15th February 2019 Loddington walk to Launde Abbey then Loddington 5.2 miles

A gorgeous, beautiful day for walking. 

Lots of photos taken, thank you to everybody who contributed. 

Our route for the day started in Loddington village, along Main Street to the church then out of the village on Loddington Road turning right to Launde Road then on to Launde Abbey. After lunch it was a straight road back to Loddington, 5.2mls in all.

Some 14 miles east of Leicester near to Launde Abbey and the county border with Rutland lies the quiet village of Loddington. There are a few houses, a late 17th century hall (private) and the church of St Michael which sits some way from the village. There were dwellings originally around the church but the village migrated north east. This is not uncommon and has happened at other churches such as Bruntingthorpe or Kilby, and there are various reasons why this may have occurred.

We have the key to the church.

Walking out of the village a bee was spotted.

A stroll across the fields to the church.

Entrance to the church from the fields.

The church of St Michael dates mostly from the late 13th to early 14th century, although the south doorway may date from an earlier period which would seem to suggest that an earlier structure stood on the site.The south doorway has a pretty round window above the door which is unusual. The church has a west tower, nave, north and south aisles plus chancel. The wooden roof looks like it has had some repairs over the years and looks like it may need some more in the not so distant future.

Getting down to it.

Snowdrops everywhere you care to look. 

We had a good look around the church and signed the visitors book.

 Mors janua vitae (death is the gate to life).

Groupie photos for the archives.

We left the church yard the way we came to continue our walk.

Last out please close the gate.

In the village there are several thatched roofs with the thatchers mark upon them.

Tea pot above and the bee that arrived earlier.

Striding out into the country, coats coming off and wrapped around our waists as we got warmer.

The bright sunlight gave these bales a golden glow.

Friendly horses, but we kept our distance because of the current equine flue risk.

This was the first hill of any size and spread our walkers out a little. That is apart from one, who may have been wondering if he had locked the car?

The front walkers in training for the Three Peaks.

 Nearly there.

Brief History.

The abbey is an Elizabethan manor house, extensively modified, originally built on the site of an Augustinian priory, Launde Priory. The original priory was founded before 1125 (in 1119 according to a modern inscription in the reception hall) by Richard Basset and his wife Matilda. Its revenues at the dissolution of the monasteries were £510-16-1d and payments £117-12-10d (annual value almost £400).

Launde is set in countryside in the valley of the River Chater. Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII's chief minister responsible for the dissolution of the monasteries, so liked its position that he wrote in his diary "Myself for Launde". But Cromwell never occupied the house as he was executed in 1540 for treason. In that same year the building of the new house commenced. His son, Gregory, lived at Launde Abbey for ten years after its construction with his wife, Elizabeth, the sister of Jane Seymour the third wife of Henry VIII. In 1603 Launde was acquired by William Smith and in 1763 Dorothy Jennings sold it to John Simpson; in 1828, Mary Finch Simpson married Edward Dawson (1802-1859) of Long Whatton who by this marriage acquired Launde. They engaged Thomas Rickman to restore the house from 1829 to 1839. The Dawsons continued to own the estate throughout the 19th century.

In 1957, Cecil Coleman and his wife purchased the abbey and presented it to the Diocese of Leicester. They paid for the conversion works to make it into a retreat house.

The chapel is thought to be all that remains of the original priory church. Some of its stained glass is mediaeval and Nikolaus Pevsner has described the monument to Gregory Cromwell as "one of the purest monuments of the early Renaissance in England". There are numerous memorials of the Simpson family who bought Launde in 1763 and enlarged the house and laid out the plantations. The chapel is used for daily worship by the resident community and guests and is an attraction for visitors.

In 2009 the abbey launched a successful £1 million appeal to bring the house up to the standards required by legislation. If the money had not been raised, the abbey would have been forced to close. Both the abbey and the associated chapel are Grade II* listed buildings.

Launde Abbey is located 14 miles east of the city of Leicester and six miles south west of Oakham, Rutland. The building is used as a conference and retreat centre by the Church of England dioceses of Leicester and Peterborough.

We all piled in to the restaurant where we were served broccoli and leek soup (their garden vegetables) with crusty bread then Victoria sponge and tea and coffee to follow.

After lunch we strolled around the gardens before heading out on the last stretch of our walk.

Views of the walled garden and greenhouses.

Aconites

and snowdrops in the wooded area.

 Miniature trees? 

We'll be back for more snowdrops next year.

Leaving Launde Abbey and tackling the last major hill on the walk.

Low flying plane (quick snap).

See you all next week - we hope the weather holds up.


If anyone was wondering about the miniature tree picture it was actually moss growing on a greenhouse roof - who would have guessed?