Historic Walk – Thame & District U3A This rural walk along the River Thame passes through a number of villages of historical interest and visits the 15th century architectural gems of Rycote Chapel and Waterstock Mill. Starting at the church at Shabbington in Buckinghamshire the route soon crosses the River Thame into Oxfordshire and follows the river, before crossing the old railway line to reach Rycote Chapel. From Rycote the route follows an undulating track to Albury and then on to Tiddington. Heading south in Tiddington the route circles west to cross the railway line again before arriving at Waterstock via the golf course. Here there is an opportunity to visit the old mill before returning via the 17th century bridge at Ickford and back into Buckinghamshire. The small hamlet of Little Ickford is the last port of call before returning across the fields to Shabbington. In winter the conditions underfoot can be muddy and in times of flood parts of the route are impassable. Walk Length The main walk (Walk A) is just over 8.5 miles (13.8 km) long (inclusive of two detours to Rycote Chapel and Waterstock Mill) and is reasonably flat. At a medium walking pace this should take 3.5 to 4 hours but time needs to be added on to appreciate the points of interest along the way. Walk B is 5.8 miles (9.4 km) a shorter version of Walk A, missing out some of Tiddington and Waterstock. Walk C is another shorter variation of 4.7 miles (7.5 km), taking in Ickford Bridge, Albury and Waterstock but missing out Rycote Chapel and Shabbington. Scrutiny of the suggested Ordnance Survey maps will show that many other variations can be explored. Map of Routes - see Appendix Suggested Ordnance Survey Maps OS Landranger 1:50,000 series Maps 164 (Aylesbury) or 165 (Oxford) OS Explorer 1:25,000 series Map 180 (Oxford) Getting there and parking By car: there are three alternative parking places to start the walks. 1. Shabbington (GR SP667068 – for Walks A and B) There are one or two side roads close to the church where it is safe to park. Parking on the main road through the village is not recommended. The Old Fisherman pub by the river has ample parking, but it is for patrons only so permission would be required to park here. 2. Lay-by on A418 (GR SP640049 – for Walks A and C) The lay-by is on the A418 between Tiddington and the motorway on the route of Walks A and C. It is the first lay-by on the left after leaving Tiddington in the Oxford direction and is on the right after the A40 and Waterstock turns if coming from the M40 Junction 8A. 3. Ickford Bridge (GR SP649065 – for Walks A, B and C) There is a small parking area just north of Ickford Bridge suitable for two or three cars. This can be reached by turning off the A418 at Tiddington towards Ickford: after about a mile the parking area is on the right just after the two bridges. By Public Transport The nearest rail stations are Haddenham & Thame Parkway and Oxford. Both are served by the 280 bus that runs between Oxford and Aylesbury. To join the walks, alight at Tiddington. For Walks A and C, walk along the main road (A418) towards Thame for a few yards (crossing the main road if coming from the Oxford direction) before turning right at the Village Hall into Albury View and up to Manor Farm to join the route. For Walk B, walk towards Thame and after a few yards turn left into Ickford Road to join the route. Directions Walk A 1. (GR SP667068) (Section length 1.2 miles (1.9 km)) Starting from the main road (Mill Road) in Shabbington go into the churchyard of St. Mary Magdalene. Parts of this parish church date back to the 11th century but it has had many additions and modifications in the centuries that followed. The church is normally locked but information on access can be found in the porch. Exit the churchyard by going round the right-hand side of the church and through the hedge ahead. Bear half left heading across the field down towards the Old Fisherman pub (not half right as the footpath sign indicates). [A on map] In the field there are many humps and hollows along the way. These are thought to be the remains of part of the old village of Shabbington and possibly also the site of the original Manor. Other contenders for the site of the Manor are the pub ahead and the present Manor Farm over the fields to the right. The field also contains a number of old fish ponds which can be seen to the left and right and was part of a more extensive fish/eel pond complex both here and in the surrounding fields. The Manor and eel farms are mentioned in the Domesday Book. The Manor Court was almost certainly held on the pub site. Old Fisherman’s Inn 1910 Leave the field just to the left of the pub and follow the road straight ahead walking along the raised walkway. Cross the first part of the river (the mill race) then the two humpback bridges over the main river Thame and a flood ditch/stream. The route now crosses from Buckinghamshire into Oxfordshire, the river being the boundary. The raised walkways are very necessary in times of flood and the road is an old causeway. A watermill stood on the site of the Old Fisherman pub but was demolished many years ago. The pub has been much extended over the years and has a peaceful location by the river. Immediately after the second humpback bridge, turn right over a wooden bridge and stile (marked Thame Valley Walk). Follow the river, keeping it on the right for about 0.6 miles (1 km) until the way is blocked by a ditch. Turn left, as way-marked, leaving the river and following the ditch up to the main road (A418). A minor Roman road from Dorchester to Fleet Marston is thought to have forded the river further along this stretch but little evidence of its existence remains, with the possible exception of a sand bar located on the river bed. 2. (GR SP668053) (Section length 0.6 miles ( 1.0 km)) Cross the road with care to the gateway on the opposite side. Go straight on over a stile, along the right side of a wood and after a 100 yards go up the old railway embankment via a flight of crude steps within a hedge. At the top, turn right to follow the track. This track was part of the old Thame to Oxford railway and was originally operated by the Wycombe Railway Co, but in later years by the GWR.. The line was axed by Beeching in the 1960s but continued to operate to the Thame petroleum store until the 1980s when all operations finally ceased. The line between Princes Risborough and Thame is now a cycle path but much of the line from Thame to Oxford is in private hands and cannot be accessed. Follow the old railroad passing a gate, a gravel driveway and a wood on the left. Where the track meets a concrete road, turn left and walk up the hill to the farm buildings. 3. (GR SP663048) (Section length 0.6 miles (1.0 km)) to Rycote and back) Here there is an option to make a detour and visit Rycote Chapel. Follow the path round the left side of the farmhouse ahead (Home Farm) keeping the farm building to the right and go through a gate on the left-hand side. Bear slightly left along the hedge line crossing over a small field and going through a wood: the buildings of Rycote House with its chapel come into view. The path goes right round the fence ahead and then turns left along a drive facing Rycote Park. The path then turns right to reach the chapel. [B on map] Rycote Park (private, not open to the public, so keep to the path) has few remnants remaining of the original early Tudor house which was partly destroyed by fire in 1745 and then demolished in 1807 in an attempt by the owners, the Earls of Abingdon, to raise funds by selling the contents and building materials. For detailed information on the house and its history see http://rycote.bodelian.ox.ac.uk. Its most famous owner, Lord Williams, served four monarchs during the religious upheavals of the mid-16th century and left money for almshouses and a grammar school in nearby Thame. A later owner Cecil Michaelis founded Rycotewood College in Thame in 1937. The house and gardens of Rycote Park have been extensively refurbished by the current owners but are not open to the public. Rycote Chapel is maintained by Rycote Park’s owners. The largely unaltered 15th-century building has an attractive exterior and stands in a pleasant location. The walls are built of local limestone with ashlar dressings from Tayton. The tower contains a priest’s room with a belfry and single bell above. The yew tree in the churchyard is said to have been planted in 1135 for the coronation of King Stephen. The inside of the chapel is of greater interest. Above the altar are the Ten Commandments and dominating the nave are two roofed pews. One is said to have been constructed for a visit by Charles I and the other is a grandiose double- decker affair with a musicians' gallery used in the past by the Park owners.