To Larkrise and Candleford, the village scene creation of Flora Thompson born at Juniper Hill – Lark Rise – in 1876 writing her trilogy, Lark Rise to Candleford from her own village living . Unlike other local girls, she did not go into Service but instead was sent to be assistant to the postmistress at a nearby village Her parents were Edwin and Emma Timms.
We met at The Institute at 6pm prompt for car share and Satnav details and then we were off, a good-sized party of WI ladies and their pooches, all happily anticipating a fine walk and a pub meal to follow.
A short 20-minute drive brought us into the picturesque heart of Hethe and then we were off with Maureen and Hazel leading the way. Soon we were into fields bright with cereal crops and poppies, sheep were grazing happily and dogs well-behaved on leads intermittently when necessary. We negotiated several kissing gates and one stile opposite St. Mary’s Church,Cottisford, where Flora was baptised in 1877. We all entered the church to view the plaque to “Flora Thompson, 1876 – 1947, born Flora Jane Timms at Juniper Hill, she worshipped here as a child before moving to Fringford, Author of ‘Lark Rise to Candleford'”.
Over the stile, with the happy dogs getting through in their own style, our walk wound past partridge pens, through a plantation of tall trees, past some attractive houses, on past the village signpost, the village allotments bright with poppies and other wild flowers then back into Hethe again. We piled into cars for the drive back to Adderbury with most turning up at The Pickled Ploughman for dinner,
A table setting had been organised in a private setting off the main restaurant where we gathered to enjoy our two-course meal for £11.95 per head, with drinks from the bar. Our orders were taken and, very conscious of having to make a choice between starter and main course, or main course with pudd,ing, someone very brightly suggested that if ladies paired up in two’s, one could order the starter and main and her companion, the main course with pudding. The idea spread like wildfire and soon most were copying this brilliant idea. The restaurant staff showed no surprise as they took our orders and within a fairly short time, our food arrived.
Caroline thanked Maureen and Hazel for leading us on a very attractive and easy walk around the village of Hethe, connecting us to the byegone world of Flora Thompson and her Lark Rise to Candleford world.
The Pickled Ploughman visit rounded off an excellent evening’s walk and social event which everyone, dogs included, enjoyed for the lovely walk, the fine summer evening and supper when we returned to Adderbury. Here’s a few photos to recapture that lovely evening…
thru’ the gate
cereal crop
plantation
did you notice the church clock’s blue face?
ah…The Pickled Ploughman
Many thanks to Maureen and Hazel for a great evening’s event.
Margaret Halstead