Weavers Down Day Walk 13th March 2019

With a gale forecast we opted for the relative safety of Weavers Down. We collected guest walker Stella in the car park before setting off towards Chapel and Wheatsheaf Common. As we skirted the golf course we kept a wary eye out for stray balls, luckily the only one we saw close up was hidden in the leaves near our chosen coffee stop. The statue of Lord Strathnairn was as impressive as always, at the entrance to the Foley Manor Estate. It was in storage for 33 years after being found to be in the way of a new subway for Knightsbridge underground station. Eventually Westminster Council gave it/sold it to Foley Manor on condition it would be accessible to the public. Lord Strathnairn died aged 84 in Paris, was buried in Christchurch, Hants and never married. A heroic leader and strategist, he walked from Mount Lebanon to Beirut so that some of the elderly American missionaries he had rescued could be carried on his horse. When in command of the Central Indian Forces of 1,540 men, he routed 20,000 men of Tatya Tope's army. Guns captured by him during this period were later to be used on his statue. We eventually found our way to The Deers Hut in Griggs Green where the service and food were excellent. Refreshed, we returned by skirting Weavers Down and by passing through Langley. The weather had been very kind with only a smattering of rain and the trees saved us from much of the wind. The walk was about 6.1/2 miles. Thanks to Jane, Stella and of course Marian for the excellent photos.