An Evening Visit to Southwell

Southwell was the destination for the History Club trip in August this year. Of course Southwell is well known for its Minster, Racecourse and perhaps its Workhouse.   However on a sunny Thursday evening we met at the Minster to enjoy a guided walk around the grounds and then on to explore back streets and other places of interest in this pretty town.

The town played its part in the English Civil War and in May 1636 Charles 1, who had been staying at The Saracen’s Head surrendered to the Scottish Army at Kelham. The town suffered badly during this period and many buildings and monuments were destroyed by Cromwell’s troops.

We came across some very pretty little cottages and gardens along our walk, and also some very impressive properties, one of which, Burgage Manor was rented by Lord Byron’s mother and was where he stayed when on holiday from Harrow.  It was also a Military Hospital from 1915-1919.

The town’s other claim to fame is the Bramley Apple of course.  It is here in 1809 in the garden of a cottage on Church Street that the well known cooking apple was seeded by Mary Ann Brailsford. The famous apple tree still stands (just) but has been attacked by honey fugus and sadly it is unlikely that it will survive much longer.

We left the ‘apple garden’ and wandered through a wooded area and across a river constructed by the Romans. Eventually we came to the War Memorial and then across the road to Burgage Green and the House of Correction. Every year a Fresian cow is taken for a walk across this green in order to maintain the historic rights of grazing!

The House of Correction

We spent just over two hours exploring Southwell and will be returning to investigate the inside of the Minster. Several of our group took this opportunity to take refreshments at the Saracen’s Head - which seemed like a very good idea at the end of a lovely day.  We would like to thank Mike Kirton of Southwell Local History Society for being an excellent guide on our two trips.