The Shakespeare's Avon Way - King's Newnham & Brinklow (6)

 

We are picking up from where we left off last week in the village of Long Lawford just west of Rugby. 

The walk today promises much! Including one of my most favourite of features on the landscape. Hope that has whetted your appetite avid reader? I will keep my powder dry until slightly later though. Which might not be easy given the forecast for heavy afternoon showers. The waterproofs are packed once again so that usually means we will be fine. 

We are off in a clockwise direction and are soon on to the Shakespeare's Avon Way and heading off towards Church Lawford. 

There has been so much rain over the last couple of weeks that we are back to sodden muddy fields. That can only mean one thing 'cleggy' boots! 

Waterlogged Fields

First sight of the River Avon

St Peter's - Church Lawford

The first sighting of The River Avon is accompanied by a raucous chorus of birdsong. The birds are well hidden amongst the reed beds. You probably won't be surprised to learn that the birds in question are 'Reed Warblers'. There used to be an RAF base in the village at one time.Opened in April 1941 and was used by the RAF for pilot training until it closed in 1955.     

We come across some remnants of an old watermill that dates back to around 1924. The mill has now been demolished, but the mill pool and a footbridge are still there. 

The next point of interest is the site of the  Church of St Laurence. that was built during the Medieval period. It continued to be used until the end of the 18th century. It fell into disrepair and all but the tower was pulled down. The tower now belongs to Hall Farm; the base of the tower has been used as a chicken house in the past and is now being used for storage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We pick up the longest, narrowest and muddiest Bridleway you could ever hope to find. The only ones enjoying it are the Badgers judging by the number of setts and discarded bedding around. 

Eventually the path leads us to the village of Brinklow. It has a very interesting village crest. There seems to be a Viking link judging by the sign. The village sits astride the Former Roman Fosse Way and was once a market town in the middle ages. 

However the best thing in my opinion are the remains of a large Norman motte and bailey castle. It is known locally as 'The Tump' or simply 'The Big Hill'. It is one of the best examples of it's type in the country. The castle is believed to be built on the site of an ancient burial mound or Roman signal station.Be prepared for numerous photographs of the area. Of course I couldn't resist clambering the sixty odd feet to get to the top of this magnificent site.

Brinklow motte and bailey

 

That really was great fun and the views from the top were quite spectacular.Well worth the energetic climb ......

That really was a treat! Maybe I just need to get out more? I blame Covid personally and the clean living and the fish diet.... On-wards we go with a spring in our muddied walking boot steps.Leaving Brinklow we pick up with our 'Old Friend' the Oxford Canal once again. It does feel that the title for this should be 'The Oxford Canal Walk' as we seem to have spent so much time on it! So please ready yourself for a few canal photos coming along shortly. We noticed some unusual 'ping pong balls' floating along in the water. Closer inspection was to reveal that these were in fact Duck eggs. Probably a nest had been washed away with all the rain and high water. 

The Oxford Canal (Again)

The skies have darkened and the wind has got up too, somehow the bad weather seems to have skirted around us. Hopefully our luck will hold on this last part of the walk?

Leaving the canal path and heading back towards Little Lawford we come across an oasis of peace and serenity. Much needed after having to negotiate a blocked off stile to make the exit. For some reason a layer of corrugated metal had been added to try and make it impassable. We just about managed to clamber over with little grace or finesse. 

 

There are three lakes in total, two of which have an island wit trees and bushes. The Weeping Willow is home to a number of very noisy Herons. Commonly known as a 'Heronry' I do believe. 

Directly underneath a Pen Swan is sitting on a nest of eggs. I dread to think what she gets showered with....

A cracking walk and we stayed largely dry. In total a distance of 10.15 miles.

The Shakespeare's Avon Way - Newbold On Avon (5)

On paper I don't have particularly great expectations for this particular walk. Much of which is in and around Rugby, not a place that tends to excite me in all truth. However I have been surprised many times before and as we know, 'walks don't take place on paper. It has been a while since we ventured on to the Shakespeares Avon Way and I struggled to remember where we finished off last time.Particularly as we are parked up on a new build housing estate that doesn't look at all familiar. Ah yes, the Oxford Canal, It's all coming back to me now. A quick cut through and we are back on the canal towpath , this time going in the opposite direction. These circular walks could easily confuse a daft person.........

 

We soon get our first glimpse of The River as it runs close to the canal.There is an interesting mural on one of the canal tunnels depicting the game of Rugby. Rugby school of course being the birthplace of Rugby Football (Union) according to legend, was invented in 1823 by a Rugby schoolboy 'William Webb Ellis'. Clearly a bit of a maverick or maybe just a poor loser he broke the existing rules of football by picking up the ball and running with it! There isn't much evidence to support this actually happening though. Even so the school is credited with codifying and popularising the sport. In 1845.

Nest boxes on a canalside tree

   

We pass under some wonderful old bridges as the rain starts to come down again. The April showers have waited until May and we could easily get a drenching today if the last few days are anything to go by. Thankfully the rain has been light so far, probably be fine actually as I've packed a full set of waterproofs.

It really is another world down here in the peaceful, calm and unhurried world of the canal. It is hard to imagine that out of sight  but all around us are busy roads and industrial estates of Rugby.We are walking towards Newbold on Avon, or simply Newbold as it is know in these days of informality.

Newbold comes from the Saxon 'Niowebold' meaning 'New House'. The church of St Botolph in the old village dates from the 15th century, and is Grade I listed.The first church was built on this site in the twelfth century, so for over 800 years i has been a place of worship. The impressive tower now house 10 bells! Extra ones being added for the Queens Silver Jubilee in 1977 and in 1992 to mark the 200 year anniversary of the original bells.  

There is a very large graveyard too. Looking around I can't help but notice there seems to be a trend I hadn't ever noticed before Many of the commemorative stones are engraved in some way with pictures of the persons hobbies or interests. For example there were club emblems badges from Manchester United, Wolves, Leicester Tigers, a few beer glasses, a watering can and flowers, even a horse racing scene as they approached the wining post. I didn't take any pictures out of respect but it did make me wonder what would be on mine when the time comes. . If some people have their way it would probably be  a 'ships anchor'......   

We get back on the footpath crossing over the River Avon. 

In the distance looming large and foreboding is the Rugby Cement Plant. The company was founded in 1862 and Cement production still continues at the site today under Mexican ownership.

Continuing on through fields of cows and then sheep we make our way to the abandoned church of St John at Long Lawford. The path takes us through the slightly overgrown churchyard. Sadly the church itself was closed in 1995 and there is no public access.
   

It is a shame to see many of the stained glass windows smashed and boarded up. Climbing on the arm of a bench I can see inside and there is graffiti on what is left of the pews.

St John's Church was built in 1839, but the history of the Church in Long Lawford goes back much further

The churchyard is a little overgrown and a nature conservation area. You will also find a war memorial an a row of five war graves. The bodies lying there were the crew of an RAF Bomber from a local airfield that crashed nearby.Two of the crew were English, the others from Canada and Australia.

This lovely little church was built as a Chapel Of Ease to the parish Church of St Botolph. Mainly for the use of servants from nearby Holbrook Grange.

After some clambering up banks, and climbing over barriers to get to where we need to be,the last part of the walk is not that interesting. 

We do have sight of The River Avon again although it is next to a sewage plant that is spewing out vast amounts of treated water into it. The river not at it's most glamorous at all really.  

At least the rain holds off an the early starts means I'm going to be home in good time for the FA Cup Final in which my Leicester City are playing Chelsea.

The walk in total was around 8.6 miles

Everdon ,Fawsley and Preston Capes Triangular Walk

 

A little bit of unfinished business to be addressed starting in the beautiful village of Everdon.

A couple of weeks ago the 'Bluebell Walk' sadly didn't reveal any Bluebells. However it did whet my appetite to return and expand the walk to some other wonderful areas within walking distance.

We follow the same  footpath as in our previous Everdon walk. This time parking in the centre of the village, close to the Church. Hopefully where we should emerge once we have visited Fawsley and Preston Capes. It's a slightly cloudy day but with the odd glimpse of sunshine to warm us up. All being well it will stay dry. Up on the ridge it is quite breezy and I'm thankful for the lightweight Jacket I remembered to bring for once.  

Fawsley Hall in the distance

At the last Census Fawsley had a population of less than 100 and is included in the civil parish of Charwelton. The hall and the church are all that remain of Fawsley.

Fawsley Hall and landscape park was created by the Knightley family. Richard Knightley, a well-to-do Staffordshire lawyer, bought the manor of Fawsley in 1416.Fawsley Hall Hotel dates back to Tudor times. Queen Elizabeth I stayed at the property in the 16th century, and its rooms still retain period features from the time. Guests can also enjoy views across Fawsley Park to the countryside beyond. I remember attending a wedding here about twenty years ago and that was some occasion. The service was carried out in St Marys Church (pictured above).

Our pic-nic lunch view

 

The church contains the Knightley family tombs including effigies of the 16th-century Sir Richard Knightley and his wife Jane. Dating to the early 13th century, the church has many fine features such as carved poppy heads and stained glass thought to be from Sulgrave Manor.

After a pic-nic lunch outside the church we head off through sheep laden fields in the direction of Preston Capes

As is sometimes the way, particularly when I'm navigating , the footpath disappears. According to the map we should continue straight ahead. However the field is beautifully ploughed and crops are starting to show. 

Rather than 'plough on'.. or so to speak we go around the large hill. Unfortunately I have chosen the long way round.

At least the footpath in the next field is nicely outlined and easy to follow. 

 

 

The view towards Preston Capes are just spectacular.

Leaving the field we plod on up the lane to Preston Capes.

The church of St Peter and St Paul has stood in Preston Capes for over 750 years. Parts of the medieval structure still remain today. Dark ironstone was used in the construction of the south arcade and light-colored limestone was used for the north arcade. 

The churchyard contains a number of graves dating back as far as the 1600s, as well as the base of a former preaching cross. 

There is a lovely bench at the rear of the church with cracking views looking back towards Fawsley. The perfect spot you might say for the second part of the pic-nic.  

Joy upon joy there is also a motte and bailey!  The earthwork remains of the motte and bailey castle at Preston Capes stand on the summit of a north facing spur on the north east side of the village. A good example of an early post-Conquest castle and is located close to a Cluniac Priory. Although the motte mound is relatively small, the earthworks are well preserved.

The motte was the site of a castle built soon after the Norman Conquest, most likely by Nigel of the Count of Mortain who held Preston in 1086. 

We take a walk back down the lane to pick up the next footpath that will take us all the way back to Everdon with any luck. 

The battery on the phone has worn right down through following the cricket, snooker and football  so few photos on this leg unfortunately. Lovely wide open spaces and a couple of derelict old buildings, perfect escapism and peace and quiet.

                  

The footpath brings us out down the side of St Mary's Church in Everdon. Saint Mary's church dates from the 14th century, and was built in the decorated style. It has been suggested that an earlier structure may have sat at this site prior to the current building.

Local ironstone was used in the construction of the church, and it is believed that the Bernay Monks were involved in the work, importing their own stonemason from France to complete the work.

 

Bluebells at Everdon Stubbs

 Having finished the lovely walk of just under 7 miles there is one more piece of the jigsaw to complete. We drive back up the hill to Everdon Stubbs and where the Bluebells are pretty much now in full bloom. 

The perfect end to a perfect walk!