Wadenhoe Tour

The Wadenhoe tour 

A number of intrepid history adventurers set out on a chilly, rainy, windy day to met up with our guide, Steve Hall, at 11am for our tour of the delightful historic village of Wadenhoe which nestles along the banks of the river Nene. The village is regarded as one of the prettiest villages in Northamptonshire.

We gathered at the Kings Head Pub and ordered our lunch which would be ready for us upon our return.

We soon learnt that most of the Village is held in a trust which was set up by Major Ward Hunt who having no children was determined that after his death, the Village should remain as a living Village and not become populated by affluent commuters.  His Grandfather was George Ward Hunt who was Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1868.

We set off along Church Street and passed the old school, now a private dwelling and was amazed how small it was, going by a very attractive house that was once a shop, we wondered about the life that had come and gone through its doorway.

Onwards a little further to the lodge cottage that still has signs of gas lighting that was provided by the Village gas works, long disappeared, which had been fed by coal bought in along the river by a barge.

Steve also told us about life in the Village and pointed out a dovecote and how the original road to the hall was changed and as a consequence had removed a third of a cottage which is easily visible today.

Up Pudding Lane we wandered, through a short cut to the green and war memorial.  Past the old post office which was the first Village telegraph centre in England. In the rear of the building stands the old forge.

We entered the hills and hollows where once they quarried for stone to build the cottages etc. Through the original deer park and onwards to the church.  Steve pointed out where the windmill once stood and where the rabbit warren was. There are signs of a medieval manor and other buildings near the 13th century church which stands on a high hill over looking the Village of Wadenhoe and the river Nene.  A spectacular sight even on a wet and windy day.  Unfortunately, covid regulations prevented us from going into the church.

The pretty pathway up to the church is lined with a couple of benches and has a large sundial.

Steve finished our tour at the church gate.  We all thanked him for offering his time and knowledge and individually gave him a donation which he will give to the church.

Rather wind swept and a little damp we made our way to the Kings Head pub where we had a very nice lunch and chatted about our time at Wadenhoe and grateful that at last we could once again meet up and enjoy each other’s company and history adventures.

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