Stapleford Abbotts Walk 5th May 2015

I decided to do another local walk as the weather was overcast and very windy with a chance of rain.I caught the 375 bus again and got off in Stapleford Abbotts.

 A few hundred yards from the bus stop was the footpath I intended using. This took you to gate with Private all over it,after consulting the map again and the signpost I confirmed that this was indeed a right of way even though it may be on private ground.

 I walked up along driveway to a really impressive property and then took the footpath that ran alongside the house.

 

 This path bought me out to the Church of St Mary The Virgin.

Historically there is evidence of a church on the site prior to 1300 AD. The Abbey Chapel built in 1638 AD is behind the choir stalls and is the oldest existing part of the church. Memorials in the Chapel link the Abdy family with Albyns, the nearest house. The Church Tower was built in 1815; however most of the church was built in 1861. The bells were cast at the famous Whitechapel Foundry. The oldest relic in the church is the stained glass window dating from the 14th century. It depicts Edward the Confessor holding a ring and sceptre. Tradition says that the big sapphire in the Cross of the Imperial Crown is the original stone from the ring.

The Parish of St Mary Stapleford Abbotts will long be remembered as one of several resting places where the body of St. Edmund the Martyr King of East Anglia was rested on return from London to Bury in the year 1013 AD. It is recorded in Bury St. Edmund’s register that one night in 1013 the Lord of the Manor of Stapleford was miraculously cured of a lingering illness by the presence of the body of St. Edmund, which had been rested overnight at Stapleford Hall. In return for his recovery the Lord of the Manor granted the Manor and its lands to the Abbey forever. Thereafter the village was known as Stapleford Abbotts. The dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII in 1513 AD decreed that all the land be effectively passed to the Crown. To this day 2,758 acres remains Crown Land, though much is farmed.

The Vicarage

 The door was locked and although you could arrange to have it opened,I didnt bother.
I walk through the graveyard and behind the church to take a footpath through a field with goats,chickens and horses.

 I cross a bridge and out into a field that had just been rolled and no clear path present.

 A little muddy but that bad,I follow the perimeter of the field.

 After climbing the hill, I pass a 7 Bedroom house, Albyns Hall in  Albyns Lane, Stapleford Tawney.
 Was up for sale at 4.25 million pounds!

 I now reach Albyns Diary Farm.Romford’s largest dairy farm and has extensive knowledge of his 800 bovine friends. Albyns Farm produces five million litres of milk per year, with the help of automated milking machines, and three workers.

Here is the link to the Romford recorder visit to the farm.

Looking back to Albyns Farm.

I walk through some long grass and the bottoms of my trousers are a little wet and I follow the field through to another path.

I cross the stile and past a horse that seemed a little angry and afraid at the same time.

Then it is nothing but paths,stiles mand farmland for some miles.

The water tower near Bedfords Park in the distance.

The path then takes me out onto Stapleford Road and I walk up this towards the village.

I cross a little bridge over a brook. For years I've driven this way and have never seen this!

I now reach the Royal Oak Pub. Known locally as the top oak. There were originally 3 Oak Pubs on this road, but now its this one and the Royal Oak (Bottom oak) further up the road.

I catch a 375 bus from here, I've had enough today. Very windy. A short walk of 4.29 miles