Bodiam Castle

Bodiam Castle in East Sussex is an imposing and forbidding place. It was build in 1385 for the purpose of defending the surrounding area from French invaders, political enemies, civil unrest, and plague. It's also exquisitely proportioned and very beautiful, the quadrangular design being of French origin, and well suited to the incarceration of wealthy dignitaries (made popular following the collapse of some banks).

When we arrived the skies were dark and heavy, and the odd spit of rain heralded some afternoon downpours. Luckily it doesn't take long to walk around the moated building, and to visit the ruined interior, with its various chambers and archways. The moat itself is well populated with very tame ducks - their size and robust health is a testament to the attention they receive from visitors, and this is even more entertaining in the summer months, when the enormous carp who also live in the moat come to the surface to compete for the tidbits the visitors throw to them. I've seen some terrible squabbles, but the carp take the pecks and kicks from the ducks on the chin and everyone seems happy. The carp are quite huge and I understand they were rescued from a warm water outflow close to a power plant, and transported to Bodiam to live happily thereafter.

My assistant is far braver than I am, and made it onto the battlements - I'm the tiny speck on the ground:

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