We Are Village People

Today we decided to set out on another leg of our Kent towns and villages tour. On our recent trip to Farningham I'd spotted a sign for the village of Eynsford, which we'd only ever driven through on the way back from the nearby Lullingstone Castle, and made a note to add this to our list and visit it properly on the next leg of our tour. So today was the day.
The weather forecast did not look entirely promising but not long after we set off the sun came out and, as the piercing cold of the last few days had abated, it felt relatively temperate.
When we arrived we took a walk along the High Street and then over the village's bridge, which spans the River Darent, and its accompanying ford (which you can see in my main image) - which HGV's and buses must negotiate as the bridge is too narrow for them to pass over.
Retracing our steps back into the village itself we discovered it is well stocked with hostelries - The Plough Inn, The Malt Shovel and the The Five Bells (which is temporarily closed) - plus The Castle Hotel. As it was not yet opening time we headed down a side street to the village's very own ruined Norman Castle which is positioned rather unexpectedly at the end of a very suburban feeling cul-de-sac which opens up to expansive views across to the North Downs.
Although it was both fascinating and imposing, and despite strolling around the interior and what at one time what would have been its moat, I was finding it difficult to get an image of it I was happy with - so I just went for the slightly abstract viewpoint you can be seen in my first extra.
By the time we'd completed our castle perambulation we'd built up a thirst and selected, appropriately enough, The Castle Hotel for our refreshment needs. We ensconced ourselves in some lovely comfortable chairs next to a bay window, which the was sun streaming in through, supping our pints whilst ever so slightly eavesdropping on the conversation of two young ladies at the next table (they were talking quite loudly) describing the trials and tribulations of their immediate social circle.
Thirsts quenched and eavesdropping completed we left very happy with our visit to this picture postcard Kent village and assumed we would be heading straight home. However, on taking the road towards Otford my brother saw a sign for another village - Shoreham - which we had never been to before. So of course he persuaded me that we should investigate further.
What a good choice it turned out to be - if anything Shoreham is even more picturesque than Eynsford, sitting in its own little valley as the North Downs rise sharply behind it. Rather remarkably for such a small village it is even more well served to meet your refreshment needs with three public houses - The Kings Arms, The Samuel Palmer and The Crown - and two tearooms - The Honey Pot and The Flying Teapot (which even has an aircraft museum attached!). Sadly neither of the tearooms were open so we settled on a quick drink at The Kings Arms where I came across the rather curious sight (I did do a double take), called an Ostler's Box, on the outside wall which you can see in my second extra. Inside the pub was tiny and felt fabulously old fashioned - like stepping back in time fifty or sixty years. We're definitely making plans to return to Shoreham - especially to try out those tearooms! 
So today turned into a bit of a small settlement double header - we are definitely village people! :-)