U3A Markfield and Hill Hole Quarry

Transcription

1 U3A Markfield and Hill Hole Quarry Stuart Galloway Route Summary Circular walk around Markfield including Hill hole quarry and the Altar Stones Route Overview Category: Walking Length: km / 3.48 mi Last Modified: 5th April 2016 Difficulty: Medium Rating: Unrated Surface: Average Date Published: 5th April 2016 Description The village trail starts at The Field Head hotel on Markfield Lane, Markfield LE67 9PS. There is plenty of free parking alongside the pub. The route is about 4-5 miles. No stiles. Some steep steps.(bring binoculars if it is a clear day fabulous views at Hill Hole Quarry & Altar Stones) Waypoints Field Head and Markfield ( ; ) The Field Head hotel was originally a farmhouse dating from 1672, for many years a popular hotel, pub and restaurant. Markfield village, known as Mercenfeld in Anglo-Saxon times, is situated on the A50/A511 near J22 of the M1 Motorway, on the edge of the ancient Charnwood Forest. One of the highest villages in Leicestershire, and some would also say it is one of the coldest! It is home to very old and very hard volcanic rock called Markfieldite, has stone cottages, a disused quarry open to public access and lots of interesting history. 1 / 7

2 Carefully cross the main A511 at the pedestrian lights dual carriageway turn right and cross Launde Road onto Leicester Rd. Follow Leicester Rd until you reach Main St, turn left and keep on the left hand side pavement. Houses on Main Street ( ; ) In the middle of the road (the triangle) was the Old police house(including cells) where the local bobby lived until the 1960?s. To the right there is a house called Clarke?s Place, where in the mid-20th century a horse breaker Sid Clarke lived. It is reported that he went everywhere by horse but refused to dismount so shouted at the shopkeepers to bring his orders out to him. No.188 was the home of the village doctor, a large wooden hut in the garden was the surgery. Further along was the home of Wardle?s butchersand the building to the right was the slaughterhouse. At no. 173 there is a dilapidated green shed? this was originally the Barber?s shop. The shed was ordered from London and delivered by train to Bardon Hill station. On the right you will see an Indian restaurant formerly the Red Lion. Originally the Red Lion was next door in the white building and was built in This was also formerly the post office. On the left you will see The Institute (the?stute?) originally a picture house around 1920 showing silent films. The projection room and ticket kiosk are still there. After the First World War the picture house was converted into a Memorial Hall, and a little further along you will see the Congregational church built in The Old Rectory was built in 1770 and was used as a school for many years; it didn?t become the rectory until (The rectory was replaced by a new one built at the rear in 1960). Continuing along Main St until you reach the Green You will pass the Congregational Church Hall built in 1852 by Henry Chapman (his family were prolific builders and probably built most of the old village), Brown?s hardware shop; originally the Earl Grey Arms and a little further along you will see the façade of the George Hotel; a new Co-op store has been built at the rear of the premises. There has been a Co-operative store in Markfield for over a century. It is thought another of Markfield?s lost pubs? The Boot Inn was also in this vicinity. The new houses on Warner Close off Main St were originally the home ofwarner?s Bus garage. Opposite the Green is the former Wardle?s Baker?s Shop, which closed in the 1990?s (also formerly a grocer?s and a newsagent?s). To the left of Wardle?s is the Trinity Methodist Church, built as the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel and nearby at no. 54 the Mill House(probably driven by water but not a windmill). 2 / 7

3 The Green ( ; ) Opposite on the Green (formerly known as the Sawpit) you will see the green painted Village Pump. This is a replica. All that remains of the original is the old wooden post. There were a number of wells in the village (hard to dig with the underlying granite). Mains water was not installed until the 1920?s. Cross the Green noting the National School and the School House on the right. The National School ( ; ) The National school was built in 1861 and the School house in (There is an old school desk in the garden of the School house). To the right of the School house was another of Markfield?s old pubs? The Plough Inn.(The village boasted 11 pubs at one time? quarrying was thirsty work). Continue uphill on the right hand side of the Green until you see a newly renovated building. Temperance Hall ( ; ) After the Methodists moved to a new building it housed framework knitting machines and then became a motor workshop. Continue past the building through the gate onto the track turn left up the steps and then walk back down to Hillside keep to the left and enter the churchyard through the gate on your right. (Optional? you could just turn round and walk back down to the church gates). St Michael & All Angels Church ( ; ) There has been a church on this site since at least 1072; the current church (St Michael & All Angels) is mostly 13th? 14th century. In 1825 the lean-to North aisle was removed and the chancel arch cut away. However by 1865 the church was said to be in a ruinous state and it was rebuilt with the chancel, vestries and north aisle added. The organ dates from 1906 and the names of those who served in the First World War are inscribed on its panelling. The bells date from 1617, 1749, (three) and a sixth bell added after the Second World War in thanksgiving for victory. Rectors were appointed by the Hastings family for many years, the last occasion being the Rev AS Butler in He presided over the 1865 restoration, the building of the Church School on The Green and the opening of the Mission Church in Shaw Lane. Zigzag carved patterns to the right of the porch are typically Norman. Take a look at 3 / 7

4 the interesting tombstone of Friswid Bodin, mother of 12 who died at the age of 64. Leave the church via the main gate Blue Plaque ( ; ) On the right you will see a blue plaque to John Wesley; a frequent visitor and preacher. Such were the crowds who attended his sermons he preached outside. Continue past the houses until you reach Queen Street. On the house on the left corner there is a date stone 1700? this property was once a sweet shop and grocers run by the Widdowsons. Walk into Queen St for a few yards then take the footpath to the right up some quite steep steps In Queen St you will see Quarry House (formerly the Quarryman?s Arms) and Three Gables (one of the four bakeries in the village). Quarryman's Cottages ( ; ) At the top of the steps you will be on Hillside where there is a row of quarryman?s cottages. These cottages have very long, steep, narrow gardens where the vegetables would be grown for the family. At the end of the garden would be the privy, the contents of which were emptied regularly by the nightsoil men. Turn to the left and follow the footpath (on your left) until you come to Hill Lane (take care there is no footpath). Turn right and follow the road until you come to the first entrance to Hill Hole quarry, now a nature reserve. Observe the information on the notice board before continuing on the path to the left overlooking the quarry. Keep walking until ahead of you you will see some steep steps cut in the hillside. Climb the steps and at the top keep to the path on the right and climb until you reach the view point. (Binoculars essential to appreciate the views from the toposcope). Hill Hole Quarry ( ; ) The view point at Hill Hole quarry is about 700ft above sea level. It was used as an observation post in the Second World War? the hut was burned down as soon as the war was over. Hill Hole quarry opened in 1852, the rock Markfieldite is a very hard granite and visible in many local buildings. It was also used for making setts for paving roads. The quarry was worked until about There was a windmill on the hill 4 / 7

5 from at least 1743, but the sails had gone by the 1870?s. Fir trees on the hill top were cut down in World War 1 for use as pit props in the nearby Desford Colliery. Children as young as nine were employed in the quarry. At least 6 deaths occurred in the late 19th century. The water in the quarry is about 5m deep and holds fish as well as North Atlantic Crayfish (a rare species). Retrace your steps downhill and take the path to the left until you reach the small car park. Turn right onto Hill Lane and follow the road to the crossroads. Turn left onto Altar Stones Lane. Continue along the lane and just prior to Old Mill Farm turn right through the gate onto the area known as Altar Stones and Blacksmiths field (now managed by the Leics & Rutland Wildlife Trust). Walk through the fields enjoying the views. Altar Stones ( ; ) Altar Stones is a reference to a vanished landmark referred to in a 14th century document. It may have been a Roman altar stone, a boundary stone or a milestone; it was in a nearby field and described as being covered in strange writing. It was removed in 1769 but no one knows what became of it. There was a millers barn on the right and in the fields behind stood Markfield?s other windmill (four stone piers remain). This windmill blew down in Blacksmith?s field is now a nature reserve and home to a radio mast using a system called Raynet. Under the mast there is a deep bunker. Local councils were required to make contingency plans in case of nuclear war for alternative communications. The emergency control centre was the cellar of the nearby Red Lion. Leave the Nature reserve and turn left back onto Altar Stones Lane. Cross the road onto Ashby Road. Ashby Turnpike ( ; ) The house on the corner called Raunscliffe was once a blacksmith?s shop. The road here was part of the Ashby Turnpike and a tollgate stood here. The first weekly stagecoach service to London started in It took a full day and cost about 1.25 for an inside seat. Opposite Raunscliffe there is a row of council houses thought to be the first built in Leicestershire in No.35 Ashby Rd was the home of haulage contractor Laurie Brown. He was a haulage contractor who delivered coal in the 1920?s using a Chevrolet truck which could be converted into a bus with wooden slatted seats and a portable top. He called it the?nancy? after his sister. Eventually he built up a big fleet of buses known as Browns Blue and took over Warners in Browns Blue was sold to Midland Red in / 7

6 Continue along Ashby Rd (views over the Chitterman Hills on your left) past the Queens Head P.H. and retrace your steps along Leicester Rd and back to the Field Head Hotel 6 / 7

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