Smallhythe Place, Ellen Terry's beetle-wing dress, and other pics from my visit ...

 

Smallhythe Place … the half-timbered house built in the late 15^th or early 16^th centuries … which Ellen Terry, the Victorian actress bought in 1899 and used until her death in 1928 …

Smallhythe Place - front (obvious - sorry!)

... it is now a National Trust property housing many of her items … books (3,000 of them), theatre collections, memorabilia …

View of bedroom - showing brace holding
together corner of room

The house was probably built after a major fire in the harbour and village as it was in 1514 … being originally called 'Port House' …

Another view of the bedroom - again
highlighting the brace

... the property now covers sixty plus acres … including various houses, a theatre, barns, orchards, nuttery, gardens and marshland etc … unusually there's a cellar ... 

Some of the 3,000 books in the
library, others stored away;
the contain lots of marginalia

Back in the day … it was the main house and land in the area … which today it still is, as there are now only a few houses left in what is known as Smallhythe.

Ellen Terry's button box

The home is of a costly construct, with an overhanging upper storey … which over the years has been maintained – as you'll see in the bedroom pics above … it has been 'tied together' with iron braces … denoting the hand of a skilled carpenter/ blacksmith …

Now I'm just giving you some pics ... 

This is a money box made by the local Rye Pottery ... established in the 17th C ...

Staffordshire Pottery established c 1720s

A Staffordshire pottery watch stand ... the watch is put into the 'cup' at night ... so when reaching out the watch is easily available to see the time ... 

The Beetle Wing Dress - this is what we went to see ... amazing isn't it ...

The beetle (genus Sternocera) only lives 3 – 4 weeks, while only beetles, which when they've died naturally, are collected for their wings.

There was an exhibit of beetle wings, with some display pieces for visitors to admire in a more close-up situation ... 

Her banqueting dress used in
the performances of Hamlet

Ellen Terry, the English actress of the late 19^th and 20^th centuries, refused to wear anything heavy or constricting for her performances – which Alice Comyns Carr, designer, complied with in her designs and the fabrics selected …

Her make-up box

Ellen's original make-up box is on display ... 

Ellen Terry

A sculpture of Ellen Terry by Margaret Winser ... 

Margaret Winser was asked on Ellen Terry's death to make a mould, in order that death masks could be made ... 

Showing the danger of living near the 
local 'river' - that was a busy waterway
in the 1500s

The River Rother runs through East Sussex and Kent and was used for navigation from Roman times ...  

... over the centuries these relatively small streams have had interesting histories ...

A view of the back of Smallhythe Place ... as the marshes became silted up - they were turned into agricultural fields ... 

... then barns etc were added to accommodate the change of the estate's use ...

These are just a few of the pictures I took as we went round ... but they give an idea of the house and its contents ... 

My post from 2016 - gives more information on the Beetle-wing dress ... 

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Smallhythe over the centuries ... coastline changes, shipyard building ...

 

Here's a very brief history of the rise of royal naval activities from the Anglo-Saxon period to the Medieval era … these depended on where the overseas attacks were happening … north sea areas (Vikings, Angles, Danes etc); Irish Sea areas (Ireland, Isle of Man and Anglesey, Scotland); south coast (Vikings, Danes and Normans) …

Sussex Coastline at Pevensey - c 340 AD
(west from Smallhythe/Tenterden/Rye area)

...from the 9^th century (1000 AD) onwards the English nations developed their naval skills, and we know what happened after 1066 AD … but then it appears that fleet mustering almost ceased to exist, possibly because of William the Conqueror's acumen …

But in the next two hundred years or so … the necessity for trade ensured shipbuilding continued, as did the necessity because of the conflict with the nations of Europe … France, Flanders, Venice, Portugal, the Moors … as and when.

Coastline c 1066 AD

The Hundred Years' War (1337 – 1453) included frequent cross-channel raids … and this was when each king started to develop naval fleets.

Maritime activity has been found at Smallhythe from 1326 … probably wool trade related ... but the fast flowing river, the local oak forests, sloping shores provided all that was needed for early shipbuilding.

Coastline before the storm of 1287
(Smallhythe's harbour is within that large
estuary ... as shown)

It is estimated that the River Rother at Smallhythe in Medieval England, during the 1300s, had a depth of about 6.5 metres (21 feet) at high tide, to 2 metres (6.5 feet) at low tide – enough for the largest vessels of the day.

So the development of a shipyard, today four direct miles inland from the sea, actually probably seven to eight miles by water through the marshes, made such a business possible.

Isle of Oxney - we could see from the house
(the marshes are now all silted up - as
agriculture took over)

Across the marshes and in the Pevensey Levels there are many islets, as you'll see here at Smallhythe – the Isle of Oxney is a relatively large island in the Rother Valley – ferry crossings were essential, before bridges and turnpikes started to appear.

The ferry at Oxney was crucial for the important trading town of Tenterden three miles upstream from Smallhythe, which continued to operate into the mid 1600s.

An illustration from the Anthony Roll (a
written record of ships in the Tudor Navy 
{c1540} named after its creator
Anthony Anthony)

The importance of Smallhythe as a shipbuilding centre was at its zenith in the 1400 - 1500s … with three kings placing work there in this era – Henry V, Henry VII and Henry VIII …

After Henry VIII visited in 1537 he commissioned further smaller vessels to be built for the nascence of 'the royal navy' … but with the ongoing silting up of the river and a major fire in 1515 destroying the settlement, its focus turned to agriculture …

Pevensey Levels - similar landscape to
that around Smallhythe

The coast line along the Sussex and Kent counties (as we know them today) was and is always changing, with the tides and storms … the Great Storm of 1287 hit the south coast with such ferocity that whole areas of coastline were redrawn …

I hope you can get an idea of the shipbuilding that occurred, as too the coastline changes that are shown in the various images …

This booklet gave me a lot of background about the history of Smallhythe, its royal connections to the development of the royal navy, and the coastal changes …

There'll be another one or two posts about my visit out to Smallhythe, but this gives an idea of the area that existed here from Norman times, to as we find it today …

Apologies that first image is blurry ... but I'm sure you can get the gist ... 

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Quick Update - stress over ...

 

Thankfully flat stress is over … I now just need to adjust back to normality … things still need to be done – but the worst is over … thank goodness …

Obviously - a yellow rose!

So this is short and sweet … had a good trip out with friends on Wednesday to the hamlet Small Hythe – which was a medieval ship building port – it's now about four plus miles inland!  Post to follow!

We actually went to see Ellen Terry's beetlewing dress at her old home, now a museum, which displays her theatrical memorabilia and a small theatre. There's about 65 acres of property and land, including orchard …

St John's Church, Small Hythe -
the Priest's House next door, similar
in style to Ellen's home

I wrote quite a detailed post back in 2016 … I eventually ticked off the fact that I have now visited Smallhythe Place!

That's it … I'm mentally adjusting to being free from flat anxiety … amazing what can take it out of one – I now need to see what I can do to help myself before the medics appear on the horizon – they're there if I need them … but in the meantime, I need to do what I can.

The SeeSaw of life -
as painted by Francisco de Goya (1792)

Have happy bank holiday weekends – well we have one! It's going to be a warm time before the Autumn sets in …

So I'm a happier lady now … thanks for your support in the last few months …

Ellen Terry and her Iridescent Beetlewing Dress

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Grumpy Hilary … or Fed Up lady …

 

Fed up most likely … I have hot water … now my landlady is flying in from Kenya to see what's happened … so I guess everything will be tipped upside down again … I am fractious … stressed out with the irritations and inroads into my life …

Wonderful scented roses

Friends and family have been saying for goodness sake get your health sorted out – but frankly with the flat scenario I haven't felt able to do both …

I buried my head in all five Kingsbridge series books – covering the dark ages of England 997 AD to ten years after Battle of Waterloo in 1824 … which gave an insight into life through the ages.

Four of his novels, the fifth was
recently published

I think it probably helped otherwise I'd have been fretting more than usual … and I have various references to use when our History subject changes in 2026 … we're doing the Medieval period now – but I'm not sure what our 'leader' and her humble subjects (us – the members) will select/choose next.

I was happy that AJ Sterkel (Read all the Things! Blog) chose Follett's masterpiece 'The Pillars of the Earth' … as one of her books to pull you out of a reading slump.

AJ Sterkel's header for her blog

Life as it continues has different perspectives on who one is in life … being single, as are my brothers, so no reason to be overly enthusiastic about family life ahead – yes, and yea, for other friends and family … but for me – I just do my thing.

Wiki's logo

I'm happy – I've had an interesting life … and am not on my way out yet (I don't think!) … so I'll stick where I am and doing what I enjoy and can do … getting out and about as much as possible – and reading rather more than I've done over my lifetime, so far.

Carstian Luyckx - art work of 1650

Personal historiography, as well as academic knowledge in the public domain via whatever tools were available to that era of life, which now is much broader than it used to be … and as I'm older (perhaps wiser too) more of life's history starts to fall into place …

So this little brain is full of jigsaw pieces of life through the ages … and grateful that essentially I'm just getting older – not mentally deteriorating, thankfully.

AJ Sterkel's image ...
'How to Reignite Your
Love of Reading'

I hope I can be left in peace to get on with my life … but as the year progresses we'll see … for now – my head is above water, screaming silently, and just wishing this period was away …

AJ Sterkel's link to her latest post ... I also suggest you read the previous one on the saddest books ... I really enjoy her lists ... 

Cheers to you all and thanks for your comments and thoughts …

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Publishing … success, delays, or not …

 

With commercial success in 1978, followed by ten years writing more thrillers … the time came for a change …

English - first edition

... a historical novel … set in Medieval England … who would read – would his publishers be interested … ??

This was Ken Follett's idea … referenced in my recent talk about Cathedrals; his route to acceptance patently wasn't at all easy.

He wanted to write about Cathedrals and enjoyed the learning process about the Middle Ages … so he set to … ten years after his commercial success The Pillars of the Earth was ready to be taken up and published (1989).

Salisbury Cathedral - west end

Enthusiasm … not much … the British and Americans duly published, without much success – but some. Apparently the Italians accepted it … seemingly the Italians have been kind to him … here in the UK, in paperback, it was number one for one week: thrilling success?!?!

However his German editor, Walter Fritzche at Gustav Luebbe, had longed to publish a novel about building a cathedral. Understandably the Germans hadn't been too happy with Follett's thrillers – there's usually a German baddy involved … so to have a publisher from Germany who was excited about cathedrals – was a bonus.

Luebbe's logo

Luebbe duly published a German version … they hired Achim Kiel to do the cover … painter, graphic artist and sculptor … who took on the creative project … giving the German people something very special. Both had paid off … the German publishers, and the creative artist …

Then Pillars began to create a stir among other publishing nations … and as we know today is hugely successful.

As I read it I did notice a few anomalies … which in Wiki they've highlighted … squirrels don't hibernate (ours in the Medieval era would have been the red ones … we had some in our childhood Surrey garden); sugar would only have been available in courtly circles … until later in the 1300s; similarly hops would have been much later; then the idea of breakfast as a meal … we're not sure if that was eaten as such … but all in all – it gave us a view of life in the 1100s … certainly my talk got a nod of approval – though I didn't bring in those items … being a vaguely wise old owl!

German edition -
using Achim Kiel's 
cover art

I do recognise a few of the authors promoted by the Luebbe group... as linked below … where you can find more information. Apparently they have thirteen publishing brands, several thousand titles – fiction, non-fiction, children's and youth books, novels, audio and ebooks.

Their concept is stated on the Company's 'the why' they are what they are … it starts;

"The importance of narrative lies in its impact on and relationship with the people who experience it. This can be a thrilling adventure, an intimate dialogue, a diverting conversation, a yearning experience, and much more.”

Follett includes the Luebbe information in his Introduction – where he goes into how he wrote the book (nearly 8 pages of it) … I used some of it in my talk … these extras for me give that little bit more.

This seemed an appropriate post for August's IWSG – I'm a member … but don't participate – I enjoy seeing others' thoughts arising out of the question – this month: What is the most unethical practice in the publishing industry?

I'm looking forward to reading everyone's entries over on your IWSG posts …

Bastei Luebbe company information …

Wine and Cheese – arising from my Cathedral post …

Addendum: I obviously hadn't made it clear that the reason I wrote this post - was because it was the German publisher who took it up ... and from there it became the huge success it is today ... it's the German aspect for a British author was the main point of the post.

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Girdles … what hangs from them … bats ?

 

No – in today's age don't answer that … I'm going back a few hundred years to Medieval times … 

Saint Catherine of Alexandra
holding a girdle book

How about a book, a pocket calendar, or a smart phone … crazy times we live in – well these were all invented in the 1,000 years between the 5^th to 15^th century in European history I'd better add, even earlier in previous eras ...

... a girdle was to be found upon the loins of Greek and Roman men … enabling their tunic to be confined, which could hold a purse, as pockets were unknown … the women wore their girdles under the bosom.

A 15th century Medieval Almanac being
unfolded to reveal astrological charts
and a 'Zodiac Man', linking the body to
signs of the horoscope.
c/o Ian Visits post 

Then the ingeniousness of creative imagination gave us the concertina-fold almanacs, known as girdle-books … which have become known as 'medieval smartphones' … also calendars ...

We are so fortunate that so much of our history has been preserved and can still be seen – perhaps only in specific exhibitions – but at least we can consider how earlier generations lived.

The upper cover and edge of a closed concertina-fold
almanac, showing its distinctive folds

As it's August … and as usual I'm off the path … this 'be short' … thank goodness it's summertime, also not much change here … but so be it!

Latin 7478 is a medieval
manuscript: 25 September, 1456

As of today … we have come far, yet seem to be going backwards …

Exhibition – Unfolding Time: The Medieval Pocket Calendar (c 1383 - 1400) was at the Lambeth Palace Library … sorry - it closed in May 2025. But there is a short YouTube video to view … 4 minutes worth of fascinating medieval life … together with various posts.

Wikipedia Girdle Books ... 

Wikipedia Latin 7478 Medieval Manuscript Here you can find a description about "bat-books" ... essentially they hang upside down!

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Wine and Cheese brought about by my Cathedral talk research ...

 

Honestly … let's have a change … my health is still with challenges, the leak still not resolved … and my mental thoughts aren't very polite!!

Winchester Cathedral - longest medieval
church in the world

So now let's go towards Cathedrals … I did my talk on Cathedrals in the Medieval era (I based it around the 1100s AD) … not on the actual style of building etc … but from the workers point of view – how were they built etc etc …

Different – but I don't do what's expected of me – exactly … however it seems to have rung bells for many. I'd come across the Ken Follett book 'Pillars of the Earth' – the story of building a cathedral, and of those closely connected with its construction …

It is what it is - !

Ken Follett in his introduction explains how he wanted to write about Cathedrals, but 'knew nothing' about how to build, or the way of life back in the 1100s – he looked to Nikolaus Pevsner's An Outline of European Architecture, and then two by a French man Jean Gimpel – The Cathedral Builders, and The Medieval Machine.

Pevsner's Guide showing
interior of Chichester
Cathedral

Follett is an author of thrillers, of which actually I'm not sure I've read any?! … but I bought Pillars of the Earth (over 1000 pages!) … and drafted my talk mainly from it – I had to fill in odds and ends from elsewhere.

Jean Gimpel's book
on The Cathedral Builders

Medieval England in the 12^th century was a turbulent place – civil war, famine, religious strife and battles over royal succession … all of which tore lives and families apart …

Jean Gimpel's book
on The Medieval Machine

Building a cathedral back then would have taken over 30 years, and in some instances over 500 years (Winchester Cathedral) … the stones revealing the construction history – the stops and starts, the damage and reconstruction, extensions in times of prosperity, repairs when disaster struck … and ultimately the incremental improvements – as an example when stained glass started to be added … to tell the stories of the time …

Henry II and Thomas a Becket
(early 14th C representation of them)

But when I'm 'researching' and putting ideas to paper … I often come across titbits that amuse me and I think – ah ha for you all reading this blog … so here's a couple for you …

Henry's claims over lands in France
(at their peak in red) 1150s

I was looking at the year 1141 AD – when The Anarchy, a civil war in England and Normandy between 1138 and 1153 was ongoing … at that stage 'we' owned a fair amount of western France – well that's another story …

Ricasoli vineyard today - in the
mountainous region of Chianti - 
Tuscany

... but I spotted that the Italian winemaking company Ricasoli was founded … I had to look didn't I? They've even got a Chianti – Viticultori in Chianti Classico: Ricasoli 1141, named after that year.

Cheddar - so delicious

Oh – we need cheese don't we …? Another date I 'interrogated' was 1170 AD – when it is recorded in a pipe roll (financial records) Henry II apparently purchased 10,240 lbs (over 4.5 kgs) of Somerset cheddar … only available at court!

What's not to like after giving a talk on Cathedrals … but some wine and cheese – which in fact I didn't have … had some lunch though.

Live and learn – and that I certainly do … more tennis this week, when we have the counties down here competing in their Championships – excellent tennis to spend some time watching with a cousin who comes down to help with the admin of the tournament.

See you all soon – and thanks for visiting …

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories