Karl’s repair was finished by 11, so we decided to just nip
along to Grafton Regis, we set off at about 11:30 through open countryside with
views of Grafton Regis in the distance the church just visible
we are in sheep
country with lots of lambs, now growing well, and sheep grazing in the fields and meadows.
We moored just before bridge 57 which carries local traffic
to the village and I had a bite to eat.
I wandered off to have a look around later in the afternoon,
down the towpath and over the bridge and then a short uphill walk to the very
tiny historic village.
 |
| Looking back down at the Canal from halfway up the hill to the village |
In 1464 Elizabeth Woodville who was born in Grafton married
Edward IV in the village.
In 1529 unable to obtain an annulment of his marriage
to Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII finally parted company with Cardinal Wolsey
here and began the process of setting up The Church of England. Henry spent
part of almost every summer of his reign here, and made the Woodville’s manor
house into a palace the remains of which were destroyed in the civil war siege
of 1643. Here endeth the history lesson for the day.
Saint Mary The Virgin parish church of Grafton Regis
dominates the tiny village
which sadly now has the busy A508 running across it
and forms the third side of a triangle encompassing the village. The village
pub ‘The White Hart’ is facing this main highway. I didn’t venture into this
one.
More examples of thatched cottages including this one
and
‘Grove Cottage circa 1600’ in Church Lane.
Mooring view from the side hatch and opposite.
Total today: 1.5 miles : 0 Locks
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