A WALK AROUND BRAYBROOKE The walk begins outside the gate of All Saints Church on Newland Street (1). A

visit to the church is recommended and is described at the end of the walk.

Walk along Newland Street to where the road bends to the left which is the

junction with Griffin Road. Our route follows Griffin Road but visitors may choose

to follow Newland Street to see views over the fields towards Market Harborough

and to see where it links into the Macmillan Way, Jurassic Way and Midshires

Way together with a field path to the Brampton Valley Way.

On Griffin Road pass the Baptist Chapel (2), which was converted from a barn in

1792 and rebuilt in its present form in 1829, and cross the little River Jordan. The

river was diverted to its present course in 1873 but a bump in the pavement is a

reminder of where it flowed closer to the chapel. This was a narrow foot and

horse bridge known as Bowden Bridge and the road forded the river beside it.

Around a sharp bend to the right to The Village Hall (3) which was the second

village school (1836-1909) and contains the Braybrooke Tapestry (a needlework

history of Braybrooke) and a village map. Outside you will find both the Parish

Council and Community noticeboards – important sources of information.

The road turns sharply left. The Old Rectory (4) private driveway on the corner

was originally a public road known as Back Lane in the 18th century. It was closed

by Rev. Field in 1836. Continuing up Griffin Road look right back to the Rectory

then left into School Lane (opposite The Swan (5) ) to one of the last cob (mud)

thatched cottages in the village. Braybrooke once had a large number of cob

cottages. Next to cob thatched cottage stood the third village school (1909-

1972), now a private residence (6).

Continue up Griffin Road. On the left is no. 31 Bleak House (7), remodelled in

1741 but probably built earlier. On the gable of no. 33 The Orchards (8) is a brick

from the original cottage dated 1797.

Griffin Road continues to the top of Mill Hill (also known as Mile Hill), where a

windmill stood until the 1840s. From there you can walk to Arthingworth,

Oxendon and beyond.

Our village route leaves Griffin Road opposite Latymer Close onto a sloping grass

path which leads to Green Lane following a little stream on the left. Green Lane

ends at a T-junction with School Lane.

Turn right and follow School Lane to where it meets Desborough Road at the

Village Green (9). Here the Copper Maple has replaced the Victorian Jubilee

Horse Chestnut of 1897. On the Green is the monument commissioned by the

Parish Council to celebrate the year 2000. If you continue 200m towards

Desborough you will see the site of Braybrooke Castle and access to Braybrooke

Cricket Ground on the left.

Cross the Green and turn left on to Desborough Road towards the Church. The

footpath here is quite narrow and the road is busy. Cross the River Jordan by the

early 15th century bridge built by Sir Thomas Latymer and his wife. Be especially

careful of the traffic here as there is no footpath on the bridge itself. Having

crossed the bridge, look back to see the information plaque on the end wall of the

bridge and then left across the fields to where the big bump in the grass reveals

the whereabouts of the dam of the great fish pond which stood in front of

Braybrooke Castle.

On the corner of Newton Way, the cream coloured house was originally the Sun

Inn (10). Note the dated brick with the inscription WJL 1768.

Turn left back into Newland Street and to the Church. All Saints Church contains

an oak figure of a knight – Sir Thomas Latymer – and a fine Elizabethan

monument to the Sir Nicholas and his son Sir Thomas Griffin in the Griffin Chapel.

The first village school (1684-1836) was housed in a small building attached to the

chancel. It was demolished in the 20th century. The fourth and last village school

(1972-2013) stood behind the church on the site of the present Mapletoft Close

and was demolished in 2015. In the churchyard you will find a silver birch

celebrating the silver jubilee of Elizabeth II and the English oak celebrating her

golden jubilee. There is also an American Oak planted in 1995 to celebrate 50

years of peace since World War II.

There are other buildings and walks to discover in and around the village but this

short walk will give you a taste of the village and a good understanding of its

layout.