St Mary in the Marsh

A lovely sunny morning and we were able to sit outside for Brunch on the Beach at the Fish Place just along the beach from where we are staying. (A Herring Gull was disgusted with Apple Pie on the menu and was off inside to find whether there was something more to his liking - see extra).

We bought some fish for the evening and then Gordon returned to watch some Rugby and I stayed to wander the promenade and sit by the sea in the sunshine and read my book. 

Then we went in search of another of the Medieval Churches of Romney Marsh. This was the church of St Mary the Virgin at St Mary in the Marsh. A beautifully cared for church that has a Norman tower. The spire was added around 1450. Gordon was taken with the remains of a rare 'Scratch Dial' - a semi-circle of grooves at the centre of which is a hole into which the priest inserted a wooden peg which would cast a shadow as the sun moved round. It thus acted as a clock to tell the local people the time of the next Mass. 

In the foreground of my photo is a simple rail and upright posts which act as a marker for the grave of Edith Nesbit, author of The Railway Children. (It's hardly possible to make out the inscription on the real thing, so it is not surprising it doesn't come out on the photo.)