Route and Points of Interest (CARE SEE NOTE)

1. The walk starts from the car park at the back of Laxton visitor centre. Laxton is first mentioned in the Domesday book in 1086. What makes Laxton so interesting is that it is a community that still farms on the principles used at that time. The system used is called the Open Field System and is the last surviving in England with some 483 acres still farmed this way. The three fields are called South, West and Mill fields. At first glance the large open fields look like the large fields of today with their enclosure hedges removed but on closer inspection you will see that the large fields are divided up into narrow strips. Individual farmers have strips which are scattered throughout each of the open fields. Today there is a strict three course rotation of the strips with Winter sown wheat, Spring sown crops and grass in rotation. The operation and management of the Open Field is administered by a ‘Field Jury’ of twelve men which is responsible for the ‘Court Leet’ which meets in the Dovecote Inn. More information on the Open Field System can be found at the Visitors Centre. Walk past the Dovecote Inn and turn left down the road past the Pinfold. This walled enclosure was built to impound stray cattle but now houses a map of the Open Field System. After 100m take the footpath to the left over a style by the side of a hedgerow on your right. Continue up the field and go over two further styles. Some 15m after this second style cross over a style to the field on your right and now follow the left hand hedge. Continue straight on with the village football pitch to your left down a narrow strip between fields. This is known as Stony balk and was at one time a paved way across the field. Follow the right hand hedge still in a straight line and after 100m go through a gap in the hedge to join a track where you turn right.

2. The track goes slightly down hill, initially between hedges and then still in the same direction follows the left hand field boundary. After 800m, at the dip in the track, some 100m before a wood, take the footpath which follow the right hand field boundary by a hedge and a ditch. Pass under pylons and just after turn out of the field to join a small minor road where you turn left towards Moorhouse. Continue down this road for 700m and pass the sign for the hamlet of Moorhouse. After 200m between bends in the road, take the footpath over a style to the right between a wire fence and a wall.

3. After 20m cross over another style still following the right hand boundary. After 100m cross over a narrow concrete footbridge into the next field. The footpath now crosses to your right a point at the edge of the field some 20m from the stream. The footpath may be indistinct here and you may prefer to follow the stream and then the field edge round to the style. Pass into the next field and follow the stream. Don’t be startled by mallards and pheasants that you disturb. This section of the walk is very rich in flora and fauna and is particularly attractive in the spring when the primroses are in flower. SEE NOTE BELOW After about 700m pass between farm buildings and then down the farm track past Copthorne Farm. By a bridge with crossing farm track continue straight on to follow the footpath by the stream which is still on your right. At the end of the field pass through a gate and then down a pretty hedged green lane still with the stream on your right.South Field, one of the three large fields of the Laxton Open Field System is to your left. After 800m just before you reach pylons turn right through a gate by the side of a cattle grid down the farm track and after 250m turn left at the minor road towards Laxton. At the give way sign turn left towards Kneesall & Newark.Note:- the walk may be shortened by 1˝ kilometres at this point by turning left and following the road for 300m back to the start point.

4. Follow the road round the bend and 100m after the bend in the road take the footpath back to Laxton. The footpath initially follows the right hand field boundary and then overhead power lines and then turns off to the right to cross over the stream over a small bridge gated at each end. Cross diagonally across a field towards the church to a style some 10m to the left of a metal gate. In the field to your left can be seen the earthwork remains of mediaeval fishponds. They belonged to the lord of the manor and provided a source of fresh fish. There are at least five rectangular basins connected to a channel. Now follow the wood fence to your left up to a metal gates which you pass through to the left of the church through the churchyard. Pass through the main church gates and turn left down the road. The imposing church of St Michael dates from 1190s onwards. The church was then larger and more elaborate than most of Nottinghamshire’s parish churches. The church fell into disrepair and was rebuild in the middle of the 19th century with seating capacity reduced from 397 to 295. There are still traces of mediaeval painting and heraldry on the brackets supporting the roof and between the windows of the clerestory.

5. Continue down the road until you meet a Y junction where you take the right fork. After 150m opposite Top Farm, take the footpath over the style to your right. A little way off to the left is West field another of the Open Field System fields. The footpath keeps to the left of the field and after 300m cross the wood style to a track (Hall or Back Lane) and turn right down the hedged lane over another style. To your right are the farmsteads or closes which stretch away from the main road towards Hall Lane and which in the past would have been used for the keeping of animals, growing of crops and orchards. After 300m you will see the remains of Laxton Castle to you left. What survives of the castle is probably Nottinghamshire’s best preserved and finest motte and bailey castle. The site is in an open access area and is well worth exploring. The castle consists of a large motte with both an inner and outer bailey and was probably constructed in the late 11th century. The motte measures 816ft in circumference and 71ft high and occupies the highest part in the parish. By the end of the 13th century it had fallen into disrepair. During the first half of the 16th century, a manor house together with stables a brewhouse, dovecots, a garden and orchards were build on the site. Fishponds were recorded here in he first half of the 17th century but may well date back to the early 13th century

6. Follow Hall Lane to your right away from Laxton castle towards the church. At the road turn left. Continue past the church and after 200m you will see the Dovecote Inn and the visitors centre and the start of the walk.

NOTE
The walk passes through the farmyard of Copthorne Farm (paragraph 3) and the route is clearly marked on the OS map. However we have been advised that there is a dispute over the right of way through the farmyard. He appears to have removed all the footpath signs from his yard and it is not completely clear which was the gate by which we should leave the farmyard. It would appear that there is probably a long-running dispute between this farmer and local walkers and no doubt there are rights and wrongs on both sides.