Off for a ‘day out’ (just the two of us) to the Chester House Estate in nearby Irchester, Wellingborough.
Bought originally by North Northamptonshire Council in 2004 as Chester Farm. Re-branded and then re-opened in 2016 as Chester House Estate, it opens from 10-4 and is free to get in with free parking too! 😀👍 (but it’s a good ten-minute walk from the under-sized parking area before you get to the main buildings).
What makes this place somewhat unique is that It’s one of the few locations in the country which can demonstrate over 10,000 years of human activity – there‘s a great timeline HERE on their website.
On the day we were there, there was a live ‘dig’ going on – apparently, they’d discovered a Roman Cemetery.
Today, was pretty much deserted where I think the (very helpful) staff outnumbered the visitors by about three to one! There’s certainly a lot of space here and it felt like it was still very much ‘work in progress’. But, in the absence of anything formal there are some nice walks across, and around, the land. There’s a Saxby Cider Shop, a Farm Shop, a Yoga Class (yes, really!), a Cafe…
…and even a Learning Centre & Museum!
It was just a pity that it all felt a bit lifeless. I’m sure (hope!) it’s busier at weekends/bank holidays and school holidays though! 👍
One aspect of the Estate is the sheer amount of open space they have here. It’s immediately noticeable, as you wander around. They could probably accommodate multiple soccer matches going on here simultaneously and it wouldn’t feel cramped at all! With all this space in mind, some of it has been put to good use as they have an outdoor theatre performance here in the shape of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream‘ later this month. In short, there’s so much potential here for an awful lot more activity! 👏👏
We finished our visit with a cheeky slice of cake and a coffee in their Farmhouse Cafe. I’d say that the Estate is definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area, but based on today (and that may be a tad unfair) there’s not enough to make a day of it… maybe half a day, tops! 🫤
We took the short drive to The Buttery Cafe in Woodford for a light lunch and then headed home.
I got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong love of technology and communication (in all its forms), together with a fondness for the art of writing seemed to be the perfect combination to contribute a few words to the online community. But I’m no Samuel Pepys! If you’re looking for deep and meaningful comments on a variety of subjects, then you’ve arrived at the wrong site! I only pen for pleasure! On average, my posts appear about twice per month, covering family & friends, cinema visits, eating out, holiday experiences and techy stuff. Oh, and as this is my hobby, there are no sponsored links nor adverts here – it’s all done with love!
I hope you find it enjoyable, interesting and occasionally, even helpful!
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