The Wednesday Walk 30th December 2015

 What Happened Today

It was to be out last meeting for the year 2015. The original plan was to walk across the heath to Meyrick Park, but that idea was knocked on the head in view of Storm Frank which was due deliver gale force winds and lots of rain. Instead, one group of ladies met to play Mah Jong until lunchtime. Then a group of eight met at the Meyrick Park Golf Club for lunch.

The lunch group were: Trudy B, Sue, Wendy, Tricia, Jackie, Diane and Tony R, David.

We met at the Meyrick Park Golf Club and ate in the Pulse Bar. And a very good meal it was too. The club occupies park of Meyrick Park, as you might expect, but do you know how that park began? I’ve nothing to tell you about a walk, so I might as well tell you about the park.

Until 1802, Bournemouth was just common land. However, as a result of the Inclosures Act of 1802, hundreds of acres were put into private ownership. Three commissioners were appointed to divide up the land and determine who got which bit. The landed gentry were well represented by the commissioners, but the commoners who used the land were concerned they would lose out. They persuaded William West, a farmer at Muscliff Farm, to create a petition on their behalf and present it to the commissioners. As a direct result, five areas of land were set aside for the benefit of the commoners. Today, those areas of land are called King’s Park, Queen’s Park, Redhill Common, Seafield Gardens and… you’ve guessed it… Meyrick Park. The five areas were put in trust by the Five Parks Charity.

I’m sure you feel wiser for knowing that.

Thanks are due to Trudy B for providing the Mah Jong entertainment and tea after lunch.

Next Week we hope to complete the today’s planned walk.

The Wednesday Walk 2nd December 2015

The Wednesday Walk 2^nd December 2015

The Plan

A Sandford Walk

Who Turned Up

Wendy, Jackie, Trudy B, David

The Walk

Thanks to Jackie, we had the use of a convenient car park in front of a now disused school in the Sandford Road. From here we walked into Sandford Woods and took the usual route across Sandford Heath and thence back to the Claypipe Inn.

After lunch we crossed the main road with the intention of walking down past the Admiralty Research Establishment in Station Road. But our interest was drawn to a seemingly new path across the heath, which we followed until we came out onto our usual route. Did you know that the Admiralty Research Establishment was closed in the late 1990s? Nothing here is now owned by the Ministry of Defence. It was originally set up as a Royal Navy Cordite Factory in the First World War and reactivated in the Second World War to manufacture gun propellants. When the manufacturing ceased after the war, part of the explosives site became a nature reserve. Other parts were converted into an industrial site.

Thanks go to Wendy for the tea and cakes, and thanks to Trudy for the photographs.

The Pub

The Claypipe in Sandford. We were pleased to see Trudy H and Sue waiting for us. Trudy was hoarse with a bad winter bug, and Sue was suffering from a bad back as a result of reaching for some toothpaste. We wish them both a quick recovery. We’ve eaten here before and not been disappointed. Today’s pie (steak and mushroom) was five pounds cheaper than the one served last week at the Alice Lisle, and it was a nicer one. No one went away hungry today.

Next Week

To be decided