Ospringe is a small place in East Kent. Can’t decide if it’s a village. Or a part of Faversham, separated by the A2 here called Ospringe Street. Certainly Water Lane has the feel of a village, with primary school, 12th century church of St Paul and St Peter, and historic Queenhouse farm and Maison Dieu.
Water Lane was once a stream with raised sidewalks. The name Ospringe refers to the spring which feeds the stream, now in a culvert under the street. The lane is wide enough for easy parking by twentieth century modern bungalows opposite the school. Carved in stone on the school wall: “Come ye children and hearken to me. I will teach you the fear of the Lord”
I was in Ospringe to take my wife to visit a convalescent friend. Used the opportunity to visit two local footpaths, a walk of just over a mile.
Walked along Mutton Lane to Vicarage Lane. Rewrote the footpath number, ZF12, which had faded. Into a meadow: “Sheep grazing. Keep to footpath” But no sheep. Here people had not kept to the official footpath but had made a path to Water Lane. I found that they (and i) should have climbed a stile into a strip of woodland before turning right to the lane. People make paths, not always corresponding to the legal rights of way. A little pruning on the path through the wood.
Back on Water Lane, after Ospringe water treatment works, turned left on footpath ZF14 into a pleasant piece of woodland. Again people had preferred a path back to the lane, staying in the wood. The right of way left the wood by another stile and crossed grassy scrub to the lane. A little more pruning in the wood.
Walked back along the lane to the car passing the flinty church with its tower and small flinty building opposite .Maybe a mortuary chapel? Further on, Queen Court is halftimbered, once the family seat of Herbert de Burgh. Seized in 1234 by Henry III and given in dowry to his queen.
There are plans to convert the ancient barn to residences.
Maison Dieu, at the end of the lane on the A2, was commissioned by Henry III. It was hospital, hostel, monastery, retirement home and royal lodge. The present building is a small part of the original complex. In the care of English Heritage, but managed by Maison Dieu Museum Trust. Open weekends and some bank holidays. Display of Roman artefacts.
A short easy walk on a pleasant sunny day. In normal times i would have visited The Ship, pub on the northern side of the A2. Advertises real ales, homecooked food and live music. I’m still avoiding people, especially indoors. Too many seem to think the pandemic is over.
Rambling Brummie 