Duncton walk on 19th February 2025

Thankfully Jay and Lindsay had spent much time to sort out our ramble in Duncton so that we avoided most of the mud caused by the recent poor weather. After parking in The Cricketers (once owned by the creator of Wisden Cricketers' Almanac), we headed for the Burton Park Estate. Burton Park Estate, which dates from the 13th Century contains a Grade 1 listed mansion with a chequered history. Once home to a Baronet, then an MP, it became an Army Camp, a girls school, a police dog-training centre and is now split into flats. We then took a route around the House and Burton Mill Pond, much of which is surrounded by marshy areas, luckily navigable over large wooden boardwalks. We were also fortunate to find a handy tree for our coffee stop. As we passed by the House again we took a look inside the tiny Church of St Richards. Of Norman origin it was updated in 1636 by Bishop Juxon who was so trusted by Charles I that he was the man to offer the King his last rites 13 years later - luckily we had no need for his services. A little further on we came across another church - the Church of St Anthony and Saint George but sadly all the doors were locked so we could only wander around the gravestones. Even so we missed the headstone inscribed "The originator and leader of the women's suffrage march from Edinburgh to London 1912", Florence de Fonblanque. A walk alongside the A285 and we eventually found our cars and drove to The Badgers for some excellent food.