Upcoming Events

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The North Wessex Downs National Landscape comprises the Chalklands that stretch from Cherhill Down near Calne, on the western edge of the Marlborough Downs, to the Goring Gap, on the eastern edge of the Berkshire Downs, where the River Thames cuts through the Chalk. It also includes the North Hampshire Downs.                          

The North Wessex Downs is the third largest of Britain’s 46 National Landscapes, covering an area of 668 square miles and straddling four counties (Wiltshire, Berkshire, Hampshire, and Oxfordshire).   

The North Wessex Downs Walking Festival begins on 31st May and finishes on 9th June.  Details can be found and bookings made for all the 29 walks at  

northwessexdowns.org.uk/walking festival  

I will be once more leading my walk, “Treacle Bolly and the Margins of the River Kennet”, which last year was over-subscribed. It is on Monday 3rd June starting at the Tourist Information Point at the George Lane car park in Marlborough. The TIP is next to the public toilets.  The walk is approximately 1.75 miles long and 2 hours in duration. It is of a gentle pace involving generally flat terrain. There are possible muddy stretches and stone and gravel paths. Approximately half of the walk is on pavements and metalled surfaces.  

The walk passes the River Kennet before following George Lane to cross the Pewsey Road by the river bridge. Treacle Bolly is entered via a footpath where the site of a former water mill can be discerned, as can the place where sheep were once washed. The King’s Mill, or Castle Mill, was connected with a once great Medieval Castle. The motte, known as The Mound, overlooks the margins of the Kennet. 

This path, and the high ground above it became known as “Treacle Bolly” through a 19th century miller who rode his donkey here. His exhortation, “Get up there, old treacle belly!” was heard by Marlborough College boys who named a pudding, “Treacle Bolly” after it: the name stuck.   

Granham Hill White Horse can be seen before the path reaches the road leading to St George’s Church, Preshute. Inside is a huge high-status black font made from Tournai marble dating back to the 12th century. It is highly likely it was moved here from the Chapel of St Nicholas in Marlborough Castle. It compares with fonts in Winchester and Lincoln cathedrals.  

The walk continues across the River Kennet, skirting former water meadows, following the pavement past Marlborough College buildings to reach St Peter’s Church. Thomas Wolsey was ordained priest here in 1498. Despite heavy restoration by T H Wyatt in 1862, the church retains much of its 15th century fabric.  

From St Peter’s the walk continues back to the George Lane car park via the High Street and Figgins Lane.    

Nick Baxter 2024