Between Wadenhoe and Oundle, there is a path hidden deep in the Northamptonshire countryside. This three-mile long path connects the two towns, starting off on a north-easterly direction from Pilton Road in Wadenhoe. This path saves the walker two crossings of the busy and dangerous A605, which is always a hazardous area for walkers. Continued…
Winter may seem far away now, but it never hurts to plan for the future. Last year the rising cost of fuel led many households in Britain to open up their fireplaces or install wood-burning stoves. The average UK gas bill is £1,293, a 42% increase on last year. Combined with uncertainty over the supply chain from Russia, many people turned to alternative sources of fuel. The price of wood in particular has remained fairly constant, and there is extra appeal because its impact on the environment is much less. Therefore, if you’re worried about the cost of your fuel bills, particularly in the current economic climate, you may want to consider alternative, often cheaper sources of heat such as wood stoves and fireplaces.
For this issue, we travelled to Lyveden, an area of beautiful countryside just outside Oundle. It is here that the incomplete garden lodge, Lyveden New Bield was built in the late 16th century, and still stands now.
Lyveden New Bield was begun by Sir Thomas Tresham in 1595 to symbolise his Catholic faith, clearly shown by the elaborate frieze, which depicts the story of the Passion of Christ, and the religious scriptures which adorn the top. Building this garden folly was a risky endeavour for Sir Thomas, as the then reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth I, was a devout Protestant. After years of heavy fines and imprisonment imposed on Sir Thomas due to his son’s involvement in the Gunpowder Plot, Sir Thomas was left bankrupt, and the garden lodge (or New Bield, as it later became known) remained incomplete when he died in 1605. Thanks to its isolated position, it has been left virtually unaltered for the last 400 years.
Following on from his three part series, Oundle in the News, local historian David Parker is about to publish a new book, Oundle Wills and Headstones 1820 -1858.
He started the research for his most recent book in 2005 and spent four years collecting information from a wide variety of sources. The book examines nearly 70 local wills, is accompanied by over 75 illustrations and contains a detailed 30 page index. It promises to be a fascinating account of past lives. For those interested in the local area, it provides the most comprehensive record of the graves in the St Peter’s Churchyard. A detailed map of the churchyard accompanies the text.