Shimmings Valley

The Shimmings Valley is directly to the East of Petworth. You can reach it from Bartons Lane which is just opposite St Marys Church.

The traces of medieval field systems are still visible. These the slight ridges you can see in the grass and a remnant of the terraces that at one time would have made it possible to grow food on the slopes.

It is a feeding area for the rare barbastelle bat from Ebernoe Common, one of Britain's rarest mammmals.   In summer at dusk you often see these bats flying along the length of the valley. On the wing they don't really look different to any other kind of bat but they do fly much straighter giving an appearance of single-mindedness.

More information on the barbastelle bat.

And here is proof that I am not the only person who loves the Shimmings Valley.

The Angel Inn Petworth

The Angel in doesn't look anywhere near as old as it must be. It seems to date back to at the least the seventeenth century and possibly much older.

It has a unique place in history being one of the main places that Winston Churchill planned the Normandy invasions.

Until a couple of years ago it had fallen into disuse and has now been re-opened as an up-market hotel and restaurant. It has an olde worlde feel to it which is very pleasant. But there is no doubting that it is currently being run more as a hotel and restaurant than a pub. You want to go there to eat rather than for a drink. It doesn't really cater for passing trade. It is a bit out of the middle of town so it might not actually get much passing trade if it did cater for it.

The food gets mixed reviews. I have never enjoyed anything I have eaten there, but I have heard people speak very highly of it. And the rooms are apparently very sumptuous.

On the plus side you are about 100 yards from the superb Shimmings valley.

So it is not really a local's pub or somewhere that you can drop into. But a nice location with great views nearby and plenty of history. There is more detail of the actual accomodation on the Angel Petworth website.

Fresh produce being delivered to the Angel, early on a Saturday morning.