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