Tuesday 29 September 2020

Woodland Wanderings

 It's a day for a walk in the woods around the quiet Hertfordshire village of Bramfield.


Bramfield is not really on the way to anywhere and is another of those places only reached by narrow, winding roads; though in this case I suspect that many of the people here work in London - or they did till present circumstances dictated that they work from home.


We were soon following sunken paths leading through ancient woodland - a magical place.


This strange deep cleft in the woodland floor goes by the name of Sally Rainbow's Dell. A few centuries back one Sally Rainbow lived in this out-of-the-way place and was reputed to be a witch. It's said that local farmers used to give her food so that she would refrain from casting spells on their crops and livestock. You might think that Rainbow is an unlikely surname, but there are still a few families of that name dotted around East Anglia.


Autumn hasn't really got going just yet, but we did find one or two clusters of golden leaves lurking among the greenery, and being picked out by the late-September sunshine.


Then we were out in the open again, near to Great Gobions Farm. Gobion is an old Anglo-Saxon family name, so I presume it gets its name, directly or indirectly, from them.  


The footpath runs between the farm buildings and right by the rather smart farmhouse.


We carried on through open country on quiet roads and tracks before diving back into the woodland once more.


The next few pictures are fairly self-explanatory so I'll tell you the true story of The Hertford Pie-Man, Walter Clibbon:

During the eighteenth-century most of the trade in the country took place at regular markets and fairs. Hertford had a regular weekly market as well as four annual fairs where a lots of money changed hands. However some of those who had profited at the fairs never reached home with their gold, having been roughly set upon along the lonelier stretches of road. 


The thieves had their faces blackened with soot so that they could not be recognised. Anyone who put up a fight against them was murdered. It was soon realised that only those who had done particularly well were attacked and robbed; clearly the robbers had some kind of inside information. 


In 1782 the gang attacked a farmer's son, very near to where we are now, as he made his way home. The young man wisely let them have the money and escaped with his life, fleeing to his uncle's house nearby. The young man, his uncle and a servant then went off to try to find the villains and a fight ensued on the road between Bramfield and Datchworth, during which the leader of the gang was shot and killed, causing his accomplices to run off. 


The leader of the robbers was found to be Walter Clibbon, the pie-man who sold his wares at Hertford market and took the opportunity to overhear the conversations of the traders. He was buried at the side of the road where he died, and a stake was driven through his body to prevent his ghost from wandering the roads at night.


The original stake is long rotted away but a modern post has been erected in its place and has "Clibbon's Post" and the date "December 1782" carved on it. We drove up and down the road, after we'd completed our walk, in search of the post but didn't manage to find it - let alone any ghosts!


What we did see, albeit rather distantly, was the old house known as Queen Hoo, which is where the uncle in our story lived.


And so we wandered on, undisturbed by any highwaymen or footpads, through this grand piece of countryside, until we once more came within sight of Bramfield church. You can just make out its spire, between the foreground tree and the more distant poplar in the photo below.



Take care.

33 comments:

  1. I love love your photos. Especially the one of the old tree stump that looks like a hand reaching out over the path. Thank you for letting me tag along on this trek. You have a wonderful day, hugs, Edna B.

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  2. Wow what a nice hike!Funny about that Sally Rainbow!

    Here the autumm have not come in full bloom either but it will and maybe suddenly a little snow

    Thank you for sharing!

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  3. I love the look of that woodland! It is indeed a magical place.

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  4. Your blog is always a mine of interesting informationnnnnnn John. And your walks really do go through some really lovely villages.

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  5. Love the wandering walk there. It's so beautiful. The story about the thieves is so interesting.

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  6. Not only wonderful countryside, but interesting stories. I can think of a few politicians who need a stake through the heart.

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    1. Quite a few. My grumpy self thinks that those who don't are the exception rather than the rule.

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  7. You are right that is a magical wood even though its history must have left much to be desired for those who walked its pathways home from Hertford fair.

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  8. Thank you for taking us walking with you again. Walking and wondering.
    I am impressed at Sally Rainbow's business acumen. And hope that the locals kept her fed until the end of her days.

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  9. Stories and a walk! What a wonderful combination. Enjoyed it all!

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  10. A wonderful path to follow. Terrific shots!

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  11. A wonderful walk accompanied by some wonderful stories.
    Thanks John!

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  12. A big part of the stories about this ancient wood must be true. It’s not hard at all to imagine Sally Rainbow wandering around there. Beautiful captures John.

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  13. This village sounds like it’s out of a fairy tale. The second and third photos are gorgeous..I would love to take a wander in that area, ghost or no ghost.

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  14. Thank you, once again, for sharing your walk and the story of the pie man.

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  15. Another terrific walk! I liked that story about the pieman and his band of thieves. The woodland pictures in the beginning are so lovely. How clever of Sally Rainbow to get free food from the farmers. Walking along with you, John, is like climbing into a storybook! Thanks so much!

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  16. Thanks so much for the most enjoyable walk with you, and the stories. Sorry you didn't find the post. I'm looking forward to another great outing, even if just in your neck of the woods.

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  17. One of my grand-daughters has a friend whose maiden name is Rainbow - part of the family must have wandered off to Canada.......

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  18. ...and I wanted to say .thank you' for an interesting story...

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  19. Thank you for wonderful photos and history!

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  20. We may have lots of 21st century problems but I'm glad highwaymen are a bit less prevalent these days! I suppose they've turned to more modern ways of fleecing people.

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  21. What a story! I enjoyed it...as always totally enjoyed the view. I love that there are footpaths that you are allowed to be on.

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  22. So much history on your walks! I enjoyed the story of the pieman.

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  23. Great story, John. I do so enjoy your posts.

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  24. I love your walks through the woods. Magical indeed and full of history, and so different from my stark desert landscape where I do my walks!

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  25. A fascinating post John! So much interesting detail along with such picturesque images!

    The surname Rainbow is a delight, it reminded me of an unusual surname I came across a couple of years ago. I sold a car to a gentleman with the surname 'Snowball'!

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    1. I knew a Mrs Sunshine, probably just as well that she doesn't get together with Mr Snowball!

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  26. Love our walks in the English countryside John, the folklore is an added bonus 💛

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  27. Buen camino para pasear y descubrir las bellezas del bosque. Ya mismo se irá transformando con los hermosos colores de otoño.

    Que tengas un buen fin de semana.

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  28. John, I can never decide which I like best, your photos, your tales, or the beautiful English countryside through which you guide us. (And sometimes the music or Morris dancers.)

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  29. Hi John - I endorse what John mentions above ... lovely post - thanks - Hilary

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