Althorp and East Haddon Bank Holiday Bike Ride

Another sunny Bank Holiday in lockdown....At least I can get out on my bike and get some fresh air and beautiful scenery.
I never really have a route planned when I set off and go wherever the mood takes me. I do like it out in the Bringtons though so that was the direction for today.
Upper and Lower Harlestone are also lovely places to cycle to. I always find the'Dovecote Laundry fascinating with it's  proud blue sign prominent.

Turning off the Nobottle Road and looking down the road with the Church at Great Brington in the distance is a wonderful view.  Althorp House lies behind the walls on the right hand side side.  Although much of the surrounding land is also owned  by the Althorp Estate.

The only slight downside is knowing that I have to cycle up the hill to get there in a few minutes. But not before I've made a brief stop for a couple of photos.

Althorp House

Althorp House entrance

'Althorp was built in 1508, by the Spencers, for the Spencers, and that is how it has remained for over 500 years'. At least according to the official website. Today would ordinarily be one of their busiest days in the calendar. But the gates are  locked and the car parks are all empty and it is a scene of tranquility. 

St. Mary the Virgin , Great Brington

Well I did indeed make it up that hill! 

Lawrence Washington, the Great Grandfather of  George Wahington St. Mary the Virgin with St. John Church, Great Brington first president of the United States, is buried in the chancel of the Church at St Mary's.

The Dovecote Laundry Harlestone

Althoughis it is forever forever linked with the Spencer family of Althorp. The Spencers have held Althorp for centuries, and generations of Spencers are buried inside the church.These may even include Princesss Diana herself ??

The official version is that Princess Di was buried on an island in Althorp Park. However, there is another version of the princess's burial which suggests that she was secretly cremated and her ashes interred in the family chapel at Great Brington church.....Now I'm certainly no conspiracy theorist so I will let you make your own minds up, and who knows ? You may well be correct.

 leaving behind Althorp and the Bringtons I  head out towards another very pretty village 'East Haddon'. One of the cottages has a wonder tall tower in the garden. I noticed a gentleman tending to his borders and asked if he minded me taking a photo. He was a lovely chap and asked me if I would like to go and have a closer look!

He explained that it was originally built as a water tower in 1890. For many people in the village their water was supplied from this tower.
Water was gravity fed from its two tanks, which had, according to Pigs Pubs & People, a combined capacity of 10,000 gallons.Although an article in the Northampton Mercury (12th November 1954) suggested the tower held "two tanks which hold a total of 5000 gallons" The tower continued in use certainly into the 1950's. My relatives were the village bakers and Ken Craddock said when his father took over the bakery in 1925, they had no mains water and all their water had to be collected from the pump opposite their house.  They also had a well in the garden, but its water was not drinkable and could only be used on the garden.

Looking up to the roof of the water tower

 

I think that the garden and tower look magnificent and it was a real privilege to be invited in. 

The cottage is immediately opposite the St Mary the Virgin Church. 

I ride through Ravensthorpe passing 'Coton Manor Gardens' again sadly closed due to the current virus regulations. The gardens are beautiful all year round. Not only blooming borders and wildflower meadows but Flamingoes on the pond as well.

Coton Manor Gardens

It has been a really good ride , around 27 miles according to my Strava app. It is certainly the fittest I've felt since my shoulder injury.

More importantly it is always good for one's own mental health and wellbeing. It takes you away from the problems of life and and I suppose it is escapism in it's purest form .

I take the opportunity to pull into a field and just listen to the noise around me.A gentle breeze rustles the leaves in the trees and birdsong fills the air, bliss .

A brief rest before heading home

Aldwincle and Lyveden New Biuld walk

                                                                                            

Today's Walk

Starting Point

Nice hot late Spring day and another walked all set up. Starting point today is the village of Aldwincle in the east Northamptonshire. I'm quite excited as the walk today will take in the mythical 'Lyveden New Biuld'. Somewhere I've never been before and possibly the greatest folly in the County?

Church St Wadenhoe

We don't see too much of Aldincle as we quickly  get on the 'Nene Way' path following the River Nene into the picturesque village of Wadenhoe.

Not much sign of life around these parts  at all though. The pub though must be popular with it's garden backing on to the river. A lovely place to sit outside and enjoy a pint in better times I'm sure.

There are signs for 'Lyveden Way' which sounds very promising to me. 

Church of St Michael and all Angels.

The church of St. Michael and All Angels is    interesting as it stands high on the hill. The  ground falls rapidly from west to east and the chancel stands high above the level of the churchyard.

It has a claim to fame too ! The Church was used as the backdrop for the opening scenes of the 1999 version of A Christmas Carol starring Patrick Stewart.

The tower is all that is left of a late 12th-century church (c. 1195–1200) the chancel and nave of which were rebuilt some time in the next century.

'Lyveden New Build'

The first sight of 'Lyveden New Build' takes your breathe away. With perfect blues sunny skies and a blanket of emerald green lush grass it stands resplendent. It's picture postcard stuff as the strong breeze gives the grass a moving quality enhanced by the sun. 

It is really feels remote and set in the middle of nowhere. Now owned by the National Trust and a Grade I listed building. It is not so much a ruin as an unfinished building! It looks so new, as though it is still a work in progress and not a ruin. The big problem is that there is no roof....

The truth is there has been no further work for the last 400 years. Not since it was started in 1594.

It was constructed forSir Thomas Tresham a well known Roman Catholic of Rushton Hall. 

The New Bield has a religious design full of symbolism. Designed on a plan reminiscent of a Greek cross,  the facades have a strict symmetry.Each wing ends in a 5 sided Bay Window. set in the remains of a garden. The number symbolisation of 3,5,7 and 9 is obviosu throughout. Each floor had three rooms with a staircase in the south projection of the cross. The number three signifies the Holy Trinity. Five is the number of wounds on hands, feet and side of Christ. Seven standds forthe seven sorrows of our lady amongst various others. 

One man and his dog

Meadows of wild flowers

 The actual bulder of 'Lyveden' was Thomas Stickellsand was obviously meant for occupation, as it has a great hall, parlour , kitchen and dairy in the basement. 

There was aven a moat around the building which the National Trust have reconstructed. 

Taking a photo

Sir Thomas Tresham died in 1605 following decades of religious persecution, his once vast wealth having been severely depleted. His son Francis Tresham inherited the estate, but within the same year, along with his cousins Catesby and Wintour, he became involved in the Gunpowder Plot....

Francis's son Lewis Tresham then took over (the third owner). The estate was managed by Lewis's mother until her death in 1615. Lewis Tresham, a spendthrift, lost the remaining family wealth. The estate was eventually sold following the death of his son in 1643.

                                                                                     

River close to 'Lyveden New Biuld'

We walk through Fermyn Woods into Lady's wood and safely navigate our way (after a slight detour) back into Aldwincle. 

Boughton Park Follies Bike Ride

Entrance to Boughton Park

A quick teatime bike ride was enough time to catch up with two more follies, located within Boughton Park Northampton.

Riding along the A508 heading towards Pitsford lies the entrance to Boughton Park. I've recently seen some of the existing follies including the grotto on a recent walk.
The follies are very diverse and were all built for William Wentworth, 2nd Earl of Strafford.

Several of the Boughton buildings are said to resemble similar ones at Wentworth Castle South Yorkshire, built by his father Thomas.  

The Hawking Tower

The Hawking Tower stands like a gatehouse next to the entrance of the Park. It is said to be a copy of Steeple Lodge at Wentworth Castle.
Built around 1755 it is a Grade II listed building. It is three storeys high with ogee (Gothic architecture) and quatrefoiled windows, also an outer staircase.
The castle style carries on into the Park, although the 1770 Newpark Barn has been decastellated.

Blue skies and tranquility

I head of into the countryside having bagged my first folly of the two. It was a lovely late afternoon with clear skies and a light wind. I pulled into a gateway near Teeton to watch two Red Kites circling a nearby crop of woodlands. No doubt they have a nest somewhere close to the trees
I do a nice circuit of about fifteen miles and cut through the spinney in Boughton on my return to catch my next folly.

The 1764 Obelisk

Obelisk Plaque

The Obelisk is something that I have very much grown up with living on the nearby estate.

The Obelisk is made of white sandstone and is on a plinth. It stands About 100 feet high on ground, highest in the area, about 450 feet above sea level. 
It is a memorial erected in 1764 by William Wentworth 2nd Earl of Strafford of Boughton Hall. In memory of his Grace William Cavendish 4th Duke of Devonshire. A lifelong friend of of Wenworth's.

Holcot, Sywell Woods, Mears Ashby and Overstone walk

With the virus restrictions on exercise slightly eased we had more time for a longer walk on this occasion.Although it turned out to be a bit longer than we actually anticipated. Throughout the walk social distancing in line with government advice was adhered to.

The start of the route was the same as the VE Day walk on a previous blog. This time the fields were a riot of gold with Buttercups taking centre stage. We even stumbled upon a different pond that we had somehow missed last time.

Walking across the fields to the pretty village of Holcot. This time instead of following the direction of Pitsford Reservoir we went the opposite way.  It was a bit of an ordeal finding the right footpath in the mass of fields as it was quite obscured. Soon enough we were back in the peace and tranquility with just the birdsong for company.

Another pond

Golden Buttercups

Looking back towards Holcot Church

The peace didn't last long though as we had to navigate the usually busy A43.Quieter than usual but a horrible road , always best to err on the side of caution.

It was familiar territory for me having lived in the parts a few years ago for a while. I often walked the trails seeing numerous Deer, Foxes and birds of prey. Nothing in sight today though on what is a perfect day for walking. We stick to the outer edge of the woods , very close to Sywell Airport .

Back on the road our next port of call is the village of Mears Ashby. We take a path at the back of the church , somewhere I had never been before.

All Saints Church Mears Ashby

'The Ducking Pond'

 The sun has really come out now and it is hot! A good time to take on some fluid. The village pub is not an option as it is still in lock down. Have to make do with some Blackcurrant cordial that goes down well.

Even the Churches are closed to parishioners at the moment so I think it will be a while before we get a pint of beer...

Mears Ashby, apparently, has a long tradition of witchcraft would you believe? Not much evidence of any going on today however. as late as 1785 a local resident, Sarah Bradshaw, was so accused. The Northampton Mercury on 1 August 1785 reported that neighbours accused her of being a witch. In order to prove her innocence, she was submitted to the no win situation of the 'ducking stool'. When she immediately sank to the bottom of the pond and died, it was undeniable proof that she really wasn't a witch after all.....

We leave the village heading through more lush green fields on a marked footpath.We cross the road and head down towards  Sywell Reservoir which is also a country park. Covering an area of 280,000 square metres it is a great place to walk around. Not today though,not a bad thing judging by the number of people streaming through the park gates.
Numerous illegally parked cars have also been ticketed. An unpleasant surprise for the unsuspecting driver after a nice walk.

 Just below the Reservoir is the site of the former 'sheep dip' or 'Wash Pit' as once used by local farmers. Dating back to 1777 it is brick lined and mentioned in the Mears Ashby Enclosure Act.
The pit was used to wash sheep before shearing since a clean fleece produced less waste and gave more wool.
Traditionally the sheep washing took place from the end of May. Maintenance work was always completed on Good Friday by a local Carpenter.
There is a reference to a 'sheep washing pool' in the novel 'Far from the Madding Crowd' by 'Thomas Hardy'.

Our journey continues on and  uphill in the direction of Overstone and the Scout hut.
We do manage to get off the road and skirt the edge of Ecton Brook.
It is sad to see the stream that follows the path so polluted with rubbish. Everything from old tyres, chairs to children's toys.  It is pure laziness simple as that and quite pathetic.
We move towards Southfields , avoiding theroad by finding a path through the overgrowth at the back of houses. This is by far the least pleasant part of the walk. We cross round Spinney and then back into the fields linking Crowfields Common in Moulton. Some 15 miles covered!

VE Day Walk Moulton, Holcot & Pitsford

'Moulton Morris Men'

Friday 8th May 2020, the 75th anniversary of 'VE Day' as it is known in the UK. The day towards the end of World War Two that saw fighting against Nazi Germany come to an end in Europe.
It was a beautiful day as I strolled through the village on what  this year is a Bank Holiday, replacing the traditional Monday May Day. Celebrations are a little muted , however many houses have at least put up some bunting or flags. Some have really made an effort!  Decorating their front gardens like the ones above to commemorate the occasion. Of course the current Corona virus restrictions have made gatherings difficult but there seems a public mood to sit outside and make the best of the situation keeping in mind the current restrictions.   

Moulton Church in the far distance

I met up with my old walking partner in the village along with his dog 'Archie'. It's been the bet part of two months since we've been able to get out together. Even now we are adopting the safe distancing practise. I've adopted the name ' two meter Peter'. 

We pick up the footpath that immediately leads to open fields that stretch out towards Holcot. To our right new houses are being built as the village expands further and further. Even further right new developments are springing up by the side of the A43. It really is worrying the amount of green space that is being swallowed up by the developers. We keep to the marked track that crosses the filed in a straight line .Negotiating a couple of styles and numerous sheep we reach 'Overstone Grange' . A little 'limbo dancing' is required to avoid the electric fence. Placed to keep the horses from churning up the gateway I expect.  We pass the working farm and on through the next farm without seeing a soul.


 

Adventurous lambs

Hidden Pond

We really are out in 'the sticks' now and I would struggle to have a clue where we are . If I hadn't already walked here , if you see what I mean.We had only been walking for twenty minutes, yet it seemed another world away. A buy time for the birds too , hungry mouths to feed as the eggs begin to hatch. With no competition the birdsong is ever present , Meadow Pits , Blue Tits, Long Tailled Tits and the distance vibrations of a Woodpecker. 

Eventually our path leads to familiar territory. Exciting a gateway I recognise the village of Holcot and the War memorial. It is inscribed with the names of all the Holcot residents killed in battle. The name 'Lance Corporal Frederick William Mobbs' 32nd Battalion, the Royal Fusiliers catches my eye. I make a mental note to research this later. I now know a little more about him.

Frederick was born in and a resident of Holcot, and enlisted from Northampton. He was killed in action 7th June 1917 in France, aged 21 on the first day of the Flanders Offensives that would continue until the mud all but broke the British Army in December that year. Frederick was the son of Mr. and Mrs. C. Mobbs, of Main St., Holcot, Northampton.

He has no known grave but is remembered on panels 6 and 8 of the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.

We move towards Pitsford reservoir but before reaching the causeway we detour across  another public footpath . This really is a lovely stretch of the route with spectacular views of the reservoir and lovely open countryside. Again there is a wonderful lake with Moorhens and Coots going about their business. 

Calming waters

After a brief stop to take in the piece and tranquility of the area it was onward again. A slight uphill climb but nothing too strenuous. On or left is the picturesque 'Northfields cricket ground' with it's immaculate outfield and thatched roof score box. Sometimes a venue for Northants Second XI it's a place of beauty. I was lucky enough to play in a memorial match there myself once and I think I spent more time looking at the surroundings than anything else.

'Northfields' cricket ground memorial

Cricket outfield with scorebox in the distance

Views of Pitsford Reservoir

We exit this part of the walk passing the stunning Mouton Grange , a typical English country residence. We walk the private road to exit, although foot traffic is allowed. Rather   than walk through the village of Pitsford we veer off on another footpath across fields belonging to the Agricultural College. We weave our way through permissible paths and wide expanses and big skies to the Pitsford Road. Very close to where I walked a couple of weeks ago near the quarry actually.

This time I veered to the right going away from Moulton towards Boughton. There was somewhere I wanted to visit that I hadn't been to for many years 'Grotto Spinney'. It's really well hidden and unless you knew of it's whereabouts you would struggle to find it I think. I was re-assured to find it still in amazing condition , no deterioration or vandalism. It has stood the test of time for some 250 years now. I love it ! Inside there is a well head for a natural spring. It is called a 'Folly' and was one of a number created by William Wentworth, second Earl of Stratford in the mid 1770s. Sadly some of his other creations have on the Boughton Estate have nor survived so well. It is now a Grade II listed building with Heritage England. It is said to be an ancient Pagan site, maybe because of it's natural spring? In folklore such places along with wells or small bodies of water were often revered. This largely because they were thought to offer healing and cleansing properties. 

Please forgive my indulgence in the grotto but it conjures up something very special in me . 

Time to head back home, there is a 'street party waiting' after all. 

It's a matter of following the bottom of the field and the stream back to 'Specs Lane' in Moulton. By now the temperature has really shot up and little Archie is taking every opportunity to cool off. 

There have been a few people out walking but not many really. The hardest part really is walking back up 'Specs Lane'. Walking back through Moulton it seems as though the locals are starting to put the corkscrews too good use, and the beer is starting to flow. Must admit I was looking forward to a pint of beer and a sit down . The walk in total was a shade over 11 miles and really enjoyable.  

Lets get the party started !

Spectacle Lane Gatehouse

  

.