Heritage Walk around Woodhouse Eaves Village and Windmill Hill

The Woodhouse Eaves and Windmill Hill heritage trail is shown in red and orange on the map. It is just over 2 miles long.

For convenience, the walk as described below, starts from the car park in Woodhouse Eaves. However the walk is circular so if you wish you can join and leave it any convenient place. If you are arriving by car, an alternative starting point is from the Broombriggs Farm car park just off Beacon Road.

Village Hall
The Village Hall was erected in 1887. It was originally given to the village by Mrs Perry Herrick of Beaumanor but now it is administered by the Parish Council for the use of the village.

Turn right out of the Village Hall and walk along Main Street. Look out for houses and cottages which are typical of the area with roofs often constructed of local Swithland slate and walls of Charnwood granite or faced with Swithland slate.

King George's playing field
Next to the Village Hall car park is the village playing field. The entry gates have the coat of arms of George V. The gates lead to a footpath to School Lane in Old Woodhouse. This is a very old established way and was shown on the 1808 Charnwood Enclosure map. The area around the playing fields has recently been planted with trees bought from the prize money when the village was awarded best kept village for 200?

Number 60, Long Close, Main Street
You will pass by Long Close. It was possibly a Royal hunting lodge in the days of King John and had Norman remnants in its construction. It is now a private house with splendid gardens which are open to the public on selected days during April May and June. All profit goes to the national gardens scheme charities. For more information go to their web site at: -

The Old Bull's Head
The Bull's Head public house was originally owned by the Herrick family of Beaumanor Hall, who were once one of the largest landowners in the area. The present name was probably called after the head of the bull found in the Herrick’s family crest. The building is reputedly haunted by the ghost of a servant girl.

Beacon Road
Turn left up Beacon Road and look out for two dwellings set back from the road on the right, going up the hill. These were once a row of Herrick cottages, one of which housed the local miller in the 1800s. Behind these building on the crest of the hill is Breakback plantation.

Fountain Café
On the left side of Beacon Road was the stone-built Fountain Café, now a house. The iron rod which held the sign can still be seen protruding from a tree, well above head height.

Breakback wood
As you continue up Beacon Road, look up to your right to Breakback Wood, which dominates the skyline.

Broombriggs Farm
Take the footpath directly ahead as you enter the car park and pass through a number of metal gates. The wood to your immediate left as you enter the farm is known a Frears Wood and is named after the couple who donated the Farm to Leicestershire County.

The countryside further along to your left is known as Windmill Hill because of the old windmill which originally took pride of place on the crest of the hill.

Frear Wood
Half way across the next field, turn left and follow the path through the top of the newly planted wood and follow the path up the hill to the right.

The lower slopes of the hill are planted with natives tree such as oak, field maple and wild cherry. The Windmill Hill woodland has been created under the National Forest Tender Scheme run by the National Forest Company. It has allowed 14.5 hectares (26 acres) of Charnwood countryside to be open to visitors.

Windmill Hill
The path goes over a slight ridge and then down to the left. Just before it goes through a gap in the stonewall, turn right and follow the path up to the very top of Windmill Hill.

On top of the hill are the remains of a windmill together with a display board that describes the history of the mill. The original wooden superstructure of the original windmill was burnt down in 1945. Now all that is left of the windmill is the stone base which was restored in 2004 and turned into a viewing platform with splendid picturesque views over Loughborough and the Soar Valley. The viewing platform is open every Sunday from 10:00am to 4:00pm from May to September.

As you stand by the mill gazing out on these splendid views, spare a thought for a bygone age when the space around the mill was virtually free from shrubs and trees to allow the maximum amount of wind to drive the sails and power the grind stones.

It is said that in its heyday there were so many visitors to Windmill Hill during bank holidays that it was difficult to find a space to sit down.

Mill Road
Continue past the windmill and follow the twisting path down the steep slope to your right. Turn left when you reach the main path and rejoin the heritage trail back down Mill Road. At the junction with Maplewell Road turn left.

Number 1 Victoria Road
On the opposite side of the road at the bottom of Victoria Road is a large house with mock timber framing and a small turret on the roof. The plasterwork decoration on the gable front depicts an eagle with two cherubs.

The house was built around 1900 by the Liberal agent. Unable to gain permission from the Herricks to use the village hall for electioneering purposes, he resorted to using the balcony to address villagers at election time.

Workmen's Cottages
Turn left and go down Maplewell road to cross roads at the centre of the village where there are a number of shops including the local pharmacy. On the left hand corner is a row of former workmen's cottages now private residences.

Main Street
At the centre of the village, look to your right up the hill for a distant view of the Church.

Now turn left and walk back along Main Street passing the Village pump on your left. This 1850s cast iron pump with spout and handle has been restored. The pump was in regular use until the 1920s.

A little further on is number 3 Main Street, adjacent to Paterson drive. This private house, built in 1863, was once the Infant School and then a church hall and is now a private residence .

Continue along Main Street until you arrive back at the starting point at the Village hall.

We are grateful to Leicestershire County Council for permission to use the above information about Windmill Hill and we would like to thank the Management of Broombriggs Farm country Park and Windmill Hill for their assistance in preparing this part of the Woodhouse Parish Heritage Trail.

For more information about Windmill Hill go to the official Leicestershire County Council web site at: -

http://www.leics.gov.uk/index/community/community_services/
environment_and_heritage/country_parks/
country_parks_broombriggs_farm_windmill_hill.htm.