Sun 25th April 2010 - Leg11a : Broxbourne to Hertford - 12.5 miles

It was a good turn-out with Sandra Scott, Jonathan & Linda Berks, Barbara & Peter Mitton, Howard and Fudge Peacock, Ray Munden and David Izod lulled into a false sense that the weather would be fine following the brilliant day that we had enjoyed on Saturday. Surprise, surprise it rained!

Most of the walk was along the New River, which continues to be a major supply of water into London, and the River Lea Navigation with a brief diversion into the Ash Valley to get the obligatory mileage in. We started at Broxbourne Station and after a couple of miles reached Rye House Station, close to the scene of The Rye House Plot of 1683 which was a plan to assassinate King Charles II of England and his brother (and heir to the throne) James, Duke of York, builder of Peter Franks’ palace. Historians vary in their assessment of the degree to which details of the conspiracy were finalized. Anti-Catholic sentiment, which associated Catholicism with absolutism, was widespread, and focused particular attention on the succession to the throne. While Charles was publicly Anglican, he and his brother were known to have Catholic sympathies. These suspicions were confirmed in 1673 when James was discovered to have converted to Catholicism. Rye House, a manor house owned by a well-known Republican, Richard Rumbold was to conceal a force of 100 men in the grounds and ambush the King and the Duke on their way back to London from the horse races at Newmarket. However, because there was a great fire in Newmarket on 22 March, which destroyed half the town, the races were cancelled, and the King and the Duke returned to London early. As a result, the planned attack never took place. Historians have suggested the story of the plot may have been largely manufactured by Charles or his supporters to allow the removal of most of his strongest political opponents. Politics always was a rough old trade.

At Stanstead Abotts we passed the Clock House. From 1635 it housed a grammar school founded by Sir Edward Baesh, which subsequently closed in 1881 and is now a residential property. The town is also famous for fishing and was recommended by Izaak Walton in his book, “The Complete Angler”.

We walked up the Ash Valley, back through Easneye Wood, along the disused railway line to Buntingford, axed by Dr Beeching in 1965 and back to the sand and gravel pits at Amwell. In doing so we managed to lose our ladies who had stopped to take pictures of the wildlife conservation area and got left behind. Whilst searching for them, Howard found a sign post saying Hertford 2 1/4 miles, but of course the planners had other routes in mind for us, giving us well over 5 miles further to walk!

After being reunited we continued on across the railway and the New River to the church of St John’s built in the 11th century and much restored. Peter and Jonathan were confined to the stocks there but we were too polite to throw rotten eggs at them! We enjoyed a well earned pint at the George IV pub. Stirring our stumps we passed by the monument to Sir Hugh Myddleton, builder of the New River near to Emma’s Well close to one of the springs that feeds the New River.

Continuing along the New River and the Lee Navigation tow path we eventually turned up at Ware passing by the Gazebos. These were erected by the Ware inns to attract new trade following the setting up of England’s first turnpike road which then as now caused all the traffic to find an alternative free route and had had a disastrous effect on their business!

I had not realized how interesting Ware and later when we got there, Hertford, are. We tend only to see the main street and miss all the older nooks and crannies. Anyway, somewhat footsore but pleased with our accomplishment we finished our walk at around 4 pm in a nice, pleasant afternoon at Parliament Square.