Underneath the arches …

Sat 25 Apr ‘26. DH, DL, JS Albus & Ember

Another week when the majority have a better offer so we were down to just the ‘Rodber three’ again, although with the addition of my week long lodger, Ember the golden doodle to keep Albus company. A quick drive up to our regular RV on Martins Lane and the Charlton trading estate where we parked at the bottom of the Fosse Way. With the prospect of a gorgeous morning ahead, two of us had opted for shorts this week, although Deryck did threaten to unzip his at the knee if it got too hot.

For the first time ever we started our walk by turning left behind Ticklebelly Cottage, and the refurbished brewmasters house which sits above the Old Brewery, The path winds between the buildings and dropped down to the yard entrance on Brewery Lane, where we turned right onto a small track just before the small stream, which is infact the upper reaches of the River Sheppey. Neither dog fancied a paddle so we pushed on through to a large field bordering the Grade II* listed Charlton viaduct. Opened in 1874 for the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway( Shepton Mallet to Bath extension), it was doubled in width in 1894. The now disused viaduct consists of 27 segmental arches carrying an elevated trackbed. There is a further five column viaduct crossing the Bath Road a short distance further along the line.

With the sound of grass cutting machinery in the distance, we pushed on towards the refurbished old farm and then started a steady climb back towards the Fosse Way. Although we were close to the A37 we hardly heard or saw any of the traffic using it. A couple of the stiles constructed of solid stone slabs posed a slight problem, not only to the aged and less flexible but also to the young pup who was clearly not used to finding her own way over or round obstacles. On at least one occasion I had to left her onto the stile top and let her jump down to safety. The higher we climbed not only did we have a wonderful view of the rooftops beyond the viaduct but the small pimple of Glastonbury Tor the hilltop of Brent Knoll and the clear skies allowed us to see right out to the Bristol Channel where the white structure of Hinckley point could be made out. It was an ideal spot for this weeks ‘groupie’.

We joined the Fosse Way heading north for just a couple of hundred metres before turning right into a series of large fields which led us over towards West Bodden Farm. Turning south on the minor road we passed through the edge of the farm and it’s large barns full of young cattle. A couple of the farm dogs came out ‘all guns blazing’ to see who was passing, but both Albus and Ember pushed on without a care. At the triangular road junction we paused to look at the stump of Bodden Cross. Wayside crosses are one of several types of Christian cross erected during the medieval period, mostly from the 9th to 15th centuries AD. In addition to serving the function of reiterating and reinforcing the Christian faith amongst those who passed the cross and of reassuring the traveller, wayside crosses often fulfilled a role as waymarkers, especially in difficult and otherwise unmarked terrain.

The monument includes a cross situated on a roadside verge at a crossroads at Bodden. The cross includes a square base, c.2.4m square, made of two courses of stone, although not all of the second course survives. Above the base is a square socket stone, 0.8m square and 0.6m high with broad convex broaches at the top corners. The top face of the socket stone has been damaged but the remains of the socket, c.0.4m across, still survive. The cross is considered to be 14th century in date and is Listed Grade II.

On the southern side of the village would took a track onto the ridge line overlooking Doulting and with views to the south of the county and had to keep clear as tractors full of grass cuttings and returning empties passed us. We turned right along the ridge heading straight towards the harvesting team and eventually into the field they were currently working, picking up the grass with great precision and at speed. We waited for a good opportunity to pass safely and then headed down off of the ridge, through nicely cleared fields and a very disused orchard before hitting the Fosse away again and turning left back to the car.

A bit of a shorter walk at just under three miles completed in one hundred minutes, but ample for today. We got back into the car and headed for the Hive in Shepton High Street where our table was waiting for us. The usual quick service soon had our meals at the table whilst the dogs were happy curled up under the table.

Overall a good morning out with some amazing views and a gorgeous late spring morning.

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