Box

The walk

The route as mapped starts at the village recreation ground. You might approach it down Valens Terrace (besides, there is parking here). Most of this walk is on paved lanes and so there are no serious challenges from stiles, fences, cattle or traffic. After crossing the River ByBrook you head up to the tiny hamlet of Ditteridge, From around here there are fine views. The route then heads towards a long road (from points 7 to 8 on the map) where there are some fairly distinguished large houses to admire (or envy). The final section repeats the first 500 metres of the start.

More about this area

When heading down Valens Terrace for the recreation ground you might reflect that a large Roman Villa was once standing to your left.- 50 rooms and bath suite.  You can take a closer look here.

Early on the walk is the River ByBrook. This is a river so important to the history of this area. It drove the mills that drove the wool industry that drove the early wealth of communities like Box. Today as you cross the ByBrook you pass a different kind of industry – one rather more modern than the weaving of cloth – namely, the substantial Real World Studios founded by Peter Gabriel. One of the guests to record here was Tom Jones – a celebrity who has roots in Box. Gabriel rose to some prominence in these parts – not just because of his ‘Solsbury Hill’ singing (which is nearby) but also through his funding of local causes.  Particularly those associated with music (e.g., the Bell Inn, a community-owned pub in Bath).

Further up this road (picture B) you come to Ditteridge (pic C). Perhaps make a detour to visit the Norman St Christopher’s Church. Athough also browse about the traditional red telephone box (pic D) which functions as a community library (impressed? Go here to start your own). Notice also in the village the substantial Tudor Cheney Court which is now a language school. Is it an obvious place for a language school? Perhaps the picturesque scenery serves as inspiration to the students as they struggle with the unstable grammar and fragile spelling rules of the English language. Perhaps the sheer ‘Englishness’ of the scene here serves as a cultural prompt. The village of Ditteridge is on the edge of the Fosse Way roman road and was thereby once a more significant staging point for travellers.

Those substantial houses (between points 6 and 8 on the map) reflect an earlier period of prosperity – perhaps associated with the quarrying history of Box as much as the wool trade. These include Middlehall House, formerly a Spa that failed to compete with Bath – like many other Wiltshire spas. Also on the left a long driveway into the late 17th century Alcombe Manor. Further on this road notice Cole’s farm on the left.

In short, there is much to enjoy on this walk starting at Box.