Bateman's - Home of Rudyard Kipling

On the way to say farewell to Aunty Kay in Eastbourne, we stopped off at Bateman's, the home of Rudyard Kipling from the age of 36, who was by that time one of the most famous writers in the English speaking world. His success was enormous.

Bateman's was built in 1634, was bought by Kipling for 9300 pounds and came with 33 acres. He added to this as land became available and now there are 300 acres of rolling countryside to explore.
Apart from the gardens and walks you can tour inside the house where much of the original furniture remains. Some of the features include an Edison Phonograph which still works, and was played for us,

Kipling's Nobel prize certificate, daughter Josephine's Alphabet necklace from the Just So Story of the same name.
His study remains set up just the way he might have walked out of it the previous day. A delightful setting in which to create his stories.

He had a fascination with the automobile throughout his life and was asked to trial many experimental vehicles.

His 1928 Rolls Royce Phantom I remains in the garage where he left it. It was his favourite and he took the family on many trips. However, in the 36 years of touring, he never once drove himself!

Caroline better known as Carrie

Kipling married a bossy American named Caroline who kept his life in check. You would not be able to visit Rudyard if she didn't want you to. She was intelligent and gifted in her own way, writing poetry, and running the household with an iron fist. There was a good deal of tragedy in their lives as well as success.
On a boat trip back to America, both Kipling and his young daughter became gravely ill with pneumonia. Rudyard recovered, but sadly Josephine did not and died aged 6. He didn't get over the little girl's death and afterwards formed a close relationship with his son John. WW1 had broken out and Kipling encouraged his son to enlist. John's eyesight was poor, like his father's, and was turned down repeatedly. Kipling pulled a few strings with people he knew and got John enlisted into the Irish Guard. In 1915 John went missing and his body was never recovered, despite Rudyard going to France to search for him.
As well as losing these 2 children, they had another still born child, leaving them only with their remaining daughter Elsie. She married and lived a long and happy life, but had no children of her own, so the Kiplings never became grandparents which I find very sad, as I think Rudyard would have made such a fine grandfather. It was Elsie who gave the house to the National Trust, a true legacy.
At the bottom of the garden there is a watermill which still operates  today and sells its own stone-ground flour in the shop. Very fine and tasty too, John was disappointed to discover this too late to do anything about it. The frustrations of a would be baker.....