The 22 August Walk from Braceborough

Pictures by Mandy; odd notes by Tony

Now let me say at once that the map on the left has not come out very well – so it isn’t your eyes, nor it is the original map.  It is just that the computer system doesn’t like this sort of resolution very much.

Anyway, the pictures below are much clearer than this apology for a map that I nicked from the internet so please do press on.

For here we are in the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, just off the Stamford to Bourne road as it meanders its merry way between Market Deeping and Bourne

In 1921 the parish had a population of 150.

But then, on 1 April 1931 the parish was abolished and merged with Wilsthorpe to form “Braceborough and Wilsthorpe”.  I don’t know how the locals took it, but it is one of those things that local authorities do.

There is however an interesting note in Wikipedia which says that, “The ecclesiastical parish has equivalent boundaries to the civil parish.^[

And then by the side of that it says “clarification needed” and I wondered to myself what sort of clarification could there be? The religious parish and the civil parish are the same.  Can it be much clearer a statement?

But well, that’s Wiki for you.

However, after this point, things do get a little more complicated since apparently the area is part of the Uffington Group in the Diocese of Lincoln.

So!  The notorious Uffington Group.! Say no more is all I can say!!

There is also a Grade I listed Anglican church which was restored in 1837.

And we might note that during the Second World War (which was before my time contrary to popular belief) Braceborough Hall housed elements of the Women’s Land Army, and again I wonder at the language.

“Elements?”   Like oxygen?

It is now a retirement home.

Anyway, moving on there was an interesting dichotomy from the signpost which pointed the footpath as being in all three directions at once.

This pointiness (or perhaps one should say pointidity) in all directions which can be seen in subsequent photographs is something that is noticeable for this part of the country.

The clouds here are best described as stratus cumulus cirrus alto nimbus and were indeed rather challenging in their nature, at least that is how it looks from the pictures.

But as you can also see the troop showed no fear in the face of such overhanging darkness and ventured forth, or quite possibly fifth, although I only have pictures of them venturing forth.

And one wonders looking at those clouds; for they do look both menacing and close, and make the landscape rather dark.  Which of course it wasn’t.

So it was with one eye on the surrounding landscapes and one on the clouds above that some walk members found their eyes pointing in different directions which made things difficult, and is not generally recommended.

But as you will know for sure, nothing stops the Peterborough Ramblers when out in force,

What was not seen however was Braceborough Spa, rising in the grounds of Spa House.

This was indeed a popular watering resort in days of yore (or the “Victorian era” as it is called in some texts) and is a source of natural spring waters.

Many a past walker has paused at the spa and partaken of the waters in order to put a “spring” in the step.

But as with many Victorian Spas, Braceborough’s declined in favour of more modern forms of medical treatment.

However, it must be added that as Ramblers are healthy people who venture forth, and sometimes fifth, no such treatment is needed.

In short, everyone walked out, and everyone came back.

Which by and large is how the walk leader and the back marker like it, and how it should be.