This is a short family-friendly route around the heart of Sutton Benger village, pointing out places of historical interest.
This trail provides more information about places that are listed on the two 'Welcome' signs, one located on the Village Hall and one in Draycot Cerne.
This is a circular cross-country walk from the Village Hall, to Gate Farm and then to Chissell Brook, and back via Sutton Lane Meadows to the Village Hall.
This is a walk from the Village Hall, to the Draycot Park entrance, to Draycot Cerne, and return.
This is a walk from the Village Hall, to Sutton Lane, back along the High Street and Seagry Road to La Flambé, then along the footpath (the old Barrett Lane) to the B4069 bridge over the River Avon, and then into Christian Malford. Return via the Christian Malford meadows to the Avon Weir, back across the Avon to Sutton Lane, and along Sutton Lane to return to the Village Hall.
This walk takes you past various locations associated with the Romano-Saxon history of Sutton Benger; but note that there is no visible evidence of this history. Also, close to the walk, are remains of pillboxes from World War II; but please remember to stay on Public Rights of Way at all times.
This a long walk, uphill from Sutton Benger along Seagry Road, to cross the M4, left along the footpaths to Harding's Farm, into Upper Seagry along Scotland Road and Henn Lane, to Goss Croft Hall, then back through Upper Seagry along the roads to Seagry Hill, returning to Sutton Benger Village Hall.
As an alternative, you could start this walk from Goss Croft Hall, to Sutton Benger, returning to Upper Seagry via Harding's Farm.
As can be seen from the 1839 map, the entrance to Park Lane used to be a lot wider, and there was a ‘village pound’ in the entrance. Most houses had their own chickens and pigs, and stray animals found in the street were put in the ‘pound’ until their owners came back from work to claim them.
The Old Bakery used to be behind No 5 Park Lane and the ovens remain in the garden to this day. One hundred years ago it was owned by the Heath Brothers. In the 1930s there were bread deliveries to each house every day, including Sunday, on an old black bicycle with a basket holder.
The bakery business closed, but No 5 Park Lane opened as another village shop (White & Chalmers), closing in 1986.
The bread ovens of the Old Bakery were still being used to cook turkeys for villagers as late as the 1960s.
Opposite No 5 is a pair of cottages, just behind the Old School House. The crest at the top shows that it is one of several houses in the village that were built by the Draycot Estate between about 1850 and 1910. Several of them have a date showing when they were built; this is one of the earliest, with a date of 1868. Bramley Cottage, next to the alley, was where the village school teacher used to live.
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