All’s well that ends well in Wells

Sat 18 Oct 25. DH, RW, AC, DL, JB, RC & Scrumpy

It was yet another week of low numbers with only three from Wincanton and just Richard from the Northern group today, so I opted for another new walking area on the edge of our self imposed time radius. Having deciphered an early morning pleas for back bags, we picked up Rich & Scrumpy up at 08.15 and had a good run across from Bruton arriving in Wells less than thirty minutes later. I had mentioned on the way over we would be meeting another couple so after taking some narrow back lanes we got to the top of Silver Street to be greeted by Adrian standing in the road with his usual wide ‘happy to see you’ grin on his face. He informed us he was parked with Ruth just inside the field, but that there was there was a £4 ‘honesty’ All Day parking fee to be paid. Luckily we had a quick whip round and managed to gather enough cash to pay our dues into the large milk churn by the gates. After the usual greeting and hugs and getting kitted up, we set off a few minutes earlier than expected, heading east through the Palace Fields, the former 13th century hunting grounds on King John, along a tarmac path along the top edge and into the slowly rising morning sun.

There were a few other dog walkers on the path including a trio of beagles and a crazy Red Setter running loose in amongst the remaining stalks of a recently cut down corn field. As we got further from town they decreased to just a couple of runners as we crossed the old Shepton to Wells road north of Dulcote. To the south there was good view right down th Glastonbury Tor whilst to the north, just visible in the hedgerow was the first of a few old red brick pill boxes we would see today. Mostly of theFW3/24 type, they were built in 1941-42 as part of the Green Stop Line and exist alongside a range of other World War Two defensive structures in the area.

The route through the fields was fairly well walked but two large blues structures on top of poles clearly marked out two of the less visible stiles. There was much confusion as to what they were formerly used for, with suggestions of concrete mixer drums or small septic tanks. We approached the village of Dinder and had to pass by the club house and cross the village cricket ground as we made our way towards the parish church of St Michael. With Norman origins, the current structure with three section tower, was rebuilt in the 15th Century and is Grade II* listed.

From the church we headed north towards Sharcombe Park and Grange, formerly the registered address of the Showering family, of Babycham and cider fame. Before the top we turned left along a track and climbed more alongside a wooded area. To the left of the track stood more WW2 defences in the shape of large concrete blocks.