The Scourge – Episode 3
**SPOILERS FOR EPISODE 3 BELOW. TRAVERSE THESE WATERS WITH CARE, MATEY**
Episode 3 comes out tomorrow. It’s a good one, I think. In which Edward leads his army into battle and then
faces execution by a mad king. In the spirit of Episode 3, here are some images from modern-day Hadleigh,
Leigh (Lighe), and Rayleigh. Thanks to my fiancee, Annabelle Page, for showing me around her old stomping
grounds.
Leigh (Lighe), and Rayleigh. Thanks to my fiancee, Annabelle Page, for showing me around her old stomping
grounds.
What’s left of Hadleigh Castle
Pictured above are the ruins of Hadleigh Castle. The castle is perched on a hill overlooking Old Leigh,
and has such a wonderful feel to it. A feeling of power and tranquility and invulnerability.
You can just imagine how magnificent it once was.
Hadleigh Castle, as it once was.
That’s what the castle would have looked like in Edward’s day, after an extensive renovation project by Henry III.
The Great Hall
That square area in the mid-ground is the remains of the Great Hall where Edward’s imaginary meeting withSir John would have taken place. Just beyond the tower, in the distance, is a view of Old Leigh (Lighe).
The Thames Estuary at low tide, at Old Leigh.
This is the Thames at low tide, just off the shore of Old Leigh. The French ships in my story landed here. I’m fairly confident these three ships aren’t French.
Hadleigh Castle, with Old Leigh in the distance.
This is Old Leigh today, at low tide. It’s come a long way from the sleepy little village it was in Sir Edward’s day.
Rayleigh Motte
Moving on to Rayleigh. My beautiful fiancee, Annabelle, stands on Rayleigh Motte.
This is the hill where the tower once stood. During Sir Edward’s days, there probably wouldn’t have been
much left of the castle. I chose to extend Rayleigh’s life a few decades in the story, although it was nothing
but a “dung-pit” when Edward finds it.
This is the hill where the tower once stood. During Sir Edward’s days, there probably wouldn’t have been
much left of the castle. I chose to extend Rayleigh’s life a few decades in the story, although it was nothing
but a “dung-pit” when Edward finds it.
Motte and Bailey
Motte to the left, bailey to the right. You can still walk the entire castle grounds at Rayleigh Mount,
although nothing is left of the stone tower or the buildings.
although nothing is left of the stone tower or the buildings.
Rayleigh Castle, how it was
This was how the castle would have looked in its prime.
Church on the hill
St. Clement’s church sits on a hill in Leigh-on-Sea. It is the church that Edward talks about and that he and
his knights ride onto. There is a rumor that this church was built using stones from Hadleigh Castle, but I
doubt it. King Edward III had made major renovations to Hadleigh in the late 14th century and the castle
wasn’t sold for building materials until the mid-16th century. St. Clement’s was built sometime circa 1400,
but I don’t think it’s a stretch to say it might have been around in 1385, when Sir Edward came by.
If you are reading The Scourge, I hope you enjoy this episode. It’s one of my favorites.
And I hope these photos help flesh out the world that Edward and his knights are traveling through.
his knights ride onto. There is a rumor that this church was built using stones from Hadleigh Castle, but I
doubt it. King Edward III had made major renovations to Hadleigh in the late 14th century and the castle
wasn’t sold for building materials until the mid-16th century. St. Clement’s was built sometime circa 1400,
but I don’t think it’s a stretch to say it might have been around in 1385, when Sir Edward came by.
If you are reading The Scourge, I hope you enjoy this episode. It’s one of my favorites.
And I hope these photos help flesh out the world that Edward and his knights are traveling through.