After a week at our country retreat at Shrewton, it was time to pack up and move on.  That required an early start, but thanks to the 90 minute drive (I am so glad not to be driving any more!), it was after 11am before Ian hit the trail for his final day on the South Downs Way.  I dropped him off at Cocking Hill, in gorgeous sunshine, and with 20 km left until he reached Amberley, the starting point for our South Downs Way walk in 1997.

Today’s historic period for me was the Romans, and more specifically, the wealthy ones who settled in the southeast.  Back in 1960, a contractor was digging a large trench in a field, for a water main.  He realised he was unearthing Roman rubble, so the archaeologists were called in.  Further investigation revealed something amazing – an enormous palace, made up of four wings set around a huge courtyard garden.  This was one of a kind in Britain, usually only seen in Rome. Whoever lived here had very high status, and was possibly a king.

Luckily, a philanthropic gentleman stepped in and purchased the entire property, to save it from development; otherwise the Fishbourne Roman Palace and its mosaic treasures would have been destroyed, and buried under suburban housing.  Today, the covered area is just the North wing – one quarter of what was originally here – and half the garden area.  There is a small but well set out museum, but the covered hall is the real marvel.  Here you can see a dozen mosaic floors, representing a range of styles, patterns and colours.  Quite stunning.  I particularly liked the Cupid on a Dolphin floor, and the floor where a newer coloured mosaic had been laid over the top of a simpler monochrome one. My favourite part of the garden was the extensive lavender bed, replete with fat little bumble bees gathering nectar among the burst of colour and scent.

Ian appeared at Amberley station right on cue, and rightly pleased with himself for completing his 80km walk. He will write a separate blog entry about his 4 day on the trail.  I recorded the moment for posterity.

The drive to and from Amberley was rather tortuous, at peak hour. If I never see another British roundabout again, it will be too soon.  But we are now in a nice apartment in Southampton central, a short walk from the cruise port, and close enough to explore the medieval walls tomorrow.  And the car has made it safely back to the airport.