Alford Manor House 24th August 2025

Meeting up at Louth’s Meridian Leisure Centre were Ride Leader Tim Newbery, Ty Harness, Paul Linder, Steve Croton and guest rider John Parish. John’s last appearance with the group was back on a particularly cold and windy December ride from Horncastle to Woodhall Spa. Welcome back John who today was riding a rather fine Giant gravel bike.

 

Starting off under cloudy skies, it was never the less quite mild and temperatures were set to rise to 22 Degrees Celsius with just a light south west breeze. With the gas mains work now complete along Stewton Lane, we’d soon be bowling along Furze Lane noting the large variety of scarecrows as part of the Legbourne and Little Cawthorpe Scarecrow Trail. ‘Swallows and Amazons’ was particularly noteworthy. The winning entry will be announced on the stage at 4pm later today at The Queens Head. Some of the fields have been laid to fallow whilst others have been planted with sunflowers, phacelia and a variety of wildflower. Striking and colourful even without the sunshine.

 

Passing through Little Carlton and Great Carlton, Tim mistakenly led the group to Gayton Top and therefore bypassed Castle Carlton, although Scrubb Lane with its famed triangulation pillar would soon bring us back on track to Authorpe. 

 

At Claythorpe, the old Station Master's house and ticket office is being renovated, a low platform running along the side serving as a patio. This halt on the former East Lincolnshire Railway was opened in 1884 as Claythorpe but the name was later changed to Aby in 1885. Speaking to the new owners, they stated that there was a section of railway line underneath and running right through the building dating to the time of construction. Paul recounted listening to ‘Uncle Mac’ on the radio in the 1950’s to a song sung by Bob Hilliard entitled “In the Middle of the House” about a railroad running right through the middle of the house! The family also remember when fresh watercress from the chalk stream beds at Belleau were packed in hampers and loaded at Aby and taken upline to markets in the north of England and also downline to London.    

 

With a decision to ride with due care through the roadworks in Aby after all, it wasn’t long before arriving in Alford which was unusually busy with traffic and pedestrians. The Manor House had plenty of tables in the garden which also gave us front row seats to view the ‘Smoke and Mirrors Swing Dance Group’. Very good they were too, adding a touch of magic to our stay. We were also delighted to be greeted by Alan Hockham. He’d missed us en-route but it was good to catch up on all his latest news.

 

After about an hour, reluctantly we readied for departure. Steve and Paul would head directly for home whilst Alan would join Tim, John and Ty to ride along Lincolnshire County Council’s Cycle Route C4 through Well, Rigsby to Belleau Bridge, where indeed the watercress beds used to be located on the Great Eau.

 

With Alan departing from South Thoresby (he’d go on to clock about 45 miles) there’d be two more climbs along the top road for the remaining trio with Ty safely navigating the group through the extension of the housing estate in Louth. Arrived back at the Meridian Centre a little after 1 pm having covered 32 miles. Thanks again to John for joining us. Welcome anytime.

 

Tim's 'Relive' video: https://www.relive.com/view/vxOQ5zkjR2O