Tewksbury Historical Walking Tour
Val & Mike’s Saturday Shorts Ramble – 6 September
On an ideal autumn day we parked up at The Wheatpiece’s pub car park and after Mike’s welcome to walkers we set off across the busy road to the Tewkesbury Nature Reserve (TNR)opened 2011 with the theme to give access to the town centre for the new housing estate and more importantly to give a haven for wildlife. Dave the Heron is a frequent visiting grey heron and mascot to the TNR.
From here we admire the new hospital in Oldbury area and take our first alley walk – and admire the cottage where Mike’s father, Sid, was born, now up for sale. In Barton Street we visit Yarnold’s alley (part of the Alley Cat’s Project based on Burgage plots given by Queen Maud) with its blue brick footpath – laid as anti-bacterial to combat disease around 19th century when local residents would throw everything into their alleys. We arrive in the Swilgate area, (Swilgate and Carrant Brook rivers from Gloucestershire join here with river Avon).
We go up Lilley’s Alley, Mrs Lilley kept a china shop and another cottage industry of clay pipes. Crossing over the road, passing TI and taking the left down Post Office Alley, where Mike’s gt, gt, gt, grandfather, Enoch b.1800, was a “stocking frame weaver” in 1840. There are 43 plaques around Tewkesbury proclaiming the life and history of the town. We take a left turn and are greeted by a new café just by the riverside.
No time to stop – we head toward Abbey Mill, crossing its bridge to the other side of the Avon with its views across to Malvern Hills. We spot Dave the Heron a few times, and at the end of the path we reach the small bridge and arrive at “Back of Avon” area with benches to sit for a few minutes to picture Healings Mill built 1865 by Samuel Healing and Son, designed as one of the most advanced flour mills in the world at the time, but operations ceased in 2006, now vacant. Across this Mill bridge we then walk alongside the river passing over the lock gate with its Lockkeeper, to arrive at the road bridge. The renovated Inn Ye Olde Black Bear dating back to 1308 leads us to cross the high street to arrive at Stephens alley (Mr Stephens was also a hosier) an artistic picture (photo) showing him at his Stocking Frame which was one of the many industrial scenes around Tewkesbury.
Walking back through the High Street we admire the range of varying buildings such as the new cinema and Val tells us about the old cinema (The Palace) built mid-19th century (burned down in 1932 and today is the ambulance station). The Palace showed animated pictures in 1897. Of course St Mary the Virgin (Tewkesbury Abbey) is always making us aware that it was founded in 1087, the present Norman church starting in 1102 and consecrated in 1121, to house Benedictine monks before it became the parish church after the dissolution in 1540. It was unsuccessfully used as a sanctuary in the War of the Roses and the final resting place of Edward of Westminster Prince of Wales, (Son of King Henry VI) who died at the battle of 1471.
We return our steps towards the Nature Reserve and back at the Inn Shirley gave a lovely vote of thanks to leaders Mike and Val. The inn was welcoming and a good chat was had by us there.
Val and Mike
5 miles.
Good walk, great company
Clive’s Midweek Ramble – 10 September
The weather forecast was mixed but looked like rain was probable, as we set off from Chipping Campden on the Cotswold Way to Broadway Tower.
We all were not very well acquainted with each other (apart from Helen and Derek) before, so this part of the ramble gave us the time to get to know each other and what we were all about. Arriving at the tower we surveyed the countryside; the visibility was not bad and Kathryn let us have a quick look from the top of the tower before we moved down the hill to Broadway.
A drink seemed in order. Luckily for us the heavy rain came a few minutes before we were ready to set off. Up to the top end of the high street, then down the footpath and under the A44 to start the return leg. This took us gradually up hill through the holiday complex and cross country past the church at Saintbury. Steadily moving to the final ascent to Dovers Hill, scene of the recent Cotswold Olimpicks and some nice views, it was all downhill from there back to Chipping Campden.
Thanks to all who took part. It was a good walk and great company.
Clive
10.0 miles
No rare butterflies
Clive’s Short Ramble – 17 September
The group accumulated at the Boot Inn in Flyford Flavell. We were expecting rain, but it was holding off as we set off across the fields towards Grafton Wood.
Skirting the wood then through it, following the Wychavon Way, then sharp right towards Dormston.
Stopping for coffee, we did see a rare butterfly, but it was only rare because it was the only one, we saw all day, I think.
On to Dormston Lane for a while, where the early cyclamen were admired, we turned right again through a riding school and down through the fields to rejoin Dormston Lane to join the Millenium way down to Flyford Flavell and the Boot Inn.
Thanks to everyone who attended
Clive
5 miles
Father Brown – where are you?
Carl’s Sunday Ramble 28 September
Our arrival at the village car park in Sapperton proved to be a bit of a challenge. The car park was unexpectedly full early on a Sunday morning. After finding parking on the road I was then able to welcome new member Hugh and guest Isaac to the ramble.
We then set off along various field paths towards Chipping Campden. A missed turn off on a path meant a hasty reroute to avoid having to back track. Fortunately, this did not add much to our overall distance.
A short break in Chipping Campden allowed a visit to the Tourist Information Centre and say hello to former ERC President, Marian Bearcroft who volunteers for the TIC. She then sold Carl a couple of guidebooks showing walks in the area. These are worth looking up if you are looking for walking routes around Chipping Campden. Turning by the Noel Arms Hotel we then followed the Monarch’s Way to Broad Campden. Continuing along the Monarch’s Way we had some fantastic views of the surrounding countryside. This was just as well because we had an unexpected stop while one rambler cleaned herself up after being attacked by brambles.
Arriving in Blockley we had lunch outside the Church of St Peter and St Paul. This church is used as the parish church of Father Brown in the television series. No filming today though so no sign of Father Brown. There is also a nice café by the church but it does get quite busy.
After lunch quiet lanes and field paths took us Draycott and then onto Paxford, past the old village smithy, before arriving back at Ebrington.
After the ramble a few of us enjoyed a well earned drink at the Ebrington Arms.
Carl
7.0 miles (am) 5.9 miles (pm)