142 BRIDLE ROAD GOLF COURSE
BRIDLE ROAD TO THURCASTON FROM TOWN GREEN
OS REF: SK581122 (TOWN GREEN)
This old Bridle Road starts at Town Green at the far end of Town Green Street and runs through the Rothley Park Golf Course to the railway Bridge over the Great Central Railway. At this point you reach the Rothley Boundary but the Bridle Road continues to the main road into Thurcaston.
Date: 22nd August 2001
Our first walk was to assess the terrain, look at potential ancient trees and see where we needed permission to access them. This Bridle Road is tree-lined, some of ancient dimensions, others planted when the golf course was laid out. There is a good ditch and an old spinney and it is currently the access road to Southfield Farm and Site Offices for the golf club.
After leaving Town Green the Bridle Road goes over Rothley Brook by a modern bridge but there used to be stepping stones 100 years ago.
Postmarked 13th February 1906. Stepping stones over Rothley Brook at the start of the Bridle Road to Thurcaston.
The footpath signed beyond the bridge takes you over the fields and through the golf course, under the Great Central Railway and then comes out on Thurcaston Lane, Thurcaston.
Carrying on along the Bridle Road it suddenly turns right at the start of the golf course. At this point Thomas Babington's Carriageway crosses the Bridle Road on its journey from the A6 to Rothley Temple, now the Rothley Court Hotel. In 2004 this part of the carriageway was made into the private access to Southfield Farm.
Looking back towards Town Green with Rothley Parish Church in the distance. March 2006
The tree-lined Bridle Road continues through the golf course forming a shady walk to the blue brick railway bridge.
A lovely walk in the heat of the summer. August 2007
The Bridle Road through the golf course. August 2007
Some of the Ancient Trees recorded along the Bridle Road:
Tree 89 Ancient Ash with a girth of 4.2m at SK580118
Tree 90 Ancient Oak with a girth of 4.4m at SK580118
Tree 91 Ancient Ash with a girth of 4.5m at SK580118
Tree 92 Ancient Ash with a girth of 3.4m at SK579117
Tree 93 Ancient Oak with a girth of 4.0m at SK578117
Tree 94 Ancient Oak with a girth of 4.4m at SK578117
Tree 95 Ancient Oak with a girth of 4.1m at SK578117
Tree 96 Ancient Oak with a girth of 4.0m at SK577117
Tree 97 Ancient Oak with a girth of 4.8m at SK577117
Tree 98 Ancient Oak with a girth of 3.8m at SK577117
Tree 89 along the Bridle Road. August 2002
Tree 98 along the Bridle Road. August 2002
Ancient Trees along the Bridle Road. September 2002
There was very little to record for this part of the Rothley Ancient Temple Survey:
RATS TEMPLE STINT 25
Date: 26th January 2011
Observers: Brian Verity, Terry Sheppard and Marion Vincent
Location: Site accessed from Bridle Road from Rothley to Thurcaston
OS Ref: SK5800811888-SK5792211815
Map Title: Site 127 Rothley Park Golf Course
Owners: Rothley Park Golf Club, Westfield Lane, Rothley
This stint takes us along the boundary with the Bridle Road to Thurcaston.
There is not much of a hedgerow and the only ancient evidence is in Stint 25b where you can see remnants of ancient layered hawthorn but only one piece.
We go through landscape planting of silver birch, oak and hawthorn and some beech has been planted as a hedgerow in 25b.
Very disappointing to have lost this ancient boundary on an ancient track.
To learn more about this piece of history please click on the following link:
To return to the Landscape of Rothley and all the sites please click on the following link: