Walk 30/2009 – Ardeley

Sunday 13th December 2009

We arrived in the small East Hertfordshire village of Ardeley, under an overcast sky, but with the sun trying to poke through in places.

Six of us set off along a mixture of footpaths, mainly arable farmland with small groups of woodlands and quite muddy clay tracks, through the undulating slopes of the Beane Valley.

Before stopping for coffee in one of the groups of woodlands, we came across the skull of a small animal perched on a tree branch. Ron seemed to think it could have been a deer.

During coffee I asked Alan ‘have you ever got lost during a walk?’ His reply was ‘not really, led astray a couple of times!’ I shall continue.

We carried on towards the village of Benington, a village that can be traced back to the 8th century when King Offa, the King of Mercia, was born in a castle on the site, which is now Benington Lordship – famous for its 7 acres of garden displays.

The peace and quiet was at one point disturbed by a group of motorbikers, who were on a 70 mile trip, in order to keep the rights of way open, and to discourage further building on open land. But it was fortunate that they were around as their leader had a GPS system which came in very handy didn’t it Alan? At this point we were on Leatherfield Common! [Ed – and a very nice place it was too. I don’t know – where’s your sense of adventure? It was only a couple of miles or so out of our way.]

Returning to Benington (again) we came to Walkern Hall – an imposing Georgian manor house set in extensive parkland and used for wedding venues and private parties.

Hannah, a distant relative who attended a wedding at the hall many years ago, was the only guest who wrote to thank then owner, Georgie Cotton–Browne for her hospitality. And spinster Georgie was so impressed that on her death she left Walkern Hall – bought by her great–grandfather, Baldock brewer, Izard Pryor in 1820 – lock, stock and barrel to the young Hannah who was just 14 when she received her inheritance, and it became her marital home when she later married into the de Boinville family. For the past five years the manor house has been home to Hannah’s son David, his wife Kate, their three children and two dogs. So remember your thank you letters ’cos you never know!

Our walk back to the cars brought about the sighting of Father Christmas, but as Chris failed to see him and wave – no pressies for her.

End of walk refreshments were taken at a quaint little tea shop offering a variety of teas and home made goodies – but none of us gave into temptation.

Report – Sue

Pictures – Alan

Walk rating – Good

Ardeley village green.

There were some old properties around.

What’s been going on in the woods? We found this skull on top of a log. We decided that it was probably a deer.

The woods contained some other strange inhabitants.

Views of Hertfordshire.

The church in Benington – when we eventually found it – the village that is.

More attractive buildings.

The village pond in Benington.