North Loughton Valley Park and Lodge Lake

North Loughton Valley Park and Lodge Lake

North Loughton Valley Park This area of linear parkland runs from Blue Bridge at the Grand Union Canal down as far as Lodge Lake at Loughton Lodge.  Its features include beautiful serene scenery, historical items and some world famous Milton Keynes' icons and at the same time blotting out the hustle and bustle of the city, transporting...

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By : Fred Davies On 10:05

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North Loughton Valley Park

This area of linear parkland runs from Blue Bridge at the Grand Union Canal down as far as Lodge Lake at Loughton Lodge.  Its features include beautiful serene scenery, historical items and some world famous Milton Keynes' icons and at the same time blotting out the hustle and bustle of the city, transporting you to rustic rural side in the middle of Milton Keynes

At the Blue Bridge/Bancroft Park end there are two wet/dry balancing lakes that accommodate excess water from Loughton Brook during times of heavy rainfall.  Much of the parkland in Milton Keynes was designed to hold floodwater in this way so that nearby housing would remain unaffected.  The Park also has some examples of medieval fields, as well as a natural spring that was used to provide water for the nearby Woverton - Newport Pagnell  railway line.

We start our ramble, which  is about 3 miles long. (5 Km.),  just off  Grafton Street (V6) between the Grand Union canal and the old windmill in Bradville . The best way to get there, is to proceed on the Grafton Street (V6) Redway in a northerly direction and take the next right after crossing Wheelers Lane where there is a sign post indicating the way to  Railway Walk, which is the beginning of this  ramble.

Just before the start of the Railway Walk, on the left, one can see the Grand Union canal viaduct crossing over Grafton Street. (V6) and next to it is a pedestrian bridge spanning Grafton Street. This is where we start of our next  journey of idyllic sights and discovery as we pass through several estates.

Bridge crossing over Grafton Street

                                                                                        


Cross the bridge and turn down a paved pathway after and not before the hedge on the right hand side. This is part of the Millennium Circular Bicycle Route and leads us under the bridge we have just crossed and along the side of Grafton Street. The paved path, on the left hand side of the valley, veers right and takes us through a couple of shady copses of woodland and along the side some open grazing fields. On occasions, sheep dot these meadows keeping the grass short and add to the rural feel of our ramble.

 Path through Shady Copse - Blue Bridge

                                                                                 

 To the right in the valley, we can see the balancing lakes we mentioned earlier. Progressing, we meet up with the Loughton Brook and from here, we will follow this gurgling brook upstream to Lodge lake where our ramble ends.The paved path meanders for a while and goes under Millers Way into Bancroft.

Underpass Millers Way - Blue Bridge

 At this point the whole vista opens out to a quite splendid expanse of riverine growth, trees and almost manicured grassed fields with picnic tables and seats just waiting to be used.

 Entrance to Bancroft

                                                                                       

To find this apparent rural area in the middle of the city is quite unexpected. During our ramble we will be in many places where there is no human habitation visible. No houses, no traffic, just nature, peace and tranquillity and a gurgling brook resplendent with bird life of all kinds and the occasional squirrels darting for safety in the foliage.
Continuing, we now come up to a crossroad which for the purpose of this ramble I am going to call it Junction 1. as it interacts with the choice of two routes to explore.

Junction One - Bancroft

                                                                                         

 We will take one of them and that is to turn right and cross the brook over a wooden bridge.We now follow the course of a subsidiary feeder stream through more trees and parkland to arrive at a sign which reads Bancroft Petanque Piste. This is the rear entrance to a sandy square for playing one of the types of  the french sport known as "Boule".

Bancroft Petanque Piste

                                                                                        

When we reach a crossroad a short  way ahead, we turn right and this leads us to the front entrance of the Petanque Piste.If you happen to be in the area on a Tuesday or a Thursday at two o'clock or Sunday at 11.00, you can sit back and watch a game in progress as this is when the members play.  ( See Historical and Interest Items )

Back to the crossroad just mentioned, turn left, cross over a field and follow the path to a hedge that guides us first left and then turns right, opening out onto seated area under a large tree. Here stands a plinth with three plaques giving a condensed description of the history of the Roman Villa that occupied  this site many centuries earlier.

 Roman Villa Plaques - Bancroft

                                                                                                                            

The villa was partially excavated in the 1970s, and then more fully in 1983-7, becoming one of the most extensively excavated Roman villas in Britain. The villa has since been reburied to ensure its preservation, but the principal rooms have been marked out on the ground with modern stonework to give us an idea of the layout of the original Villa

Roman Villa Stonework - Bancroft

                                                                                                                       

 Originally a winged-corridor house, the villa eventually became a grand building with mosaics and a formal garden.  The fish-pond has been reconstructed as shown below.

 Roman Villa Fish Pond - Bancroft

                                                                                                                       

Some of the mosaics are on display in the shopping Centre.As illustrated in my blog "City Centre 2 (The central city art trail)".
From here, we turn left and cross a lengthy wooden pedestrian/cyclist bridge which crosses Loughton Brook.

 Wooden Pedestrian/Cyclist's Bridge over Loughton Brook - Bancroft

                                                                                        

 This is a good place to view the brook wending it's way underneath us. I  have been over the brook many times and always stop for a few minutes gazing at the clear water below, but have yet to see any fish.A bit frustrating because I know they are there.
Continue a little way past the end of the bridge and the turn right. This heads back to the brook side path at Junction 2.

Had we not turned right at Junction 1, but  continued straight, we would have followed the meandering Loughton brook and and arrived at Junction 2 as pictured below. This is where we intersect with the bridge from the Roman Villa which, in the picture background, can be seen  crossing the brook.

Junction Two - Bancroft

                                                                                                                             

Once you traverse this ramble, the charm and solitude will bring you back again and again, as it has done to me so many times. My suggestion is to use this alternative route to reach  Junction 2 , which will give you a totally different ambiance.

Pushing on, we now go alongside the brook through more park with several enclaves branching off the main pathway, each one a challenge beckoning to be explored if you have time and are curious to see what it is around the corner or hidden behind the bushes. There are many quiet secluded spots for a private and romantic picnic with a partner or alternative a family outing..
 On our route, we will inevitably encounter many dog walkers, couples or singles making use of the freedom of open green space. Fortunately the grass remains  a resplendent green all year round except in Spring, when  yellow buttercups and white daisies abound voluminously, almost like ground cover.

 Path Through Bancroft

                                                                                                                          

 Now just before the underpass of Monks Way, cast your eyes to the right and over the brook we spot our replica concrete cows grazing contently. I say replica because the original cows are housed in Midsummer Place in the "City" centre.

 Concrete Cows - Bancroft Boundary

                                                                                                     

 Sometimes you may see children atop of the cows having their photo taken, thus capturing the moment, which no doubt, they will wistfully reflect upon  at some time in the future.

The path now links up with a redway and runs through Monks Way underpass which I must say is very impressionable by not only the expanse of our redway, but also by the closeness of the babbling brook which percolates right next to us.

Suitably impressed or daunted by the expanse of the underpass, we leave Bancroft and now enter Bradwell where we arrive at Junction 3, pictured below Once again there are two routes to our final destination of Lodge  lake.

Junction Three - Bradwell

                                                                                                                        

 The first route is to turn right. cross over the brook and follow the path which leads us through some woodland and then through a tunnel under the railway line. The pathway continues running alongside a woodland for a short  distance arriving at a sign post indicating the direction of the Abbey. Turn left and open the gate to gain access to the Abbey grounds. It is a tight squeeze through the gate, so due care is needed.Don't forget to close the gate afterwards as we will leave the area by a different route.

 Bradwell Abbey Plaque

                                                                                                                     

 A short distance along we come across a pedestal encasing a plaque about the Abbey, which is very informative and is a must and worthwhile read. and it gives us a ground plan of the Abbey buildings which we are about to observe and if inclined to explore.

 Bradwell Abbey

                                                                                                                                   

Bradwell Abbey is the site and remains of a medieval Benedictine Priory and is a Scheduled Ancient Monument (no.19062). Nationally it is significant because it contains the greater part of the medieval precinct of a priory, a relatively unusual survival, with a rare standing building - a dedicated pilgrimage chapel with a scheme of stunning contemporary wall paintings. (See Historical Notes and Items of Interest).

Bradwell Abbey Chapel 

                                                                                                                
 Proceeding up past the Chapel pictured above, we come to the abbey and outbuildings,  some of which are occupied. The main one being Milton Keynes Discovery Centre,  The reception has four modern paintings by the late Bill Billings.

Monk Sculpture - Bradwell Abbey

                                                                                        

And outside behind the Abbey buildings is a carved wooden statue of a monk on the fringe of some woodland gazing at the buildings as though he was reflecting and remembering  his brotherhood in the dim distant past. 

 Schottlander Plaque - Bradwell Abbey

                                                                                            

Dotted around the site are several sculptures by Bernard Schottlander as illustrated on a dedicated plaque naming each work of art

 At the beginning of the exit road there is a pond beside a horse paddock. On the banks surrounding the pond there are nine additional pieces of Bernard Schottlander's sculptures in bold strong colours. (See Historical Notes and Items of Interest).

 Five of the Dancers by Bernard Schottlander - Bradwell Abbey

                                                                                           

Other Dancers by Bernard Schottlander - Bradwell Abbey

                                                             

These are known collectively as "The Dancers" and were previously sited at "The Stables" and as Julia Cox aptly puts it "They now 'dance' around the medieval fish pond in the atmospheric setting of Bradwell Abbey".

Surprisingly there is no redway or path through for us, so we need to use the quiet main road navigating slowly over some speed humps. A short way on at the entrance we turn left onto the redway and the left again which leads us to Junction 4 on the other side of  Loughton  brook. We have been rambling with the brook on our right hand side and now we will continue on the left side.

Back at Junction 3. An alternative route is to continue straight, (Only suitable for small and medium Mobility scooters) following the path that flanks the  tennis courts and the Bradwell village cricket pitch. Taking the path bearing right, we arrive at a tunnel that not only crosses the brook but also goes underneath the railway lines.

 Railway Tunnel - Bradwell

                                                                                                                 


 This is spanned by a  wooden structure is which is very narrow.

 Railway Tunnel and Brook crossing - Bradwell

                                                                       

 One has to be  careful navigating to get around the initial bend in the bridge to get through to to junction 4, which is where the path  from the Abbey links up with the brook.

Junction Four -  Bradwell Abbey

                                                                                                        

To progress and follow the river turn right or left dependant on which route you have taken.Now as we continue following the brook, this is traversing our forth estate namely, Bradwell Abbey.

Path through Bradwell Abbey

                                                                                                           

 Look out for the abundant bird life and you may be lucky as I was and come across a Little Egret looking for his supper. When crossing the bridge at the Roman Villa, I have yet to see any fish, the presence of the egret tells me different. Possibly they have come down stream from Lodge Lake where we definitely know there are fish.

 Little Egret Bradwell Abbey

                                                                               

We now head towards the A5 underpass and emerge in Wymbush. Here the brook is very straight and does not deviate but brings a different ambiance with several Weeping Willows, some over the brook and some over the pathway.

 Path through Wymbush

                                                                                                                  

We also pass a very large field which is almost big enough to accommodate a golf driving range or maybe make an small village cricket ground. There are also seats for the footsore walkers or for those foot ramblers who are not so fit and sometimes need a respite.

More of the path through Wymbush

                                                                                               

We now approach our final underpass and cross over the brook once again via another wooden bridge. Going under Dansteed Way, we enter the estate of Great Holm where we get our first sight of  Lodge Lake, our destination on this ramble.

 Lodge Lake North - Great Holm

                                                                                                    

We have not finished however, as we turn left and go up a slight incline to the car park where there is a Bill board with maps and information about the lake. Here we turn right and wend our way past two tear drop lakes where, we will inevitably see fishermen on one the many angling platforms provided, taking up the challenge to landing "The Big One".

 Lodge lake West branch 1 - Great Holm 

                                                                                                

                       

Lodge lake West branch 2 - Great Holm

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
 We cross  a couple of bridges spanning the water courses and turn right to arrive at the top of the lake next to the local Chinese restaurant " The Kam Tong"

Lodge Lake South - Great Holm

                                                                                                     

 Again turning right we following  the lake along its banks flanked by the estate on the left hand side. The expanse of water is home to many aquatic birds, ducks,geese, swans,darters and the ever perennial seagulls. All of which pleases the anglers as this is definitive proof that fish abound in the lakes.

Lodge Lake East - Great Holm

Lodge Lake East - Great Holm

There are many benches strategically situated around the lake so we rest our feet and to take in, admire or just enjoy the peaceful, serene and idyllic setting.

Towards the end of the lake the path goes following the road past a few bungalows and then veers right to link up with the redway running parallel to Dansteed way. This takes us past the bottom end of the lake and looking back we see several bungalows with gardens running down to the waters edge. What a vista they overlook

 Lodge Lake North East - Great Holm

                                                                                        

Continuing along the redway we come to the spillway where water gushes over and begins the journey of the brook that we have followed upstream through  resplendent valley parkland.

Spillway Lodge Lake - Great Holm

Swan and Wild Duck Lodge Lake spillway - Great Holm

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

We leave this ramble with a swan and wild duck swimming towards us in the hope that we will feed them a morsel or two. Sadly we ate everything at our picnic midway through the ramble.

The valley park continues southward and this is the subject of a future ramble that will be  constructed at a later date. Meanwhile Happy Rambling!!!

Historical Notes and Items of Interest

Bancroft Petanque

For further details see    www.sportsbase.co.uk/clubs/bancroft-park-petanque-club

Roman Villa

For further details see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bancroft_Roman_Villa
and to explore in a very novel way go to this site  http://www.mkheritage.co.uk/mkm/mkarchaeology/Web%20pages/roman1.html

Bradwell Abbey

The Priory was established around 1154. It grew during the Middle Ages to became an important local centre, but declined during the Black Death when, amongst others, its prior William of Loughton died. The Priory was closed in 1524 (some 12 years before the general dissolution of the monasteries) and the site of the monastery and its scanty revenues were granted to Cardinal Wolsey for the endowment of his new college. All that remains today is a small chapel and a farmhouse that has become a centre for cultural activities and an Urban Studies centre. The medieval trackways converging on the abbey can still be seen in the rights of way and bridleways that have become "redways" (leisure routes for cycling and walking and mobility scooter rambling.).

For further info go to http://www.mkcdc.org.uk/ and www.autodidacts.f2s.com/brad.html

Bill Billings

Popular people's artist Bill Billings was a secret SAS hero – but too modest to talk about it.

The self-confessed rebel's acts of courage were only revealed at his funeral, when an SAS beret and cluster of medals decorated his coffin.

"Bill was a lifelong member of the SAS but he didn't tell anyone – he just wasn't the type to talk about himself. Even I don't know anything about what he did or where he went," said his wife Maggie.

When she met Bill almost 40 years ago he had served years in the army and, in the early days of their marriage, used to disappear on missions with the SAS.

"I never asked where he was going because I knew he wouldn't tell me. I'm sure he was a hero but he would hate people to think that, because he was far too modest," said Maggie, who is a nurse.

A self-styled poet, playwright, painter, sculptor and musician, Bill introduced street art to thousands of people from all walks of life – including prisoners. One of his most famous projects was the huge concrete dinosaur at Peartree Bridge.

His services to the community earned him an MBE in 2000, but the official recognition did not tone down his battles with authority to further his community art aims. (With  acknowledgement to The Citizen)

For further info go to  http://www.mkheritage.co.uk/dmk/exhibitions/03/03.pdf

    

Bernard Schottlander. (1924–1999)

 Bernard Schottlander, whose surname literally translates into Scotsman, and whom we know from his other sculptures in our city centre ramble.He quoted as saying"Sculpture is the art of silence, of objects that must speak for themselves"
Bernard Schottlander was born in Mainz, Germany in 1924 and came as a Jewish refugee to Leeds in 1939. During the war he worked in a factory as a welder, before taking a course in Sculpture at Leeds College of Art and subsequently with the help of a bursary at the Anglo-French art centre in St John’s Wood. He studied sculpture for a year in London, and his training as a welder influenced his work heavily. Bernard Schottlander described himself as a designer for interiors and a sculptor for exteriors.
In 1963 he decided to concentrate solely on sculpture and from 1965 he taught metalwork at St Martins School.