Wilderhope Manor Shropshire

We are on a short holiday at the moment and for a change we decided on two firsts for us: to visit the Midlands and also stay at Youth Hostels although in our cases except for our daughter we are entering under false pretenses no longer being that young.

The original concept of youth hosteling was aimed at the young so that they would be able to travel and gain an appreciation of the countryside in an affordable means. However you know see all ages and nationalities staying at Youth Hostels and gone are the days when I am told you were expected to share in some of the chores such as cleaning and making breakfast.

The Midlands is generally a place that I have passed through on the way to some where else to visit the Lake District or Wales. Apart from attending meetings in the Midlands and visiting the NEC the Midlands is an area that hasn't excited me to want to visit.

Our first stop was at a place called Wilderhope Manor near Longville in the Dale. Shropshire isn't a county that I can recall having even visited much before apart from a trip to the wonderfully named Gay Meadow home of Shrewsbury Town to watch Ipswich in the 1980's. This was probably my last visit to this small county.

Wilderhope Manor is owned by the National Trust and is set in extensive grounds on the beautiful Wenlock Edge a walkers and cyclists must providing a long distance walk with great views.

The house has considerable historic interest dating as it does from the 16th century. Leading up to the bedrooms there are some very solid oak timbers creating a spiral staircase. Many of the ceilings have plaster work with intricate patterns such as the Tudor rose and Fleur de lis and the initials of the original owners.

There is even a civil war story to the house. The owner was a Major Smallman on the royalist side and was captured by Cromwell's parliamentarians and taken to Wilderhope Manor and kept prisoner upstairs. Unbeknown to his guards the Major was able to escape down a garderobe flu passageway. You can see this if you stay here and looks very narrow to be honest but reaches to the ground level as it would as this was the early form of fashionable toilet.

The Major managed to escape on his horse from the stables but was chased along the Wenlock Edge where there is a spot called Majors Leap where he apparently jumped and survived making his escape but the horse died.

The house was seemingly on the point of being pulled down having lied empty for many years in the late 19th and early 20th century but thanks to chocolate it was saved as the Cadbury Foundation restored the house and donated it to the National Trust.

Ironbridge Shropshire

On our way to Wilderhope Manor YHA we stopped of at Ironbridge which is said to be the birth place of the industrial revolution.

It is home of course to the Worlds first iron bridge built by Abraham Darby in 1779. It would seem that a considerable loss was made by Darby on the venture having agreed to build the bridge for a cost of £5k when costs exceeded this he became liable for the rest.

Darby had perfected a means of smelting iron with coke rather than more expensive charcoal.

The River Severn had abated from the worst of the flood conditions that had arisen just the previous week but there was evidence of a number of shops that had closed due to flooding here. There wasn't time for us but there are 10 museums to visit here which would make a good day trip.

Horringer Fete and Flower Show Suffolk

Today was the 122nd flower and fete show at Horringer Suffolk. Horringer is just a couple of miles from Bury St Edmunds many people passing through in order to get into the National Trust run Ickworth Park.

However doing so means you will miss a lovely village with some considerable history the more recent of which you can read in a good book by Zoe Ward called Curtsy to the Lady. She was the postmaster's daughter and the book refers to the relationship between the village and the Hervey family when the Earls of Bristol were owners of Ickworth House and one of the leading employers in this village.

The fete takes place on the village green at the entrance to Ickworth House and in front of St Leonard's Church. Fete and flower shows are said to be the new rock and roll perhaps because of the publicity brought on by the BBC programme the Gt British Village Show presented by Alan Titchmarsh. The tales of competition to grow the largest and best presented vegetables and flowers is like an oasis in tv viewing compared to the soap, reality shows and repeats that tend to dominate.

The weather was good until a storm at about 4.30pm at about the time of the tug of war contest was due. There was a car boot and a range of stalls with a coconut shy, a bowling and football game, lots of gardening stalls selling plants, food and a brass band. As usual there was a large book stall trying to off load books at very cheap prices.

In the village hall the judging had long been completed when we visited to see a wide range of vegetables, fruit, flowers and photos which had been judged. Prizes and commendations were laid out against the broad beans , onions, shallots, carrots, french beans, tomatos and to many others to mention.

Competition must have been every bit as competitive as on the Gt British Village Show.
If you haven't been before look at for the next fete and flower show at Horringer it really is a good afternoon.

West Suffolk Athletics Track Bury St Edmunds

6.15pm 6.4 miles in 51 mins 38 seconds

Week to date mileage 12 miles

Month to date mileage 84

Average weekly rate 30.3 miles

Average monthly rate 132

Year to date 862

Lifetime 10455

There was a very good turn out tonight at the track perhaps because of the good weather or did they know there was going to be an time trial? Anyway there seemed to be a good number of runners from Thetford AC which was good to see.

After my usual run down to the track I warmed up with 5 laps before finding out what the session was going to be from the coach Mike Graham. Tonight we did 2 sets of 3.30 at 10k pace with 45 second recoveries.

This was all a bit of a build up to the time trial at the end which for the women was 1500 and for the men the more traditional mile. I did poorly and ran a disappointing time of 7.10. i felt a bit hot tonight before the trial but excuses aside I am not getting any quicker with my times. However I am really not to worried the main thing is I am enjoying it as much as ever.

After a warm down lap I had a short jog home.

Moreton Hall Circular Run

5.30am 5.85 miles in 47 mins 56 seconds

Week to date mileage 5.85 miles

Month to date mileage 78

Average weekly rate 30.3 miles

Average monthly rate 132

Year to date 856

Lifetime 10449

A repeat of last weeks route which is a circular run setting out from Westley area I ran along York Rd , Albert St, Risbygate St through town to Looms Lane, Mustow St and Eastgate St. I then climbed up the long drag which is Mount Road before returning to town via Ottewill Road and Symonds Rd and Shakers Lane.

I was nearly a minute quicker than last week and I felt this was a good run. What is noticeable is the number of runners you see up Moreton Hall of an evening. With its off road pathways it is certainly popular.

Horringer Suffolk

8.15am 6.1 miles in 50 mins 35 seconds

Week to date mileage 35 miles

Month to date mileage 72

Average weekly rate 30.4 miles

Average monthly rate 132

Year to date 850

Lifetime 10443

After a good weeks mileage in the bag I decided on a short run today partly because I was too tired and also because 35 miles represents one of my best totals for a week this year.

Today was an out and back course out to Horringer but instead of venturing into Ickworth Park I carried on through the village passing the two pubs the Six Bells and the Beehive and reaching the last house in the village before turning for home.

Gt Barton Suffolk

8am 10 miles in 1 hr 25 mins 57 seconds

Week to date mileage 29 miles

Month to date mileage 66

Average weekly rate 30.3 miles

Average monthly rate 132

Year to date 844

Lifetime 10437

This morning I decided to venture out again to Gt Barton though this time from home. I repeated the same route though this time continued further along Green Lane turning past Holy Innocents Church at Gt Barton Suffolk.

From a traditional site in Suffolk of the village church I then saw something I haven't ever seen before except in zoos. I am not sure whether they are emu's or ostrich's but presume they are the latter as they are increasingly farmed for their meat. They are officially classed as a dangerous animal and can out run any human. Perhaps someone knows for sure emu or ostrich?

Continuing into Gt Barton I passed the old forge, I like the boards which are painted in a duckshell blue.

My turning point for home was reached at the Gt Barton village hall where the village sign is located.

Running home I passed a large field of tall purple flowers in a scrap of a field seemingly growing as weeds. No idea what they are but quite a pretty purple patch as you enter Bury from Gt Barton the A143.



A bit of chicken news for you. Two of our point of lay chickens are now laying and we are getting 2 eggs a day. Both the speckled hen and the blue bird are laying. To date we have had 14 eggs and they are beginning to repay the investment we made. at the end of May.

I would say we spent £500 to set ourselves up with chickens and it has been something I would recommend to anyone. You can of course set up at a lot lower cost than this this and currently it means that everyone of our eggs has cost us about £40!

We bought our hen house at Tillett Pet and Poultry from Beccles and we are very pleased with this house providing as it does a sturdy house with a run. The houses are very simple to set up but I think you can also get a delivery. I think the house was £350.

We bought our hens from Stebbing in Essex from Hens 4 Homes
You can buy a complete set up kit from here including the house, though we got every else that we required including food layer pellets and corn bedding feeders and of course chickens.

There is nothing quite like finding your own eggs in the hen house freshly laid and sometimes still warm. Boiled, poached and scrambled eggs are all getting popular and there is no need for us to buy eggs anymore. We have been using them in cakes as well and once our brown chicken Antony Worrall Thompson starts laying we will be up to about 20 eggs a week.

Cineworld Bury St Edmunds to Gt Barton

6.15pm miles in 50 mins 15 seconds

Week to date mileage 19 miles

Month to date mileage 56

Average weekly rate 30.1 miles

Average monthly rate 131

Year to date 834

Lifetime 10427

Whilst everyone else went to Cineworld to watch Shrek I had a run from the car park nearby out to Gt Barton. I ran out of Bury via Looms Lane,Mustow St and Eastgate St and then along the Barton Road which merges into Orttewell Road before joining the A143 road.

A short distance along here there is a off road track which looks like it head towards the most extreme edge of the Moreton Hall development. I took this and for a while it is a pleasant dirt and sand track.

It eventually joins Green Lane and once I was close to Holy Innocents Church at Gt Barton I judged I must have run approximately 3 miles with 25 minutes on the watch.

I turned and followed the same route back to the car at Cineworld. However rather than run an even pace back I decided to do some intervals. I ran 6 x 30 seconds with a 1.30 minute recovery. Nothing too taxing but just gave the run some variety.

West Suffolk Athletics Track Bury St Edmunds

6.15pm miles in 54 mins 46 seconds

Week to date mileage 13 miles

Month to date mileage 50

Average weekly rate 30.2 miles

Average monthly rate 131

Year to date 828

Lifetime 10421

I ran down to the track for tonights track session and warmed up with a further 5 laps.

The session tonight was a good one which allowed no chance to settle into a rhythm.

It consisted of a pyramid type set of intervals - 3min 30 secs at 10k pace followed by a 400 metres then a 3.30 with a 300 metres and then a 3.30 with a 200 metres.

30 seconds recovery in between efforts before a recovery of 5 minutes then a second set which was in reverse so we started with a 3.30 and a 200 meaning we finished with a 3.30 and a 400 metres.

After a lap warm down I jogged home.

Moreton Hall Circular Run

5.30pm 5.85 miles in 48 mins 45 seconds

Week to date mileage 5.9 miles

Month to date mileage 43

Average weekly rate 30.1 miles

Average monthly rate 131

Year to date 821

Lifetime 10414

This route was partly circular setting out from Westley area I ran along York Rd , Albert St, Risbygate St through town to Looms Lane, Mustow St and Eastgate St. I then climbed up the long drag which is Mount Road before returning to town via Ottewill Road and Symonds Rd and Shakers Lane.

The rest of the route being a repeat. I measured the course as being a 5.85 mile distance.

Hyde Wood and Fornham Circular Run Suffolk

4.45pm 10.2 miles in 1 hr 25 mins 25 seconds

Week to date mileage 31 miles

Month to date mileage 37

Average weekly rate 30 miles

Average monthly rate 131

Year to date 815

Lifetime 10408

Before setting out on this run I measured the course using MapMyRun.com. I was looking to run a 10 mile course and this one is slightly more so was ideal.

It was quite warm and I missed the Wimbledon final which apparently was a classic match to do this run. Anyway I had more interest in the Tour De France which this year started in London and is one of the great events of the year.


Hyde Wood was slightly cooler to run around the perimeter with a little shade offer by the trees. My time of 8.20 miles seemed about right and I was tired but pleased with the effort and run.

Downters Wood Ickworth Park Suffolk

8.15am 10 miles in 1 hr 22 mins 48 seconds

Week to date mileage 21 miles

Month to date mileage 27

Average weekly rate 30 miles

Average monthly rate 130

Year to date 805

Lifetime 10398

A morning out and back run to Ickworth Park. I decided just to run out for 45 minutes and return. My route was through Horringer Farm and along Westley Lane and into Ickworth park.
I followed the main path to Ickworth House and then down to St Mary's Church and then did a slight detour around the Canal lake.

I continued on a path way over a cattle grid and up hill to wards the edge of Chevington besides the Downters Wood.

Today I saw 2 other runners also having a go around the park. The weather is absolutely ideal for running at the moment being sunny but still cool and not close like many summer days.

Glemsford Suffolk

5pm 6 miles in 50 mins

Week to date mileage 11 miles

Month to date mileage 17

Average weekly rate 29.8 miles

Average monthly rate 129

Year to date 795

Lifetime 10388

Glemsford the ford over the gleaming river (Ekwall) Glemsford is a village which is set away from the main through road the A1092 up in a hill and looks down over the River Stour and the River Glem.

It is about 12 miles from Bury St Edmunds and is well worth a visit. I parked in the centre of the village off Egremont Street.

After running up and down the narrow main street of Glemsford I decided to follow a track across farmland on the Stour Valley Path .

I followed a path through a wheat field which was hard going but wonderful until it came to an abrupt halt and I couldn't tell which direction to go so apart from trampling the field down I had o option but to return.


I followed another path which took me down to Willow Street on the Cavendish Rd. This was a fair sized hill looking at the OS map it rises from 40 to 75 metres which is significant for Suffolk.
This is quite beautiful and a must for a return as I realise I have only visited a small part of Glemsford which is quite an elongated village seemingly incorporating another hamlet called Brook Street with its own place name sign.

Glemsford has an excellent web site full of local history and modern events. From the road names you can also see a lot of connection with the production of lace and linen, I must return to find out more and this time visit the church.

Horringer School /Hospital /Cullum rd Newmarket rd Bury St Edmunds

5.3pm 5.1 miles in 41 mins 41 seconds

Week to date mileage 5.1 miles

Month to date mileage 11

Average weekly rate 29.9 miles

Average monthly rate 130

Year to date 789

Lifetime 10382

After a couple of day with a bit of a bug which left me feeling rather weak I was sufficiently recovered to venture for a run. However not to either run at the track or at the Sudbury 10k which I had really hoped to do.

As it was 5 minutes into this run I was absolutely soaked their was rain, thunder and lightning and to cap it hailstones in two bursts which pinged of my skin and gave a little sting. The ground was covered in hail and looked like a winter scene instead of July.

I have also recently calculated the distance of this run more accurately and find I have overestimated the distance. It is in fact 5.1 instead of 5.4 miles.

13 Jun 07 42.33
25 May 07 41.40
9 May 07 41.56
26 Apr 07 41.18
22 Mar 07 40.33
9 Mar 07 42.16
26 Feb 07 43.37
14 Feb 07 43.53
29 Jan07 42.46
3 Jan 07 42.13
19 Dec 06 41.50
7 Dec 06 43.45
7 Nov 06 42.33
10 Nov 06 42.02
30 Oct 06 42.0
3 Oct 06 41.15
19 Sep 06 41.39
8 Sep 06 41.01
1 Aug 06 41.45
28 July 06 42.25
17 July 06 42.46
13 June 06 42.08
11 May 06 43.21
27 Mar 06 42.41
8 Mar 06 42.13
24 Feb 06 42.33
16 Feb 06 44.0
10 Feb 06 41.50
2 Feb 06 42.38
17 Jan 06 42.50
10 Jan 06 42.52
1 Jan 06 41.45
14 Dec 05 42.47

Ipswich Music Festival 2007

Today was the 16th Ipswich Music Festival Day at Christchurch Park Ipswich. I think we have been visiting annually for about 5 years now and for a free festival it is a great day. Apart from a car park fee of £3 there is no cost.

There were I believe 6 stages and from 12pm to about 7pm live music of all types from acoustic,punk,rock,country,folk and jazz.

This year we decided to camp out at the Suffolk Radio Stage mainly I think because the line up of bands looked good, to hear the Sgt pepper album played by a copy band and to hear Stephen Foster. ( if there can be a radio DJ as good as John Peel then Stephen Foster is doing a pretty good job).

That said we still moved around some of the other stages as well.

At 12pm we saw the Caution Horses .

The singer Andy Heasman sounds uncannily like the lead singer from the Beautiful South Paul Heaton. We were just discussing this when Andy Heasman mentioned this himself. I don't know if he always drops this in but there is no need to mention it really. They were good and we were almost tempted to buy their album Accidental Music. I don't think we did partly because they were first act on and they rushed off fairly quickly. There was only a small crowd for them and it must be a bit disappointing having to go on first knowing this.

Next on were Mohawk

who went down very well with the crowd as the numbers built up even to the point of their being a bit of a mosh at the end. A 3 piece band from Felixstowe they were a good rock band all of them entertaining. Well worth watching and loud!

I popped off for a short while just to catch Smokin Hogs on the SGR FM stage. They are a rhythm and blues band and looked good but just need a bit more stage presence to grab the crowd attention.

By this point the rest of the family had popped into Ipswich Town centre for some shopping so I was routed with the bags and chairs at the Suffolk Radio Stage. next on were The Giants not really my cup of tea but obviously a lot of talent and a good singer.

Next on were Words and Music a two piece who had been built up by Stephen Foster and Suffolk Radio as the star attraction on their stage for the day as they were playing the Beatles album St Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. I have to say I was disappointed mainly by the bands negative vibes and the patter between songs, maybe it was nerves but they gave the impression that they were just learning the tracks. There were lots of pauses while they waited for the recorded backing track with the instrumentals to kick in and it became a little unclear what they were playing and what was recorded almost like a karaoke . Probably a bit harsh as this set coincided with a heavy shower and recreating the Beatles sound is not easy.

At this point I decided on a switch of stage and down to the CSV stage which had on a band I have not seen before called Danger's Close

Really enjoyed this band one of the highlights of the day for me. Rip roaring punk music when I saw the bands name in the gig guide I had hoped they were something like Penetration and had got their name from Danger Signs but clearly not. They play there own music and and you can tune in for a listen on their site on this link. My camera is not very good for videos but I had a go here but the camera couldn't cope and pick up the sound very well at all. With apologies to the band I have included it anyway.

After this were the highlight of the day for me Red Flag 77 .

A really enjoyable band with a real spirit and interest in looking after their fans. Loved the football crazy song and the blow up footballs and the lovely big bottle of booze shared by Rikki Flag with the crowd. I have loaded the video but again sound quality is poor but gives you an idea of the crowd and the fun of the event. I am going to have a look to buy their cd's .

Another good festival, if you haven't been before then I suggest you consider going next year.

Bury St Edmunds Town Centre

8.30am 6 miles in 50 mins 27 seconds

Week to date mileage 34 miles

Month to date mileage 6

Average weekly rate 30.2 miles

Average monthly rate 131

Year to date 784

Lifetime 10377

I decided on a short easy run as time was limited. With no particular course in mind I decided on a run around Bury. I still find I see things which I haven't spotted before and it is a beautiful town despite all the current changes around the cattle market.

I set off towards town along Out Westgate Street and St Peters Church which is rather hidden behind the fish and chip shop and the Elephant and Castle Pub.

I headed along Cullum Road and into the water meadows to see what the effect of the recent rains had been. Although the water levels are high it didn't appear too flooded and I have seen footpaths flooded recently but not today. Not sure what this bird is but it looked like a puffy youngster.


In Southgate Street is the Abbey Hotel which dates to the 13th century. There is an Oast House here where there was once the Southgate Brewery.

Just up from here is St Mary's Square and the site of the Greene King Brewery boxes in one corner.

There must be a book that could be written about this square there being so much history and famous people who have lived here or have visited. Once the home of the horse market in Bury St Edmunds, it was also the home of Thomas Clarkson the abolitionist, Dorothey Wordsworth stayed here when visiting Henry Crabb Robinson who lived in Southgate Street and in recent times the home of Kelvin Davis once an Ipswich Town goalkeeper now at Southampton.

From here I ran through the graveyard and into the Abbey Gardens. The secret garden with its central sundial, roses and heather was looking wonderful.

As part of the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown said to be the birthplace of America there is now a gardening based recreation of the Godspeed one of the 3 ships which sailed to America and was captained by a Suffolk man Bartholomew Gosnold.

Bartholomew Gosnold’s daughter Martha was baptised in St Edmundsbury Cathedral and is said to be buried in an unmarked grave in the great churchyard alongside it. Gosnold named Martha’s Vineyard after his infant daughter Martha who had died before he embarked on his first exploratory voyage to the New World in 1601

Around the Abbey Gardens before back through the town centre past Moyse's Hall.
One of the doorways with the bars must date from the days when this was a gaol and a police station.

I spent the last 20 minutes of the run up and down Risbygate Street and Newmarket Road. An easy run but good mileage for the week totaling 34 miles.