Kimbolton Walk

We have headed out of County in an easterly direction for this particular walk. Kimbolton, is about 9 miles (14 km) west of Huntingdon, and 14 miles (23 km) north of Bedford. I believe it lies in the County of Cambridgeshire, although it could be Bedfordshire or even Huntingdonshire? Wherever we are the skies are a rich blue colour , the sun is out but still bitterly cold in the shade. 

We start from close to the Church Of St Andrew, said to have existed on this site long before the Norman Conquest. In 1066. 

At the east end of the north aisle there is a monument to the U.S.A.F. 379th Bombardment Group, who were stationed at Kimbolton Airfield during the Second World War from May 1943 to June 1945. 

We pass close to the famous 'Kimbolton School', but there will be more about that later. We head away from the centre in the direction of Honey Hill Wood. 

 

The path literally took us across the outfield of Kimbolton Cricket Club. A very nice located ground indeed.

There are lots of shooting pegs marked out for a spot of Pheasant bagging. Thankfully all is quiet today and the poor birds live to flight another day. 

We are heading towards the small village of Pertenhall, which is in Bedfordshire. The name derives from Peters Hill (allegedly) based on the Hill by St Peters Church. The church is the oldest building and dates back to Norman times.  

 

We have a bit of a climb heading towards 'Chapel Yard' and 'Wood End Farm'. The views looking back are quite spectacular though. Looks like we are heading back into Cambridgeshire again!

In the distance Kimbolton Castle is bathed in sunshine. It is famous as the final home of King Henry VIII's first wife, Queen Katharine of Aragon. The earliest known castle in Kimbolton, a wooden motte and bailey castle, dating from Norman times, was not on the present site. All that remains of the Norman castle is a low mound, surrounded by a ditch and covered with trees.

Catherine died at Kimbolton Castle on 7 January 1536. There were some rumours that she had been poisoned. The rumours were born after the apparent discovery during her embalming that there was a black growth on her heart that might have been caused by poisoning. Modern medical experts are in agreement that her heart's discolouration was due not to poisoning, but to Cancer, something which was not understood at the time.

Catherine was buried in Peterborough Cathedral after lying in state at Kimbolton Castle. 

 

It is through very muddy fields we trek, as we make our way towards Kimbolton Park. I'm regretting cleaning the boots now the day before..

It's a bit of a posh school, and I don't think they will be too happy with mud all across their entrance. And we are talking serious mud here. Since 1950, the school has occupied Kimbolton Castle and It's grounds. 

The cost to send your child to Kimbolton starts at £10,300 as an annual fee for the lower prep school and can rocket up to £28,560 per year for full boarding at the senior school. A lady pulls over in a car and asks what we know about the School?Our blank looks give us away somewhat. I don't think it's cheap was about the most help I could offer. 

Emerging from the school gates we find ourselves back on the High Street. Although one of the smallest towns in Cambridgeshire, Kimbolton was a very important market town during the medieval period.dominated at one end by the Palladian castle/mansion of the Dukes of Manchester and at the other by the spire of the 13th-c Parish Church of St Andrew. Both pictured on this very blog.

The town's wide High Street (originally the market place) boasts over 80 listed buildings. Now designated as a conservation area, it retains much of its original historical character.

We hadn't quite finished yet as there was still a climb up to and around the old airfield. Originally built in 1941 for RAF Bomber Command for use by American heavy bombers during 1942. Another muddy field and more mud for the boots! The walk complete and a nice round 9.5 miles covered.