Friday Walk 4/6/2021 Walking from Mowsley to Gumley. app 5 miles.

Meeting at 10.45am, the weather was dry but not brilliant as we set off out into the country on our way from Mowsley to the village of Laughton.

Mowsley is not particularly famous for anything of note apart from 

the former England Rugby Union Captain Martin Johnson lives in the village with his family.  Frankpa also lives here and he prepares amazing runny eggs. Blue plaque says so.

English countryside is always stunning.

This telephone box in Laughton was in need of a little TLC although there were no skeletons onboard (as there was in Willoughby).

Continuing our walk through Laughton the church itself dates back to the 13th century and had a major renovation in 1879. 

Oh, this is for those who fancy going for a walk but did not get round to it today.

Bricklayer with an artistic leaning.

Cows sheltering from the sunshine.

On our way into Gumley.

For info:  St Helens Church mostly dates from the 14th century with later additions. The tenor bell was cast around 1520. The interior of the church was restored in the Victorian era in 1874 and is a good example of the Decorative style. There is a service every Sunday with a family service once a month.

At the Engine House gas was manufactured for the Hall. There was a Post Office and part of the bakery remains as outbuildings of Westfield. The Butchers shop was at the 'Js' where it was preserved as a museum until recently. There were two public houses in the 1840s, the Hartopp Arms and the Bluebell, which later became The Bell. Only two of seven farms in Gumley are left.

Grade 2 listed structures in the village include Hall Farm, Rose Cottage and Fenleigh House, Stone House, Leys Farm and the village pump. The Motte Castle, a tree ringed mound to the west of Gumley is a Scheduled Monument.

The Village Hall was opened in 1969 on the site of Gumley's former school, which closed in 1933. It is run as a charitable trust and has a small committee open to anyone from the village who cares to join. There is a fish and chips evening in February and a summer barbecue in August as well as other social events.

Cooks Cottage has all manner of interesting and amusing paraphernalia.

Don't stand around too long, you might get planted.

The Bell Inn deserves a special mention here. 

We booked the day before (walking party approx. 20 people.) No problem, we will be expecting you. Mine host pulled out all the stops, said how we were to be served, the service throughout was A1 and we would recommend the Bell to anyone interested in a warm welcome at a village pub.

Face masks for sale.

Time to make our way back to Mowsley.

 

There was a hint of rain as we walked back though folks were too busy chatting to notice.