Category: Essex

Winding roads, curved walls

Post author By Brian Connellan
Post date Nov 6, 2025
No Comments on Winding roads, curved walls

Keith’s route – from Steeple Bumpstead to Glemsford and back – provided what was possibly our most traffic-free ride of the year. Coupled with a bumper turnout of sixteen Windmillers* it made for a most enjoyable Thursday morning’s outing.

Pausing for a breather beside the duck pond at Belchamp Walter

Setting off from the Fox & Hounds, the outbound ride took us through many a fine north Essex village, and none finer than Great Yeldham, famed for its Great Oak – which is recorded in The Domesday Book – and its crinkle crankle wall. “What’s that?“, I hear you say.

The crinkle crankle wall at Great Yeldham

These walls mostly date back to the days of the brick tax (1784 to 1850) when the government levied a duty of half a crown – about £24 in today’s money – per 1000 bricks to help fund the American War of Independence. No sooner was the tax introduced than canny builders found ways to minimise its impact. Some just used bigger bricks and some opted to build walls crinkle-crankle style. These curved structures provided stability and required just one layer of bricks rather than the usual two, doing away altogether with the need for buttressing. Not only were the walls economical to build but the curves provided shelter and retained warmth for the growing of fruit trees.

The tax was eventually abolished in 1850 leading to a boom in the brick industry (and a return to the building of straighter walls!)

Some seventeen miles after setting off we crossed the River Stour into Suffolk and pulled in at the excellent Willow Tree Farm Café, just outside Glemsford.

Refreshed and back on the bikes we re-traced our way over the Stour and back into Essex for the return leg via Belchamp St Paul, Ridgewell and Birdbrook – and it was somewhere along here that we encountered that scourge of autumnal outings – the tractor and hedge flail.

There’s many a puncture from thorny hedge flailings

Sure enough, and just a few miles short of the pub, MartinB pulled up with a puncture, a long thorn protruding from his tyre. Seeing it would be the quickest way for us all getting back in time for lunch, Rod dashed the remaining few miles to the pub, got the car and retrieved both Martin and machine. Well done, Rod!

We subsequently learned Martin wasn’t the only one to suffer a puncture; a similar fate had befallen Alan, though his caused by glass and thankfully mended en route.

Returning to the Fox & Hounds we were delighted to find MartinW waiting there for us and together we enjoyed a beer or two and a good lunch.

Our thanks go to Keith for planning and leading an excellent morning’s ride.

33 miles anticlockwise from Steeple Bumpstead

^* The turnout was: Alan, Brian, Deborah, Geoff, Graham, Howard, Jenni, Keith, Ken, MartinB, Maurice, Paul, Rach, Rod, Simon and Victor.

Tags Windmill cycling club

Essex

Windmillers athwart Essex

Essex boasts many a fine market town – and Maldon is up there with the best of them

Ten miles into Thursday’s outing, we pitched up on Maldon High Street seeking refreshment and, in particular, a guided tour of the Moot Hall. The six hundred year old brick tower has at various times been a mansion house, town hall, courthouse, police station and town jail, and boasts a fine view over Maldon and beyond to the Blackwater Estuary.

Maldon Moot Hall: in bygone times a prison where inmates left their mark on the walls

An hour or so earlier, ten Windmillers¹ had set off from The Rayleigh Arms, Terling, following Martin’s route through some of the prettiest lanes in Essex. And it was on the approach to Maldon that we chanced upon the intriguingly named Cut A Thwart Lane.

In old English athwart meant crosswise, as in “Cutting athwart the bow,” meaning one vessel was passing directly in front of another. So Cut A Thwart Lane could well refer to the lane being a shortcut between Maldon and Woodham Walter. Interestingly, Cambridge, Bedford, Chelmsford and many other English towns can all boast a Cut Throat Lane, a likely corruption of Cut Athwart Lane.

Leaving Maldon, we followed the Chelmer & Blackwater Canal to Heybridge Basin before turning inland and returning to Terling via Great Totham, Wickham Bishops and Hatfield Peverel.

Back at the pub, Deborah bought us all a beer and endured a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday.

Happy birthday, Deb. Seen here at Arisaig

Thank you, Martin, for planning the route and thanks again, Deborah, for the beers.

Thursday’s team roster was: Brian, Deborah, Graham, Howard, Jeremy, Keith, Ken, Martin, Ric and Simon ↩︎

Tags Windmill cycling club

Essex Fuller Street

The Only Way is Essex

Windmillers are very familiar with the north west corner of Essex. Some, indeed, call it home, and hardly a month goes by without the peloton visiting Saffron Walden, Thaxted or Finchingfield. So it’s always good to get out and explore the further reaches of the county, in particular, its many inlets and estuaries, courtesy of Martin, who swears he’s from Sussex but who seems to have native knowledge of these parts.

Most years Martin organises a bike ‘n boat trip to Brightlingsea, but it’s been nigh on three years since he took us to Heybridge Basin, a visit of mixed fortunes with Mike, poor chap, ending up in hospital, and Maurice, lucky man, trousering a £20 note he found lying in the road.

So, looking forward to a long overdue and, hopefully hospital-free, return visit, eleven Windmillers gathered at The Square and Compasses in the tiny hamlet of Fuller Street ready for Martin to lead us coastwards. The route took us along quiet roads hedged with early summer flowers and, it seemed in no time, we were pulling in at Heybridge Basin where we sat on the terrace of the Lock Tearoom overlooking the Blackwater Estuary. What a delightful spot.

The return leg commenced with a two mile ride along the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation Canal to Maldon and along its bustling High Street.

Not far from our destination we paused to admire the beautiful village of Terling, once famous for its International Trifle Festival, though that, alas, seems to have lapsed in recent years.

Saints and sinners at All Saints, Terling

Back at the pub we cooled off with some excellent beer and enjoyed a very convivial lunch.

For the record the peloton comprised: Andrew, Brian, Graham, Iain, Jeremy, MartinB, MartinW, Paul, Rach, Rod and Simon – and our thanks go to Martin for organising such a splendid trip.

Brian

Tags Windmill cycling club

Essex Ridgewell

Fifteen go watermilling

Living up to our club name, we rarely pass a windmill without stopping for a photograph – and sometimes even a visit. We have, indeed, been known to stop and admire one of those rare delights, a tidal mill. But never to my knowledge had we visited a watermill . . . until today.

So it was that some fifteen Windmillers stopped off at Alderford Watermill in Sible Hedingham where Martin had arranged for us to have a guided tour.

We were shown around by Owen, one of the volunteers who maintains and keeps alive this wonderful piece of 18th century engineering. Owen explained how parts of the present mill date from around 1720 when it would have been operated by a miller and one assistant producing coarse wholemeal flour. Over the years new power sources – steam, then oil, and finally electricity – were adopted to boost output and reduce the dependency upon river flow.

The mill finally stopped turning in 1957 and from then on the building was used for grain storage. Now owned by Essex County Council it is lovingly maintained (and continually restored!) by Owen and his fellow volunteers, the Friends of Alderford Mill.

Earlier at the White Horse, Ridgewell, fourteen Windmillers had gathered for our regular Thursday ride. We should have been fifteen but Simon was missing. We are used to losing him during, but not before, a ride and a quick phone call established that the poor chap had mixed up the meeting point with the ride destination. Yes, he was at The Blue Egg. We hung around until Simon eventually, and somewhat sheepishly, rolled into the car park. Now we were fifteen – and all off to, yes, The Blue Egg.

Chris, Sandra, Maurice, Howard and Alan near Gibraltar Mill, Great Bardfield

As ever, Maurice had chosen a wonderful route; 32 miles on quiet lanes and in perfect spring weather.

For the record the turnout was: Alan, Andrew, Brian, Charles, Chris, Geoff, Graham, Hazel, Howard, Ken, Martin, Maurice, Nigel, Sandra and Simon.

Thanks are due to: Maurice and Andrew for planning the day; birthday boy Charles for buying the beers; Martin for arranging the mill tour; and Owen for his excellent guided tour of the mill.

Millwrights Simon, Hazel, Charles, Andrew, Martin, Chris and Geoff

Simon again, this time wielding a millers thingummyjig

Charles – what on earth is he doing? – and Hazel

Back to the White Horse for lunch. Cheers!

Tags Alderford Mill, watermill, Windmill cycling club

Essex

Poppies & Poo

Whenever we passed The Cock Inn at Henham, John Bagrie would go missing, which was a pretty sure sign that the landlord kept a good cellar. So it was high time we tried the place for lunch – and it didn’t disappoint. The food was good, and the beer, generously bought by Birthday Boy Geoff, was good too.

Ten Windmillers – Andrew, Brian, Charles, Geoff, Graham, Maurice, Ric, Roger, Simon and Victor – had set out some three hours earlier from Henham bound for Broxted and all points east. Returning to the pub after an excellent ride, we were hungry, thirsty and – despite the dire weather forecast – thankfully dry.

Stopping midway at Finchingfield, we had enjoyed coffee and cake overlooking the green before returning via Thaxted, where we were delighted to see Ken and Suzanne waiting to join us for the final leg.

As ever, Maurice had devised a lovely route; the Essex lanes were traffic free and the roadsides seemingly ablaze with poppies.

And the poo? Well there was a pile of manure on the roadside in Stanbrook and Simon couldn’t resist the temptation to squat and pose for a photograph.

Thanks go to Maurice for the route, Andrew for logistics, Charles, Simon and Graham for photographs – and Geoff for the beer.

Brian

29 miles: Henham – Broxted – Thaxted – Great Bardfield – Finchingfield – Little Sampford – Thaxted – Cutlers Green – Henham

Tags Cycling club, Windmill cycling club

Essex

Chillin’ at Poppy’s Barn

Thursday morning saw sixteen Windmillers turn out for a tour of north west Essex, joining the circuit at whichever point was closest to home – some solo, some in pairs – some going clockwise, others anticlockwise – on a route taking in Saffron Walden, Widdington, Rickling, Stocking Pelham, Langley Upper Green – and Littlebury Green, where Simon hosted refreshments and the charity box.

Undaunted by Martin’s warning that much of the county was under water – we did indeed have to negotiate the odd flooded road – somehow we all got through without dismounting and wading.

Howard in particular had a memorable outing, pausing as he did to assist a stranded motorist. Not only had she a flat tyre, but hers was a vehicle equipped with a can of tyre repair sealant instead of a spare wheel. Howard did his best but only succeeded in getting the tyre semi-inflated. Thanking him profusely the lady drove off, only for Howard to encounter her – again with a flat tyre – a short distance down the road. It was time for her to call her family.

The 4th emergency service – the Windmill Club

Meanwhile, the day was turning out colder than forecast and we were looking forward to stopping off at Poppy’s Barn for coffee, sustenance and warmth. Alas, we had to sit outside and freeze as Geoff, Ken and Deborah had beaten us to it, arriving early and commandeering three separate tables (remember the rules; no household mixing!) Whereupon the proprietor, deciding she could not accommodate any more cyclists inside, asked the rest of us to sit outside. Humph! Neither did it help when Deborah gave us a jolly wave through the window as she tucked into her full English breakfast.

Deborah’s photo of us, taken from the warm interior of Poppy’s Barn

Suffering mild exposure, those of us finishing up at Simon’s were too chilled to consume cold beer and opted instead to stuff our fivers in the charity box and head for home. Poor old Victor and Brian, however, sustained punctures on the way home. Victor, making several stops to pump up his tyre, managed to get home without mending the puncture. No such luck for Brian, who found himself marooned on top of Coploe Hill with a totally flat tyre. Fortunately for him, Martin drove by on his way home, scooped him up and returned him to Great Shelford. Many thanks, Martin.

For the record, this week’s hardy bunch comprised Maurice, Andrew, Alan, Martin, Ken, Deborah, Geoff, Howard, Charles, Lawrence, Graham, Mike, Simon, Roger, Victor and Brian.

Back at Simon’s: Deborah, Brian, Simon himself, Victor and Geoff

Simon reports the charity box yielded £120; well done, team! And thanks, as ever, Maurice and Andrew for organising it all.

Finally, we must just give a special mention to our two pals – Keith and Nigel – who, for various health related reasons, have been unable to join us for the past several months. We miss their company and look forward to them joining us again once things get back to normal in 2021.

August 2019: Nigel in yellow, Keith in red, their return keenly awaited as both owe us a birthday drink.

Tags Poppys Barn

bikes on boats Brightlingsea Essex

6 September 2019: Ahoy, shipmates!

Post author By Brian Connellan
Post date Sep 7, 2019
1 Comment on 6 September 2019: Ahoy, shipmates!

How many Windmillers can you fit in a small boat? Well now we know: eleven, including bikes.

Martin had promised us a day at the seaside. So it was that eleven Windmillers set out from Brightlingsea for an outing to Clacton. It was an unseasonally chilly morning so we left our buckets, spades and bathing costumes in the car.

“Are we nearly there yet?” was the oft-heard refrain as we pedalled after Martin for some 16 miles – through Great Bentley and Thorpe-le-Soken – before finally seeing the sea at Walton-on-the-Naze.

We pulled in for coffee at the Essex Wildlife Trust café, adjacent to the historic Naze tower. It was a timely stop as Keith had just developed a puncture.

Refreshed and with Keith’s puncture mended, we set off along the promenade for 12 traffic-free miles taking in Frinton, Holland-on-Sea and Clacton. And what a blissful ride it was, under wide blue skies with a clear horizon and very little wind.

Pulling up at Point Clear, we could see our destination 500 yards away across Brightlingsea Creek. Martin made a call to check the foot ferry was operating. It was; which was just as well – the return by road would have meant an extra 20 miles and no lunch.

It was at this point that we started having doubts about Martin’s plan – as we traipsed after him, pushing the bikes with some difficulty across several hundred yards of shingle and sand. There was no sign of a ferry – or even a jetty – and how exactly would we get off the beach and on to a boat? Wading with bikes held aloft? There was nothing at the water’s edge, not even a footprint – just an expanse of open water between us and Brightlingsea.

“Mmmm,” said Martin as, pulling out his phone again, he made another call. Lo and behold, a little boat chugged out of Brightlingsea harbour heading our way. Reaching the shore, the skipper lowered a landing ramp and invited us aboard. What all of us? On that little thing? Bikes too?

Five minutes later and now fully laden the little craft was ferrying us across the creek. What larks!

Disembarking at the town jetty, we saddled up and rode the last few hundred yards to The Rosebud where we lunched in the garden overlooking the Colne Estuary.

For the record the eleven Windmillers were Martin, Andrew, Maurice, Deborah, Graham, Charles, Keith, Lawrence, Roger, Ric and Brian.

Well done, Martin, and many thanks for a wonderful day. We never doubted you really.

Brian

Tags bikes on boats, Brightlingsea, Clacton, Windmill cycling club