Top Things to do in Winchelsea
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10 Things to do in Winchelsea That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in Winchelsea, United Kingdom including Spike Milligan's Grave, Mary Stanford Lifeboat Disaster Memorial Window, Douglas Strachan Stained Glass Windows, St. Thomas the Martyr, Winchelsea Court Hall Museum, Winchelsea Beach, Spike Milligan's Grave, Pub 31, The War Memorial Windows, Tomb of Gervase Alard.
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1. Spike Milligan's Grave
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 10 reviews
Reviewed By JuneBug1939 - Weston super Mare, United Kingdom
Not much there but a tombstone, but it IS Spike Milligan's tombstone. We just had to see it and we came to the pretty little town/village of Winchelsea especially. Spike was Irish and wanted "I told you I was ill" on his headstone, so it was engraved there in Celtic. He would have loved to have seen it! Bless his memory! Making us laugh even at his death. My dad loved Spike - praise indeed!
2. Mary Stanford Lifeboat Disaster Memorial Window
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
Reviewed By johnhouston2 - Knaresborough, United Kingdom
Unless you are a particular fan of ecclesiastical glazing, there are so many stained glass windows in churches that it is easy to give them nought but a passing glance. Having previously visited the old lifeboat station and read up about the tragedy, there was no chance of that happening here. And although it’s perhaps stating the obvious, a window that commemorates a person or an event that we can relate to is somehow far more relevant, and emotionally touching than the run of the mill religious iconography. I’m very glad to have seen this.
3. Douglas Strachan Stained Glass Windows
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3 reviews
Reviewed By hawkes2an - Cranbrook, United Kingdom
The magnificent Douglas Strachan Stained Glass Windows should be seen in their rightful position in the Church of St Thomas the Martyr, Winchelsea, East Sussex as photographs do not really do them justice. Dr Douglas Strachan (1875-1950) was a renowned stained glass artist. Among the other windows he designed were those in the Palace of Peace at the Hague, Netherlands, and the Scottish National War Memorial in Edinburgh Castle. On entering the Church your first sight is the east window which is a brilliant example of Dr Strachan's work. The main theme of this window is Praise and Resurrection. At the top of the centre window is Christ on his throne, surrounded by the "ancient of Days". Also at the top of the far left and far right windows are the four elements carrying discs bearing the Signs of the Zodiac. The lights on the far left and far right show some Saints and Martyrs. The three figures in the fourth light from the left are, from left to right, St Thomas of Canterbury (bearing a model of the Church of St Thomas the Martyr, Winchelsea), St John the Baptist and St Paul. At the bottom of the centre light is Earth with a rainbow and horsemen, which are meant to represent the energy of Nature. To the left of the east window the theme of the Lady Chapel Window is Birth with the composition in the centre showing the Adoration of the Shepherds and the Magi. The group above this central composition represents the Holy Innocents whilst the three lights below show the Annunciation (in the centre) with (on the right) Christ in the carpenter's workshop. The light to the far left shows Moses (the Lawgiver) and Joshua (the Warrior) with, behind them, the Ark of the Covenant. The small light at the top shows Moses receiving the Tables of the Law. The small light at the bottom shows Joshua in front of the Gates of Jericho. The light to the far right shows David the King and Isaiah the Prophet. The small light at the top shows Samuel annointing David. The small light at the bottom shows an elderly David instructing Solomon on the building of the Tempkle at Jerusalem. To the right of the east window the theme of the window in the St Nicholas Chapel is Death and Resurrection. The three centre lights is the Fulfilment of Christ's mission on Earth. At the base of the Crucifixion, across the three centre lights, is a representation of The Lasrt Supper. The light on the far left suggest the Baptism of Christ with, at the top, Christ blessing the children and, at the bottom, the morning of the Resurrection. The light on the far right is Christ being mocked and crowned with thorns. At the top is Christ washing the feet of the Disciples with, at the bottom, Christ's appearance to Mary Magdalene at the tomb. The first window on the south wall is The Lifeboat Memorial Window. This window commemorates the heroism of the Rye Harbour lifeboat crew who lost their lives in a great storm on 15 November 1928. In the centre window is Christ, as the Bestower of Peace, sttling the storm whilst, on the left, is St Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors and children, and, on the right, St Augustine, firstArchbishop of Canterbury, landing on our shores in AD 597. The three lights across the bottom show the dramatic story. On te left (in the top left-hand corner) is the stricken ship. In the centre is the lifeboat forcing its way through the horrendous waves whilst, on the right, the anxious figures on shore watch the lifeboat's progress. The next windows on the south wall sre dedicated, first, to Christ as Healer and, then, to Christ as Teacher. The first window shows Christ at the pool of Siloam with, on the left, the Conversion of St Paul with, below, the Parable of the Sower and, on the right, St Giles (the patrobn saint of lepers, beggers and cripples) with his hind. The second window, showing Christ as Teacher, has, on the left, St Leonard visiting prisoners with, below, the Parable of the Prodigal Son. On the right is St Richard, Bishop of Chichester relieving the sick and poor of the parish of St Thomas the Martyr Church with, below, the Parable of the Good Shepherd. The last windows to mention are the War Memorial Windows on the north wall. Dr Strachan's themes for these windows are Land (on the left), Air and Fire (in the centre) and Sea (on the right). The main theme of the Land window is the First Death, showing Adam standing over the body of his dead son with, below, to the right, King Edward I receiving the plans of the present church of St Thomas the Martyr from his architect. The centre window, Air and Fire, is dominated by a cenotaph surrounded by flames symbolising the ideals to which men dedicate themselves and, if necessary, sacrifice their lives. The final window, Sea, features coiling dragons, meant to suggest the irresistible force of the winds which, if uncontrolled, tend to destruction, typifying mankind's passion for good and ill and, thus, hinting at the origin of war. This passion is held in check vby the angel forms above the dragons. These really magnificent windows should be a "must see" on the list of anyone visiting Winchelsea.
4. St. Thomas the Martyr
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 221 reviews
Reviewed By hawkes2an - Cranbrook, United Kingdom
The Church of St Thomas the Martyr in Winchelsea is a very interesting, historic church both inside and outside. Inside it is light and airy with beautiful stained-glass windows and some interesting graves. Outside, there is evidence of how the church should have developed and, again, some interesting graves; particularly that of Spike Milligan.
5. Winchelsea Court Hall Museum
6. Winchelsea Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 303 reviews
Reviewed By michellehP6165PF
Been going to this beach since I was young, it is still a fantastic beach, great for long walks, dog walks, families looking for rock pools. Never very busy, plenty of space.
7. Spike Milligan's Grave
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3 reviews
8. Pub 31
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 22 reviews
Reviewed By butchardroofing - Bracknell, United Kingdom
Walking on the lovely beach at camber sands with our lulu,she absolutely loves it, you can walk for miles ,free parking and there's places to have coffee afterwards.
9. The War Memorial Windows
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3 reviews
Reviewed By hawkes2an - Cranbrook, United Kingdom
It's worth visiting Winchelsea just to have a look at these windows in the Church of St Thomas the Martyr. The left-hand window represents land, the right-hand window represents sea and the centre window fire. They are beautiful examples of the stained-glass window maker's aret
10. Tomb of Gervase Alard
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4 reviews
Reviewed By hawkes2an - Cranbrook, United Kingdom
It's not everyone that can have the heads of a king and a king's wife on his tomb but Gervase Alard does. The delicately carved arch of the recessed canopy springs from the heads of King Edward I and his second wife, Margaret. This very imposing tomb shows Gervase Alard, an Admiral of the Cinque Ports, who was born in Winchelsea and was Winchelsea's first Mayor, in full armour with raised hands and a lion crouching at his feet. It is well worth seeking out if you are in the church.
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