Woodhouse Eaves History Trail

A walk through the village reveals the beauty of Woodhouse Eaves and many clues to its history and development.

A convenient starting point for a walk through Woodhouse Eaves is the Old Bull's Head public house. It is situated at the entrance to the village, at the junction of Main Street with Forest Road and Beacon Road.

All points of interest along the walk are numbered correspondingly on the following map.

The walk takes a circular route proceeding along Main Street, up Church Hill to St Paul's church, past the old vicarage, turning right along the footpath known as Church Walk.

A right turn at the end takes the walker down Victoria Road to cross Maplewell Road. At this point the trail can be shortened by returning to Main Street via Maplewell Road, or lengthened by proceeding up Mill Road to visit the site of the windmill. The path across the fields from Windmill Hill leads to Beacon Road, a right turn from here returns the walker to The Old Bull's Head.

1. The Old Bull's Head
The head of the bull was the crest of the Herrick family of Beaumanor Hall, at nearby Woodhouse, once one of the largest landowners. This public house, formerly called Ye Olde Bull's Head and earlier, the Bull's Head, was owned by the Herricks. It is reported to be haunted by the ghost of a servant girl.

2. Flower bed
On the opposite side of Main Street there is a raised flower bed. It is maintained by the Parish Council.

3. Victorian post box
Set into the garden wall of number 123 is a Victorian post box. This is one of five in the parish representing the reigns of different monarchs. Look out for the others.

4. Numbers 113-123 Main Street
These cottages are typical of the area and date from around 1800. The roofs are of local Swithland slate and the walls, although some are rendered, are Charnwood granite and slate rubble stone, with brick dressings. Horizontal sliding sashes are evident and number 123 has centre opening casements. Note also its Fire Insurance mark.

5. Number 112 Main Street
This house is dated 1913 and has decorative points of interest. The initials A J W H on the plaque over the front door record that it was built for a previous vicar, the Reverend Hiley.

6. Selby's garage
A working model of a windmill is located here. It reminds us of the former village landmark.

Continue along Main Street

7. Tuckett Road
This was named after the village doctor whose house and surgery were nearby [number 57 Main Street]. Dr W R Tuckett served the village from 1892 till 1949. Dr Tuckett dispensed his own prescriptions as there was no chemist in the village at that time.

8. Woodhouse Eaves Baptist church
This is the oldest religious site in the village. The original church was erected in 1796, restored in 1885 and rebuilt in 1981. The church is now of a modern octagonal design with conical roof and glass panelling. A small graveyard at the rear has some fine examples of engraved slate headstones.

9. Number 60 Main Street
The name of this house is Long Close. It was possibly a Royal hunting lodge in the days of King John and had Norman remnants in its construction. The back of the house faces Main Street and belies the charms to be found when you enter the premises. The garden is open to the public twice a year, and at other times on request.

10. The Methodist church
This is the second oldest church in the village, built in 1887 in red and buff brick although there was a church on this site in 1799. In 1997 it was refurbished throughout, and now has superb views of the Soar Valley from the recently installed upper floor. Note the curving ironwork hinges on the doors. There is a small graveyard at the rear.

11. Number 58 Main Street
This house is dated 1817.

12. King George's playing field
The entry gates, bearing the coat of arms of George V, lead to a footpath to School Lane, Woodhouse. This old established way is marked on the 1808 Charnwood Enclosure map. It passes the children's playground, tennis courts, football and cricket pitches.

13. The Cottage Surgery
Opposite the playing field is the doctors surgery. This was opened in 1998 and is used by the village General Practitioner.

14. Car park
The public car park leads to the Village Hall Annexe, a hut used by various organisations, and the Scout Group hut. Public conveniences are situated in the car park.

15. The Village Hall
Adjacent to the car park is the Village Hall, erected in 1887, and given to the village by Mrs Perry Herrick of Beaumanor. It then contained a reading room with newspapers, periodicals and indoor games such as draughts, chess and skittles. Refreshments were served and admission was free. It is today administered by the Parish Council and is in regular use.

16. Paterson Drive
On the right hand side is a residential cul-de-sac named after Lady Rowena Paterson, an occupant of Bird Hill Villa, the house originally on this site.

17. Number 3 Main Street
Adjacent to Paterson drive, this private house, built in 1863, was once the Infant School, and then the church hall.

18. Rawlins Close
This is another cul-de-sac, built in the early 1970s, and named after Thomas Rawlins, who in 1691 founded and endowed a school in School Lane, Woodhouse. It was for the education of boys of the parish in Latin, Writing and Arithmetic. The school is now a private house named Lane End Cottage.

19. Village pump
This 1850s cast iron pump with spout and handle has been restored. The floral surround is maintained by a local resident. The pump was in regular use until the 1920s.

20. Workmen's cottages
A delightful row of six cottages, dating from around 1850, is a very attractive feature in the centre of the village at the bottom of Maplewell Road. They have Swithland slate roofs, ornamental brick chimney stacks in Elizabethan style and walls of slate and granite rubble stone. The triangular dormers with diamond-shaped latticework windows and angular open timber porches give a pleasant rhythm to the design. Originally built for estate workers they are now privately owned.

21. Oakwood Pharmacy
On the left hand side of Main Street, at the bottom of Maplewell Road, this shop stands on the site of an old bakery. It has Edwardian and Victorian period chemist shop fittings with an interesting drug drawer run.

22. Meadow Road
This road gives access to St Paul's C of E Primary School. Among the houses on the left hand side are the first council houses in the village, built in 1927. At the bottom there is a footpath across fields to Brand Lane, the road between Woodhouse and Swithland.

23. The Pear Tree and Forest Rock
Two public houses, almost next door to each other, stand on the right at the beginning of Church Hill. The Pear Tree has carved barge boards to the gables and decorated woodwork. Between the two buildings is a row of cottages refurbished in traditional village style.

24. The Stone Hole
This disused quarry dorms a grotto-like cavern in the rock at the base of Church Hill. Teas were once served from a café perched on top of the rocks.

25. Numbers 26-30 Church Hill
These were built in 1840 as the National School, the original architect being William Railton. The school was enlarged three times and was in use until 1970. It has been converted into four private dwellings. In 1906, the school was retitled Woodhouse Eaves Church of England School, and adopted the name of St Paul's in 1951.
26. War memorial and flag pole
These are set on a rocky outcrop.

27. St Paul's church
The churchyard is entered through a lychgate which was given in memory of a member of the Tuckett family in 1913. The church was designed by architect William Railton who was also responsible for Nelson's Column and nearby Beaumanor Hall. It was built in 1837 using material from the Stone Hole Quarry. Around 1880 the transepts and vestry were added at the same time as Sir William Salt of Maplewell Hall gave the organ. In 1904, the tower was rebuilt and further bells hung; they are still in regular use. The clock was also installed at this time, and in 1998 it was converted to automatic winding.

28. The Cemetery
From the church grounds you can see the cemetery across the road which contains the village war graves.

29. The Wheel Gate
This was crafted by Mr Chell, wheelwright, who also built the lychgate. It was originally situated on Beacon Road.

30. The old Vicarage
It was built in the new Gothic style, with battlements. The garden occupies a steep hillside and gives extensive views.

The walk continues a little further up the hill until a right turn is taken at the railings, onto the footpath known as Church Walk. This leads to Victoria Road. Proceed down Victoria Road.

31. Number 1 Victoria Road
At the bottom on the right, this house was built around 1900 by the Liberal agent. He used the balcony to address villagers at election time. The building has mock timber framing and a small turret on the roof. Some plaster work decoration depicts an eagle with two cherubs.

For those wishing to do a shorter walk, proceed down the hill (Maplewell Road) past the public house on the left and the Post Office on the right. A left turn into Main Street will allow footsteps to be retraced to the starting point. For the extended route cross to Mill Road and walk up the hill - at the very top you will see a gate, at the gate turn up the path on the right. NB: This part may be quite challenging.

31. Number 1 Victoria Road
At the bottom on the right, this house was built around 1900 by the Liberal agent. He used the balcony to address villagers at election time. The building has mock timber framing and a small turret on the roof. Some plaster work decoration depicts an eagle with two cherubs.

For those wishing to do a shorter walk, proceed down the hill (Maplewell Road) past the public house on the left and the Post Office on the right. A left turn into Main Street will allow footsteps to be retraced to the starting point. For the extended route cross to Mill Road and walk up the hill - at the very top you will see a gate, at the gate turn up the path on the right. NB: This part may be quite challenging.

32. Windmill Hill
The remains of the windmill can be found at the top. This was an important landmark until it was burned down in 1945. A viewing platform was opened in 2004.

Various walks are possible at this point. Walk straight past the windmill taking the track immediately to the left of the two entwined silver birch trees. After rejoining the path from Mill Road, a short walk directly across the field and through the Broombriggs car park joins Beacon Road. A left turn leads to Beacon Hill at 818 feet, the second highest point in the county - a right turn goes towards the village. Take this road downhill to return to The Old Bull's Head and the circular walk is complete.

33. Beacon Road
Set back from the road on the left, going down the hill are two dwellings. These were once a row of Herrick cottages, one of which housed the local miller in the 1800s. The stone-built Fountain Café, now a house, stands opposite. The iron rod which held the sign can still be seen protruding from a tree, well above head height.

This leaflet is based on an original leaflet written by Helen Ward.

© Woodhouse Eaves Local History Group