powered by Sounder
Ashwell Walks Podcast: Episode 3: Who’s afraid of the ghost?
Hello, and welcome to the Ashwell Walks podcast Episode 3. Who’s afraid of the ghost? My name is Sally Fletcher and I have written this Ashwell Walk all about the ghost stories of Ashwell. Our walk begins, on Lucas Lane, the eastern section of the main road through the centre of Ashwell, and it will take about an hour to complete If you need to drive to the start, head for the junction between Lucas Lane and Station road, where the war memorial stands. You may park your car on Lucas Lane opposite the recreation ground. The walk begins at the end of the drive leading to Townsend house, number 24 Lucas Lane. The house cannot be seen from the road, but the cottage to the left of the driveway has a distinctive round window. Pause this podcast until you are standing on Lucas Lane by the driveway leading to Townsend house, then re-start it. With the driveway on your left walk along Lucas Lane towards the centre of the village. We will begin our journey with the tale of the phantom coach and horses. On dark wintry nights when the moon is almost full, there have been sightings of a Victorian coach and horses galloping along the road between Ashwell and Bygrave. You are now following the first part of that fateful coach’s journey. On the night of Sunday, November 26th in 1871, Mr and Mrs John Westrope had been to a dinner party in Weston. They had travelled by coach hired from the Rose and Crown Inn in Baldock. Late in the evening they returned to their home, Prospect House, which is now Townsend House where we began our walk. It was a wild night with lashing wind and heavy rain and the Westropes were relieved to have arrived home safely. The coach and horses however, still had to return to Baldock.
37 Comments
powered by Sounder
Ashwell Audio Tour: Episode 2: The Pub Crawl
Our podcasts are available for download on Itunes, Google podcast and Spotify! Hello, and welcome to the Ashwell Walks podcast Episode 2. The Pub Crawl. My name is Sally Fletcher and I have written this Ashwell walk about the long history of brewing in the village. Our walk begins at Ashwell Springs just off the High Street and takes roughly an hour to complete. If you need to drive to the start you may park your car on the road beside the green railings that mark the edge of the Springs. From the High Street, follow the footpath sign opposite number 7 High Street (Spring House), and next to 2 High Street (Springside Cottage). Walk down the steps into the wooded hollow until you are standing next to some stepping stones that cross the water. Pause this podcast until you have reached the stepping stones then re-start it. You are now standing at the start of the river Rhee, one of the main sources of the River Cam, which flows through the centre of Cambridge, then to Ely, where it joins the Great Ouse and eventually reaches the Wash 65 miles away. If you look up towards the High Street you will see the road is supported by a brick wall strengthened with arches. The springs bubble out of the chalk bedrock found along the base of the wall.
powered by Sounder
Transcript:
Episode 1: Food for free: foraging in summer Hello, and welcome to the Ashwell audio tour Episode 1. Food for free: foraging in summer. My name is Sally Fletcher and I have lived in Ashwell for eighteen years. I wrote this audio tour about some of my favourite spots to gather wild fruits in Ashwell and also to share some of the village’s history with you along the way. Most people ignore the amazing hedgerows we have around Ashwell but they are full of interesting plant species that are an incredible resource for thrifty cooks. I am fond of elder, bramble, blackthorn, dog rose, and hawthorn, which provide seasonal goodies from May through to October. But by far my most favourite hedgerow fruits are the wild plums that grow in abundance around the village. You are welcome to collect Ashwell’s hedgerow fruits but please be mindful that these lovely old hedges deserve to be treated with care. Don’t bend and break branches or be greedy in your gathering. The hedges also provide food for birds, insects and animals so make sure you are only collecting ripe fruits. The fruits mentioned in this audio-tour ripen at different times from early August through to late October. Check the ground for fallen ripe fruits and berries, if there are none it’s too early to pick. Most importantly – as with all wild plants and fungi – be certain of what you are picking and how to prepare it safely. If you are unsure, do not risk a stomach ache (or worse) and leave well alone. Our walk begins on the eastern side of the village, at the Ashridge Farm caravan park. We will travel along Ashwell Street to the western end of the village and then back again via a short section of the High Street. It takes roughly an hour to complete. If you need to drive to the start, there is a small area you can leave your car just beyond the caravan park entrance. Pause this audio tour until you have reached the Ashridge Farm caravan park then re-start it. |
AuthorAshwell Walks have been created by Dr Sally Fletcher and produced by Diane Jacoutot. Archives
October 2020
Categories |