Aldwincle & Wadenhoe

Walking in Wadenhoe

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VISIT NORTHAMPTONSHIREwww.rightsofwaynorthamptonshire.org.uk

Millennium Sundial, Wadenhoe

Rich in history and wildlife, the attractive villagesof Aldwincle and Wadenhoe are nestled in adramatic curve of the River Nene.

Why not enjoy a walk along the banks of the riveror a stroll amongst limestone, slate and thatchedcottages?

The villages of Aldwincle and Wadenhoe, are locatedapprox. 4 miles from Thrapston, in the north-east of thecounty.

For information about public transport to Aldwincle andWadenhoe please contact Traveline on 0870 608 2608.

When parking in either village please take intoconsideration local access needs. Parking is available nearAll Saints’ Church, Peartree Farm and Titchmarsh NatureReserve in Aldwincle, next to the village hall andSt.Michael and All Angels’ Church in Wadenhoe.

If you wish to report any problems with any of the routesshown in this leaflet, please contact Rights of Way,Northamptonshire County Council, Riverside House,Bedford Road, Northampton NN1 5NX. Tel: 01604654465.

This information can be made availablein other languages and formats uponrequest, such as large print, Braille,audio cassette and floppy disk.

ALDWINCLE & WADENHOE

This leaflet was published by Northamptonshire County Council with assistance from theCountryside Agency and East Northamptonshire Council. Copyright © NCC 2003.

WALK 1Aldwincle and the River Nene

Starting at the south end of the village nr. All Saints'church 1 and the Old Rectory 2 , head east via thefootpath to reach the road and Brancey Bridge. Crossingover the road you can follow a riverside path alongHarper's Brook and the River Nene, until you join up withthe Nene Way. At this point you can head north toWadenhoe; or return to Aldwincle, passing alongsideAldwincle Pocket Park 3 to emerge on Main Street, ashort distance from the Old Rectory and your startingpoint. Walk approx 2 hours. Path alongside River Nenemay be muddy.

WALK 2Wadenhoe and Achurch

Beginning at the King's Head 1 head south and uphillto St. Michael and All Angels' church 3 at the southernend of the village. Follow the footpath that heads northand then takes you around the area of earthworks knownas Castle Close 4 . When you emerge on Main Street,head across the village green towards the war memorialand then double back along Pudding Lane to reach PiltonRoad.

Passing by Wadenhoe dovecote 6 which stands in thestable yard of Wadenhoe House 7 (now a TrainingCentre) turn into Mill Lane.From here you can followthe Nene Way across awater meadow and the riverto St. John the Baptist 1 ,parish church of Achurch. Ashort walk along a countrylane through the villagetakes you to a footpath thatwill allow you to doubleback through the fields toWadenhoe.Walk approx 11/2 hours.Steep climb to church.

Wadenhoe House

Beside the River Nene*

WADENHOE

The traditionally-managed farmlandon the River Nenefloodplain betweenAldwincle andWadenhoe is a havenfor many kinds ofwildlife. Look out forsnipe and heron,magnificent pollardedwillows or evenotters.

Achurch Meadow / Wadenhoe MarshThis Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) with itsflower-rich waterside meadows, riverside woodland andmarshy grassland provides ideal habitats for wading birdsand over 100 species of flowering plants.

Titchmarsh Local Nature Reserve & HeronryWith its footpaths and bird hides, the Reserve is anideal venue for watching birds such as goosanderand kingfishers as well as being home to manydifferent plants, butterflies and dragonflies. Dogsshould be kept on a lead at all times. No access tothe heronry.

Aldwincle Pocket ParkCreated in 1989 in a former quarry pit, the PocketPark includes a rookery and is home to a variety oftrees, scrub and associated wildlife such as bluebells,red admiral butterflies and green woodpeckers.

The LinchesThis former estate woodlandcreated at the end of the 18thcentury was part of Lilford Park.Mainly pine, sycamore andbeech along with some elm andash. Look out for bluebells inthe spring and the white letterhairstreak butterfly. Shootingtakes place in these woods,please keep to the path withdogs on a lead.

Wadenhoe, a village of attractive stone buildings and arich history probably dates back to Saxon times. The namemay come from a Saxon lord ‘Wada’ and a ‘hoo / hoe’ -spur of land / hill or from the Old English ‘Waden’ or‘ford’. The village's many interesting sites and buildingsare worth a closer look.

St. Michael and All Angels' ChurchStanding alone at the village edge, the parish church hasAnglo-Saxon parts and a 12th century saddleback towerbut is mainly 14th century in date. Treasures to discoverinclude its six bells (said to be the most musical in thecounty), the Green Man carvings inside, the scratch dials(sundials) outside and the stained glass windows,including a memorial to the Rt. Hon. George Ward-Hunt,owner of the Wadenhoe Estate, and Chancellor of theExchequer in 1868.

Castle CloseThe earthworks next to the church are known as CastleClose, though it is unlikely that it was ever the site of amedieval castle. The hill is a natural feature defended inthe past by building a rampart. Recent investigation hasfound evidence of medieval buildings - possibly a 13th or14th century manor house.

Wadenhoe DovecoteThis 18th century circular dovecote still has its lath andplaster nesting boxes and a central, turning ladder orpotence. The dovecote is cared for by the County Counciland is open to the public.

Wadenhoe HouseThis magnificent Jacobean house was extensivelyremodelled by George Ward-Hunt in the 19th century.Ward-Hunt is said to have had the first rural telegraphoffice (at the Post Office) installed in Wadenhoe to keepin touch with government business.

The loop of the River Nene probably gave Aldwincle itsname, it was recorded in the Domesday Book as Eldwincle- a Saxon name "Ealda" and the Old English "wincle"meaning old nook or corner. Settlement here dates backeven further, with a Roman settlement discovered south ofthe village. Until 1879 the village had two parishes, eachwith a church, rectory and manor.

All Saints' ChurchDating back to the 13th century with a pinnacled andcarved 15th century tower, All Saints’ church has beendisused for over a hundred years. Now in the care of theChurches Conservation Trust, the keyholder lives nearby ifyou would like to view inside.

The Old RectoryOpposite All Saints’ Church stands the stone, plaster andthatch birthplace of John Dryden, 17th century PoetLaureate to King Charles II. Born in 1631, Dryden gainedrenown as a playwright and poet, being buried inWestminster Abbey.

St Peter's ChurchThe beautiful broach spire, tower and chancel of St Peter’sdate to the late 14th century, but there is evidence ofearlier Norman origins. The church has wonderful stainedglass - look out for the figures of St. George and St.Christopher. Outside a carved frieze of animals and birdsencircles the building.

Achurch was once part of the Lilford Park Estate.A famous descendant of the village was JohnQuincy Adams, sixth President of the USA,related to Achurch residents Edmund and JudithQuincy who travelled to America in the 1630s.

St. John the Baptist ChurchDating to the early 14th century and built in theshape of a cross, the church was founded by theKnight Asceline de Waterville in thanks for hissafe return from the Crusades. His tomb ispreserved in the graveyard.

THE WILDLIFE

THORPE ACHURCH

ALDWINCLE

1

3

2

4

3

4

6

17

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Marsh Marigolds

Wadenhoe Mill

St. Michael &All Angels’ church

Pollarded Willow Wadenhoe Dovecote

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Aview

ofAldw

incle

Flow

ering

Rush

BrochureDesign:BuxtonDesign01604416646

Trac

torin

RiverNen

e

FINDIN

GYO

UR

WAY

Allthe

footpathsshowninthisleafletareRightsOfWay(exceptforthepermissivepathalongthebanksofthe

RiverNene).TheseRightsofWayaremarkedwith

sign

posts,waymarkdiscsandmarkers.

Formoredetailedinformationaboutthesurroundingcountrysideorotherpossiblewalksyoucoulduse

OrdnanceSurveymaps-theLandranger141orExplorer224mapscovertheAldwincleandWadenhoearea.

Allphotographscopyright©ofNCC

exceptphotosmarked*,whicharereproduced

bykind

permission

ofDr.T.HoldandWadenhoeHouse.

SAFE

WALK

ING

Beprepared

-alwayswearsuitableclothing

andsturdy

footwear,take

refreshm

entsanddirections.

Takecarewhencrossing

orwalking

onroadways(walkfacing

oncomingtraffic).

Thecountrysideisaliving,working

environm

ent,sopleasefollowthe

CountryCode.

�Keep

tothelineofthepaths

�Leavegatesasyoufindthem

�Respectthecountryside-leavewildlife,livestock,

cropsandmachineryalone

�Keep

yourdogsundercontrol

�Takeyourlitterhome

Thismap

isreproduced

from

OrdnanceSurveymaterialwith

thepermission

ofOrdnanceSurveyon

behalfoftheControllerofHerMajesty'sStationeryOfficeCrownCopyright.

Unauthorised

reproductioninfringesCrowncopyrightandmaylead

toprosecutionorcivilproceedings.Northamptonshire

CountyCouncilLicenceNo.LA076767.

KEY

NeneWay

Permitted

Footpath

underCountrysideStewardship

Agreement(ends2013)

Footpath/RightofWay

SuggestedWalkRoutes

Northamptonshire

Cycle

Route‘OundleandThrapston’

Stile

BusStop

Parking

View

Point

Seat

PublicHouse

P VP

BS S PH

PLACES

OFINTEREST

Wad

enho

e1

King’sHead

(17thcenturypublichouse)

2Millennium

Sundial

3St.M

ichaeland

AllAngels’Church

4CastleClose(earthworks)

5PostOffice&Shop

6WadenhoeDovecote

7WadenhoeHouse

8Mill

Ald

win

cle

1AllSaints’Church

2TheOldRectory

3AldwinclePocketPark

4St.Peter’sChurch

5PeartreeFarm

(BandB)

6Garage

7Village

Shop

Achu

rch

1St.JohnTheBaptist

Church

Scale

1:10

,000

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