Local history tour

Since August when I didn't do too much, life has got busier and during September I had two activities to organise for the 50+ Adventure Club.

The first was a walk around one of our local towns, Oundle.  I always enjoy these types of walks because you tend to go down alleyways which in the normal course of events you would not find or know about.

Oundle is famous for it's public school which has over 1,000 pupils, the majority of whom are boarders and pay up to £35,000 per year!  Many of the buildings in the town are owned by the school and we started with a visit to the chapel (not allowed in) which was built to commemorate the Fallen in the First World War.

St Anthony House - one of the boarding houses

We then walked through one of the many little footpaths to get to the main street, after vising the site of the original workhouse!

The Courthouse - now the museum

 

The Catholic Church

 


West Street

What wonderful architecture; I love these old towns, especially when you see a house like this with an old dovecote on the side of it. 

Note the Collyweston roof tiles

We headed back to the town centre passing many interesting buildings on the way, too numerous to mention but I liked the shape of this one -

and we had a peep through this doorway -

A beautiful courtyard garden




Oundle School - Headmaster's House

It should read Headmistress as they have the first in the school's history.  It is called Cobthorne and was built in 1656 by one of Oliver Cromwell's Major Generals - William Boteler.

Finally we reached the Talbot Hotel, which is supposed to be haunted by the ghost of Mary, Queen of Scots because the staircase from Fotheringhay Castle was moved here.  Our guide disputed that but I believe it!!  What isn't in dispute is that the Talbot Hotel is an old coaching inn.

Finally a visit to the parish church of St Peter -

and a brief history of the old workhouse church

now a private residence I think.

and we arrived back at Fletton House for a well earned cup of tea and some had cake!

The end of September saw the revelation of the month's Mini Mania - Flying Geese.  Because I had been so busy, I only managed something quite small and not too difficult

but for October we have one word - "Joseph's"!!  This will be interesting!!!!!