Smuggling, a Cathedral, Robin Hood and Harry Potter - what's the link?

Dear Mr Postman .. today's positive letter looks so interesting and what on earth does link smuggling, a medieval Church, a thief and a magician to this county of ours: Sussex in the south of England? We will enjoy these tales ....

The Cathedral of the South Downs, as it has come to be called, is the parish church, built in 1360, in the village of Alfriston. The Church sits on a small, flint-walled mound in the middle of "the Tye" (the village green!) overlooking the River Cuckmere - and was unusually built in the shape of a cross.

The Cuckmere River was navigable inland for about 4 miles and the Steamer Trading cookshop in Alfriston reminds us of that trading history in the 1500s through its name, .. so goods could be brought up away from the coast, initially sailed up before the invention of the steam engine. The Smugglers Inn a few doors away from Steamer Trading had at one time 21 rooms, 6 staircases, and 48 doors .. making it ideal for the purposes of the smuggling gangs. To my surprise tea seems to have been one of the first major contrabands, as well as the expected brandy and gin ..

If you would like to see an idyllic English view from the Downs above Alfriston .. where my brother lives & is their view, when they walk to the top - straight from their house! - this site is advertising the 100 mile walk from my town of Eastbourne(above) to Winchester along the South Downs (in stages, I hasten to add, an essential element is the dropping down to the pubs at night .. Alfriston being the first or last stop!!).

As you can see the area has a magnificient backdrop .. and yesterday's post shows the picture of the coastguard cottages used as the postcard in the film "Atonement", while the beach was used for Kevin Costner's Robin Hood film, and in the Harry Potter "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" movie.

Well Mr Postman I must say you do keep us informed and I can see a few more interesting positive letters and articles flowing from these stories .. what will you bring tomorrow, I wonder .. thank you for visiting us again .. it's always so lovely to see you with one of your positive letters ....