Cawston

Charles and Joy Boldero enjoy a comfortable three-mile walk around Cawston in Norfolk.

Eastgate is situated on a minor road off the B1145, one mile south-east of Cawston.

This is a nice and easy three-mile walk, with good paths and no stiles en route and an excellent pub three-quarters of the way round the walk. Thanks to the landlord of The Rat Catchers Inn, EDP walkers can use the car park at his pub, preferably on the part opposite the pub car park.

At these cross-roads we walked along the country lane, with The Rat Catchers on our right, northwards towards Cawston. At a new five-iron bar gate and fencing by a line of trees we turned left between the posts.

We kept along the grass path through the wood. It became a field edge path. We turned right for 23 paces along the lane, then left into a field by a wood stump. We kept left along the field edge with pigs in the adjoining field.

At the boundary we went right, with the road on our left. At the white board sign, we went into the country lane, walking northwards, and ignored a signed path on the left.

By a 30mph sign we turned right into the churchyard. Leaving by the other gate, we crossed Church Lane, then turned left into New Street and then went right into Back Lane.

At the junction we crossed the road and went along the road opposite. About 50yds before the speed cancellation sign, we turned left through a hedge gap, walking along a good path across the field.

We continued along the path with the bank on our left. It became a wider one beside the field edge. This path then ended in a rough track leading to the road where we turned right along it to The Rat Catchers pub.

t PLACES OF INTEREST:

1. St Agnes, Cawston is a magnificent church to visit. Sir Michael de la Pole, 2nd Earl of Suffolk, organised the building in the 14th century. The Earl's money came from sheep, so it is appropriate to have the saint as Agnes as her emblem is a lamb. The stone for the 119ft tower came from France to a wharf at Coltishall. The hammer beam roof is especially fine and the angels with their outspread wings spanning eight feet are best seen through binoculars. At the east end of the nave is a figure of St Agnes holding a lamb and a frond. The rood screen is another treasure of the church, with Flemish-style paintings. The pulpit is finely carved and has a 'wine glass' base which is set in special stone. Also, look out for the wall painting on the south transept. Just the other side of the church wall stands the memorial to the crew of 'Lucky Strike'. This aircraft was flying back from a raid on submarine pens at Kiel in January, 1944. After dislodging a stuck bomb on board and losing 400 gallons of fuel in the process, 'Lucy Strike' made it back to Norfolk but crashed at Church Farm, Cawston with the loss of two of the crew.

Cawston is famous for a duel, and on the Norwich road stands the Duel Stone to mark it. Sir Henry Hobart, of Blicking Hall, represented King's Lynn in the last Parliament of King Charles II. His duelling opponent was Oliver Le Neve of Great Witchingham Hall. Sir Henry thought that Le Neve had spread nasty rumours about him and blamed him for losing his parliamentary seat. So on August 20, 1698, the duel took place and, sadly, Sir Henry was killed. Lady Hobart later took Le Neve to court for murder, but lost the case against him.

During the summer of 1771 a King's officer was crossing Cawston Heath when he spotted five mounted smugglers. Two of the horses were loaded with eight halk-ankers of brandy, and three with tea. The officer followed them for six miles, but as he had no one to assist him, he only managed to seize two half-ankers! A half-anker measured about five gallons.

Many years ago, weaving was the main industry in Cawston, the Flemings brought the craft here from Holland, hence many of the houses in the main street have a Dutch look about them

2. The Rat Catchers Inn is a very popular pub, a very friendly place to sup a pint or two and to enjoy one of their truly memorable dishes. Charles had a pint of Woodfordes Eastern. We readily recommend the Rat Catchers if you really enjoy excellent cuisine.

t MAP REFERENCES:

OS Landranger 133 Explorer 238:

143225,139231,136231, 132232, 132236, 133238,136237, 139233,146227, 143225.