Anstey - Pains End - Cheapside - Scales Park - Anstey

Brian and Anne Sandland

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Though only a small village, Anstey has no fewer than 36 listed buildings. There has been a church on the current site since Saxon times, but the building we see today was erected in two stages, the first completed in 1170 and the second in 1290. The tower houses six bells, whose manufacture dates from 1490 to 1784 and the lychgate is of 15th Century origin. The former castle was Norman and is recorded as being given by Henry VIII successively to his first three wives. The manor became Crown land in the 15th Century and was granted by Henry VIII to Katharine of Aragon, then Anne Boleyn and after to Rowland Lytton of Knebworth (see Walk 6465). The church is in the diocese of London, but its living is in the patronage of Christ's College, Cambridge.

England - Central England - Hertfordshire - Countryside

Features

Ancient Monument, Birds, Butterflies, Castle, Church, Flowers, Great Views, Mostly Flat, Play Area, Pub, Wildlife, Woodland

8/26/2017 - Colin Hamilton

If you are feeling a little more energetic, you can add about a mile to the route, but in doing so take in half way refreshment and more contemporary history by visiting The Woodman Inn. You can find this by going straight on at waypoint 5 (rather than turn right into the woods). After 100 yards, turn left on the concrete track and follow this for about 1/4 mile till you see a concrete track off to the left. That leads to the back of the Woodman carpark. At the Woodman, you will find a memorial to the 398th Bomb Group, who were stationed out of Barkway airfield during WW2. In the Woodman, you will see numerous photos from the period (be sure to take in both bars and the connecting corridor). Retrace your footsteps to get back to waypoint 5 where you can resume the walk. For those interested, you can take a left rather than go right when you return to the main concrete track. If you then follow round to the right, take a right and a right (heading towards a radio beacon, you will walk down a track that borders the airstrip where B17 Liberators took off to drop "presents" on Germany. Follow this track and it bring you back to Waypoint 5. Honestly, it's well worth a detour