Maude Robinson's memoirs

When visiting the Hiker's Rest tea shop you might feel as if you have stepped back in time. Saddlescombe farm is mentioned in the Domesday book, and some of the buildings are largely unaltered from the way they looked hundreds of years ago. Maude Robinson, who was born at Saddlescombe Farm in 1859,  wrote an account of her upbringing on the farm. This describes in charming detail her family life on the farm and the characters who lived locally and worked on the farm. Copies  of her book A South Down Farm in the 1860's can be purchased at the tea shop. Guaranteed to transport you back in time  the book brings to life the characters and events which were a regular part of the farm over 150 years ago. For anybody interested in digging a little into the history of the farm and the surrounding neighbourhood, this is not a bad starting point. .