Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
for nearly 300 years. But in 1538 the phial was taken to London for analysis and the
contents pronounced as nothing more than 'honey clarified and coloured with saffron'.
The following year, during the dissolution of the monasteries, the abbey was closed,
its ornaments taken away, and the buildings sold to a private dealer in 1542. Now
only the ivy-clad archways, crumbling masonry and clearly defined foundations re-
main. Nearby, on the opposite side of the lane, stands the 12th-century Church of St
Nicholas, with a number of medieval wall paintings that make the building also worthy
of a visit.
BECKBURY CAMP
To the east of Hailes Abbey, Beckbury Camp is the site of another Iron Age hill fort of
more than 4 acres (1½ hectares). It consisted of a single ditch and rampart, but the
ditch has since been filled, although along the east side of the rampart its position can
still be identified. Located on the scarp edge, the site would have been comparatively
easy to defend.
Turn left to walk along the field boundary, with big views into the Vale of
Evesham, then bear right at the far side, still along the left-hand margin
of the field. Pass through a gap in the wall and resume direction towards
a little woodland where you come onto a crossing track (a former sheep
drove-road). Bear left along the track (known as Campden Lane) for about
½ mile (800m), passing on the way a few farm buildings and a sorry-look-
ing corrugated-iron shed on staddle stones.
The track brings you to the B4077 at Stumps Cross (grid ref: 076304).
Do not go onto the road; instead, turn left round a wall, go through a gate
and follow the left-hand wall heading north-east to the lip of the escarp-
ment at the end of a line of trees. Here there is a seat with a view. Now
descend the slope to pass well to the left of a house, then cross several
meadows linked by waymarked gates or stiles to a track by Glebe Farm.
Passing the farm to your left continue down the track and onto a metalled
road in the farming hamlet of Wood Stanway (accommodation).
Turn right past Wood Stanway House, walk along the left-hand boundar-
ies of successive low-lying fields, and emerge onto the B4077 once more
on the outskirts of Stanway (sometimes known as Church Stanway to
avoid confusion with Wood Stanway). Go left for about 40 metres, turn
right to cross a small meadow, then continue on a footpath which brings
you past a blacksmith's workshop and the remains of a watermill, and then
onto another narrow lane in the hamlet of
Stanway
(accommodation).
