A CIRCULAR WALK FROM BAWDESWELL

Bawdeswell Heritage Group

Approx distance:  6 miles                                                          Approx time:  2 - 3 hours 

Highlights:  Public and Permissive Footpaths, St Thomas' medieval church and moated site of Foxley Manor. Foxley Wood (bluebells in May). Fine rural views. Former Roman road.  Bawdeswell and its unique church.   Please note Dogs are not permitted in Foxley Wood.

Head for Foxley past the school and along the pavement past the Old Rectory on your left.  Keep on this side of the by-pass and turn right into Chapel Lane just past Floranova  Seed Breeders. At the end of Chapel Lane turn right down the Street and St Thomas Church is immediately on your left. 


ST THOMAS CHURCH

The lower part of the Nave walls date from the late Saxon  or early Norman  times.  The Tower was  built about 1380 and contains a fine ring of 6 bells, two of which are in need of repair. Inside, the pews illustrate the social gradations of a former age, with six box pews for the farmers and their families.

Carry on down the winding Street and just after Moor Farm with its fountains and ponds, turn right up a farm track to admire the amazing moated site of Foxley Manor.  Please keep to the edge of the field as this is private land farmed by Albanwise Ltd, an Italian-owned company based at Barton Bendish. THE MOATS mark the site of a Manor House and farmstead dating back to between 1100 and 1500.  Foxley  Manor  is  recorded   as  being   granted   by  Henry II  (1154 - 89)    to Sir William de Munchensey. 

Bawdeswell and Sparham were part of the Manor.   Imagine the Medieval House and take in the fine panoramic view. 
Returning to The Street, turn right and walk along the Themelthorpe Road towards  FOXLEY WOOD.  At the start of the wood turn right along a farm track before the Warden’s cottage.  There is a map on a board there indicating a Permissive Pathway around and across the wood.  Follow the edge of the wood and cross into it and out of it over provided footbridges.  In April and May the bluebells can be quite spectacular over on the far side. One of the best views is from the Permissive Pathway, on the outside looking in. Otherwise follow the circular dotted route in the map alongside.


Foxley Wood in April/May

This is the largest remaining block of ancient woodland in Norfolk. The Domesday Book of 1086 noted that it was a large enough area for 300 swine. That is said to be a way of measuring it. It is quite possible it was a hunting ground of kings.
It supports a tremendous variety of flowers including St John's wort, orchids, stitchworts and bugle.  The bluebells are outstanding.
Sparrowhawks and tawny owls breed in good numbers and all three species of woodpecker are present. Young coppice supports garden warbler, black cap and whitethroat. Good numbers of bank vole and wood mouse keep the resident weasels, stoats and foxes well supplied. Roe, red and muntjac deer visit the wood.  Evidence of wild boar has been found .
(Possibly escaped from Great Wichingham Wildlife Park.)

On leaving the woods on the far side, follow along the Permissive Pathway outside the boundary. When you are stopped short by a ditch, turn left and go along the edge of the copse of trees.  This leads you on to a quiet back road where another board with a map shows where you have just been.  Turn right and enjoy the peaceful countryside views as you stroll towards the Reepham Road.  There are a couple of roadside ponds on the way that you can rest at and observe quietly for signs of wildlife.On reaching the busy Reepham Road cross over carefully and head down towards Jordan’s Green Farm.  There are fine views to the right towards Bawdeswell.  There is quite a deep valley  down there.Shortly after the farm is a large red brick house on the right.  A Public Footpath sign points down a track just past it.At the end of this lane follow the rutted track past the farm buildings and head downhill on the nearside of the hedgerow towards the bottom of the valley.  The grass verge to the field marks the Public Footpath and is signposted.The path passes an interesting copse on the right.  If you peer into the woods, you can see the sunken remains of the old Roman Road, now rather waterlogged and overgrown.   The footpath continues past this and turns right over a footbridge into the next field, before it turns left again and crosses the stream at the bottom of the valley on another bridge.Now you are on the Roman Road that leads up the hill to Bawdeswell.It ran from Durobrivae  near Peterborough, across the Fen Causeway to Denver, followed Fincham Drove and crossed Peddar's Way between Castle Acre and Swaffham, thence towards North Elmham and Billingford, to Bawdeswell and Jordans Green, and on to Smallburgh.  It was a major East-West route and possibly continued to Caister or an important port since eroded by the sea. 
 
 

This section of the Roman Road is particularly fine and is built  on an agger .
 
 

The Romans built their roads in a straight lines keeping to high ground.

We are now walking towards Bawdeswell on a very ancient route and it easy to let your imagination wander back in time. As you near the village you can see the spire of the modern church above the roofs of the houses. 

Soon you are  back in civilisation and there is  welcome refreshment at the Bawdeswell Store or the Old Workhouse Bar.

MAP OF THE WALK

A LEAFLET WITH MAP IS AVAILABLE AT BAWDESWELL STORE

                  Download Leaflet Now  (.pdf format)