eleven walks around stock · eleven walks around stock introduction this book describes eleven...

Eleven Walks Around Stock

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Contents

Distance/Time Page

Introduction 1

Walk 1 A historic walk along the High Street 2

Walk 2 A short walk behind the Catholic Church with views towards Billericay 1.5 miles/1 hour 4

Walk 3 Back Lane and lmphy Hall 3.0 miles/1-11/2 hours 6

Walk 4 Little Bishop’s Wood, with bluebells or chestnuts in season 4.5 miles/11/2-21/2 hours 8

Walk 5 St Peter’s Way to West Hanningfi eld 5.5 miles/2-3 hours 10

Walk 6 Ramsey Tyrrells and Fristling Hall 3.0 miles/1-11/2 hours 12

Walk 7 On farmland near Hanningfi eld Reservoir 5.5 miles/2-3 hours 14

Walk 8 The windmill, woodlands and Lower Stock Road 4.0 miles/11/2-2 hours 16

Walk 9 Towards Ramsden Heath 6.0 miles /2.5-31/2 hours 18

Walk 10 “The Ship”, Margaretting Tye and Crondon Park Golf Course 5.5 miles/2-3 hours 20

Walk 11 Stock Brook Manor Golf Course, the River Wid valley and St Mary’s Church, Buttsbury 6.0 miles/21/2-31/2 hours 22

The Countryside Code Back Cover


Eleven Walks around Stock

Introduction

This book describes eleven circular walks, all starting in Stock village. Parking is available in The Square and at the Parish Church. We have indicated where refreshments can be obtained.

The fi rst walk is an amble along the High Street so that you can appreciate the historic nature of the village. On all the walks, we have pointed out interesting landmarks. They all follow public rights of way. The sketch maps are not to scale but are provided to assist the description of each walk. You may fi nd it useful to take with you a copy of Ordnance Survey Explorer maps Nos. 175 or 183. Approximate distances for each walk are shown; also times, but these will vary as to whether you are on a family outing or are a seasoned rambler.

Please follow the Countryside Code, as shown on the inside back cover. We have endeavoured to give warnings, where applicable, of the dangers of walking on roads, and, for walks 10 and 11, on golf courses. Please be careful at all times. In wet weather, some of the paths become muddy, so boots are advised.

Our thanks are due to John Dixon and John Millernas who suggested the routes and wrote the directions. We would like to pay tribute to David Johnson, who sadly passed away at the end of January, for his contribution to the team, and in particular for providing walk No. 11. We wish to thank Stock Parish Council for supporting and fi nancing this venture.

We hope you will be impressed, as we have been, with the variety of sights to appreciate as you enjoy walking around our village of Stock -- the historic buildings, the extensive views, the bluebell and chestnut woods, the river and brooks, and the wildlife.

Jenny and Brian Berkley, Editors March 2007

Notes: No. 100 bus between Chelmsford and Billericay passes through the village at 15-minute intervals, Monday to Saturday and on Sunday at 1-hourly intervals. For times, phone 01268 525251.

All information in this book is believed to be correct at the time of going to press.

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WALK 1 - A historic walk along the High Street

Start at the car park by All Saints’ Church. Look at the recently restored Tithe Barn, on the right when you are facing the church. This is now part of Bellmans Farm which used to be a dairy farm owned by the Stripe family.

Cross the road carefully to see one of the village pumps used before mains water reached the village in 1936. On the left is the old school (1839-1973) and the headmaster’s house, now private residences. Behind the beech trees are the four almshouses founded for poor knights in 1580 by the will of Richard Twedye, whose brass plaque is inside the church. Note that there are no letterboxes in the front doors - not required in 1580!

Now walk towards the village centre. On the right is Rectory Close, where you can see the Old Rectory and its Coach House (both now privately owned), followed by the Rectory Hall. On the left is the entrance to Stock Lodge (now apartments) formerly owned by the Foster family who bred Connemara ponies. Drivers was the home of the Registrar after 1837 when all births, marriages and deaths had to be registered offi cially. After passing Tudor Cottage, look back at its unusual bottle chimney. No 58, formerly named Brick House, is a reminder of the brick industry which fl ourished in Stock - the village is believed to have given its name to ‘Stock’ bricks. Opposite is Christ Church built in 1888 as a Congregational church but now an independent free church. This is believed to be the last building in the village to be built of ‘Stock’ bricks.

Next to this are two weather-boarded cottages which until recently were transformed into one house. Looking back to the left side of the road, you will see no. 44, previously called Westwood, now sympathetically extended. It was formerly the home of the late Donald Jarvis, the well-known local historian.

The shop on the corner was the village butcher’s - look for the wrought-iron support for the sign. On the right-hand corner were several shops, note the bay windows. Facing the junction, Saddlers was the home of the harness maker and more recently an ironmonger’s shop. The boundary between Stock and Buttsbury ran through “The Harvard Inn”*. It used to have stables.

Continue to the junction with Swan Lane where you can see evidence of the former boundary on the roundel at the top of the fi nger post. Here, look across “The Harvard Inn” car park at the new school and the old telephone exchange, now the Heritage Centre.

* On one occasion a man died in his bed across the boundary. An argument as to which Parish should bury him was settled by where his head was lying!

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Cross Swan Lane to the Post Offi ce/General Stores, one of the village’s few remaining shops. Cross the main road on the zebra crossing into The Square. Dandelion and Burdock Kitchen and Lounge on the right was until recently Pietro’s restaurant. Turn left to continue along the right-hand side of the High Street. The row of Victorian terrace houses on your right, Buttsbury Terrace, is another reminder of the old parish boundary. Across the road is Little Court, formerly the home of Admiral Sir Vernon Haggard (brother of Sir Rider Haggard), followed by three weatherboarded cottages, named after Mr Ellis, once the owner of Greenwoods. Then comes Swan Cottage, the home of the fi rst Post Offi ce in Stock. Behind the bus shelter on your right is Lynfi eld House which used to be Jarvis’s builder’s yard. Next is the Coach House, until recently the Doctors’ surgery.

The house with a big bay window across the road was known as Auckland House and was a later home of the village Post Offi ce/General Store.

Continuing past the War Memorial, unveiled on 20th November 1920, “The Hoop” was built in the fi fteenth century as three weavers’ cottages. Little Paddocks still has the bread oven from when it was a bakery. Pause to examine the village sign which depicts activities characteristic of the village. The Lattices is probably on the site of the village potter and Little Lattices the home of the pottery manager. Little Lattices used to be referred to as ‘The Doll’s House’. On the other side of the road, the buildings fi nish with Copt Hall, fi rst mentioned in 1551, and Greenwoods, from 1901 the estate of Mr Ellis, Justice of the Peace, and Chairman of the Parish Council for many years. In 1948, Greenwoods was opened by the Queen Mother as the country home of the West Ham Central Mission. It is now a Hotel and Spa.

Turn into Common Road with “The Bakers Arms” on your right followed by the British Legion Hall, once a school. The Village Hall, Orchard House (now fl ats but formerly a boys’ home belonging to the West Ham Mission) and the new Doctors’ surgery are on your left. Turn right across the Common passing close to the Bowls Club and Cricket Pavilion on your right. This was the original site of a post mill which was moved to Mill Lane, and explains why “The Bakers Arms” was formerly called “The Jolly Miller”. Beside the play area is the entrance to Common Lane, formerly Workhouse Lane - a former resident requested a change of name because it was considered too ‘common’ to live in Workhouse Lane! The former workhouse can be seen at the bottom on the left.

Turn right in Mill Road passing the Catholic Church, originally built as a Catholic School in 1892. Here you can return by continuing along Mill Road to the High Street and turning left, retracing your steps along the High Street to the Parish Church. Alternatively, follow the footpath beside the Catholic Church to the kissing gate. Turn right and the footpath will bring you into the bottom of All Saints’ Churchyard and back past the church to the car park.

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WALK 2 - A short walk of about 1.5 miles with views towards Billericay. Time approx 1 hour.

1. Leave The Square and turn left beside “The Bear” into Mill Road. After about 300 yards, turn right into a small footpath next to the Roman Catholic Church. This building was constructed in 1892 as a Roman Catholic school, but it closed in 1937 and became the Catholic Church, taking over from the private chapel at Lilystone Hall located in Honeypot Lane. Turn left at the end of this path and walk behind the Catholic Church grounds and through a kissing gate. After about 20 yards, cross the stile on your right-hand side.

2. You are now in open fi elds and the path is clearly defi ned by new planting on either side, with views towards Billericay. Follow the path past the gate and into the next fi eld. As you continue the path bears to the left. Go over a stile and alongside a property until you reach Well Lane with Pilgrims Farm on your left. Directly opposite is Marigold Lane.

3. Continue along the lane for about 200 yards where there is a gate and footpath stile on your right-hand side. Take this path keeping to the left-hand edge of the fi eld and proceed behind the barn. Follow the footpath arrow straight ahead and cross the stile and plank bridge in the corner of the fi eld. Continue past another barn on your right-hand side and on your left you can see the bungalows in Peter Street. At the end of the path cross over a stile and plank bridge and the path exits on to an unmade road known as Brittons Lane.

Our Lady and St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church

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4. Turn left along Brittons Lane passing a number of properties on your left. The track then reaches Peter Street, but just before and opposite the hedge of the fi rst bungalow there is a footpath fi nger post on your right. Cross the stile and keep to the left-hand edge of the fi eld, cross another stile and follow the path to its end which is at the entrance to Herbs in Stock in Whites Hill. Turn left into Whites Hill and continue over the hill, passing Hillside Farm on your left.

5. At the bottom of the hill, just past the junction with Madles Lane, you will see a footpath post to the right alongside Siljan. At the end of this path you are in Mill Road. Cross the road and, facing the oncoming traffi c, turn left to the junction with Mill Lane. About 50 yards along Mill Lane on the left-hand side of the road is a footpath fi nger post with a St Peter’s Way sign on its reverse. This is a short section of the long-distance path from Ongar to Bradwell that runs through the village. Take this grassy footpath and you fi nally reach Common Road facing the cricket pitch (where there might be a game of cricket to watch).

6. Walk straight ahead along Common Road passing the new Village Hall on your right to “The Bakers Arms”, where The Greenwoods Hotel and Spa is opposite. Turn left along the B1007 and, keeping on the same side of the road, pass “The Hoop” and continue into The Square.

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WALK 3 - A walk of about 3 miles along Back Lane and past lmphy Hall. Short sections of the walk may be muddy in wet weather. Time 1 - 11/2 hours.

1. Leave The Square and cross the main road (B1007) by the pedestrian crossing to the Post Offi ce. Turn left, cross Swan Lane and head towards “The Harvard Inn” public house which is reputed to be the oldest Inn in Stock. Note the way it stands, jutting out on one corner at the narrowest part of the High Street, as it was hundreds of years ago. On the opposite corner is the village Estate Agent, once the site of one of the village butchers. You can still see the brackets where the sign of a bull used to hang.

2. Continue along Back Lane through a narrow walled section. The walls have a preservation order attached: notice how the left-hand side bows. Back Lane is the oldest road in Stock and was a salt road to Maldon in Boudicca’s time. A few yards along on the left is an old village pump. You can judge how far down the water is if you throw a pebble down. This was a source of water for the residents until mains water was connected to the village. Opposite is Cambridge Close. The name was kept when Cambridge House was demolished to build the new properties.

3. Venturing further along the lane, you will see that on either side there are small cottages. These were the labourers’ cottages for the Stock Lodge estate. The Lodge in the High Street, built in the 18th century, is just visible behind a red brick wall. On the left opposite the trees is a black weather-boarded cottage, number 21. This was the coach house for the Lodge. The middle cottage was where the baker lived, and the third cottage, number 25, was for the laundry worker. The small extension to the right with its own chimney was her wash room. The next two cottages on the left were where the gardeners lived. The group of trees was planted because the land was sold for some Airey houses to be erected, with the proviso that the trees were to block the view of the houses from the original owner! Now they have been replaced with modern fl ats. Vernon Corner was named after Admiral Sir Vernon Haggard, a well-known fi gure in Stock. He married the daughter of Mr Ellis of Greenwoods and his brother was Rider Haggard, the author of ‘King Solomon’s Mines’. Following down the lane, the land to the left was once the kitchen garden of the Lodge. The remains of earthenware bottles and bowls have been found by owners in their gardens.

4. As you continue along the lane past Brookmans Road and School Lane, which leads to the old school, you pass on your right the site of Makings Dairy, which used to serve the local area with milk. Note here the wonderful view to the right looking towards Margaretting Church. The ancient sunken lane goes downhill, shielded by hedgerows, and comes out onto a bend where cottages nestle to your right The road changes into a gravel track. Continue on the track past an open fi eld.

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5. When you see a footpath sign to your left, take this left-hand turn. You will soon pass a pond on the right and lmphy Hall, a beautiful house with well-maintained gardens, and one of the original seven manors of Buttsbury. The track continues through open fi elds, past several oak trees on your left, for about half a mile. After a right-hand bend, you will see a footpath sign to your left. Go over the stile and turn left along the line of the hedge. Continue along the edge of the fi elds, over a small wooden footbridge and stile and uphill with the hedge on your left. Take time to look back and take in the view: you may be able to see the spire of St Mary’s Church at Buttsbury. Continue on crossing a further footbridge, and follow the footpath to the end of the hedge.

6. Follow the footpath sign straight across the fi eld towards the left-hand edge of White’s Wood aiming for the white-topped marker post Turn left and follow the path round the edge of the fi eld. When you meet a bridle path turn left uphill following the footpath signs. It may be muddy here.

7. When the bridle path bends left, take the footpath on the right. Walk between hedges with a fi eld on the right used for grazing horses. Continue over two stiles, past a house on the right, Rustlings, into School Lane. Turn left and continue along this lane into Back Lane. Turn right and you have reached the fi rst part of your walk. Retrace your steps to The Square.

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WALK 4 - A walk of about 4.5 miles along lovely woodland paths and bridleways to Little Bishop’s Wood, where you can see bluebells in Spring and chestnuts in Autumn. Time 11/2 - 21/2 hours.

1. Leave The Square and turn left beside “The Bear” into Mill Road. After about 300 yards turn right into a small footpath next to the Catholic Church. Turn left at the end of this path, just before the kissing gate, and continue behind the Catholic Church grounds through another kissing gate. Pass the stile on your right, cross a plank bridge and continue to the end of the path.

2. You are now at Well Lane and need to turn right for a few yards and take a footpath on the opposite side of the road. As this path nears its end you will pass Broadmore, dating from 1490 and one of the oldest houses in Stock. Ensure you keep to the direct line of the path so as to avoid encroaching on the grounds of the property. You are now in Madles Lane and should turn left for a few yards until you reach Whites Hill. Once more turn left for a few yards and locate the path on the opposite side of the lane running alongside Siljan. Follow this path to its end and you reach Mill Road again.

3. Turn right into Mill Road, taking care as this is one of the busiest roads in Stock. Keep walking along Mill Road until the junction with Furze Lane where you need to turn right. After about 300 yards there is a gap in the hedge and a footpath on your left-hand side opposite Sunrise Cottage.

4. The path runs alongside an orchard with two properties on the other side. The path turns sharp right for about 50 yards and then left into Little Bishop’s Wood. On walking through the woods you will notice evidence of the damage caused by the storm in 1987 with a number of fallen trees. The path is clearly defi ned and after about a quarter of a mile you reach the end of the woods and join a track to the properties that lie on your left. Turn right onto this track. Little Bishop’s Wood is one of the best locations in Stock for bluebells in the Spring and chestnuts in the Autumn and the walk should not be missed at those times of the year.

5. After about 400 yards the track joins Broomwood Lane very near its junction with Furze Lane and Whites Hill. Turn left into Broomwood Lane for a few yards, passing Pinewood Lodge, and you will see a footpath/bridleway on the opposite side of the lane. Follow this footpath for about 300 yards and you will rejoin Furze Lane. Turn left along the lane, pass Brittons Lane on the opposite side and Great Bishop’s Wood on your left, and continue into Goatsmoor Lane.

6. The bridleway on your left with the brick gateway leading to Oak Hall can take you to Ramsden Heath, but you should turn down the bridleway on the right-hand side of the lane. This is known as Greenacre Lane but not sign-posted as such. The wide tree-lined bridleway passes the nurseries of A.E. Harnett & Sons on your left. At the duck pond you meet Smallgains Lane.

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7. Turn left and follow the road around the sharp right-hand bend, taking care as this is a busy and narrow lane. Just after you cross a small stream, there is a footpath in the hedgerow on the right-hand side of the lane. But if at this point you are in need of refreshments, continue to the end of Smallgains Lane and cross the main road to “The Old King’s Head”, and return to this footpath later. Cross the stile and follow the path round the fi eld, keeping to the right-hand edge of the fi eld. At the far corner of the fi eld, cross a stile and after 20 yards cross a plank bridge and another stile to a roadway. Cross the road, bear right over another plank bridge and follow the woodland path. Cross another plank bridge and stile and keep straight ahead. You can just see the spire of All Saints’ Church on the left. Keep to the right-hand hedge, cross a stile and plank bridge on your right and follow through bushes to a footpath arrow pointing left. This path can be muddy, but keep climbing on the main path. At the top is the spot considered to be on the edge of the original settlement of Stock, and the circle of tansies helped establish this as a beacon site in 1988 when the 400th anniversary of the Spanish Armada was celebrated. Take time to look back across to Billericay. Rejoin the path alongside the Catholic Church at the kissing gate. Go straight ahead and retrace your footsteps back to The Square.

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WALK 5 - A walk of about 5.5 miles following part of the St Peter’s Way long distance path as far as West Hanningfi eld. Some sections of the walk may be quite muddy. Time 2 - 3 hours.

1. Leave The Square and turn left beside “The Bear” into Mill Road. Just after the small pond on the right, follow the footpath marker along the shingled track and locate the footpath. At the end of the path turn left for about 60 yards and you meet Well Lane.

2. Turn right for a few yards and take a footpath on the opposite side of the road through woods. As this path nears its end, you will pass Broadmore, one of the oldest houses in Stock. Ensure you keep to the direct line of the path to avoid encroaching on the grounds of the property. You are now in Madles Lane and need to turn left for a few yards until you reach Whites Hill. Again turn left for a few yards and locate the path on the opposite side of the lane running alongside Siljan. Follow this path to its end and you are back in Mill Road.

3. Turn right in Mill Road, taking care as this is one of the busiest roads in Stock. Shortly after Furze Lane is a well-hidden footpath sign on the left opposite Plantation East Cottage. Follow this path to Leather Bottle Hill, another busy road. Cross with care and pass through the gate directly opposite. You are now in Seamans Lane, which is part of the long-distance St Peter’s Way footpath from Ongar to Bradwell.

4. The path from here is sign-posted as part of St Peter’s Way with the upside down cross denoting that St Peter was crucifi ed upside down and the crossed keys signifying that St Peter holds the keys to heaven. Continue along the asphalted path with views of open country. Choose one of the many benches if you need a rest! On your left you are passing Blythhedges Wood, then shortly after a footpath and stile on your right you will reach the end of the main bridleway where you will see 3 gates (sections of the path here can be quite muddy).

5. Take the gate on the left following the footpath signs. Keep to the right-hand edge of the fi eld and after passing two gaps in the hedge you will see a farmer’s sign telling you to turn right on the footpath towards West Hanningfi eld. Keep the line of trees to your left and follow the way marker as you cross into the next fi eld. At the end of the path, you reach a bridleway, Pynings Farm Road. Opposite is Gascoignes Farm, an attractive Elizabethan farmhouse in a small group of houses, all over 300 years old. Turn left and head towards Lower Stock Road. Here you can make a small detour to the right to “The Three Compasses” (not the type to fi nd North but to draw circles) and take a welcome break. Inside, you will see a list of innkeepers dating back to 1758.

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6. Turn left along Lower Stock Road and pass Slough House Farm on the left. Continue until about 200 yards after the entrance to Tristans when you will see a footpath sign on your left. Cross over the bridge and stile into a long narrow meadow. Aim for the gap in the hedge at the far end, cross the stile and bear left following the way-marker signs. Pass through a gap in the hedge and cross the plank bridge keeping the hedge on your right. Shortly bear left for about 20 yards and follow the way-marker sign over another plank bridge. The path now takes you through some woodland. Turn right at the way-marker sign into open fi elds. Turn left with a ditch and hedge on your left and you will now be able to see Steel’s Farm in the distance. Follow way-marker signs heading towards the house and at the oak tree look for the way-marker sign by the hedge to the left of the house. Follow the path across the fi eld, cross stiles passing the small paddock on your left. You are now back at Leather Bottle Hill.

7. Turn right and after 30 yards cross the road where you see another sign for St Peter’s Way alongside Lavender Cottage. Keep well to the left along this path until you reach the football pitch. Head straight across the pitch into Mill Lane and turn left towards the Windmill. The mill is open in the afternoon on the second Sunday each month from April to September.

8. After passing the Windmill look for the St Peter’s Way signs on your right by the side of Dartmeet. Follow this grassy path through to the common, then continue along Common Road passing the new Village Hall on your right to “The Bakers Arms”. Turn left onto the B1007, keeping on the same side of the road, and pass “The Hoop” on the way back to The Square.

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WALK 6 - A walk of about 3 miles passing Ramsey Tyrrells and Fristling Hall, two of the original seven manors of Buttsbury*. Time 1-11/2 hours.

1. Leave The Square and cross the main road (B1007) by the pedestrian crossing to the Post Offi ce. Turn left, cross Swan Lane and head towards “The Harvard Inn” public house. Just past “The Harvard Inn”, turn up Back Lane. See Walk 4, which contains interesting insights into the history of this part of Stock. After the last houses, take in the pleasant views over the surrounding countryside. Continue along Back Lane until the tarmac surface becomes a track.

2. The track is soon in open countryside. It passes the turning to lmphy Hall on your left and continues downhill until it turns to the left. You have now reached Ramsey Tyrrells farm. Follow the track until just past the fi rst barn on your right. Turn down the side of the barn and continue into open fi elds. Head straight across the fi eld to the bottom corner and cross the brook (which fl ows into the River Wid) and stile. Continue straight ahead up the hill following the line of the overhead cables. Little Wood is on your left and Long Wood on your right.

3. To the left there is a view across to Margaretting and you can now see Fristling Hall. Keep to the right of the large hedge in front of you. This fi eld often contains cattle and horses. Continue with the hedge line on your left until you reach a kissing gate.

Ramsey Tyrrells about 1974

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4. Turn right along the track and continue until you reach Swan Lane. Turn left for about 10 yards and then follow the footpath sign on your right. You are now on the St Peter’s Way footpath. Shortly you will reach a ‘crossroads’ of footpaths with a path across the Crondon Park golf course to your left. There is a sign telling you that the golf course is private land.

5. Continue walking straight on passing Swan Woods to your right and the golf course to your left until you cross a bridge and walk up some wooden steps. The steps can be slippery in wet weather. Continue up the hill until you reach a red brick house. You are now in Crondon Park Lane.

6. Turn right and continue past Swan Woods on your right. Swan Woods are managed by The Woodland Trust and are open to the public. They are carpeted with bluebells in the spring. The adjacent Cygnet Wood was planted at the millennium. Continuing along the road, you pass a small holding on your right and some small industrial units on the left and reach the main road. Cross the road, turn right, and head back to The Square passing Greenwoods Hotel and Spa and “The Hoop”.

* The seven manors of Buttsbury were Blunts, Buckwyns, Crondon, Fristling, lmphy, Ramsey Tyrrells and White Tyrrells.

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WALK 7 - A walk of about 5.5 miles following part of the St Peter’s Way long distance path and crossing open farmland near Hanningfi eld Reservoir. Parts of the walk may be quite muddy. Time 2 - 3 hours.

1. Leave The Square heading towards Chelmsford along the B1007, pass “The Hoop” and continue to “The Bakers Arms”. Turn right along Common Road passing Birch Lane on your left. On the bend follow the road in front of The Nook and take the footpath just to the right of a high hedge. Continue past the houses in Myln Meadow on your left onto a wide grassy path and at the end of the path turn right into Mill Lane. Continue to the junction with Mill Road and turn left.

2. Cross Mill Road to face the oncoming traffi c, taking care as this is one of the busiest roads in Stock. Further along Mill Road, shortly after Furze Lane, is a well-hidden footpath sign on the left opposite Plantation East Cottage. Follow this path to Leather Bottle Hill (this is a section of the busy Downham Road). Cross the road and pass through the gate directly opposite.

3. You are now in Seamans Lane, which is part of the long-distance St Peter’s Way footpath from Ongar to Bradwell. Continue along Seamans Lane, passing a private track that crosses the footpath. Further along the path, just past the gate on the left, you will see a gate and stile on your right with a footpath arrow.

4. Cross the stile and follow the path along the left-hand edge of the fi eld to a gap in the hedge on the far side of the fi eld. Continue across this fi eld aiming for the left of the tall trees opposite. Cross the plank bridge into the next fi eld. Continue straight across the fi eld and cross another plank bridge. Hanningfi eld Reservoir is just to your left and it is just possible to get glimpses (as you walk along). Turn right along the edge of the fi eld for about 100 yards to a way-marker post by a large oak tree. Turn left across the fi eld aiming for the white-topped way-marker on the corner of the woodland. Turn right across the fi eld at this post aiming for the next way-marker post on the opposite side of the fi eld. Turn left along the edge of the fi eld to the corner. Cross the plank bridge into the next fi eld and walk along the left-hand edge of the fi eld. Again the reservoir is to your left just beyond the woods. Ignore the footpath on your left towards the end of the fi eld and continue to the corner of the fi eld and cross a narrow plank bridge. Continue straight ahead with the woods on your left. Exit the fi eld in the corner by the footpath arrow, continue along the woodland path, and cross a plank bridge which takes you back onto the busy Downham Road.

5. Turn right with care along the road for about 90 yards. Cross the road and follow the footpath sign to a large open fi eld. Cross the fi eld diagonally right passing just to the right of the 2 small trees in the middle of the fi eld. Here you will see the way-marker post with properties nearby. Pass along the front of the properties and

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bear right, then left with the track. Shortly you will see a footpath 14 post on your left. Cross the plank bridge by the footpath sign and follow the path downhill for about 80 yards. Cross the next plank bridge and keep straight ahead up through the woods. At the edge of the woods, turn right onto the path coming from your left and onto a grassy path, and go past the hen houses on your right. Continue straight ahead passing the gate to meet the road. This is Broomwood Lane.

6. Turn right and shortly take the Public Byway on your left. This path can often be quite wet and muddy. At the end of the path turn left on to the lane for about 150 yards and then turn right into Brittons Lane, an unmade track. Follow Brittons Lane until it joins the asphalted road of Peter Street. Further along Peter Street is the junction with Madles Lane and Marigold Lane.

7. Turn left into Marigold Lane and after about 300 yards just after Marigolds take the footpath on the right through the gap in the hedge. Continue along the path with the chain-link fence on your left until you reach a stile. Cross the stile, turn left and cross two plank bridges. Head diagonally across the fi eld aiming for the stile on the other side of the fi eld. Cross the stile into Well Lane. Turn right uphill for about 300 yards and locate the footpath on the left by Sunnybrook Farm.

8. Follow the path downhill and cross a bridge with a high brown fence on your right. Continue uphill, passing a stile on your left, and through the kissing gate. Turn right at the end of the iron fence and continue along the path until you reach the road. Turn left into Mill Road and continue along until you reach “The Bear”. Turn right and return to The Square.

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WALK 8 - A walk of about 4 miles, passing the windmill and through woodlands. Some parts of the walk can be quite wet. Time 11/2 - 2 hours.

1. Leave The Square heading towards Chelmsford along the B1007, pass “The Hoop” and continue to “The Bakers Arms”. Turn right along Common Road passing Birch Lane on your left. On the bend follow the road in front of The Nook and take the footpath just to the right of a high hedge. Continue past the houses in Myln Meadow on your left onto a wide grassy path, and at the end of the path turn left into Mill Lane.

2. Proceeding along Mill Lane, you will pass the windmill on your right. This is a tower mill built about 1801, now open on the second Sunday afternoon of each month from April to September. At one time there were three mills in this area, the third being moved here from the edge of the Common about 1845. At the end of the houses on your right, cross the stile at the footpath post and follow

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Stock Windmill in 1934


the signs across the football pitch. Aim for a gap in the hedge just to the left of a telegraph pole. Keep well to the right through the private gardens and onto the path taking you to Downham Road.

3. Turn right for about 20 yards and cross the road. Take the footpath alongside Steel’s Farm. The path is narrow with a small paddock on your right. Cross the stiles keeping the hedge of the property on your left. At the end of the hedge follow the footpath arrow straight across the fi eld, passing by the large oak tree. Continue to follow the way-marker signs through a small piece of woodland and across a couple of plank bridges. The path bears left through the hedgerow and crosses a stile into a long narrow meadow. Keep in a straight line through the meadow and cross another stile and plank bridge. Turn left into Lower Stock Road.

4. Continue along the lane until you reach the junction with Downham Road. Cross the road carefully bearing left round the bend for about 50 yards, then follow the footpath sign through the barrier. Keep the hedge on your right. At the end of the fi eld drop down on your right and look for the footpath sign. Cross the stile into the next fi eld and follow the path at the lower edge of the fi eld to a stile. This area can be quite wet.

5. Cross the stile into a fence-lined path leading to Birch Lane. Continue along Birch Lane until you reach the Common. Cross over Common Road onto the cricket ground and pass close by the pavilion. At the edge of the Common by the children’s play area there is a narrow pathway leading into Common Lane. At the end of Common Lane you have arrived at Mill Road, one of the busiest roads in Stock. Turn right, cross the road to reach the pavement, and continue past the Catholic Church on your left. As you reach “The Bear” turn right into The Square.

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WALK 9 - A walk towards Ramsden Heath of about 6 miles, through woodland, following paths, bridleways and a short section of road. Some parts of the walk can be quite muddy. Time 21/2 - 31/2 hours.

1. Leave The Square and turn left beside “The Bear” into Mill Road. After about 300 yards turn right into a small footpath next to the Catholic Church. Turn left at the end of this path and continue behind the Catholic Church through a kissing gate. After about 20 yards, cross the stile on your right.

2. You are now in open fi elds and the path is clearly defi ned by new planting on both sides. Follow the path downhill and cross the stile into the next fi eld. As you continue the path bears to the left and runs alongside a property until it reaches Well Lane with Pilgrims Farm on your left. Directly opposite is Marigold Lane. Continue along Marigold Lane until it reaches the junction with Madles Lane and Peter Street. Turn right into Peter Street and continue until the road becomes a track after the last bungalow on the right-hand side.

3. About 30 yards after the end of the tarmac surface turn left from the track, follow the footpath arrow and cross the stile. Take the path along the right-hand edge of the fi eld and continue to the end where it joins Furze Lane. Turn left and at the crossroads with Whites Hill turn right into Broomwood Lane. Take the gravelled track about 30 yards on your left running alongside Little Bishop’s Wood.

4. About 300 yards along the track there is a footpath fi nger post on your right. Cross the plank bridge and follow this path for about 80 yards crossing another plank bridge. Turn left immediately across yet another bridge and continue through the woods and crossing another bridge. At the next way-marker post continue straight ahead along the edge of the woods. When you meet the road, Dowsett Lane, turn right towards Ramsden Heath for about 400 yards taking special care on the road.

5. Turn right into Broomwood Lane. After 400 yards, Broomwood Lane turns sharp right, but you carry on straight ahead along the bridleway for about 500 yards. This track can be quite rutted and muddy. At this point there is a ‘crossroads’ of bridleways. Turn right by the ‘Gas’ sign and follow the path for about 150 yards. Bear left past Oak Hall and soon you reach Goatsmoor Lane. Take the bridleway almost directly opposite, alongside Goatsmoor Hall. This is known as Greenacre Lane but not signed as such. Along this wide tree-lined bridleway you will see the nurseries of A. E. Harnett & Sons on your left. As you reach Smallgains Lane spot the pigs. How many can you see?

6. Turn right into Smallgains Lane for about 150 yards and take the footpath through the staggered barriers on your left-hand side. Keep the paddock fence on your left. Cross over a plank bridge and stile and turn right on to the footpath coming from your left, keeping to the right-hand edge of the fi eld. At the corner of the fi eld, cross a stile and after 20 yards cross a plank bridge and

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another stile to a roadway. Cross the road, bear right over another plank bridge and follow the woodland path. Cross another plank bridge and stile and keep straight ahead. You can just see the spire of All Saints’ Church on the left. Keep to the right-hand hedge, cross a stile and plank bridge on your right and follow through bushes to a footpath arrow pointing left. This path can be muddy, but keep climbing following the main path. You return to the kissing gate behind the Catholic Church.

7. Just before the kissing gate, turn left onto the footpath with a high brown fence on your right. Follow the path, cross the bridge and continue uphill. After about 300 yards you will reach the graveyard of All Saints’ Church. Notice the large monument for the Ellis and Haggard families of Greenwoods on your right, and the only cross in Essex dedicated to King George VI in the Garden of Remembrance on your left. Check to see if the church is open and if so have a look inside this lovely building. If you are passing on the hour, you will hear the clock strike but there is no clock face either inside or outside the church!

8. Continue through the gate into the car park. Turn left and cross the B1007 opposite the letter-box. Pass in front of the almshouses with the old pump on your left. At the end of the gravel track, turn right into School Lane. Take care in this narrow winding lane. Shortly, turn right into Back Lane and continue until you reach “The Harvard Inn”. Turn left on the B1007 to Swan Lane and cross to the Post Offi ce/village shop. Return to The Square by the pedestrian crossing.

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WALK 10 - A walk of about 5.5 miles to “The Ship” and Margaretting Tye, returning across Crondon Park Golf Course. Time 2 - 3 hours.

1. From The Square walk along the High Street and out of the village towards Chelmsford. Pass the cottages to your right and the entrance to Crondon Park Golf Club. You come to a slight bend in the road.

2. Cross the road very carefully to a footpath sign. Walk into the fi eld and turn right passing a small wood to your left. As you enter a larger fi eld, continue walking straight on, with trees on your right. Pass the water tower on your right. When you come to the end of the bank of trees turn right and walk for about 30 yards. Turn left at the overhead cables and follow them across the fi eld. Aim for just to the left of the white cottage at the far end of the fi eld. Climb over the stile in the corner, turn right and climb over the next stile back onto Stock Road.

3. Turn left and walk along the main road past “The Ship”. Then turn left into the drive towards Forest Lodge farm. Passing the iron gate, walk straight on through the farm, with wire fencing and then an open fi eld to the left. Continue walking along this path, passing four barns on your right and a house on your left. Walk between a further series of barns and to the left of the white barn. Turn right for about 30 yards, then turn left and pass Crondon Hall on the right. Continue to a footpath sign at the end of the row of poplar trees.

4. Turn left onto the bridleway with overhead cables to your left. (Shortly you will reach a path going off to the right. If you fancy a visit to “The White Hart” at Margaretting Tye, take this alternative route, cross two stiles and turn left along Swan Lane for 400 yards. To rejoin the walk turn right from the pub and continue along Swan Lane until you reach a right-hand bend with a footpath sign directly in front of you and a bridleway emerging from your left. ) If you do not take the diversion continue along the bridleway until you reach Swan Lane.

5. To your left is a footpath sign. Walk across the fi eld to the white post in the far left-hand corner. After 80 yards, ignore the track to your left and continue towards a bank of trees on your right. You have now reached Crondon Park Golf Course. Keep to the way-marked footpaths as the golf course is private property. Special care is needed as you walk as golf balls could arrive from either side! Continue on the footpath straight ahead, passing a number of bridges for golf trolleys on the left side. Do not cross these bridges.

6. You arrive at a gravel path, with a sign ‘Willows Edge course’ on your right. After a wooden seat and a shed and some red posts on the left, you will see some grassy mounds on your right, which are still on the golf course. The footpath bends to your right, and you should look for a footpath sign where you turn left over the plank bridge. On the bridge, you will see two footpath signs. One denotes a path to the left, but the sign you should follow indicates

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the path which goes almost straight on, but bearing slightly to the right. The track goes uphill following the line of the telegraph wires. You will see on the second telegraph pole a footpath sign (high up and not very clear at the time of writing) indicating a path to the right into the woods, just after the pole. Follow this path through the woods passing a way-marker post. Cross a ditch and be careful as the woods open out, because you are now back on the playing area of the golf course, with golfers playing from your left. Keep to the right of the bunker and straight across the fairway, with the pond down to your right. Pass a second bunker and walk through the plantation of young trees and across another fairway, with golfers playing from your right.

7. You then come to a crossing of footpaths with a St Peter’s Way sign. Turn left and walk straight on with Swan Woods to your right and the golf course to your left. Cross a bridge and walk up some wooden steps which can be slippery in wet weather. Continue up the hill to a red brick house in Crondon Park Lane.

8. Turn right and continue walking past Swan Woods on your right. Go past a smallholding and some small industrial units to reach the main road. Cross the road, turn right, and head back to The Square.

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WALK 11 - A walk of about 6 miles to the South and West of Stock, with fi ne views. The walk crosses Stock Brook Manor Golf Course and returns via the River Wid valley and the church at Buttsbury. Some parts may be quite muddy. Time approx 21/2 - 31/2 hours.

1. From the car park at All Saints’ Church cross the main road (B1007) to the letter-box. Pass along the gravel track in front of the Twedye almshouses with the old village pump and two fi ne copper beech trees on the Green. Turn right along School Lane and follow through an S bend to the drive of Rustlings. Turn left along the footpath going to the right of the fence and leading to a stile into Rustlings pasture fi eld. Keep straight ahead along the hedge line to the northwest corner of the fi eld, where there are direction arrows pointing straight on and to the left.

2. Do not cross the stile but take the left path following the hedge line to the next corner of Rustlings fi eld where it meets the wooded grounds of Lilystone Hall. Cross the stile into a broad pasture with a fi ne view across South Hill Farm and the valley of Stock Brook to Billericay in the distance. There are often horses in the South Hill pastures, with electric fences to guide you among them. The line of the footpath goes diagonally to a gap in the post-and-rail fence across the middle of the pasture and on to a gate at the south-west corner leading to the stables. Go straight on through a covered driveway between the stables, turn right and then left to the pasture below the stables. The line of the path varies but exits in the south-west corner at the bottom of the pasture, where there is a stile onto lngatestone Road. This is a fast, narrow road, enclosed by high hedges, and visibility is poor.

3. Cross carefully to another stile into the Brock Farm pastures, and go diagonally across to the south-west corner to cross a stile and footbridge. Each side of the footpath here are day fi shing lakes open to the public and there is a light aircraft landing strip above the lake on the right. The walk bears half left and then continues along the bank of Stock Brook. After 200 yards, look for a footbridge on the left and cross to a stile onto Stock Brook Manor Golf Course. Keep a sharp look out for fl ying golf balls while on the course! Turn right along the brook, and after 50 yards cross over a wooden cart bridge. Immediately swing half left from the brook, go past a ditch on your right and make for an arrow post with a plantation,of young trees to your right. The line of the path continues diagonally across the fairway, and you make for a large dead truncated oak tree where there is a gap in the hedge. This is the boundary of the golf course, marked by warning notices at a stile and footbridge. Go over these and follow the sign pointing diagonally across a large fi eld towards the roofs of Little Blunts Farm on the horizon. Follow the path across the fi eld to another stile and guide post, which mark the parish boundary between Stock and Billericay. Continue diagonally across the next fi eld, with Little Blunts on your left, to a stile at the corner of the wood behind Little Blunts.

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4. Continue along the side of the wood to a stile and turn left into a narrow alley 100 yards long between North Nook on your left and the woods on your right, and you will come to a stile into Buckwyns Chase. The walk goes straight across the Chase over a stile to a broad grassy way between the hedges of adjoining pastures for 200 yards where it meets a bridleway marked by blue arrows on the reverse side of the post. To the left it leads to Hannikins Farm and Queen’s Park Country Park, all public lands with many paths and bridleways round the north side of Billericay. The walk follows the bridle-path to the right, curving left and right through woodland to a gate into the pasture in front of Buckwyns Farm, one of Buttsbury’s seven manors. Go diagonally across towards Buckwyns, through a gate onto the farm road which leads to the right round the house and stable yard. Keep to the track to the right of the stables for 100 yards to a left bend in the road, where you take the footpath signed to the right into a small pasture with spaciously planted young oak trees.

5. At the far side there is a three-bar fence (climbable, but with no footboard). Go over and you are in Buckwyns Chase again. Cross over the Chase into The Glen where a sign points to St Mary’s Crescent. For 200 yards on the left there are commercial sites, then a 200-yard tree-lined avenue through woods to a stile into a broad arable fi eld, with Little Farm on the horizon ahead.

6. The footpath line goes diagonally across to the north-west corner of the fi eld, about 300 yards away. At the corner, a cart bridge leads over Stock Brook which fl ows into the River Wid nearby. Over the bridge, the walk goes between

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fences for 50 yards to a stile on the left into a paddock, which is part of the Remus Memorial Horse Sanctuary, based in Little Farm at the top of the hill. The walk is well signed through the yards, but the paths are quite wet and muddy with livestock on both sides. Look back, there is a good view over the River Wid and Stock Brook to woods round Buckwyns and to Mountnessing in the south west

7. After the last of the four stiles on the way through the sanctuary, bear right on the track round the house to a guide post at the corner to the right of the garage. Another long view here looks north-east across an arable fi eld to Stock on the horizon, with the Wellingtonia tree clearly the highest in the village. Keep left along the post-and-rail garden fence, and then right in front of the hedge line, with another view through the gap in the hedge to the west across the Wid valley to lngatestone. 150 yards down the fi eld, cross a footbridge and stile into the pasture adjoining Elmbrook Farm, turn half left and go down to the bottom corner where a stile and footbridge lead onto an arable fi eld beside Buttsbury Road. Turn right and go along the road for 200 yards and then cross the road to a footbridge over the River Wid and onto the broad grassed strip along the riverbank. Turn right down the river. On your left are the vast arable fi elds either side of lngatestone Brook, which fl ows from the Hall woods 500 yards to the west.

8. Cross the bridge over lngatestone Brook just above its confl uence with the River Wid, and then over the Wid by a high level concrete bridge. Turn and go back up the river for 1 00 yards to a bend where the footpath swings left up the hill to St Mary’s Church, Buttsbury. If the Church is open, take the opportunity to visit inside. Note that there is no electricity. From the car park, there are views across the Wid valley to lngatestone Hall and the tower of lngatestone Church.

9. From St Mary’s Church the walk follows lngatestone Road for 750 yards to White Tyrrells. There are no footpaths and traffi c can be busy at peak times so special care is needed. There is a wide rough verge on the right side, which gives safe but not continuous refuge. Continue along this verge till just past White Tyrrells (another ancient manor house), then cross the road to a high stile into an arable fi eld. Continue straight across the fi eld to a white-topped marker post, turn right and follow the grass farm track to the right round the corner with sheep pastures on your left. The walk continues on grassed headlands between arable fi elds to White’s Wood where it turns left and follows along the wood to a white-top post at its top end. When you meet a bridle-path, turn left uphill following the footpath signs. It can be muddy at this point.

10. When the bridle-path bends left, take the footpath on the right Walk between the hedges with a fi eld on the right used for grazing horses. Continue over two stiles and past a house on the right (Rustlings) into School Lane. Turn right and retrace your steps to the car park at All Saints’ Church.

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The Countryside Code Be Safe - plan ahead and follow any signs Leave gates and property as you fi nd them

Protect plants and animals, and take your litter home Keep dogs under close control

Consider other people


eleven walks around stock · eleven walks around stock introduction this book describes eleven...

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