- Joined
- Sep 27, 2002
- Messages
- 3,411
In 1086 Coughton was one of 70 manors in Warwickshire held by Thorkell, an Anglo-Saxon Nobleman, one of only two great Anglo-Saxon lords to retain their lands after the Norman conquest. Thorkell had always been an enemy of Harold Godwineson and refused to support him when he became king in 1066. For this, king William was grateful.
Thorkell's estates went to the Earl of Warwick after his death but his descendants, the Arden family, were important tenant farmers in Warwickshire for centuries. William Shakespeare married one Mary Arden, who was an independent farmer and comfortably off in her own right before their marriage.
Coughton Court was the home of the Throckmorton family from 1409 onwards, though today it is in the care of the National Trust.
The Throckmorton Arms. There seems to be an older core amid those various modern offshoots. I parked the car here before starting the walk.
A nice house on the main road opposite Coughton Court. The road is very busy so these first few hundred yards are not ideal. The road does follow the course of the Roman Icknield Street though!
Coughton Court, from the public Footpath.
Next to Coughton Court is this church, mostly late medieval. It is full of monuments to various members of the Throckmorton family.
Inside the church: This is something I can't remember ever seeing before, it is a dole basket. The tablet commemmorates the person who left an endowment to provide bread for the widows of the parish, provided they attended divine service.
The path comes out onto a lane, and shortly we come to a ford on the river Arrow, a tributary of the Warwickshire Avon.
The river Arrow. One of the tribes mentioned in an 8th century document called the Tribal Hideage is the Arosaetne, meaning dwellers on the river Arrow.
Just after the ford we turn off down this unpaved lane.
Before long we see some Medieval ridge and furrow. Hard to make out in the photo but there is a headland on the left and the ridges run away to the right.
I stopped to snack from the hedgerows several times
The lane becomes more tunnel-like
Eventually we come to a surfaced lane.
"Keeper's Cottage"
Large areas along this walk have been planted with new trees.
We go into a wooded area
And emerge to a nice view.
After more woods, another fine view.
The woods we have just come through.
the soil here is less clayey than around Ullenhall, which is only a few miles north-east of here.
We eventually reach a lane opposite "Round Hill". The tub there contains rock salt to spread in the winter. Why it's still here in late summer is anyone's guess.
The lane dips down quite steeply here, hence the salt. We turn off though via a stile hidden in the hedgerow on the right.
Along this field.
Through this kissing gate towards another wood.
Some nice oaks in the wood. More new trees in the foreground.
A hard-to-spot gate.
Over another lane
Although ridge and furrow is quite common, it is not the only type of earthwork you find. These seemingly irregular lumps and bumps cover the remains of a medieval priory.
Hmm, gate? Stile? I can't decide! The path here goes through the garden of a private house, once St. Giles' farm. Named after the nearby Priory I expect.
The house.
Up over another hill.
In the hamlet of Spernall is St. Leonard's Church. It was closed to worship in 1987 but is maintained by the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Buildings.
the river Arrow and a farmhouse.
On the home run back towards Coughton Court.
Interesting type of chain holding this gate closed.
Nice old oak.
Then back to the Throckmorton Arms for a really nice pint of Hobson's Best Bitter!
Thorkell's estates went to the Earl of Warwick after his death but his descendants, the Arden family, were important tenant farmers in Warwickshire for centuries. William Shakespeare married one Mary Arden, who was an independent farmer and comfortably off in her own right before their marriage.
Coughton Court was the home of the Throckmorton family from 1409 onwards, though today it is in the care of the National Trust.
The Throckmorton Arms. There seems to be an older core amid those various modern offshoots. I parked the car here before starting the walk.
A nice house on the main road opposite Coughton Court. The road is very busy so these first few hundred yards are not ideal. The road does follow the course of the Roman Icknield Street though!
Coughton Court, from the public Footpath.
Next to Coughton Court is this church, mostly late medieval. It is full of monuments to various members of the Throckmorton family.
Inside the church: This is something I can't remember ever seeing before, it is a dole basket. The tablet commemmorates the person who left an endowment to provide bread for the widows of the parish, provided they attended divine service.
The path comes out onto a lane, and shortly we come to a ford on the river Arrow, a tributary of the Warwickshire Avon.
The river Arrow. One of the tribes mentioned in an 8th century document called the Tribal Hideage is the Arosaetne, meaning dwellers on the river Arrow.
Just after the ford we turn off down this unpaved lane.
Before long we see some Medieval ridge and furrow. Hard to make out in the photo but there is a headland on the left and the ridges run away to the right.
I stopped to snack from the hedgerows several times
The lane becomes more tunnel-like
Eventually we come to a surfaced lane.
"Keeper's Cottage"
Large areas along this walk have been planted with new trees.
We go into a wooded area
And emerge to a nice view.
After more woods, another fine view.
The woods we have just come through.
the soil here is less clayey than around Ullenhall, which is only a few miles north-east of here.
We eventually reach a lane opposite "Round Hill". The tub there contains rock salt to spread in the winter. Why it's still here in late summer is anyone's guess.
The lane dips down quite steeply here, hence the salt. We turn off though via a stile hidden in the hedgerow on the right.
Along this field.
Through this kissing gate towards another wood.
Some nice oaks in the wood. More new trees in the foreground.
A hard-to-spot gate.
Over another lane
Although ridge and furrow is quite common, it is not the only type of earthwork you find. These seemingly irregular lumps and bumps cover the remains of a medieval priory.
Hmm, gate? Stile? I can't decide! The path here goes through the garden of a private house, once St. Giles' farm. Named after the nearby Priory I expect.
The house.
Up over another hill.
In the hamlet of Spernall is St. Leonard's Church. It was closed to worship in 1987 but is maintained by the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Buildings.
the river Arrow and a farmhouse.
On the home run back towards Coughton Court.
Interesting type of chain holding this gate closed.
Nice old oak.
Then back to the Throckmorton Arms for a really nice pint of Hobson's Best Bitter!
Last edited:
