The ‘Needs to Know’
Distance: 3.33 miles (5.3 km)
Time to walk: About 1.5 hours
Difficulty: Easy &, apart from the initial bit into the park & over the bridge, all on hard surfaces
Dog Friendly?: On lead apart from in the park
Parking: Free parking at the Community Centre / Library / Cafe
Postcode: NN4 6ED
what3words: papers.roped.nodded
Public toilets: At the start & end
Map of the route:
Over the past couple of years I’ve been both honoured & very privileged to have been associated with the wonderful & inspirational, Wootton Primary School & to lead every amazing child on a well-being walk several times a year
This has been pure joy, introducing these young people to the benefits of walking & opening their minds to the beauty of nature & their surroundings
It’s also surprised me as to what a hidden gem Wootton is to walk around with lots of connecting alleyways & an unknown, beautiful country park
So I thought…why not share this fab route we’ve been doing with our ‘little friends’ with everyone
Situated 3 miles south of Northampton town centre, the village began life as a small agricultural settlement. In the Domesday Book Wootton is described as “Wetone”.
It later became Weton, Wutton & then Witton. “Wootton” appeared in the 14th century. The names probably have the Saxon origin of “Wudutun” & mean settlement or farmstead in, or by, a wood, which may have been Salcey Forest
The Northamptonshire Regiment & later Royal Pioneer Corps were stationed at the former Quebec Barracks, later renamed Simpson Barracks, on a large site adjacent to the Newport Pagnell Road which include the old Hardingstone workhouse building which dates from 1839
It’s a great community &, although development has meant it’s almost become merged with Northampton, it still very much retains its village identity
1. This walk starts at the wonderful Community Centre which is a wonderful space containing the library, people space, & a great cafe…
From the end of the car park walk down the narrow path past the dog bin & graveyard which contains several Commonwealth Graves…
2. Exit the path towards the road & ahead’s the wonderful Primary School…
Cross the road & turn right
3. Continue past The Green….
…to the junction & cross at the Zebra
4. Continue right up the hill & then bear first left at the lampost along New Road…
On reaching the end of the close pass through the barriers & turn left along the narrow path
5. This is the first of our narrow alleyways that exist around Wootton &, at different times in these lovely spaces, you’ll find different environments, flora, micro climates etc…
Shortly the alley reaches a junction at an open space. Cross the hard path & continue ahead down the next alley
6. It seems strange that these paths will have been walked along since ancient times & today they separate some lovely properties…
Eventually the path arrives at some steps. Descend them carefully to the road
7. It’s time to pick up the next alley so turn right for a couple of yards, cross the road, & continue in the same direction. In the spring this alley is normally full of wild flowers…
In July it was quite overgrown but would soon be cut by the lovely villagers
8. At the end of the alley cross straight across & keep on the left side along Resthaven Road…
After a few yards, immediately after a hedge, follow the signpost down the next alley…
9. This is another wonderful alley to take the school children down as it has a shaded, damp micro-climate so I’m able to point out ferns growing in very little soil out of gaps in the stone walls & lots of spiders!!!
As you approach the end of the alley there’s a large fir tree on the left. If you walk here in the autumn you can find lots of pine cones that the squirrels have gnawed down to a point
10. You’re now in old Wootton & are going to do a loop. At the end of the alley turn left & then right up wonderful Church Hill…
This is a fabulous street that reminds us of a view on our walk around Moulton Village. It’s generally thought there’s evidence of some form of church here dating back to 1150
The Church has gone through many rebuilds etc, but has a story where in March 1322 Henry Felip of Stoke Bruerne was travelling towards Northampton with his son but, when they got to Courteenhall he was killed by a gang of robbers
One member, John de Ditchford escaped to Wootton Church & claimed sanctuary. On Wednesday March 24th he was put on the road to Dover & was chased by the people of the village
He only got as far as Collingtree. On the Friday his body was found in a field with his head cut off. As an example to the nearby villages, men of four villages were ordered to carry his head to Northampton Castle & place it on a spike
11. At the top of the hill’s the well-known Wootton Club which is a membership venue situated in the Old Red Lion pub…
Turn left & walk past the bus stop to the crossroads which is the centre of the old village. Ahead of you is The Yeoman of England pub. The pub opened in 1972 but, prior to that, the property was the local Hunt kennels. Cross the road & look at the long stone bench against the wall. This was where, when the Hunt returned, the riders would all sit to clean their horses hooves. Others can be found around the County including in Pytchley & Cogenhoe
12. Head down ‘Sunnyside’ past the entrance to the pub on the right…
The pub’s name pays homage to the historic English “yeoman” class, a social rank of independent, land-owning farmers & freemen who formed the backbone of rural English communities & famously served as formidable archers in medieval armies
13. Continue down the street, passing the Green & where you emerged from the alley not long ago…
Follow it as it turns left & up to the junction
14. At the junction turn right & then follow the road left again…
Now follow this footpath all the to the roundabout. Turn right for a few yards & cross at the pelican crossing
15. On the other side turn left & then right along the Quinton Road. After a few yards you’ll find an entrance on the right into the park…
This is a fabulous, fairly recently established, pocket park & you’re now going to do a lap of it. Take the left path as it bears down the hill
16. At the bottom bear left over the bridge…
…& then turn right & follow the path through the trees. Listen for the bird song along here…there were many species & many wrens
17. After crossing the next bridge, the path splits so take the right one…
When we did this walk in July many of the teasels were in beautiful flower
18. Continue to follow the path & at the large, old oak tree turn left…
You’re now heading back to the wood you came from, passing some beautiful poplars
19. Cross the bridge & then turn left over the metal bridge again….
Now walk straight ahead up the hill to the kissing gate
20. Carefully cross the road, or walk right to the pelican crossing, cross & come back to the point to walk through the gap…
Continue ahead into the housing estate & over the road up the alley. On reaching the cul-de-sac bear left & then up the passage beside the bungalow
21. At the top of the alley cross over into the park…
Head up the hill. It’s at this point we stop our children’s walks & talk to them about what was uncovered in this area during the building walk. We ask…”Why do so many of the roads have Roman names?” Well that’s because a Roman Villa was excavated in this area
The remains included a strip building, a bathhouse, & iron-smelting furnaces. The villa was occupied from the mid-first century AD through the late Roman era. Most famously, the grounds yielded the Wootton Coin Hoard
Discovered inside a black pot, the hoard contained approximately 1,900 coins dating between 335 & 341 AD & was on display as part of the 100 Northamptonshire items exhibition at the Museum
22. At the junction turn right to retun to the car park & the start of this walk…
So that’s it, our stroll around the village of Wootton. I hope you enjoy exploring the avenues & alleyways as much as the children of their wonderful primary school do
So…
Go Walk!