 |
|||
|
Some notes on sites along the route, David Sedgley
The Trail starts at the footpath (kissing gate) opposite
Flitwick Mill the present listed building is 18/19th century, but is on the site of a Doomsday Mill. It has a large overshot wheel, and much of the mechanism still exists, though unfortunately not working. Until recently it had belonged to the Goodman family for several generations. It is privately owned.
Follow the marked footpath to the river, and enter
Flitwick Moor a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and one of the most important wetland sites in the south east of England. It is managed by the Wildlife Trust who own the majority of it.
The whole of the Flit Valley from Westoning to Shefford would have been largely peat bog 200 years ago and was dug for fuel turves as in the picture of Flitton Moor by Thomas Fisher a detail of which is on the leaflet. The peat deposits are under 2,000 years old however, as Roman finds in the area are from below the peat layer.
On leaving the wooded area continue ahead along the river
River Flit - or Fleot in Anglo-Saxon; meaning fast flowing stream as in Fleet Street. If you are lucky you may see kingfishers flitting along the river. The field on your left is now managed by the Wildlife Trust and is being left to see what develops - note the forest of alder saplings.
Continue ahead at the junction (or turn right for refreshment at The Compasses) and after passing two private bridges over the river go through two kissing gates to Maggots Moor
Maggots Moor (part of Flitwick Moor SSSI) As you walk along the edge of the meadow notice the depressions to your left these are old channels of the river from before it was diverted when Greenfield mill was constructed. The relatively rare Meadow Saxifrage can be seen in this area in late spring.
Pass through a kissing gate to cross the river.
The houses on your right are on the site of Greenfield Mill. This mill was built later than others on the Flit and a number of disputes are recorded between the owner and the Goodmans at Flitwick. There is a drawing of it on the back of the Trail leaflet. It was demolished in the early 1970,s. The animals in the field on your left are not goats, but Soay sheep an ancient breed.
Pass through another kissing gate to turn left onto a bridleway
(note the recently laid hedge on your left using binders from the osier bed on Flitton Moor) then right at the junction to cross an arable field.
As you enter an enclosed path, in the hedge on your left is the site of the murder stile! It was here that a farm labourer, returning home from Ruxox Farm one Friday evening in the 1930s, was hit on the head and relieved of his wage packet!
Continuing on the enclosed path at the side of an ancient water meadow, the ditch to your right was one of the old courses the river Flit, before the canalised route was dug to the north in the 19th Century.
Cross a bridge and through two gates to another enclosed path to pass behind a pub garden. This is
The White Hart - a heavily altered timber framed building of c.1700 with several modern extensions. This fine inn in the centre of Flitton has had a chequered history of late, being closed for some time, but is now open again serving excellent meals.
The thatched house to your left is (No. 3 Brook Lane) reputed to be the oldest private residence in the county, as it was originally three cottages built to house the labourers who built the 12th century church.
You now emerge in Brook Lane opposite
Flitton Church & mausoleum The present church was built in the 15th century, though there were earlier churches on the site. There is a list of vicars dating back to 1261. The church is built of local sandstone, probably from a quarry in the village. The mausoleum dates from the early 17th century, with later additions. It houses some splendid memorials to the De Grey family who occupied Wrest Park. It is maintained by English Heritage, and can be visited by contacting Mrs Stimpson on 01525 860094.
Turn left to walk down Brook Lane to
Flitton Moor a County Wildlife Site and Local Nature Reserve. It was created from farm land in 1987 by Bedfordshire County Council and now owned by Central Bedfordshire Council. It is managed by a dedicated group of local volunteers - the "Friends of Flitton Moor" with help from the Greensand Trust. You will see evidence of the work we have been doing as you walk around the site, as we have just spent most of a Biffaward grant of £36,000 and are now funded by a Grassroots Grant from the Bedfordshire & Luton Community Foundation. The recently installed picnic table was paid for from profits made by our annual Fun Run, which usually takes place on the first May day bank holiday.
On the left as you reach the far corner is an experimental osier bed - from which we take 'withies' for basket making and 'binders' for hedge-laying. There is evidence that Flitton was a centre for basket making in the 12th century - so osiers were grown here then. [The Roman fertility goddess illustrated on the Ruxox board was found in a ditch near here.] Field enclosure was very late here, as when it was first attempted at end of 18th century there was a threat of riots as the local tenants gathered to protest as they feared losing their livelihood.
Having walked around 3 sides of Flitton Moor exit through a gate beside the parish Millennium Seat to turn right alongside
the River Flit again here a canalised straight cut dug in the 19th century. In earlier times the river here meandered in several changing routes through a large peat bog with no obvious features. The whole area was known as Flitton Moor, and there was no designated boundary between the parishes of Maulden and Flitton till these channels were cut.
Passing a bridge on your left turn right at the end of the field to walk up an avenue of Lime Trees. At the end of the avenue you reach
Ruxox Moat - The exceptionally large D-shaped moat surrounded a medieval monastic site a moated grange a farm which provided food and other produce for the monks at Dunstable Priory, as well as the church & the poor of Flitwick. It had a chapel dedicated to St Nicholas, from 1150 till Henry VIIIs dissolution of the Monasteries in 1540. The Roman intaglio, a carved stone ring seal of Bonus Eventus (god of initiative and good events) which is the figure on the Heritage Trail waymark discs, was found near here, and can now be seen in Bedford museum.
Continuing on the wide track you reach
Ruxox Farm - the name derives from the Saxon Hroc's Oak, possibly named for Hroc, who may have farmed here 1,000 or more years ago or Hroc may be the Saxon rook. The present farmhouse is typical 'Model Farm' constructed in the 1850's by the Duke of Bedford's estate. Note the very large sliding doors on the barns on the right as you walk away from the farm.
Continuing up the track cross the road onto
The Ridgeway this is an ancient track-way, part of a pre-Roman route between Shefford and Woburn. Much of the area you see behind you would have been a hive of activity in Roman times as there have been many discoveries of artefacts and industrial sites and at least one Villa. Also many Mesolithic & Bronze Age flint tools have been found in the area - suggesting continuous habitation for over 9,000 years.
Turn left at the junction to pass
Pussy Pond This pond gets its name from the Pussy Willows which were collected from here and scattered on the floor of Flitwick church on Palm Sundays.
Walk along an enclosed path behind the Industrial Estate to cross the road and follow the track to re-enter
Flitwick Moor The moor was at one time famous for its water: Flitwick Water, which between the 1890s and 1950s was bottled and sold as an iron rich blood tonic. Folly wood, which is on our left as you enter the moor (& was recently bought by the Wildlife Trust with much help from public donations), was originally owned by Henry King Smith, who first extracted the water and sold it from a shop in London. His house, the Folly (on the site now occupied by the Gun Club), was burnt down one 5th November by two local lads though by this stage it was already a ruin. The moor is now exceptionally important for its mosses with over 130 species of bryophytes (mosses and liverworts) - more than Wicken Fen in Cambridgeshire which is 4 times its size. It is also nationally important for its fungi with over 500 recorded species - again more than Wicken Fen. You can also see Cotton Grass, more usually seen on upland peat bogs, and in late spring some areas are carpeted with Golden Saxifrage. Peat was dug from the moor for industrial use as a filter for coal gas. It was extracted via wagons that ran on movable rails some of which can still be seen - and then taken to gas depots in towns to the north. This only stopped in the 1960s with the advent of North Sea gas.
Having crossed the boardwalk and bridge, continue through an area of Phragmites reed and ponds, to turn right at the kissing gate to walk along the edge of another meadow.
Notice here the large ancient ant hills and to your right in the fen (just before the next kissing gate) you will see the remains of 2 of the wagons that were used for peat extraction. Flitwick Moor is also the only site in Bedfordshire where the elusive Water Rail breeds sometimes heard in this area and sounding like a squeaky gate.
Turn right through the next gate to follow the main track through the moor.
Note on your left some old trees; a rotting ancient oak is probably the oldest tree on the site. Most of the trees on the moor are fairly young photographs from the 1940s when peat was being dug, show a barren landscape of peat and pools.
Turn left beside an information board, and follow the path to the end of the Trail in Moor Lane.
Flitwick & District Heritage Group hope you have enjoyed your walk
The Trail starts at the footpath (kissing gate) opposite
Flitwick Mill the present listed building is 18/19th century, but is on the site of a Doomsday Mill. It has a large overshot wheel, and much of the mechanism still exists, though unfortunately not working. Until recently it had belonged to the Goodman family for several generations. It is privately owned.
Follow the marked footpath to the river, and enter
Flitwick Moor a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and one of the most important wetland sites in the south east of England. It is managed by the Wildlife Trust who own the majority of it.
The whole of the Flit Valley from Westoning to Shefford would have been largely peat bog 200 years ago and was dug for fuel turves as in the picture of Flitton Moor by Thomas Fisher a detail of which is on the leaflet. The peat deposits are under 2,000 years old however, as Roman finds in the area are from below the peat layer.
On leaving the wooded area continue ahead along the river
River Flit - or Fleot in Anglo-Saxon; meaning fast flowing stream as in Fleet Street. If you are lucky you may see kingfishers flitting along the river. The field on your left is now managed by the Wildlife Trust and is being left to see what develops - note the forest of alder saplings.
Continue ahead at the junction (or turn right for refreshment at The Compasses) and after passing two private bridges over the river go through two kissing gates to Maggots Moor
Maggots Moor (part of Flitwick Moor SSSI) As you walk along the edge of the meadow notice the depressions to your left these are old channels of the river from before it was diverted when Greenfield mill was constructed. The relatively rare Meadow Saxifrage can be seen in this area in late spring.
Pass through a kissing gate to cross the river.
The houses on your right are on the site of Greenfield Mill. This mill was built later than others on the Flit and a number of disputes are recorded between the owner and the Goodmans at Flitwick. There is a drawing of it on the back of the Trail leaflet. It was demolished in the early 1970,s. The animals in the field on your left are not goats, but Soay sheep an ancient breed.
Pass through another kissing gate to turn left onto a bridleway
(note the recently laid hedge on your left using binders from the osier bed on Flitton Moor) then right at the junction to cross an arable field.
As you enter an enclosed path, in the hedge on your left is the site of the murder stile! It was here that a farm labourer, returning home from Ruxox Farm one Friday evening in the 1930s, was hit on the head and relieved of his wage packet!
Continuing on the enclosed path at the side of an ancient water meadow, the ditch to your right was one of the old courses the river Flit, before the canalised route was dug to the north in the 19th Century.
Cross a bridge and through two gates to another enclosed path to pass behind a pub garden. This is
The White Hart - a heavily altered timber framed building of c.1700 with several modern extensions. This fine inn in the centre of Flitton has had a chequered history of late, being closed for some time, but is now open again serving excellent meals.
The thatched house to your left is (No. 3 Brook Lane) reputed to be the oldest private residence in the county, as it was originally three cottages built to house the labourers who built the 12th century church.
You now emerge in Brook Lane opposite
Flitton Church & mausoleum The present church was built in the 15th century, though there were earlier churches on the site. There is a list of vicars dating back to 1261. The church is built of local sandstone, probably from a quarry in the village. The mausoleum dates from the early 17th century, with later additions. It houses some splendid memorials to the De Grey family who occupied Wrest Park. It is maintained by English Heritage, and can be visited by contacting Mrs Stimpson on 01525 860094.
Turn left to walk down Brook Lane to
Flitton Moor a County Wildlife Site and Local Nature Reserve. It was created from farm land in 1987 by Bedfordshire County Council and now owned by Central Bedfordshire Council. It is managed by a dedicated group of local volunteers - the "Friends of Flitton Moor" with help from the Greensand Trust. You will see evidence of the work we have been doing as you walk around the site, as we have just spent most of a Biffaward grant of £36,000 and are now funded by a Grassroots Grant from the Bedfordshire & Luton Community Foundation. The recently installed picnic table was paid for from profits made by our annual Fun Run, which usually takes place on the first May day bank holiday.
On the left as you reach the far corner is an experimental osier bed - from which we take 'withies' for basket making and 'binders' for hedge-laying. There is evidence that Flitton was a centre for basket making in the 12th century - so osiers were grown here then. [The Roman fertility goddess illustrated on the Ruxox board was found in a ditch near here.] Field enclosure was very late here, as when it was first attempted at end of 18th century there was a threat of riots as the local tenants gathered to protest as they feared losing their livelihood.
Having walked around 3 sides of Flitton Moor exit through a gate beside the parish Millennium Seat to turn right alongside
the River Flit again here a canalised straight cut dug in the 19th century. In earlier times the river here meandered in several changing routes through a large peat bog with no obvious features. The whole area was known as Flitton Moor, and there was no designated boundary between the parishes of Maulden and Flitton till these channels were cut.
Passing a bridge on your left turn right at the end of the field to walk up an avenue of Lime Trees. At the end of the avenue you reach
Ruxox Moat - The exceptionally large D-shaped moat surrounded a medieval monastic site a moated grange a farm which provided food and other produce for the monks at Dunstable Priory, as well as the church & the poor of Flitwick. It had a chapel dedicated to St Nicholas, from 1150 till Henry VIIIs dissolution of the Monasteries in 1540. The Roman intaglio, a carved stone ring seal of Bonus Eventus (god of initiative and good events) which is the figure on the Heritage Trail waymark discs, was found near here, and can now be seen in Bedford museum.
Continuing on the wide track you reach
Ruxox Farm - the name derives from the Saxon Hroc's Oak, possibly named for Hroc, who may have farmed here 1,000 or more years ago or Hroc may be the Saxon rook. The present farmhouse is typical 'Model Farm' constructed in the 1850's by the Duke of Bedford's estate. Note the very large sliding doors on the barns on the right as you walk away from the farm.
Continuing up the track cross the road onto
The Ridgeway this is an ancient track-way, part of a pre-Roman route between Shefford and Woburn. Much of the area you see behind you would have been a hive of activity in Roman times as there have been many discoveries of artefacts and industrial sites and at least one Villa. Also many Mesolithic & Bronze Age flint tools have been found in the area - suggesting continuous habitation for over 9,000 years.
Turn left at the junction to pass
Pussy Pond This pond gets its name from the Pussy Willows which were collected from here and scattered on the floor of Flitwick church on Palm Sundays.
Walk along an enclosed path behind the Industrial Estate to cross the road and follow the track to re-enter
Flitwick Moor The moor was at one time famous for its water: Flitwick Water, which between the 1890s and 1950s was bottled and sold as an iron rich blood tonic. Folly wood, which is on our left as you enter the moor (& was recently bought by the Wildlife Trust with much help from public donations), was originally owned by Henry King Smith, who first extracted the water and sold it from a shop in London. His house, the Folly (on the site now occupied by the Gun Club), was burnt down one 5th November by two local lads though by this stage it was already a ruin. The moor is now exceptionally important for its mosses with over 130 species of bryophytes (mosses and liverworts) - more than Wicken Fen in Cambridgeshire which is 4 times its size. It is also nationally important for its fungi with over 500 recorded species - again more than Wicken Fen. You can also see Cotton Grass, more usually seen on upland peat bogs, and in late spring some areas are carpeted with Golden Saxifrage. Peat was dug from the moor for industrial use as a filter for coal gas. It was extracted via wagons that ran on movable rails some of which can still be seen - and then taken to gas depots in towns to the north. This only stopped in the 1960s with the advent of North Sea gas.
Having crossed the boardwalk and bridge, continue through an area of Phragmites reed and ponds, to turn right at the kissing gate to walk along the edge of another meadow.
Notice here the large ancient ant hills and to your right in the fen (just before the next kissing gate) you will see the remains of 2 of the wagons that were used for peat extraction. Flitwick Moor is also the only site in Bedfordshire where the elusive Water Rail breeds sometimes heard in this area and sounding like a squeaky gate.
Turn right through the next gate to follow the main track through the moor.
Note on your left some old trees; a rotting ancient oak is probably the oldest tree on the site. Most of the trees on the moor are fairly young photographs from the 1940s when peat was being dug, show a barren landscape of peat and pools.
Turn left beside an information board, and follow the path to the end of the Trail in Moor Lane.
Flitwick & District Heritage Group hope you have enjoyed your walk