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It mainly follows rights of of rights follows mainly It . Beauty al Natur Outstanding of Chilterns Country Chilterns o get to the start the to get o t How ea ea Ar Chilterns the ough thr walks of series a of one is This Visitor information Points of interest G Ipsden Heath Heaths were also 'waste of the manor' and common land. Old maps show Ipsden Heath as open grassland with few trees. The mixed woodland here today has Take a break with a picnic on the commons and/or C Greys Green Like commons, village greens were all 'waste developed since commoners ceased grazing their livestock. In refreshments at a pub along the route. In Nettlebed, of the manor', areas not agriculturally viable for the Lord of the spring, parts of the woods are carpeted with bluebells. there is village shop with a café and the White Hart Hotel Manor which were used by local people. Village greens have (01491 641245) is also a pub. En route you will pass been used for lawful sports and pastimes for hundreds of years H Grim's Ditch Grim's Ditch or Bank or Dyke is a name ? The Red Lion at Peppard Common (01491 628329) and the picturesque cricket pitch continues the tradition here. shared by a number of prehistoric bank and ditch earthworks ? The Unicorn near Kingwood Common (01491 628674) found across the chalk uplands of southern England. The ? King William at Hailey near Ipsden (01491 681845) purpose of these earthworks remains a mystery, but as they are too small for military use they may have served to The route will also take you close to demarcate territory. Archaeologists agree that Iron Age ? Greys Court at Rotherfield Greys, a National Trust people built the earthworks around 300 BC. property with a tea room and shop (01494 755564) ? Stoke Row, with a village shop and pubs – The Cherry I Nuffield Common Historically, this area was open chalk Tree (01491 680430) and The Crooked Billet (01491 downland grazed by sheep. Today, Nuffield Common is owned 681048) by Huntercombe Golf Club. Please keep to the Ridgeway as ? Nuffield Place at Huntercombe, a National Trust you cross the golf course, watch out for golfers and golf balls. property with a tea room and shop (01491 641224) J Nuffield Place The house of William Morris, founder of Morris Motor Cars, is now owned by the National Trust. For details of places to stay, visitor attractions and other Discover the house as he left it and learn more about life in walks, contact the Visitor Information Office in the Town the 1930s for one of the richest men in the world. Hall in Henley-on-Thames (01491 578034) or visit Cricket at Greys Green www.visitchilterns.co.uk K Nettlebed Common In the past, Nettlebed Common was D Peppard Common Peppard Common lies in Rotherfield an open landscape which provided all the materials for the Peppard parish. 'Rotherfield' originated from the Anglo-Saxon village brick making industry – clay, sand and chalk – creating for 'open land for cattle' reflecting the historical use for the uneven landscape of today. Wood burnt in the kilns to Points of interest grazing. Across the common, older trees show the evidence of fire the bricks and pottery was harvested from surrounding coppicing and pollarding (management techniques which woods including Lower Common Wood, on the south side of The following points of interest can be found on the walks. produced a sustainable supply of timber), and old quarry pits the roundabout. Donkeys, used to transport the raw materials See map for locations. indicate where clay, flints and sand were extracted. and finished bricks, grazed the common. Since quarrying ceased in the early 20th century, trees have grown up and A Nettlebed Situated on the top of the Chilterns E Kingwood Common During the Second World War, part of ponds have developed in many of the old quarries. escarpment on Reading Clay, Nettlebed was the major centre the common was used as a military camp and later for for brick, tile and pottery manufacture in Oxfordshire from wounded German prisoners of war. Today, Kingwood Common medieval times, and possibly even earlier, up until the 20th is one of the largest areas of heathland in Oxfordshire and a century. Evidence of the past industry can be seen around the haven for wildlife. village and on the commons. The origin of the name Nettlebed is unknown but nettles grow in abundance in the area. A F Maharajah's Well, Stoke Row This unique Victorian well, thread can be produced from nettles which can be made into a with its gilded dome and elephant, was a gift from the linen cloth, historically made into sheets and table cloths. Maharajah of Benares. Mr Edward Reade, the local squire, had worked with the Maharajah in the 19th century and during his B Greys Court Once home to the Brunner family, this 16th time in India he sank a well for a local community. When Mr century house and its walled gardens are now owned by the Reade finally left the area in 1860, he asked the Maharajah to National Trust. Other buildings include the 12th century Great ensure that the well was maintained. A few years later, Tower and a rare Tudor donkey wheel, in use until the early remembering Mr Reade's stories of the scarcity of water in this 20th century. area, the Maharajah made an endowment. It took a year to dig the well by hand. Nettlebed Common Description of route: 8 Follow the lane to Peppard Hill. The road has no pavement but W4 Turn right and follow the footpath up the slope and The route follows paths and is quiet. Turn right in front of The Unicorn and follow Colmore around the back of traditional barns to English Farm where bridleways through commons and Lane beside Kingwood Common. observant walkers might spot an elephant! woods, and across fields. Some paths are steep and can be muddy 9 Approx 250m after 'Great David's' on your left, pass through 12 Take the footpath on the left immediately after the in places. There are some stiles. the field gate on the left and take the footpath on the right.