In the Weald

Went to meet friends today in an interesting part of Kent, an area famed for its history of the Wealden iron industry. The village of Lamberhurst, known today for agriculture and wine production, was once notable for smelting the iron used to make the railings at St Paul's Cathedral.

We had roast lunch in a charmingly quirky little pub, the Halfway House at Brenchley. The ancient rafters of this 18th century coaching house are hung with dried hops from local fields. Unusually, the beer is not pumped up from barrels in the cellar. The landlord has had them installed into the wall behind the bar, where an interesting variety of local beers are drawn off direct from the barrels.