Matilda
This cabin reimagines the 1066 story and the years following, offering a feminine perspective of medieval life, full of unexpected colour, woodland folklore and a deep faith in nature.
The stained glass window in the bathroom reimagines the winding path through Powdermill Wood, towards Battle, a path many would have taken in search of firewood, or to forage for herbs and wild food… possibly encountering the green man as they went. The crab apples signify the Old Hoar Tree where Harold’s men supposedly gathered on the eve of the Battle of Hastings. In the bedroom meanwhile, you’ll find the wild folklore-inspired imaginings of local artist Ellie Fryer. What might our medieval ancestors have dreamt of at night?
Lovers of folk tales, medieval history and wild plants will be very happy here. Or if you’re just after a bit of escapism or some time to reconnect with the natural world, this vibrant cabin is for you.
*This is a dog-friendly cabin.
What’s included:
Stargazing windows
Fold up desks with a view
Double beds with fresh towels and linens
Luxury toiletries, by Wide Eye and Handmade by Juliette
A curated bookshelf
Wifi
Digital radio with Bluetooth
Hot showers
Flushing toilets
Cooking facilities
Fridge freezer
Complimentary Bird & Wild coffee and Sussex tea
Bookshelf
Recommended Reads
Femina by Janina Ramirez
In a Monastery Garden by Elizabeth & Reginald Peplow
Matilda by Tracy Boorman
An extra special stay
We know time away is precious, and we want to help you make the most of it. We can provide lots of lovely extras including breakfast hampers, beautifully-wrapped books picked by our award-winning local bookseller and vases of our garden-grown flowers. We’re also very open to your requests - whether you’d like to book a massage with a local therapist or have the cabin decorated for a special occasion, we can help. Get in touch at hello@starcroftfarm.co.uk and we’ll start planning!
Who
was Matilda?
For other women at the time, beyond the ever-present struggle for survival, the threat of forced marriage to a Norman soldier loomed large. A lucky few were able to seek protection by becoming a nun, but most remained at the mercy of the violent whims of the invaders.
There’s so much we don’t know about Matilda’s life, a woman of enormous wealth, and those of lesser status are virtually absent from the historical record. This can be very frustrating, but also allows space for us to imagine what their lives might have been like, from their daily struggles to get food on the table to what they might have thought when they looked up at the night sky. Also, it’s motivation for us - whoever we are - to tell our own stories, so our unique experiences are not forgotten.
Everyone’s heard of William the Conqueror, but what about his wife, Matilda? Unlike her husband, the diminutive Matilda spoke to her new subjects in their own tongue, and was the peace-keeping opposite to foul-tempered William.
Having made her first voyage to England whilst pregnant with her 9th child, she exerted her unprecedented new powers in subtle, and not so subtle, ways. Her life was lived surrounded by riches, but always full of danger - not least from repeated pregnancy and childbirth.