Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The George Amey Centre for outdoor education operates from a former lengthsman's
house. The Plough serves those in need of liquid refreshment.
Before Fenny Stratford there is a house with a garden seat which uses a cartwheel as its
back, attractive to look at but probably less comfortable to use, especially with its large boss
in the centre. The lock is also awkward to use as it has a swing bridge across the centre of the
chamber. On the other hand, the rise is only 300mm, the smallest on the canal. The bottom
pound leaked but only near the surface of the canal. Rather than solve the leakage it was de-
cided to install an extra lock and accept a slightly lower level in the bottom pound. The old
Grade II northern engine pumphouse was originally steam powered and has a craft centre,
gift shop and tea room, run by handicapped youths, or the Red Lion is close by.
The Bletchley to Bedford railway crosses and the following bridge is on the line of the
Roman Watling Street, accompanied by the Bridge Inn. On November 11th six cannons will
be heard, the Fenny Poppers, celebrating the dedication of the red brick St Martin's church.
It was built in 1724-1730 in early Gothic revival style. The tradition was begun in 1760 by
antiquarian Dr Browne Willis, the lord of the manor.
A golf course and deer farm are passed to reach Soulbury Three Locks or the Stoke Ham-
mond Three. The Grand Union at the Three Locks public house is located in the former
stables. The area is haunted by a woman and child, the noises of a lock are heard operating at
night, pram wheels squeak and a woman calls for her drowned family.
There are plenty of very fine views over the River Ouzel valley near the border between
Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire, interspersed with gorse as the canal begins to follow the
river's exaggerated meanders.
Leighton Buzzard is a 17th-19th century town of half-timbered houses including the 17th
century Holly Lodge. It has a Georgian high street plus a pentagonal market cross of 1400.
All Saints' church of 1288 has a 58m central spire, 15th century wooden angel roof, sanc-
tus bell, 13th century font, misericords, brasses, medieval lectern and fine stained glass by
Kempe and others. Medieval graffiti is to be seen throughout the church, the most famous of
which is the 'Simnel' scratching on a pillar. This is thought to depict a scene from the loc-
al story of Simon and Nellie, who created the first Simnel cake. The bounds are beaten on
Rogation Day. The town name may be from the Old English
leac-tun
, a vegetable farm, be-
longing to the Buzzard family.
The Grove Lock cottage has been converted to a public house. At the following Church
Lock, the 14th century chapel with bell turret has been converted to a private house. There is
a large flooded sand pit to the left. The Chilterns are becoming more prominent ahead. Bury
Farm has an equestrian centre.
The locks on the ascent of the Chilterns are mostly in open country. Slapton Lock or
Neale's is not too far from Slapton, where the Perpendicular church has notable 15-16th cen-
tury brasses.
