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- Sep 27, 2002
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Well, it seems like winter has returned. Temperatures not much above freezing, strong winds, rain, even sleet, hail and snow. So I apologise in advance for the grey dreariness in these pics, that's how it was!
This walk starts near Beaudesert church. Many centuries ago, an entrepeneurial Lord of Beaudesert obtained permission to set up a market town on the land of the manor. Today this is the flourishing small town of Henley-in-Arden and Beaudesert is now a half-forgotten appendage.
This old iron kissing gate takes us out of Beaudesert/Henley. Beaudesert church is just out of sight to the right and Henley church is visible at the other end of the lane. on the corner of the high street. Henley church was built as the guild chapel of the new town and is late medieval in style.
The first part of the path passes Beaudesert church which, except for the tower, is Norman in style, having been built around 1170.
As we push on up a small natural hill, we come to the earthworks of Beaudesert castle. It is hard to imagine nowadays that these grassy bumps were once a grand, turreted stone castle. Not quite on the scale of Kenilworth perhaps but imposing nontheless.
The ditch between the outer and inner baileys. It has eroded and silted up over the centuries and was once much deeper than this.
Down below are the remains of medieval fish ponds. These only appear in the winter after much rain.
Crossing the ditch on the other side. Even with the steps, this is a treacherous descent.
A bit further along I came across a sheeps skull.
More sheepy remains:
If you have ever done pottery, you'll have an idea how slippery this clay is!
This walk starts near Beaudesert church. Many centuries ago, an entrepeneurial Lord of Beaudesert obtained permission to set up a market town on the land of the manor. Today this is the flourishing small town of Henley-in-Arden and Beaudesert is now a half-forgotten appendage.
This old iron kissing gate takes us out of Beaudesert/Henley. Beaudesert church is just out of sight to the right and Henley church is visible at the other end of the lane. on the corner of the high street. Henley church was built as the guild chapel of the new town and is late medieval in style.
The first part of the path passes Beaudesert church which, except for the tower, is Norman in style, having been built around 1170.
As we push on up a small natural hill, we come to the earthworks of Beaudesert castle. It is hard to imagine nowadays that these grassy bumps were once a grand, turreted stone castle. Not quite on the scale of Kenilworth perhaps but imposing nontheless.
The ditch between the outer and inner baileys. It has eroded and silted up over the centuries and was once much deeper than this.
Down below are the remains of medieval fish ponds. These only appear in the winter after much rain.
Crossing the ditch on the other side. Even with the steps, this is a treacherous descent.
A bit further along I came across a sheeps skull.
More sheepy remains:
If you have ever done pottery, you'll have an idea how slippery this clay is!
