A tale of four churches
Logistics are now more complex, we have multiple cars to each point, so that we can all start from the same location, finish at the same location and then be transported appropriately back to our scattered locations in and around Letchworth and Hitchin, NB does a fantastic job in ensuring this all works as it needs to.
Stage 3 goes from Royston to Hare Street, with a couple of surprisingly long climbs, past open farmland on chalk hills with a shoot being run as the driven birds scurried and flew past us, with all of us cheering them on to escape the guns! We go via Reed (church 1); Barkway (church 2); Nuthamstead; Anstey (church 3); Great Hormead (church 4) thence to Hare Street.
What really strikes anyone walking in this part of Hertfordshire are the amazing Churches, nearly all utilising flint in their construction, some with evidence of late Saxon architecture, Norman naves and big, solid Towers – showing how many a Church was also a fort in those challenging times, a place of worship and sanctuary as well as a place of last resort, the Church theme continues through this stage of our walk.
Beautiful Barkway provided delights for all the senses, a place of fine buildings, delightful walkways and reasons to return for a better look around in the future.
Evidence of Henry VIII’s ravages and of more modern times, with memorials to all our local fallen. Nuthamstead provides serious food for thought, with the remnants of a major fighter and bomber airfield and a museum on site, with memorials in honour of all who were based, lived and were lost from within our County back in 1943 – 45.
In this month of all months, Lest we Forget…
Lunch had us in the porch of the Church at Anstey, cover and a seat greatly appreciated by all of us. Halloween being just around the corner in 5 days, the sight of 4 skeletons, sitting around an outdoor table, pints close to hand, whilst a dog skeleton “barked” next to them and a cat skeleton sought refuge on the windowsill provided light relief the pub looked great, a Free House, note to selves to return and check it out.
We completed this stage by arriving in Hare Street. The last two stages totalling approximately 26 miles - what a great route to perhaps use as a “Hertfordshire Marathon”. Whilst we saw plenty of different crops, Fennel was not among them, so perhaps not?
JB
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