Hi Unknown Visitor and welcome to my site.
Allow me introduce myself, I am BobStafford.
and I am interested in history.
Welcome to my piece of space on ZZ9ZZA
please feel free, to wander about,
or if you like to leave a message or comment.
In spite of my sign in name I am from Sittingbourne in the county of Kent and born east of the River Medway and so I am a Man of Kent. I have lived and worked in Kent, Hampshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Devonshire, and now living in Staffordshire. I must admit I like Kent, Hampshire and Staffordshire best. The Kent and Hampshire countryside is wonderful in both summer and winter Staffordshire lags behind a bit but not much. Go up on Winchester hill in Hampshire on a summers evening. Or see a sunrise over Gazen Salts Nature Reserve in Kent you will see what I mean.
I am related to Kentish smugglers on my grandmothers side the (George Ransley and the Aldington gang nicknamed 'the Blues') and the family have had at least three of our number "exported" to the colonies for being a little bit "naughty".
One of the gangs exploits is remembered in a folk song, the first verse is here and the link to the site is below it.
"We smuggling boys are merry boys,
Sometimes here and sometimes there,
No rent nor taxes do we pay,
But a man of war is all our fear".
Are You A Man of Kent -
If you were born East of the River Medway you are a Man of Kent
Or Are You A Kentish Man -
And if born West of the River Medway you are a Kentish Man
Steward Of The Manor Of Arreton (hon.)
Likes -
History anything weird (Pre history to 1700) castles, beer tents old buildings and ruins, black powder guns computers and photography.
Proper beer, Ale, Food, Tolkien and Pratchett and all good books, My dog
, cats
, horses and other
animals including mythical
, living history and Radio 4. People who give it another go and dont mind what others think of them, RG knows what I mean.
Opinions For Debate -