dorking Halls, for some years now.
Dorking being quite a long way, stopped off for elevenses at the Burford Bridge Hotel, which I believe was an independent until not so long ago but is now a branch of Mercure. But staff pleasant and helpful and the place boasts a pleasant elevenses lounge. If we did not already live where we do it would be a good Moleside - or perhaps Molegap - base for walking on the downs.
Then on to Dorking which turned out to be quite a lively place. OK so there was a dozen or more charity shops, and the shopping part of the town appeared to be shrinking a bit from its hey-day, but there were plenty of other shops, not many of them links of chains. It even boasted a telescope shop, a hunting & fishing shop and a clock shop, this last fancying itself enough to call itself a horlogerie. It was also a country town, so there were country people about, albeit rather outnumbered by green welly people, the prices in the estate agents very much reflecting the presence of these last. Would not have done for us though. Epsom door to London door, including a 20 minutes walk at both ends was around 90 minutes, while the same thing from Dorking would have been a good bit more and would probably have had to involve a car at the Dorking end. OK so one is in the country which has its points, but one is out comfortable range for retired days out in London. Epsom rules!
One of the points was the pubs. Having had a look around we settled on the 'Spotted Dog' for lunch which turned out to be a very old style pub. Had not been turned over by some chain. Still had junk piled up in the passage on the way to the gents. Still had what sounded like regular customers. Fire on the go. Decent pint of Courage bitter on the go, something one does not come across that much these days, now that Courage have not only pulled out of the pub trade but now only appear to exist as a brand within the Wells & Young's family, having done a stint within the Imperial Tobacco family. Pint rounded out by a chicken pie with veg.; nothing fancy but entirely reasonable on both palette and purse.
Ought also to mention a visit to the rather large church of St. Martin, apparently built in one go, the third on the site, in the mid 19th century. Presumably the second on the site had slipped into such dilapidation that it was not worth the refurb.; such was the poor state of provincial piety before the revival in the second half of the century. Imposing exterior and very large if not very holy interior; presumably far too large for its present congregation, but a considerable monument to the wealth of the town at the time nonetheless. There was also an illuminated red lamp hanging in the lady chapel, a practise which I seem to recall is a touch papist. That apart, a rather arts & crafts flavour with lots of stained glass and some interesting pictures made out of a stone version of marquetry, including one which seemed to involve a former resident called the Duchess of Marlborough. Had she been chucked out of Blenheim Palace for some dowagate misdemeanor or other? Furthermore, we have heard the Endellion Quartet perform in the place perhaps twice, during the refurbishment of Dorking Halls, quite a few years ago now - they are a bit too grand for Dorking these days - with one of the performances being slightly disturbed by fireworks outside.
Then this morning, time once again for a clockwise spin on the Horton Lane run. Where the only item of record was the sighting of two chaffinches in a hedge. Not something that I see very often at all.
PS: following the cod report of March 5th I can now report that the outturn on the chicken will be at least 11 meals. Even better than anticipated. Might even go to a few more, depending how strongly we tuck into lunch upcoming.
Dorking being quite a long way, stopped off for elevenses at the Burford Bridge Hotel, which I believe was an independent until not so long ago but is now a branch of Mercure. But staff pleasant and helpful and the place boasts a pleasant elevenses lounge. If we did not already live where we do it would be a good Moleside - or perhaps Molegap - base for walking on the downs.
Then on to Dorking which turned out to be quite a lively place. OK so there was a dozen or more charity shops, and the shopping part of the town appeared to be shrinking a bit from its hey-day, but there were plenty of other shops, not many of them links of chains. It even boasted a telescope shop, a hunting & fishing shop and a clock shop, this last fancying itself enough to call itself a horlogerie. It was also a country town, so there were country people about, albeit rather outnumbered by green welly people, the prices in the estate agents very much reflecting the presence of these last. Would not have done for us though. Epsom door to London door, including a 20 minutes walk at both ends was around 90 minutes, while the same thing from Dorking would have been a good bit more and would probably have had to involve a car at the Dorking end. OK so one is in the country which has its points, but one is out comfortable range for retired days out in London. Epsom rules!
One of the points was the pubs. Having had a look around we settled on the 'Spotted Dog' for lunch which turned out to be a very old style pub. Had not been turned over by some chain. Still had junk piled up in the passage on the way to the gents. Still had what sounded like regular customers. Fire on the go. Decent pint of Courage bitter on the go, something one does not come across that much these days, now that Courage have not only pulled out of the pub trade but now only appear to exist as a brand within the Wells & Young's family, having done a stint within the Imperial Tobacco family. Pint rounded out by a chicken pie with veg.; nothing fancy but entirely reasonable on both palette and purse.
Ought also to mention a visit to the rather large church of St. Martin, apparently built in one go, the third on the site, in the mid 19th century. Presumably the second on the site had slipped into such dilapidation that it was not worth the refurb.; such was the poor state of provincial piety before the revival in the second half of the century. Imposing exterior and very large if not very holy interior; presumably far too large for its present congregation, but a considerable monument to the wealth of the town at the time nonetheless. There was also an illuminated red lamp hanging in the lady chapel, a practise which I seem to recall is a touch papist. That apart, a rather arts & crafts flavour with lots of stained glass and some interesting pictures made out of a stone version of marquetry, including one which seemed to involve a former resident called the Duchess of Marlborough. Had she been chucked out of Blenheim Palace for some dowagate misdemeanor or other? Furthermore, we have heard the Endellion Quartet perform in the place perhaps twice, during the refurbishment of Dorking Halls, quite a few years ago now - they are a bit too grand for Dorking these days - with one of the performances being slightly disturbed by fireworks outside.
Then this morning, time once again for a clockwise spin on the Horton Lane run. Where the only item of record was the sighting of two chaffinches in a hedge. Not something that I see very often at all.
PS: following the cod report of March 5th I can now report that the outturn on the chicken will be at least 11 meals. Even better than anticipated. Might even go to a few more, depending how strongly we tuck into lunch upcoming.
# posted by Jim @ 4:36 AM 
