LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOOD

Bubonic plague connections and Manor House

Sylvia was reading a book in the car, in the car park. 50p for 4 hours. I started in sunshine but there was a threat of rain all around.  Market Square was completely full of cars so it was difficult to take a good photo. The carvings in St Mary's Church tower were very interesting. The path by a stream from St Mary Well Street to the main road was surprising and different. I took care on the road to Green Lane. There was no evidence of horses on Green Lane to '5'. The lane was sunken with steep sides, steep gradient, narrow base and high hedges. It was very dark up to '5'. From '5' it was easy walking with good views to the lane leading to Posy Tree. There were pheasants everywhere past every hedge and field. The lane was extremely slippery due to a sea of mud after recent rain. Posy Tree was now a stump, no branches or leaves. It must have been chopped due to being in danger of collapsing. There was a plaque on the tree which was easily readable, reminding everyone of bubonic plague. There was no path from '7' to '8', nor a gate at '8'. I walked from the field straight down a track to the lane. There was no stile at '9', only an overgrown bank. Also there was no path from '9' to '10'. The best route was via the lane. I turned left from Manor Road down the lane past cottages to a stile on the right. I crossed the field with a hedge on the right to a stile. After climbing over the stile I beared left down the slope over the meadow to a stile in the trees beside a river. I crossed the footbridge to a field, keeping the stream on my left. I walked past Pheasant Farm, pheasants were naturally everywhere. There was a high fence, but how are the pheasants kept in, are their wings clipped? The heavens opened and I sheltered under a tree, then continued walking after ten minutes in lighter rain, remembering Sylvia was waiting in the car. I took extreme care down A3066 back to Market Square and the car park.

Location Map: - www.streetmap.co.uk
Mapperton

Always take extra care and keep alert when walking on main road without a footpath, Face on-coming traffic and keep well in to a hedge when a car passes. It only takes one small slip or wobble to cause an accident, and the car driver has a huge piece of metal around him, you have only fresh air. But isn't that fresh air wonderful on the hills?