Saturday 2nd September’23. DH, AC, PCL, DL
The first Saturday of meteorological Autumn and accordingly the morning was cool and misty as we drove north to Shepton Mallet. With just two from Wincanton this week we managed to pick up Adrian on the way through and arrived at the Charlton trading estate dead on 0830. It turns out Phil had missed the offer to also meet at Ansford and was struggling to escape the almost perpetual roadworks in Bruton, and as such arrived a few minutes later, driving one of his son’s (though not sure he knows which) fine example of a classic English motor vehicle. Dereyk decided the weather was OK for shorts and short sleeve shirt whilst the rest of us opted for full length and a jumper or coat to keep off the morning chill.
Todays walk was going to be a combination of some we have done previously from here starting with a good leg and lung warming stretch up the old Fosse Way. Not being able to see much either side of us through the mist it was quite difficult gauging how far up we needed to go before turning to our right. Fortunately the cross track just before our path was quite obvious so as we passed through the gate into the open field, the worn track through the long and very wet grass was heading in the direction expected. Adrian was already one step ahead at this point as he remembered from previous walks that this stretch across to our east contains a couple of old style stiles, with large stone uprights and small steps either side. On reaching the first one he immediately went for his default option of one leg over, sit on top add then get the rear leg across as easily as possible. The stiles are of significant height to make it just as much a challenge for the rest of us as well with our dodgy and aged hips and backs.
As we progressed along at a steady pace and through the occasional gate we came across other stone stiles, each one over which Adrian used a different technique. There were no livestock in any of the fields today although as we hit the road and turned right down it, a very large farm came into view just down the road. As we headed into the hamlet of Bodden past the farm we could hear cattle in sheds and saw a few in some of the pens. The hamlet consisted of a few stone buildings and with the mist still present Dereyk remarked that the scene could easily be from one of the national parks further up north. We passed by a Victorian aged post box and then stopped outside Bodden Cross Farm at the small road junction in the middle of the village to take a good look at the remains 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 crosses might be on regularly used routes linking ordinary settlements or on routes having a more specifically religious function, including those providing access to religious sites for parishioners and funeral processions, or marking long-distance routes frequented on pilgrimages.
Over 350 wayside crosses are known nationally, concentrated in south west England throughout Cornwall and on Dartmoor where they form the commonest type of stone cross. A small group also occurs on the North York Moors. Relatively few examples have been recorded elsewhere and these are generally confined to remote moorland locations.
The cross at Bodden includes a 2m square base, made of two courses of stone, although not all of the second course survives. Above the base is a square socket stone with broad convex broaches at the top corners. The top face of the socket stone has been damaged but the remains of the socket, still survive. The cross is considered to be 14th century in date and is Listed Grade II. The information about the medieval cross ruins is copied from here which will hopefully soon include a photo I uploaded earlier. Could it have any connection to the nearby St Aldhelms’ Well or was it more likely linked to Glastonbury Abbey? We also took the opportunity to grab this weeks selfie against the cottage backdrop.
With many such questions unanswered we continued through the hamlet and onto a stone track leading to the ridge line of Ingsdon Hill, which we have previously crossed in an East to West direction. As we crested the ridge a new large slurry tank dominated one side of the track and the large riveted old boiler type structure has been moved into the field and turned over to provide a water trough for cattle. Strangely and just visible through the mist was a lone rugby goal post in the field, which again generated more unanswered questions.
We crossed the track and headed down hill and with the mist slowly clearing the church at Doulting and the path leading up to the A361 from St Aldhelms well came into view, causing the penny to drop with some as to todays location and route. A very awkward stile under a tree almost caused Adrian to slide down under the barbed wire but he made it over with assistance and started the decent through some long and very wet grass. Down the side of the field and tucked into the hedgerow we spotted another riveted construction although on closer inspection this one was actually a half sphere with an exceptionally clean flow of water into it. There are a few springs marked on the map along this hillside, which our geography correspondent informed us is a spring line which would account for the clear water and was probably known about by those who built the holy spring well at the bottom of the valley.
A short stop for lollies, or Parma violets and we were heading back along the valley bottom with ample time to spare. A few of the gateways were muddy but thankfully there were no more stiles on this leg. We crossed the minor road up to Bodden and into our last field, only to be greeted by a wall of seven foot high sweetcorn. Dereyk, in his shorts and thin shirt took the lead as we made our way through a small well trodden path between the stalks. Unfortunately there was still quite a bit of rain water on the leaves as we brushed past, although of course less for those at the back than those at the front. As we reached a field boundary the pathway went along the side of the hedgerow in the small unplanted area, but under the hedge were plenty of nettles for the bare legs to brush by. So it was back into the midst of the corn for the final hundred metres to the gate and back onto the Fosse Way to finish. Only 2.8 miles walked but around 300 feet of climbing. All completed in 100 minutes.
It was then back into the cars for the short drive to Tesco’s car park and the 2 minute stroll down the High Street to The Hive. A regular haunt of Adrian as he picks up wool and material for his good lady, but a new venture for Dereyk and Phil. Before we even set foot in the cafe Dereyk was heading to the bakery next door to stock up on a freshly made loaf. We all opted for the standard breakfast which along with hot drinks was quickly served and consumed. Some very hot tomatoes and not the tastiest sausage I’ve ever had for breakfast , but overall pretty good value for money.
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