Rushden Research Group: chapmans rambling club

By Jean Hunt (nee Ashton)

Chapman's Rambling Club

Memories of Chapman’s Rambling Club

One week we went halfway up Newton Road, across a field path to Newton Bromswold, by what was the Army riffle-range (The Butts) on Yelden Open Fields. Then we went down the lane at the side of the village and across the fields to the road between Melchbourne and Knotting. We followed the road between Knotting and Knotting Green and across fields to Knotting woods and so out onto the A6. The others went back to Rushden while I went across the fields and home to Souldrop.

As we bussed, cycled or walked everywhere anyway, it was just fun to be in a group. We once walked from Rushden to Irchester past where they blasted for iron-ore (now Irchester Country Park ) and round by Ditchford and back to Rushden.

Another time we caught the bus from Rushden to Little Irchester station. We caught the cross country train to Castle Ashby station. Then we walked across the fields to Castle Ashby Park and home where we picnicked in the grounds. How strange, I do not remember coming home!

I organised a walk. [see below] The group caught the bus to Sharnbrook where I met them. We walked by the river to Felmersham and visited the church, going up onto the tower. Then we went along the Carlton Road , picking up the footpath across the fields passing Chellington Church and over the river footbridge into Odell. Along Church Lane into Yelnow Lane and across the fields to Souldrop where the girls could get the bus back to Rushden again.

Now, when everyone goes by car, it sounds a long way, but after we moved to live in Souldrop, some summer Sunday evenings my parents and I would go across the footpath this way to Odell for a drink at the “The Bell Inn” so my Dad could meet up with his friends.

Rushden Echo and Argus, 17th May 1946, transcribed by Kay Collins

Ramble
Continuing their monthly Saturday outings, Messrs H W Chapman’s Rambling Club walked through the fields from Souldrop to Odell, where a break was made for tea. The walk afterwards continued by the river to Felmersham and Sharnbrook. At the Odell church the visitors were told about the old legend of the devil’s fingerprints. Miss Jean Ashton was the leader of the ramble.

Memories of Working at Chapman's