Paulerspury

A couple of short walks and a suggestion for a longer one to finish the season in fine style.

 

Begin on Doctor’s Green (1) by this smart village sign that reflects the origin of the name. Walk towards the A5 but soon turn right into Plum Park Lane. At the end of the cul de sac a fingerpost points the way through the buildings and out into the field beyond. To keep on the ‘right of way’ walk ahead and slightly to the left to the blue plastic disc in the hedge (2). Those who want the shortest walk and the less agile should now turn back across the field at about 45 degrees. (See the map as it is hard to explain.) Walk in a straight line to the far left corner of the field where the metal gate may be propped open (3). Pass through the gate and, as the second version of the walk comes through another gate on your left, this is a good place to pause for a bit of history which I’ll do after I’ve described the second route.

 

For the longer walks, at (2) go through the hedge using the small footbridge. Today the view is perfectly tranquil, but it would not always have been so: AD 60 - 61 for instance. Walk across the field diagonally to your right. Once over the brow of the hill you will see another blue disc adjacent to the gate at the bottom of the field. You may have to step over orange twine (or duck underneath it) then turn right through the gate and follow the driveway to Plum Park Farm for a very short distance. On your right is a small pond (4) with evidence of geese and other fowl, both wild and domestic.

 

For the ‘middling’ route turn right immediately past the pond. The footpath signs are not too obvious but you won’t go far wrong if you follow the stream (you are following it uphill but never mind). In this first section (5) you are walking through one of three mediaeval fishponds in the village – don’t worry it was drained a long time ago! Aerial photographs show ridge and furrow patterns within the pond area which historians find very interesting and a little baffling.

 

A blue disc shows the way through into the second field. The depressions here are from old gravel pits. Continue following the stream to the far end of the third field where you turn right through the farm gate. This just about brings the first and second versions of our walk back together so it is time for a bit of history.

 

Paulerspury is famous for having two village greens but long ago it had another and it was here. In the Middle Ages Plumpton End was ‘detached’ from the rest of the village and became part of the Crown Manor based on Moor End castle. As such it was a ‘nice little earner’ and got passed from one royal favourite to another. The most notorious was the mistress of Edward III, Alice Perrers. She was so greedy and grasping that when the king died she was rumoured to have stripped the rings off his fingers! At one time Plumpton End had its own Manor House. The hamlet was built round this triangular green with a loop road going back towards Paulerspury proper. From the gate (3) into the big field a line of trees stretches uphill; this marks out the ‘lost’ road. Now, back to the present, move off in the direction of a picturesque thatched cottage. At this point (6) the long route will re-join us from the left. Turn right onto the road. See * below to finish the walk.

 

For the adventurous there is a much longer walk that we haven’t room to describe in great detail. It is fairly straight forward, though some of the stiles are poor or non-existent. Instead of turning right by the pond (4) take the footpath marked on the other side of the drive and continue skirting round to the left of Plum Park Farm following the blue discs. The last one is to the right of a metal farm gate. You have to scramble over wooden fencing without the aid of a stile - this could be ‘border control’ as you are now leaving Paulerspury Parish!

 

On the other side you are rewarded with a charming green lane, though it has been ‘tidied up’ a bit too much for my liking. Follow this straight on till you come to a small conifer plantation. Turn right onto the Grafton Way and walk the length of a long field, keeping the field on your right. At the far left corner go through the hedge on a small footbridge and turn right. Keeping the hedge on your right continue along until you hit the road (near Stollage Farm). Turn right and walk along the road to Plumpton End where you re-join the first and second parts of the walk. (6)

 

*Walk a little way along the road but turn left at a fingerpost visible in the hedge. Go through a kissing gate and into a field. Cross the field diagonally skirting to the left of some buildings and a tree and find another kissing gate in the right hand corner. Follow the narrow alley into High Street. Turn right and return to Doctors Green passing the old Manse (7) on your left and the Independent Chapel (now URC) on your right (8). This was built in 1826 and refurbished in 1872 for £300. The problems of fundraising never go away – the figures involved just get bigger!

 

That concludes our printed walks for 2006. We hope that you have enjoyed them and we look forward to seeing some or all of you out and about next year.

 

 

 

 

 

zLengths and approximate times: Walk 1: 0.8 miles / 1.3 km (20 mins) Walk 2: 1 mile / 1.6 km (25 mins) Walk 3: 2.6 miles / 4.2 km (1 hour – 1 hr 10 mins).

As indicated in the text, only Walk 1 is suitable for all ages.

 

 

 

First published October 2006.