One of my Xmas presents this year was the Contour Road Book of England (South East Division) by Harry Inglis, printed in 1898. It details over 400 cycle tourist routes, all ridden and recorded by the author. For example:
Route 364 Oundle to Wansford
As this route was close to home I thought that it would be an excellent choice for my first “re-trace”. Bearing in mind that some roads will have been changed in the intervening 115 years since the book was published, I will allow myself to adapt each route slightly in order to avoid particularly busy roads as long as no Principal Objects of Interest (POI) are missed. Also I will make slight detours as necessary to include POIs that are listed but not actually on the direct route.
My steed for today was a late 1950’s fixed, complete with a well used Nelson longflap saddlebag c1978.
Leaving Oundle Market, follow the road out of town heading north. My first deviation comes at 1.1 miles, just before Elmington on the A605, a left which takes you through Tansor. In Tansor, opposite the church is Tansor Court, a fine looking building, that stands on the site of the old rectory. Tansor Court was built in around 1870 by a wealthy rector, but sold in 1903 shortly after which a new rectory was built (now called the Lindens).
St Mary’s church Tansor
View of Tansor Court from churchyard
Continuing on through Tansor you will reach Fotheringhay at 3.7 miles with a splendid view of The Church of St Mary and All Saints on your left and the motte of Fotheringhay Castle on your right. Richard III was born at the castle in 1452, and Mary. Queen of Scots executed here in 1587.
Collegiate Church of All Saints at Fotheringhay
The motte of Fotheringhay Castle is where Richard III was born and Mary Queen of Scots was executed
Turning right in Fotheringhay towards Nassington but taking the first right at the top of the hill takes you into Elton where we rejoin the original route once again. In Elton we take a right just after the public house and after climbing a short hill, turn left at the T junction which puts us on the road to Wansford. There are no other POIs on the route, and although Wansford is a pretty village the POIs listed for Wansford are in fact further on in Castor. The first of these is the Castor parish church of St Kyneburgha, with a striking spire built almost 900 years ago. The second is Durobrivæ, listed as a roman station. Durobrivæ is not actually in Castor itself but on the line of the old Roman road Ermine Street, and now adjacent to the A1 with no obvious way to cycle to it.
Castor church of St Kyneburgha
Total distance: 10.6 miles with 113m ascent, 128m descent, and max gradient 4.9%.