Constable Country Walk

Eleven of us turned up to meet Fritz at the corner cafe in pretty Dedham on a sunny Saturday morning on 22nd August. After a refreshing drink we set out alongside the River Stour, enjoying the sun as the heat soared.

Fritz gave us a potted history of John Constable on the way to the bridge where we stood and admired the view of Flatford Mill that Constable painted. The National Trust owns 400 acres in the area and has an interesting display of Constable’s work, including the miniatures that Constable drew in such detail before embarking on his 6 foot canvasses. We then passed Valley Farm on our way to Willy Lott’s Cottage which is in The Haywain.

Leaving the Stour valley we climbed through paths and fields in the increasing heat to East Bergholt. Thoroughly hot we stopped at a pub to cool down, apply more suntan lotion and have our lunch before moving on to the interesting church in East Bergholt. It has a bellcage which was erected as a temporary measure – in 1531. Constable grew up in East Bergholt but there is little original evidence left of his existence there.

Descending back to Dedham we had cake and tea in the arts centre and then left for home.

Brian U. 23 September 2015

    The Group near Flatford Mill

Durham long weekend 11-14th September 2015

Nine EFOG members enjoyed a long weekend in Durham in mid-September, organised by Marian.

Some of us met at midday at Kings Cross station for the 3 hour rail journey, some went on other trains. Few of us were seated together as mostly we'd booked our tickets independently! As the train was 40 minutes late arriving, some of us may look forward to a rebate on the ticket price...

It didn't matter that we were late arriving; the journey to our accommodation was by a shuttle-bus that went directly to the Cathedral – about a ten minute journey – and our accommodation was in student's lodgings in St. Chad's College, which is situated in a mediaeval street immediately adjacent to the east end of the cathedral. In fact, those who had rooms at the front of their buildings looked out and across to the great east window. I had a back-facing room which looked out to the college gardens, and perhaps was mercifully saved the all-night bell chimes!

We took a stroll down a narrow lane adjacent to the college refectory, and down a series of stone stairs to the River Wear. The old town of Durham is situated on a great rocky peninsula which the river bounds on three sides. At its peak is the cathedral and castle. Friday evening was beginning to take off in the town as we ascended from the quietness and cannabis of the riverside onto a busy but traffic-free bridge, and as we ascended the old streets, through the market square and back to the cathedral and our lodgings, the girls were beginning to totter out – and in some cases looked as if they were about fall out.

The train from Kings CrossThe evening meal was at Bill's, amongst the many eating, drinking and clubbing places in the old town. Bill's, apparently, is an expanding chain, so watch out. There was a slight misunderstanding – as I understand it – with our assembly time for a meal and hence one of our group was waiting for us after we'd left. Usual problem on Group trips: trying to phone someone who is missing. There are only about four reliable keep-their-phone-on people in the whole group, by my reckoning. This is actually a point to consider when on group trips. Anyway, as the late-comer ordered a starter on arrival (which none of the rest of us had), together with a new waitress trying to serve our meals all together, and probably kitchen troubles to boot, resulted in a wait of an hour-and-a-half for our main meals. Or was it more? Whatever, we complained and got a considerable amount taken off our total bill. So that was alright.

We'd booked bed and breakfast, and the breakfast was provided from 8am in the refectory, which is a grand, high, chandeliered building set out with long tables for dining and a plentiful supply of cereals, fruit juices and fruit. Supplies of tea and coffee were brought to our tables, and the available breakfasts consisted of just about anything you'd expect.

We took a bus from the town to Beamish Open Air Museum on Saturday, which wasn't spoilt but might have been better if it hadn't been a bit drizzly. Beamish is well worth a visit – not just a reproduction early 20th Century town, but chapel, colliery-workers cottages, colliery, a fairground and a steam railway amongst the attractions and all served by old buses and a circular tram-system. The colliery was fascinating, listening to a guide who had actually worked there describing and demonstrating the intricacies of the system and a walk down into a coal-face to be shown and told about the working conditions. There is a fine fish and chip shop, cooked and served in traditional manner (although the newspaper for the cones were fakes!), and Jackie and I treated ourselves to a sugar-mouse each from the sweet-shop. Can't say that I really enjoyed it, but then I've aged a bit since I last ate one. Those of us that went to the dentist's nearby were intrigued – and maybe horrified – by what we learnt there! I suspect sugar-mice were more prevalent in those days.

We'd asked the friendly bus driver where the local Wetherspoons was - coincidentally right opposite the bus station, so that was where we had our evening meal. It was absolutely crowded in the main bar area, but remarkably we got our food order in quickly at the bar and even found a relatively out-of-the-way eating area. Unlike the previous evening, our meals arrived together and quickly.

It was a bit drizzly inside the observation car at BeamishSunday was Durham's Open-house day, and after a look round the modern museum building in the cathedral/castle square, we took advantage of the free-entry and non-guided access to the castle. This is now college buildings as Durham doesn't seem to be so threatened by the Scots these days. It – like the cathedral – has many Norman aspects including a wonderful Norman arch, so well preserved because it is an interior one. We then walked just to the edge of the town to visit Crook Hall and gardens. Crook Hall is a Grade 1 listed manor house, with a 14th Century hall. It is the family home of the Cassell family who have allowed visitors to roam freely through much of their home. The 4 acres of gardens are lovely, and maintained in the English country style. 

In the evening some of us went to a Thai restaurant whilst others went to Pizza Express. I chose the latter – not being so keen on Thai food and because Madeleine had a voucher for 40% of the total bill, including drinks. So that was alright.

We'd all booked different trains except Madeleine and I who travelled together together and Fred, who was in a different carriage. This gave some of us time on Monday morning to have a good look around and inside the cathedral before getting the shuttle-bus to the station. The cathedral really is magnificent and – to my mind – feels a lot more comfortable than an increasing number of such buildings where you are guided past ticket offices and security guards to ensure that everybody pays the “suggested” entry donations. Durham has boxes, of course, where you can donate as you wish. The staff in the cathedral seemed genuinely friendly and willing to talk about aspects of it. This seems to reflect just about all the people that we met there, a real friendliness and joy of chatting.

Our train journey, including the London stretch, was easy enough. A most enjoyable weekend and thanks to Marian for arranging it and the others for the company.

Paul Ferris, 16th September 2015

Marian, Dave, Fozi, Fred, Jackie, Ken, Madeleine, Paul, Phil

River Thames Walk - The Last Leg

For those of you who have been following our progress, this is, sadly the final episode.  In the manner of all good television shows though, we went out with a 'blinder'!  What looked to be a slightly drizzly day - Saturday 12th September - turned into a lovely sunny one and the wildlife came out en masse for the hardy who were prepared to make the long trek to Slade's Green.

No sooner had we reached the riverside at Woolwich than Trevor, who now has the Native American name of Seal Spotter, noticed a little fellow on top of one of the old bridge supports.  Poor chap had obviously gone up there on the high tide and got stuck till the next tide was due but he provided a perfect viewing moment or several for the group.  It took a while to drag ourselves away, because although there have been many reports of seals on the river, none of us had ever seen one.

Moving on from the beautiful old buildings of the Woolwich Arsenal and on to the Thamesmead Estate, distinctly different architecturally,  the path here also changes to gravelled rather than paved and becomes wilder.  We passed Tripcock Ness, mooring site of the prison hulks that Dickens' character Magwitch from Great Expectations escaped from.  It is also the scene of the worst ever peacetime disaster, when 600 of 900 passengers on the paddle steamer Princess Alice died after it was hit by a coal steamer.  Many of the passengers were suffocated rather than drowned after swallowing the polluted water from industrial waste and sewage.

Shortly after this, on the opposite bank is the Barking Relief Barrier at the mouth of the River Roding, another monument to engineering in the name of flood protection.  On the south bank we also encountered another protector of London, a small concrete machine gun bunker left over from World War II.  All the while along, thanks to Tim the bird man's expertise, we were able to identify the various birds that were on parade.  They were particularly numerous at Crossness, a Victorian pumping station that still has steam days for devotees of this Victorian art.  Typically decorative as a building, it's quite a contrast to the sewage treatment plant next door that deals with some of London's current waste, as you can tell by the fragrant air!

The views of the other side of the river are of London as an industrial city.  The Dagenham car plant and the Tate and Lyle factory dominate a long stretch of the river, followed suitably by a large green hill, which far from being rural is actually a vast landfill site covered over to disguise it's true nature.  It's a landmark for the townspeople of Erith, our only stop on the route.  Erith has a pier, used by fishermen these days, which makes an excellent spot for a picnic lunch in the sunshine.

After Erith, we had to move inland for a short while, past some light industrial sites until the yacht club comes into view.  Here we were able to turn back to the river and along a raised earth bank sea wall that took us into the Erith marshes.  Jim gave us a quick run down of some more military history at Crayford Ness, describing the anti aircraft sites and the remains of the bunkers that are still visible in a field behind the sea wall.  At Erith Saltings, the last remaining fragment of salt marsh in south London, Seal Spotter was on target again.  On the edge of the water a group of five black dots on closer inspection turned out to be a group of seals, possibly a mother and kids, playing happily at the waters edge!

As we turned off of the Thames into Dartford Creek, we passed another tidal barrier and headed along a country lane.  The fields provided us with some egrets to watch, gracefully flapping away as they spotted us spotting them.  Not to be outdone, the very last part of the walk took us back to the age of the Normans, with the ruined moated Manor House, Howbury Moat, once home to Bishop Odo of Bayeux, half brother to William the Conqueror.

Slade Green station should have been our way back to Woolwich, but the trains were not running, so we took the bus, passing much of the scenery we had viewed on our way from Woolwich.

If you missed any of the sections of the walk, it has already been the subject of discussion to repeat the walk, this time in reverse order, from Slade Green to Hampton Court.  Watch this space in 2016!

Cycling and walking in Cambridgeshire - 8/9th August 2015

We had a small walking group (Fred, Ken and Fozi) and two cyclists (Lynne and Val) meet up with Bill and Inger in Soham at The Cherrytree Pub for a 10am start on a lovely bright sunny Saturday morning.

The walkers set off for a 6/7 mile walk in the Soham area and the cyclists set off for what turned out to be a 23 mile tour of some beautiful local villages, passing through Isleham, West Row, Mildenhall, Barton Mills, Freckenham, Fordham and back to Soham.

During the cycle ride we had a short stop at West Row in the Judes Ferry Pub grounds, which was on the riverside in a lovely setting, and a lunch break at Barton Mills. In Freckenham we made another short stop at friend’s of Lynne, who’s home just happened to be on route.

Late afternoon found us all back at The Cherrytree Pub in Soham, good and ready for something to eat, and then back to Bill and Ingers home for an overnight stay. Inger always has some good home made cakes etc and and we spent a few hours chatting and catching up on what has been happening at EFOG over this last year.

Sunday morning after a hearty breakfast the walkers went into Ely for a walk along the river and we cyclists set off from Pymoor via Coveney, Wardy Hill, Witcham, Witchford and Ely, where we met up with the walkers mid-afternoon. We had a little light refreshment In the Cathedral Café, after which the walkers left to drive back to London.

We cyclists then cycled back to Pymoor via California and Dunkirk, where we saw two majestic Suffolk Punch horses in a field. The total miles cycled on Sunday was 22 miles, and the total was 55 miles over the weekend, which seemed pretty good to me.

Val, 11th August 2015