Leader: Dianne Sutton

31 walkers and about 13 miles.

Note from Colin Stoneman:
We came across a strange VR road sign on Di’s walk. Whilst in Towcester today I popped into the museum to see if they could explain it. According to them it is a Telegraph Marker Junction Sign. A quick look on Google and some images suggest this is a cable marker, in fact on the main A5 in the middle of Towcester by the entrance to the museum is another one only painted red. I did try to find out a bit more but couldn’t cope especially when a group called “The telegraph appreciation society” were stumped so decided if such an esteemed association didn’t know…….....

We walked a short stretch of the Grand Union Canal before turning westwards towards Stoke Park  and beyond in the late autumn sunshine. When we reached Pury End Dianne showed us the stone memorial which marks the birthplace of the missionary William Carey (1761). The cottage  is no longer there, but is simply marked by the stone in the wall at the side of Carey's Road.

Our lunch stop was at Paulerspury where it was lovely to find Merrian waiting for us in the Barley Mow.   There were a few drop of  rain as we started the afternoon, but the weather held as we walked over the fields to Grafton Regis.  We learned more of Elizabeth Woodville who lived here -  the White Queen who was to become Henry VIII's granny.  Drizzle made us grimace as we left the village, but luckily it soon stopped and we walked the last mile or so back along the canal in the dry.

It was a most enjoyable day out, with plenty of historical background from the leader.

Thank you to Dianne for taking us to some less walked places and to Dave, her backmarker, for keeping an eye on us all.

Photos from DFH and Wahid:

DFH's photos