Well another road trip to a free attraction with a cheap pub near by. Ahhh the life of the traveller.

Last weekend was a trip to Hadleigh Castle in Essex. The Freemans came with us so it was a nice, if a bit noisy, group.

Hadleigh Castle was built by Hubert de Burgh in the 1215 when he was essentially running England as the king was a child. But Edward III came along and saw the potential as a fortress against the French coming up the Thames, so he extended it.

By 1360 it was used as a lookout for catching Smugglers and then was left to ruin. There is a lead smelter from the 1600s in what would have been the great hall, which suggests it was in severe decline by then.

What we saw on this beautiful spring day was the remains of some of the walls and turrets.

After Hadleigh Pippa led the way to a pub she knew. Pippa did her ecological work near here so was familiar with some of the places.

A very nice lunch outside and play time for the kids. Then we went our separate ways as we took the stinky one (Anouk) for a walk and the Freemans took their 2 very tired children home.