Saturday 5th October’24. DH, RW, PCL, DL, JB Scrumpy & Albus
With just five old men available today I took the opportunity to invite Ralph my five-year-old grandson along for his second walk with us, having previous joined us on a damp, March morning around Martock. He was delighted to be included again and with a flash of the car lights as we approached he started jumping up and down at the side of the road as we picked him up en route. John very quickly introduced himself to Ralph and from that point on a firm friendship was established. There was much chatter going on in the back as we drove along roads familiar to Ralph, but it was a new experience for all of us as we turned off the A361 and shortly afterwards arrived at the small hamlet of Marston Bigot for todays adventure. Marston Bigot was listed as "Mersitone-tora" in the Domesday Book of 1086, which gave the name of the then Saxon landowner as Robert Arundel. It became known as Marston Bigot some time after it was given by William the Conqueror to Roger de Bigod, which later became the Bigott family
The two Brutonian representatives were already there as we drove up the track and past the wonderful church of St Leonard, built of local stone in the late 18th Century. We parked up facing south with views across to Alfreds tower in the Selwood Forest ridgeline, as the sun was shining brightly through and burning off the last of the morning mist which clung to the wet grasslands. The morning air was cold as we stepped out of the cars and the rising sun and temperature caused some debate about the necessity of wearing a coat today. Ralph with youthfulness on his side made it quiet clear to granddad that he wouldn’t need one, but Dereyk who was also considering such an option was swayed by a chorus of doubters who eventually convinced him he would likely perish without it. So rather reluctantly he also donned his coat as we set off down the track and through a gate into Marston Bigot Park, which encompasses approximately 222 hectares and is listed Grade II in the Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England.
The route across the park was clearly and regularly way-marked and the grass cut as short as a garden lawn to keep walkers on track as it passed in front of the grade II* listed house built of Doulting stone under a slate roof, looking splendid in the morning light. The house was first documented in 1641 when purchased by the 1st Earl of Cork and has passed through many successive generations of the family who each left their mark on the house and grounds, including the 7th Earl who added Marston Pond, a boathouse, and three gate lodges. However late in the 19th century the house fell into disrepair and it was sold in 1905 to the Bonham-Christie family.
Marston House and its grounds were used by the US Army during World War II, and were finally rescued from dereliction in 1984 by John and Angela Yeoman of Foster Yeoman Ltd, and used as the company headquarters. Foster Yeoman put the house on the market in 2012 at a price of £6 million. The house is now privately owned but does open to the public through Garden Trust events from time to time.
The going was slowed as buoyed and enthused by Brian’s ( the other tall Yorkshire man who used to walk with us) recently organised Wincanton Camera Club talk about landscape photography, there was much debate about how to take the best shot and the merits of, or not, Photoshop type tweaks to them afterwards. Dereyk attended the talk and was keen to put some of his new found knowledge into action, so it’s only right I publish some of his photos below, including the church and gate lodge, the right side of the 130 metre long facade of the house and a view back to the church from the parkland.
We continued across the nicely mown path towards a large house in the middle of the estate where, abiding by the plethora of no entry signs we crossed through a small gate (kindly held open for us by Ralph) onto a narrow path leading across the top of a wooded area. Just beyond the wood and totally obscured is the large lake added in the 1820-30s when the whole gardens were reshaped under the direction of Capability Brown. We followed the pathway long the edge of the wood and in the distance could see our next way point, the complex of buildings at The Lighthouse in Tytherington.
As we got closer not only could we see a lot of cars parked at the edge of the complex but on the other side of the fence to us we’re quite a few people just casually walking around the well manicured lawns, many of them with dogs. Although I knew there was a members only swimming pool and fitness area to one side, some B&B accommodation and a cafe area in the middle of the old buildings I had no idea why there were so many dogs being walked this morning. With our questions unanswered we headed past the pool and onto the road, past the main enterance and then over a small stone stile in a low wall, and back onto the same lawns we had seen earlier. Our path took us at a 45 degree angle away from the road, just clipping the edge of a small lake/large pond and down to a gate in the tree line at the bottom of the area. Coincidentally, we met a couple carrying their new born wrapped up warm inside dads coat, who we had seeen as we approached the area, so I managed to ask them the obvious question. The simple answer was ‘well it’s a nice place to walk dogs’ before I later established that although it’s private land, that the owners of The Lighthouse permit locals to walk across, around and through the area with dogs off leads at any time. No doubt they also hope that after the walk the visitors stop off in the cafe for drinks and something to eat. Armed with this information and after congratulating them on the birth of their little two week old, who was out for their first visit to the area, we continued through and ‘banked’ the location for subsequent visits.
Dereyk continued his photographic experience by taking a video of Albus stood still, and also a few photos of him posing to accompany his weekly report back to Kathleen. In the next field a few earthbanks and ditches are the only recognisable remains of the old medieval village of Marston and just beyond, whilst admiring the large girth of a nearby oaks trunk, we posed for this weeks selfie under a small group of trees which merged together to appear as one large specimen. It was great to see Ralph safely in the care of John for the photo. We crossed into the next field then over a small wooden bridge and then with the planting of the stick we knew it was time for the distribution of thei weeks sweeties. Not wishing for a repeat of last week rejection, Dereyk produced a small bag of jelly beans just for Richard, whilst the rest of us managed to unwrap our Chubba lollies, with a bit of help from a more practised grandson for some of us! Once our sugar fix was underway, and with the stick firmly back in hand, we carried on through to minor road which would lead us back to the cars.
The road was quite, apart from the continued banter and laughter and offered good views back up towards the house. Ralph was still leading the way with John, discussing the merits of cow muck amongst many other things. At one point as I asked if he was OK he asked how much further it was. When I told him it’s wasn’t too far he notified us that on Friday night his mum had asked if he wanted to go on a short walk with grandad on Saturday. Obviously he said yes immediately but this wasn’t a short walk, it was a LONG one!
Thankfully for him we turned for home, past a lovely thatched cottage and then as we closed in on the cars, we got a glimpse of the Old Rectory over the hedges. Clearly there was a lot of money associated with churches back then, as this grand house built in 1839 of Doulting stone by the Earls of Cork is Grade II listed and noted for its Palladian styling. We turned right up the church track and after a short pause at the church gates to read the notices and a plaque we completed todays 3.35 mile walk in 1 hour 50 minutes. Dereyk was delighted that he had carried his coat all the way around whilst those who had taken them perhaps agreed with him that today was a ‘no coat’ day after all!
It was just a short ten minute drive up to Nunney transport cafe for our first visit in over a year. Outside Ralph was keen to pose next to a ‘vehicle’ covered in remembrance motifs and poppies, which I discovered the new owner had only purchased earlier that morning. Once inside and with orders placed, I asked Ralph, who was obviously seated next to John, if he thought it was a bike or a car? He shook his head for a bit, before finally deciding it was more bike than car. As usual good service today and breakfasts enjoyed by all. A big well done to Ralph who enjoyed his sausage sandwich and a big thanks to John who just managed to stop him shaking his strawberry milk shake all over in as he mistook it for the tomato sauce! Also well done to Scrumpy & Albus who with their own supplies of kibble did hardly any scrounging and certainly no barking whilst we ate today.
A great morning out in a new area and with plenty of laughter along the way. Below the plaque from the church gateway which was skilfully narrated by Richard in his best Yorkshire accent!
(I can’t seem to find much about the author, although their is a renown poet by the same name)
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