The Prosperity of the Kentish Yeoman

Photograph Details: Nikon D7000 Focal length 18mm ISO-250 exp: 1/320 f22

Stoneacre is perhaps one of the best examples of a 15th Century Yeoman's house surviving in Britain today. It is owned and managed by the National Trust, and was once almost derelict. It was purchased in 1920 by a Mr Aymer Vallance who restored it by using bits of other period houses. His family made its fortunes in the brewing industry in nearby Sittingbourne.

Ightham Mote, Ivy Hatch

This was shot on a family day out to the wonderful Ightham Mote. This fantastic 14th Century moated manor mouse is situated in Ivy Hatch, just to the East of Sevenoaks in Kent and according to Pevsner, it is 'the most complete small medieval manor house in the country. Dating back to either around about 1320 or 1340 (the date is unclear), this fantastic building has been owned by "medieval knights, courtiers to Henry VIII and high society Victorians". and would have been built during the reign of either Edward II who was notable for a defeat in Scotland by Robert The Bruce and the Battle of Bannockburn (considered the worst defeat for the English since the Battle of Hastings in 1066) or Edward III who was notable for introducing significant legislation, including the Statute of Labourers of of 1351 which helped address the problem of a dire lack of workers as a result of the Black Death. In 1521, Sir Richard Clement bought the house for £400 (approx. £141,832 as of 2005).

£400 in the 1520s could have bought you:

Abandoned boats, Dungeness

Dungeness is one seriously weird place. It's fantastic shingle beach is one of the largest in the world, and it has two nuclear power stations with one still active. Not just that but it's beach is pebbled with abandoned boats, beech huts, narrow-gauge railway tracks and the odd house crafted from old railway carriages. Not to mention the strange concrete "listening ears" - a precursor to modern day RADAR.

Dungeness Headland Lighthouse

Photograph Details: Nikon D7000 Focal length 18mm ISO-100 exp: 1/400 f11

Warp Speed?

Photograph Details: Nikon D7000 Focal length 18mm ISO-100 exp: 209.6s f10