Hanbury Walk part 2. "St Stephen's Church"

A slightly different Blog-post today, the second part of my Hanbury Circular Walk. Hanbury has lots of associations with The Archers, the Radio 4 farming soap opera. I've put some extra Archers details at the bottom - regular blog-readers,  feel free to skip them if you don't share my passion!

This is the church of St Mary the Virgin in Hanbury. Also known as Stephen's in The Archers

It's a church modified and extended in many different periods, as you can see by the different window shapes and blocked-up doors.

The old part of the churchyard is beautiful: the daffodils were just starting (this was on Thursday).

The church is on a steep hill, with fabulous views on a clear day. It wasn't clear, though! (It's a shame because I would have been able to see the Malverns, the Cotswolds and Bredon Hill - Lakey Hill in Ambridge)

Inside, the church is light and airy. Most of the windows are clear glass.

There are patches of damp on the wall, which oddly appeared after the roof was repaired. 

In the side chapel, the central window has St George slaying a dragon

Leaving by the tower end,...

...my route was signposted out of the gate ... 

...and down a lane.

Then across this field. This is looking back towards the church. (Yes, I overtook the two men seen earlier and also here!)

I reached a splendid avenue of trees, which were to lead on to my next destination: Hanbury Hall, which belongs to the National Trust. Or Lower Loxley Hall, if  you are an Archers fan!

More about the Hall tomorrow.


 Meanwhile, here's the rest about the Archers.
A wonderful lady got the scrap book out for me to look at. It's called "Hanbury Church - for sixty years the Archers' Church"

Inside are lots of articles, old and new. Phil and Jill Archer's wedding was recorded here, as were most of the others, including that of Emma and Will.

Pictures of the Change Ringing competition which was recorded in 2008, where the ringers were asked not to sound perfect!!! The bells are recorded here fairly frequently.

My pictures don't do justice to the book and its interesting entries and cuttings.

There are wider exhibitions in the church too. There's some interesting stuff about the wars, and village life. I really would recommend a visit if you are in the area.

One thing though - the Church was nowhere near a river, so the recent Archers' floods would not have affected it at all.

Today's walk: The Hanbury Circular is well-signposted. It is part canal walk, part fields and woods, and it passes the church used as St Stephens in the Archers. It then passes National Trust's Hanbury Hall (good tea room) and heads back to the canal. It is described as 6.75 miles long, but Runkeeper made it 7.5 miles.