A Stroll Through Helpston (September 2024)
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- Опубликовано: 8 фев 2025
- An unusually warm September day enticed me out for a stroll through the village of Helpston, packed with historical buildings and, of course, the home of the natural world's finest poet, John Clare !
Helpston, John Clare, Church of St Botolph, Arborfield Mill, Station, Stationmaster's House, Village School, Artesian Well, Royce Wood, Rice Wood, Village Hall, Exeter Arms, Bluebell Pub, James Bradford Almshouses, GR Postbox, Market Cross, Methodist Chapel
Really enjoyed this as per usual. Thankyou for all your hard work regarding the research and information.
This was wonderful and brings back fond memories thank you. I lived in Helpston from 1977 to 1980 as a young child until we emigrated to the west coast of Canada. We lived on one of the newer houses next to John Clare school where I went. It's funny you mentioned about getting stuck in the middle of the rail crossing because when I was 7 (on a whim without telling anyone) I decided to ride my bicycle to Northborough to visit my friend where we used to live . I just started across the crossing when the gate bell started and about halfway I realized I wasn't going to make it and the gates started coming down. I got off my bike and sat down in the middle to let the station master know I wasn't going to get runover. He must have seen me because the gates suddenly went back up so I hopped on my bike and carried on to Northborough. My dad came and got me in the car after I showed up in Northborough haha.
A very interesting video (as usual!) Thanks Paul......keep them coming. 😊
Great video Paul. 40+ years ago Rams Dyke would run the colour of the paper being made that day.
Towgood Cl. Used to be the main entrance to the old paper mill.
Helpston house was owned by my school friends parents and in the 80’s was fully renovated by the development company which they owned. Our school class was taken and shown around it.
The steps into the field opposite the church have been there for as long as I can remember, they are for access to the tennis club at the back of the field. I used to sit on thorn most mornings halfway around my paper round.
Your video has brought back many fond childhood memories.
Thanks for those explanations Ian ..... very useful !
Your Videos Are Very Instresting, I Love Watching Them All As I Am From The Deepings, Keep Up The Great Work Can't Wait Until Your Next Video
Thank you very much !
Hi have just discovered your channel and I love it! Have you done one on Barnack church ? It has some Saxon parts and is very interesting.
No but watch this space as they say ...... certainly will be looking to do Barnack !
Used to cycle around Helpston a few years back. Hated going across that railway crossing as cyclist should dismount but cycling across was faster in my mind…. Never managed to enter the church so it was very nice to see the interior. Royce/Rice woods is a lovely spot as are the woods further down Heath Road to the south, a real treat in the bluebell season. That was my route back, down heath Road to Stamford Road and on to Marholm. I believe, if my memory serves me right which is often not the case, that a modern standing stone to one end of JC’s grave has the inscription of his grave carved upon it for visitors to read. Another enjoyable and informative video, many thanks for sharing 🙏
You're correct Graham about the grave, I noticed the upright stone but never figured it carried an interpretation of the original. My mistake !
I think John Clares breakdown also happened because poetry went out of fashion, he kind of had all the adulation then he was left high and dry so to speak, like you say between two worlds, the world of London and Helpston, belonging to neither.
He was unfairly marketed as a 'peasant poet', when he more than held his own against more educated poets.... there were a few other working poets that were marketed in this way that are forgotten.
His cottage is well worth a visit... its a recreation of how it would have looked inside, although Clare would have lived in only a part of it with his family, as it was originally 2 or three cottages knocked together.
Thanks for these videos, I cycle to a lot of places you visit, its interesting finding out more about them.
Helpston geographically was originally Lincolnshire, then Northants now cambs as alluded to on Claires memorial. The cottages/houses along Glinton road towards the crossing date from the early 1930s and we're for the railway workers.
Thanks Andy !