Heritage Walk around Woodhouse Eaves Village via Broombriggs Farm

This trail is shown in red on the map and is about 1.5 miles long.

For convenience, the walk 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.

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.

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.

King George's playing field
Next to the village hall 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 old established way is marked on the 1808 Charnwood Enclosure map. The area around the playing fields has recently been planted with trees.

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 named 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.

Broombriggs Farm
Continue up the hill then turn left and enter Broombriggs Farm at the car park off Beacon Road. In the car park is a display board giving the history of the farm.

The countryside to your left as you enter Broombriggs Farm from Bacon Road, is known as Windmill Hill taking its name from the old windmill which originally took pride of place on the crest of the hill. After entering Broombriggs Farm, follow the path straight ahead keeping Windmill Hill and Frears Wood to your left. The lower slopes of the hill on your left are planted with native trees 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.

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.

Go down Maplewell Road to the cross roads where there shops including a pharmacy.
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Set back on th corner are fine examples of original workmen's cottages now private residences.

Turn left once again and walk back along main Street to the starting point at the Village Hall.

On the way you will pass by Number 3 Main Street, adjacent to Paterson drive. This private house, built in 1863, was once the Infant School, and then the church hall.

We are grateful to Leicestershire County Council for permission to use the above information and we would like to thank the Management of 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.

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