Syerston, Elston, East Stoke and the River Trent, 24th August 2025

Dave's 8½ mile  walk took eighteen Ramblers on an interesting walk from the church in Syerston and across fields to Elston to visit its medieval chapel and take an early drinks stop.  More fields took us to Moor Lane which we followed to East Stoke to join the Battle of Stoke Field Trail described along the way by NCC's colourful and informative display boards.

After passing Stoke Hall (just visible over the wall), we visited St Oswald's Church and then followed the Trail to Red Gutter (see later) and on to the banks of the River Trent opposite Fiskerton for lunch.  Afterwards, we walked along excellent fishermen's paths as far as Hazelford Weir before climbing up Trent Lane to the old Fosse at Eden Hall, then towards Elston to retrace our steps to Syerston.

The start at All Saints Church, Syerston

Setting out on good tracks towards Elston

All Saints Church, Elston.  Elston was the home of Erasmus Darwin who was a great influence on Charles, his grandson

Fine mural at school in Elston

Elston Chapel, a Grade I listed building, is thought to have been the chapel of a medieval leper hospital dedicated to St Leonard

12th century Norman south doorway with zigzag decoration

Interior of Elston Chapel with late Georgian rustic pews, a gallery, a communion table, a pulpit and several layers of wall paintings

East Stoke - studying one of the display boards explaining the background to the battle

Battle of Stoke Field - background

The Wars of the Roses was fought between the Houses of York and Lancaster from 1455 to 1487. In 1485, Henry Tudor (Henry VII) defeated Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field, becoming king and uniting England. Despite victory, Henry’s rule was insecure and in Summer 1487, John de la Pole (Earl of Lincoln) supported a boy named Lambert Simnel, claiming he was Edward, Earl of Warwick (a Yorkist heir). Warwick was actually imprisoned in the Tower of London, but the rebels hoped people would accept Simnel’s claim.

Rebel Movements - Lincoln landed at Furness in Lancashire with ~8,000 troops (German/Swiss mercenaries, Irish fighters, and Englishmen), crossed Yorkshire, then the River Trent on 15 June and camped at Fiskerton and East Stoke, preparing for battle.

Royal Army Movements - Henry VII heard of the Yorkist landing while at Kenilworth Castle. His army advanced slowly through the Midlands to intercept the rebels and on 13th–14th June his forces camped south of Nottingham, awaiting reinforcements led by Lord Stanley. On the night before the battle, Henry stayed at Radcliffe on Trent.

Henry’s army defeated the Yorkist forces after fierce fighting and thousands of the rebel army were killed, especially as they were driven back towards the Trent down a ravine now known as Red Gutter. The victory secured Henry VII’s throne, effectively ending large-scale dynastic conflict in England.

View over the wall - Stoke Hall, a Grade II listed mansion, now a wedding venue

St Oswald's Church, East Stoke

Memorial stone commemorating the Battle of Stoke Field lists prominent figures who died in the battle, including John de la Pole, Earl of Lincoln, Sir Thomas Geraldine, and Colonel Martin Schwartz, along with 7,000 other English, Irish and German soldiers

Memorial to Baron Julian Pauncefote (1828 - 1902), Ambassador to the United States (1893-1902) who was buried in East Stoke

Historical details about the battle and the burials found in the area

Red Gutter, a ravine leading down from the battlefield to the Trent and site of a massacre

Lunch spot across from Fiskerton Ferry jetty - still in use today.  References to a ferry at Fiskerton were first mentioned in the Domesday Book.  Horses and carts used to be able to ford the river so Fiskerton was the main river crossing point on a principal route between Newark and Nottingham.  Across the Trent is The Bromley pub

Hazelford Weir - taken on another day from the left bank of the Trent

And back to Syerston church

Ropsley and the Humbys, 17th August 2025

Starting in High Street Ropsley, Scott's 8-mile walk took 11 members past St Peter's Church and through woods and across arable fields to Great Humby, the former seat of the Brownlow family until they built and moved to Belton House.   Ropsley was the birthplace of Bishop Richard Foxe (1448 1528) who founded Grantham Grammar School where Isaac Newton was a scholar. His birthplace is marked by a plaque on a former inn close to the Green Man.

Thanks John for the photos.

St Peter's Church, Ropsley

Kirton Wood

Beehives in Boothby Little Wood

Drinks stop in Ingoldsby Wood

Chapel of St Anne, Great Humby, 1682. Lunch

Impressive collection of railway memorabilia at The Lodge, Great Humby

Consultation on Ramblers Governance changes, August 2025

Ramblers Board of Trustees initiated a review of the organisation’s governance some time ago and a summary of the latest stage of this is shown below.  This this has been discussed in a series of Zoom meetings with Area Chairs, Secretaries and General Council members but it has only been in the last week that Groups have been kept informed.

Summary of Ramblers' Governance Review

The Ramblers’ Governance Review proposes a new model to streamline structures, boost engagement, and modernise decision-making.  Groups would become the primary organising units, with simplified constitutions, direct central funding, and core volunteer roles.  Areas would evolve into flexible networks without formal governance, while Scotland and Wales retain national autonomy. The Board of Trustees would have up to 12 members through a mix of elections and skills-based appointments, with term limits. Annual regional/national gatherings would replace the motions process, fostering discussion and collaboration. All members of one year’s standing would gain voting rights, with trustee elections held online before a streamlined AGM.

Nottinghamshire Groups like VBR have been asked for comments but on a timescale  that precludes extensive discussion with members, so the VBR Committee has written a response which is published below.

Summary of VBR comments on changes to Ramblers’ organisation

1. As far as VBR is aware, no one in our Group is party to the discussions that have taken place in RamblersNET discussion groups. So we have seen no evidence of the apparent widespread discontent with the current structure and the reasons for changing everything. Our comments therefore are based on members’ personal experience.

2. The change in structure is unlikely to affect VBR Group to any great extent. Many members are interested only in Ramblers’ charitable objectives anyway and most of the rest are disinterested in Area and do not attend Area AGMs.

3. ‘Gatherings’ and ‘Networks’ have been proposed rather than county-based structures . There is little clarity how these would work. Would they be run by Zoom meetings or face-to-face discussions as they occur at Area meetings? Would the distance to travel be prohibitive? The funding needs much more clarification.

4. VBR has an important line of communication with Ramblers CO via Nottinghamshire Area and therefore feel that we have more influence than if we act on our own.  Area meetings are our main opportunity to learn about other groups’ activities and some sort of gathering must continue.

5. Many of our Ramblers feel disconnected with Central Office and find communication unsatisfactory. There appears to be little understanding of what happens at Group level.

6. It is particularly important for those members that walk with us, that the ROW work continues and that local authorities are held to account.  If this work is not done by e.g. Nottinghamshire Area and some sort of cluster is set up, new lines of communication and accountability need to be set up – and quickly.

Cropwell Bishop, Cropwell Butler and Tithby, 10th August 2025

Val took 17 VBR members and visitors on a 5.9 mile walk from the Memorial Hall in Cropwell Bishop along the Grantham Canal to Fosse Bridge and on to Cropwell Butler for a drinks stop.  Field paths then took us to Tithby and then back to Cropwell Bishop in fine weather.

Val's briefing at the start

Setting off on the Grantham Canal

Crossing the Grantham Canal at Lock 11

Settling ponds next to new development in Cropwell Bishop.  Note solar panels .. or not

Start: Memorial Hall car park by the Grantham canal, Nottingham Road, Cropwell Bishop,  SK679355

Bradgate Park and the Three Peaks of Leicestershire, 3rd August 2025

Elaine's 8.7 mile walk took fifteen Ramblers from Swithland Woods into Bradgate Park and up to Old John Tower (Peak 1, 216m) then down to cross Lingdale Golf Club.  A gradual climb took us up to Beacon Hill (Peak 2, 245m) with views in all directions.  We then dropped down to the Beacon Hill Country Park cafe for lunch before walking on to Windmill Hill (Peak 3, 147m).  After walking through Woodhouse Eaves to view the Forest Rock geopark and church, we re-enterd Swithland Woods to walk back to the start.

Thanks Terry for the photos.

The start in Swithland Woods

Bradgate Park map

Origin of rocks in Bradgate Park

Climbing up to the first peak

Built by the Greys in 1784, Old John is, by local legend, a memorial to John, an estate worker killed in a bonfire accident during celebrations of the 21st birthday of the future sixth Earl of Stamford

Old Jan, Old Rab, Old Steve and Old Phil sitting on Old John

Toposcope next to Old John.  Views of Melton Mowbray – 15 miles, Burrough Hill – 14¾ miles, Leicester Cathedral – 5¾ miles, Scraptoft – 8¾ miles, Rothley Temple – 9¼ miles
Tilton on the Hill – 14¼ miles, Billesdon Coplow – 12½ miles

Toposcope on Beacon Hill.
Distant views of Boston Stump, Derby, Nottingham Leicester, Loughborough and Lincoln

Distant view of Ratcliffe on Soar Power Station

Old Man of Beacon Hill - from certain angles

Workshop of Peter Leadbetter, local chainsaw artist in residence ...

... and some of his wood carvings in Beacon Hill Park

Beacon Hill Country Park Cafe - lunch

Surprisingly brief deluge

View from Windmill Hill looking towards Nottingham

Stone base of the old post mill on Windmill Hill.  Open but platform inside decaying and dangerous

Tractor outside The Curzon Arms, Woodhouse Eaves

Fine stone cottages

Original post mill and large model on Main Street, Woodhouse Eaves

Known as Forest Rock, Stone Hole or Church Cave, this unusual site used to be a hive of activity in the 19th century with stone being extracted to construct new buildings in Woodhouse Eaves

Fine locally-sourced stonework at St Paul's Church, Woodhouse Eaves

Start: Swithland Wood South Car Park, SK537118
Distance: 8.7 miles; ascent: 380m