Some time ago we remembered that we had not visited Michelham Priory for many years. And what a surprise! I had forgotten how fascinating it is.

For a start one has to cross the bridge over the moat - not any old moat, but a large one stuffed with fish - just before the gatehouse and collecting one's ticket. And beyond is the lovely house, which is owned by Sussex Archaeological Society.

The first surprise is the delightfully bright undercroft before reaching the rest of the house where I found differences - for instance a number of seats allowing one to take more time to study a room, and not too many attendants which seem to ruin the view!

Because this is just a small view of the Priory I am not attempting to go into detail about the rooms and furniture - rather, I am picking up things like the physic garden which has 16 well-stocked beds. There are other gardens uncluding the kitchen garden.

There is a watermill producing wholemeal flour which can be sold to visitors, the Great Barn of ten bays and now appears to be used for dances, weddings similar activities. Nearby there are two interesting exhibits - a rope museum forge and wheewright's museum. The forge still operates, while the whole area is a delight for all the family.

For those who need a snack, the cafe is a summer delight because its seating around a big tree, borders a large extension of the moat (almost a lake). Finally, returning to the gatehouse, there is the Dovecote Shop formed from a cart shed and the dovecote and is now the shop.

The gatehouse is more than 60ft high, has two upper floors to the roof and, delightedly, on each landing is a latrine hanging over the moat! Surely this must be the final delight of a super house and garden, and I cannot understand why I did not appreciate it all those many years ago. After all it is only just down the road at Upper Dicker.