The Wadenhoe Walk: 26 July 2024

Pictures by Marja Dolby and the Wadenhoe Trust.  Eccentrica Commentaria by Tony Attwood

In fact there is one picture here that is from the Wadenhoe Trust and it is this one on the left.   It comes within an article which contains the wonderful phrase, “Wadenhoe is regarded as one of the prettiest villages in Northamptonshire and was once described as ‘a little town streets going in all directions’.”

A sort of mediaeval Spaghetti Junction, as it were.  And indeed the Trust’s  excellent website helpfully points out many of the wonders of the village and the area – in case you missed the walk (as I did) and want to go back for more.  As indeed I rather think I do, when the repairs on my back are completed.

But to move on, and indeed this is of course what happened because without the “moving on” part there would be no “rambling” and so we would have to rename ourselves the Peterborough Stationaries which could be misinterpreted as being part of the local railway system or even a group that sells writing equipment)….

And in moving on what we find is that the village has upgraded since its write-up from 1086. 

The cars seen here are undoubtedly of more recent vintage, but because I can’t see the number plates I can’t be sure.  But not to worry because on the walk we can see that storm clouds were a-gathering – although because this was the area where the gunpowder plot was, well, plotted, I think the government has designated that the area should always look like this.

Indeed you will note the tilt of the land which is part of the current administration’s modernisation programme, encouraging everything dating from before 1945, to slip into the sea.

Such a programme is of course accompanied by multiple storm clouds of which we see a sample in that picture, but did this put off our merry team?  Certainly not!  Not in the slightest!  Not a jot!  [That’s enough negatives – Editor]

So instead the ensemble had a pause for conversation and the like, and a chance to consider just where we had come from and where we are going.  Had I been there I would of course have brought up the contribution of Artistotle to the topic, although such a tendency on my part is probably why no one talks to me on walks.

But less you think that our Ramblings are in fact just an excuse for chitchat let me assure you that nothing could be further from the truth, (a subject on which Aristotle was profound) for no sooner are the backpacks removed and placed on the ground than it is deemed to be time to march forth once more.

Or at least that is how it has appeared to me when I’ve been on walks.

And thus onward went the walk under the everchanging sky of white and blue, and darker blue, and… well, you get the idea.

Onward went the walk as I reflect that the current village was built in what was once a deer park and dates back to about 1657, at least according to what we historical folk like to call “sources,” which of course are not to be confused with sauces, which are a different thing altogether, oh my word yes.

Anyway, ignoring the sources and the sauces, onward went the merry band forever hopeful that at some stage in the afternoon, there would be if not the sight of civilisation once more then at least perchance the sight of houses.

And indeed so it turned out to be.

I am most grateful that these pictures of the walk have been provided as having not been walking for some time I really have missed discovering the sites and whatnots of the villages and countryside of this part of the world.

However if I may conclude with a personal note (somewhat in the region of C# I think) I am this afternoon going on a walk of my own across local fields and whatnots, and if I make it, then it is back to rambling for me – with a much more complete understanding of what it is like suddenly to have the companionship and fun of the walk removed, after it being a regular part of my week for a number of years.

But if you are on a walk and you want to take pictures (and a modern phone is perfectly fine) do send them to tony@schools.co.uk   If you don’t want my commentary either provide your own, or simply say, “don’t write anything!”)