13th November 2024
Wednesday 13th dawned bright but cold. A modest group of DonMoggers gathered at the Horse & Jockey in Congerstone for a warming pre-walk coffee. There were even 4 Morgans neatly parked in the car park. Jan & I opted to give our Morgan a run out although the hood stayed in the erect position in deference to the chill.
Mary led us out of the village towards Shackerstone where we met Kate, our historical guide for the walk. Kate started off by giving us a short historical overview of Shackerstone and Gopsall Hall. There was a hall there from the 11th Century. In 1685 the estate was owned by Humphrey Jennens. His son Charles (1700- 1773) built Gopsall Hall which was once the grandest Georgian Country House in Leicestershire.
On the death of Charles Jennens in 1773, the estate passed to the Curzon family and in 1797 it became the property of Richard Curzon-Howe who was the first Earl Howe. It stayed in the Curzon family until 1919 when it was bought by Barron Samuel James Waring, of the famous furniture firm ‘Waring and Gillows’. Then in 1932 Lord Waring sold the land and the hall to the government. Following its use as an experimental radar base during the war, the house was abandoned and was demolished in 1952. Looking across the farmland today, it is difficult to work out where the grand house once stood.
All that remains today is the Temple which is reputed to be where Handel wrote the Messiah. Our walk took us to the Temple which, whilst a Grade 2 listed building, could do with a little TLC.
We had a good look round from the safety of the fence, although some of our number ignored warning signs and went for a closer look.
A short return walk got us back at the Horse & Jockey in time for a well earned lunch. Jan and I thoroughly enjoyed our day out. Many thanks to Mary Topp for organising the outing and to Kate our historical guide.
Words & Pictures – Paul Fileman