The Archer Sundial

This morning we rendezvoused with W at Penshurst Place. W is the daughter of a woman who was a close friend of S’ mother during Second World War in NZ. W’s mother travelled to England and the two women lost contact. Only a few years ago, S searched for information about her mother’s friend, and W replied. Unfortunately, her mother had died a few years before. However since then W and S have been on line friends, and we met her and her husband yesterday for the first time.

Penshurst Place gardens are very formal and lovely to walk through. We also went through the grand house, which dates back to the 14th and 15th centuries. It is still home to the Sidney family.

This sculpture, by Robert Rattray, was erected in 2009 by Philip, the 2nd Viscount De Lisle, in memory of his father (the first viscount). A previous (Sir) Philip Sidney (1554-1586) is quoted on a plaque by the sculpture: “Who shoots at the midday sun, though he be sure he shall never hit the mark; yet as sure as he is, he shall shoot higher than who aims at but a bush”