U3A WTT Shenton Stuart Galloway

Route Summary

A circular walk starting and finishing at Shenton Station on the Battlefield Line.

Route Overview

Category: Walking Length: 6.740 km / 4.21 mi Last Modified: 6th April 2016 Difficulty: Medium Rating: Unrated Surface: Average Date Published: 6th April 2016

Description

The walk starts at Shenton railway station, the southern terminus of the Battlefield Line. Car park costs £2.50. Cafe & toilets are available. Plus glass blowing demonstrations/sales in the station

Waypoints

Shenton Station (52.59961; -1.41642)

1 / 5 The Battlefield line runs from Shenton to the grade 1 listed station at , 5 miles away. Shenton station was rescued from Humberstone Rd, , where it lay derelict for many years and was sold to the Leics Co. Council for £1. It was moved brick by brick to Shenton. All that remains of the original station is the small rectangular lamp room opposite the platform building and the station masters house (both private).

In 1873, the London North Western Railway and the Midland Railway opened a joint line between Moira West and Nuneaton. Although known as the AshbyNuneaton line, Ashby itself was not on the joint line, but on the Midland's Burton-Leicester and was linked with the joint line by a triangular junction at Moira West.

Timetabled passenger services finished in 1931 apart from special excursions. These continued until the early 1960's. The Coalville-Shackerstone line closed completely in 1964. The last steam hauled passenger train to pass through was an enthusiasts special in 1965, headed by a Standard Class 2. The Ashby-Nuneaton railway survived until early 1970 before British Rail finally axed the line.

During its heyday Shackerstone was a busy junction station. In 1922, no fewer than five trains a day in each direction passed through between Ashby and Nuneaton and another between Nuneaton and Burton.

Turn left out of the car park and walk along the country lane to the canal. Over the hump back bridge and left onto the canal towpath (keeping left walk under the road bridge until you reach We/sborough bridge (no. 37).

Ashby Canal (52.59832; -1.42012)

The was completed in 1804 and carried coal from North and Derbyshire coalfields to local markets and via the national network to wharfs in Oxford and London. The canal was taken over by the Midland railway in 1845. Mining subsidence has been responsible for the abandonment of the northern length of the canal and since 1967 the terminus has been half a mile north of Snarestone.

Shenton aqueduct is a fine brick built structure carrying a minor road under the canal. There is a route down the embankment to King Richard's stone and the Battlefield site.

Leave the towpath at bridge 37 and turn left onto the quiet country lane. Just beyond the right hand bend there is a bridle path to the left. Take the bridle path through the trees (may be mudd-y)- until you come to

2 / 5 Stubble Hill farm on your right. When you reach the lane turn left and follow the road into Shenton. Keep straight on to Whitemoor's farm (on the left).

Whitemoor Farm (52.59730; -1.43143)

Whitemoor farm has been in the hamlet for at least 400 years, records show it as a farm dwelling in 1625. It is now an antiques centre and cafe.

After refreshment turn right back towards the village and turn right over the river. Follow the road towards Shenton Hall on the right and St John's church on the right.

Shenton (52.59981; -1.42909)

Shenton is mentioned in the Domesday Book. In 1625 the estate was sold to William Wollaston of Staffordshire. The estate including the medieval hall (on the site of the present hall), included 28 cottages, a mill, dove house and farmland. The present hall was constructed in 1629. It was restored and extended in 1862 and stood in wooded park of over 100 acres.

In 1875 the population was 273 in 54 houses. The village had a free school a teacher's house (c1858}, postoffice, pub and a railway station. It was a village of some importance.

Following the death of the last Wollaston to occupy the hall in 1940 it was used to house German and Italian prisoners of war. The hall has been sold twice since 1951 but the village and farmland is still owned by the Wollaston family. It is strongly rumoured that the hall now belongs to the singer Cher but I haven't been able to substantiate that.

St John's church replaced a medieval church, which was subsequently demolished in 1859 and rebuilt by the

3 / 5 Reverend H.J. Wollaston and restored in 1875. There is a stone reredos and brasses and monuments to the Everard and Wollaston families.

Continue along the pavement until you reach the footpath on the right - 'the Ambion way'. This will take you through the parkland at the rear of Shenton Hall (may be cattle in the field) back to the start of the walk where the path joins the country lane that leads back over the hump back bridge to the railway station. l

4 / 5 5 / 5