This Thursday, 16 riders took to the start line at the Pig and Abbot for a foray into Bedfordshire, destined for Jordans Mill for coffee and cake. The promise of birthday beers usually gets a good turn out ! Three people owned up to birthdays this week: Gareth, Rod and Howard (on ‘significant seventy’). Happy birthday, all. Everyone got mentioned in the usual off key rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’, but only Rod was buying the beer on this ride and he got the Pig and Abbot birthday cake to cut – Howard and Gareth’s beers to be looked forward to on other weeks !
A largely incident free ride (apart from one slow puncture for Ric, some rubbing brakes for Gareth) in a slightly chilly breeze bought us past the closed road in Langford (pavement bypass available) to the aforementioned Jordans Mill for coffee, cake and bike repairs.
Jordans Mill at Holme on the river Ivel has been in the Jordans family for over 150 years and was the last working flour mill in Bedfordshire. Originally milling flour, Jordans is probably better known to most for their range of cereals and mueslis (although these are no longer produced at this site). The site at Holme was substantially renovated in 2013 with a new visitor centre and café. On this trip, the Windmillers only visited the café but the original water mill in the adjacent building can still be seen in its working state.
The return leg took us through the busy town of Biggleswade (one of the few places with an A1 ‘Great North Road’ underpass).
James Charles Bigglesworth, nicknamed “Biggles”, is the title character of a series of adventure books by W. E. Johns (1893–1968). It would be reasonable to expect that the town of Biggleswade was named as the place where Biggles crossed the River Ivel. In fact, Biggleswade is a market town 18 km south-east of Bedford with a population of 22,541 and is likely to pre date Biggles. Evidence of settlement in the area goes back to Neolithic times but it is likely that the town as such was founded by Anglo-Saxons. A gold Anglo-Saxon coin was found beside the River Ivel in 2001, which the British Museum bought in 2006. At the time, it was the most expensive British coin ever purchased. The town’s market charter was granted by King John in the 13th-century.
More busy roads through Poton and we were soon back on familiar quiet lanes from Croydon down the resurfaced Croydon hill and back to Abbington Piggots where our beer and pies awaited. Thanks Rod for organising. Pat for hosting. Charles, Simon and Graham for the pics.
Rod, Howard, Gareth, Paul, Deborah, Ken, Martin W, Andrew, Maurice, Ric, Victor, Charles, Graham, Simon, Geoff, Jeremy
The Windmill Cycle Club 