The Southeast Sights

Shopping Nightlife Performing Arts

1. Winchelsea

This small town, a few miles south of Rye, perches prettily atop its own small hill amid rolling farmland, and has a number of interesting attractions. There's the splendid (though damaged) church at its heart, built in the 14th century with stone from Normandy. The stained-glass windows are particularly captivating, with renowned Scottish artist Douglas Strachan (1875–1950) creating an almost three-dimensional effect with his bold illustrations. Outside the church lies a grave with one of most quoted epitaphs in the English language. When English-Irish comedian Spike Milligan (of The Goon Show fame) was buried here in 2002, he requested to have the words "I told you I was ill" added to his gravestone. The diocese refused, but agreed to a compromise in which it was written in Irish instead. Take a walk around the graveyard and see if you can spot the headstone with the words: "Dúirt mé leat go raibh mé breoite." Under the town's narrow streets are at least 56 medieval cellars, with some accessible by an interesting—if rather long—guided tour (£10) on various dates from April to October. A short walk from the town center is Winchelsea Beach, a pretty stretch of shingle coastline.