Karim

Karim & Miss Marshmallow Mouse

Good morning dear Friends

I hope that you are very well.

We visited the GWSR on 23.07.25

My love of steam trains dates back to my early childhood when my late father took me to see the very last steam locomotive led train leave Paris Gare du Nord in a magnificent panache of smoke & cheerful steam whistle on its final journey

I later created from scratch quite an elaborate model train on a HO scale layout and diorama recreating little villages, stations, roads, lakes, fields, mountain & tunnels which most certainly inspired my life long love for everything miniature.

I am a huge fan of the Severn Valley in Worcestershire and scenic North Yorkshire Moors Steam Train Railways but funny enough never got a chance to visit the Gloucestershire Warwickshire one yet.

The GWSR is a volunteer-run heritage railway located in both Gloucestershire and Worcestershire.

The railway operates a 28-mile round trip between Broadway and the Cheltenham Racecourse, running through the scenic Cotswolds.

The railway operates steam services on weekends and selected midweek days from Easter through October, with some weekends during other months.

Stops along the line include Toddington, Winchcombe, and Gotherington. Many of the stations are beautifully restored and include cafes and other attractions.

The railway has been featured in a number of TV shows, including Father Brown and Doctor Who.

Wishing you all a lovely day !

Karim

Karim

Karim

Karim

Karim

Karim

Karim

Karim

Karim

Karim & Miss Marshmallow Mouse

Good evening dear Friends

I hope that you are all very well.

On that very special day for me since it is my birthday today I have a good news to share with you if I may.

I have been feeling awfully guilty about not having the time to share the pictures of my travels around England due to a lack of time since I work in a very demanding hospitality environment and I have dedicated a lot of my free time to share my travels on social media and the adventures of Miss Marshmallow Mouse, a stylish & intrepid little Mouse, Reporter for the Sylvania Town Gazette.

I have always enjoyed travelling, photography, history & gardening and I am trying to discover new picturesque, charming and historic places around the UK.

So it is with great pleasure that I will be resuming today my travel updates with the background story of the places I visited, a couple of pictures and a link to a little musical video presentation with the pictures I took on that day.

I believe that it will be the best way for me to keep you updated as I share my travels online and not trying desperately to find the time to size and repost the many pictures I take each I visit a new places.

I thank all of you who are sharing an interest for my travels around the UK.

So welcome back onboard my adventures that have taken me to the historic City of Rye, the enchanting Royal Botanical Gardens of Kew in Springtime, the picturesque coastal resort of Broadstairs so dear to Charles Dickens, the magnificent Arundel Castle for its Tulip Festival, the enchanting Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park, the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show that I visited last Wednesday and the amazing Leeds Castle I visited yesterday for a Medieval Jousting tournament opposing England to France and Norway and mid-June my first visit to Scotland focusing on iconic steam train journeys such as the Jacobite that inspired Harry Potter's Hogwarts Express

I wish you all a lovely evening !

Karim

We visited pretty Rye on 11.08.25 😊

Rye is a picturesque, historic town and civil parish in East Sussex, England, known for its well-preserved medieval and Georgian buildings, cobbled streets, and rich history as a former Cinque Port.

Once surrounded almost entirely by the sea, the coastline has since receded, and the town now sits two miles inland overlooking the River Rother and Romney Marsh.

Rye's unique charm and preserved history make it a popular tourist destination for day trips and short breaks 😊

Mermaid Street in Rye, is widely celebrated as one of the most picturesque and historic streets in the United Kingdom, famous for its steep, cobbled incline, well-preserved medieval and Tudor-style buildings, and its association with the notorious Hawkhurst Gang of smugglers.

The street is lined with charming, half-timbered houses and Georgian residences, many featuring quirky names like "The House with Two Front Doors" and "The House Opposite". These buildings offer a glimpse into the town's rich medieval past.

The Mermaid Inn :

This historic inn is the street's namesake and a major highlight.

Its cellars date back to 1156, and the current building was rebuilt in 1420 after a French raid. It was a known stronghold for the Hawkhurst Gang smugglers in the 18th century, who used secret passages within the inn.

The Giant's Fireplace Bar: The bar was a haunt of the infamous Hawkhurst Gang of smugglers in the 18th century. It features a giant fireplace and a secret passageway entrance.

The Hawkhurst Gang was a notorious criminal organisation involved in smuggling throughout south-east England from 1735 until 1749 🏴‍☠️ ⚓️⚔️

One of the more infamous gangs of the early 18th century, they extended their influence from Hawkhurst, their base in Kent, along the South coast, where they successfully raided the Custom House, Poole.

On one occasion when the gang was drinking at the Mermaid Inn in Rye, some twenty of them visited the nearby Red Lion, firing their guns in the air.

A young bystander, James Marshall, who took too keen an interest in them, was taken away and never seen again.

The inn is considered one of the most haunted in England, with Room 17 (Dr. Syn's Bedchamber) and the Giant's Fireplace Bar being particularly active.

Today, it operates as a hotel and restaurant, offering a unique, atmospheric experience.

Walking along Mermaid Street is described as stepping back in time, offering endless photo opportunities of its unique and timeless character.

So without further do, I invite you to follow my visit of pretty Rye through a little musical video with the pictures I took on the day :
Wishing you a lovely evening !

Karim

I invite you to step back into a glorious summer day last August on my visit of the pretty city of Rye in east Sussex on 11.08.25

Rye is a picturesque, historic town and civil parish in East Sussex, England, known for its well-preserved medieval and Georgian buildings, cobbled streets, and rich history as a former Cinque Port.

The Cinque Ports was a powerful alliance formed for trading and defence, particularly after the Norman Conquest. The towns supplied ships and men for the Crown in exchange for privileges like exemption from taxes and the right to self-government.

The original five "head ports" were Hastings, New Romney, Hythe, Dover, and Sandwich.

Over time, "limbs" (or affiliated towns) were added, including Rye, Winchelsea, Deal, Faversham, Folkestone, Lydd, Margate, Ramsgate, and Tenterden.

Cobbles Tearoom :

Tucked away in a small alley, Cobbles Tearoom offers an Alice in Wonderland like quaint and picturesque setting in its pretty cottage garden.

This cosy little tearoom is hidden down a cobbled path down the road from the Mermaid Inn and is a must visit when in pretty Rye.

Due to its charming setting and reputation, The Cobbles Tea Room is often busy and operates on a first-come, first-served basis and does not take bookings.

I have a rather charming anecdote to share of you of my visit to the Cobbles Tearoom :

As I did not have lunch on that day, I felt rather peckish when ordering my afternoon and candidly thought that I would add a couple of finger sandwiches to the existing offer, as in finger sandwiches, Little did I know when ordering an additional Prawn Marie Rose and Brie & Cranberry options that two very generously large sandwiches would be served with a side salad !

St Mary's Parish Church :

The Parish Church of St Mary, Rye is a medieval church with a history of more than 900 years.

Located on a hill in Rye's old town centre, it is known for its architecture, historic clock, and panoramic tower views.

The building displays a mix of architectural styles, primarily medieval, with sections originating from the 12th century.

The church has one of the oldest functioning turret clocks in the country, installed around 1561–1562. Its 5.5-meter pendulum can be seen swinging inside the north transept.

The Quarter Boys: Added in 1760, these cherub figures on the exterior strike the bells on the quarter-hour.

The Ypres Tower :

The Ypres Tower (pronounced "Wipers") is a historic, Grade I listed building.

Originally a medieval fortification, it has also functioned as a private dwelling, a courthouse and a prison.

The tower was likely built in the mid-to-late 14th century as a key part of Rye's town defenses against French attacks and the sea. It was originally known as "Baddings Tower".

In 1430, it was acquired by a cloth merchant named John de Iprys, and the tower has been named after him ever since.

The Corporation of Rye bought it back in the late 15th century and used it as a court hall and prison. A women's prison, or "Women's Tower," was added in 1837 after a series of lectures by prison reformer Elizabeth Fry.

The museum houses exhibits on local history, including smuggling, shipwrecks, military history, medieval pottery.

It also features original prison cells, a medieval garden with medicinal herbs, and the "Women's Tower".

From the top of the tower and the adjacent Gun Garden, there are panoramic views over the Romney Marsh and what was once a busy harbour.

So without further do, I invite you to follow my visit of pretty Rye through a little musical video with the pictures I took on the day :
Wishing you all a lovely evening !

Karim