Up hill and down dale

Hello Friends.

9pm and I was in bed last night after what had been a busy old day. My head hit the pillow and I was out. But this did mean I was then awake early this morning, quarter to six to be precise arghhhh. Keith got up and made us both a cuppa, which we enjoyed whilst Marmite jumped all over us, hoping this would get us out of bed, she was out of luck, because we settled back down for a further hours kip.
Once up and the usual morning jobs done, Keith suggested we take a walk up to Gumley, which is a half mile walk up hill and down dale. It is an incredibly pretty area, with some stunning views across the Welland Valley.
It was lovely to see the Snowdrops have put in an appearance, maybe this means Spring is coming our way.

Having walked along the road, we made it to Gumley. The name Gumley is a contraction of the Anglo-Saxon “Gutmundesleah” which means Godmund’s clearing. Gumley is surrounded by pasture. It shows a fine example of medieval ridge and furrow method of working the land. The fields are subject to preservation orders, which I think is fantastic. Where ever you are in the village the Clock Town is seen.

The Clock tower and stable block are the only bits left of Gumley Hall. Gumley Hall was built in
1764 by Joseph Craddock. It is said that Queen Victoria once visited the hall. The hall was lived in for the last 70 years of its life by Murray-Smith family before they had the hall demolished in 1962. It is also reported that Leonard Cheshire, the World War 2 bomber pilot and founder of the Cheshire Homes for ex-service men and women, had his first community project called 'The VIP's", at Gumley Hall in 1946. It is sad that the hall no longer exists. From the end of the 1st World War, the Fernie Hunt used the hall's grounds as its traditional Gumley meeting place. The Fernie Hunt still takes place today. Ther Fernie Hunt was established in 1919. (CLICK)To the left of the Clock Tower stands St Helens Church. It sits perched on its own little hill and looked really picturesque. The church is mainly from the 14th century, but there may have been a church on the same site previously. Sadly as is the case is most places these days the church was locked up. We took a walk around the grave yard and saw quite a few family plots. There was also the grave of G.W Lygo who fought in WWll and died at the age of 19 on the 17th March 1941. Other names which I hope to investigate are Murray-Smiths and Bingley. I have already made a start on Benjamin Simons, who I have discovered was a gentleman, grazier, so perhaps he owned one of the seven farms which used to be in Gumley. There are but two remaining. Benjamin was also an inn keeper around the year of 1820. It would appear that they were definitely a farming family.There is but one public house in Gumley now called The Bell Inn. But in the 1840's there were two. The Hartopp Arms and the Bluebell, which later became The Bell. We did not have the opportunity to sample the wares of the pub, because it was closed.But even if it had been 12 noon and the pub had been open, we would have had to read the list of rules on the blackboard first before entering. I wonder if they get very busy?

In a time when pubs are going to the wall, it is odd to see a pub laying down such rules.

Having enjoyed our stroll around the village we walked back to the bottom of Foxton Locks across the fields along a bridle way. We were about to go into Bridge 61 pub for a coffee, when we spotted Jackie and Ray on NB Roehaise in the bottom lock. Jackie asked if we would like a coffee with them on the boat when they had moored up, so who were we to refuse.

We are now back on the boat and after some lunch, Keith began working on his railway, I am of course typing this and watching a film at the same time. Yes it is so true that women can multi-task.

I am now going to make a coffee and check tonights dinner which is cooking in the back stove.

Chat soon xx