Easy hikes and walks around Gaydon

We walked past the entrance to the footpath as it was obscured by bushes and an adjacent gate

Two wheatfields to cycle through, no problem. The final bit to the M40 crossing more overgrown so a bit of Hike A Bike. one point appeard closed off by barbed wire but overgrown willow on path leading to B'way gate to bridge over the Mway

The Burton Dassett war memorial is to be found on the village green on Bottom Street, Burton Dassett. It takes the form of a Latin Cross with flared ends, an octagonal column, square plinth and a two stepped base. There are 15 names for World War 1 and 10 for World War 2 in th eform of an additional brass plaque containing details of an American Bomber crew unrelated to the village that crashed there. The memorial wa sunveiled by General Gage 22nd January 1922, the monies being raised by public subscription; the masons were J F Booth and Sons. The memorial was fully restored between 1996 and 1997 to commemorate the centenary of the parish council. The original masons Booths became Hornton Quarries Ltd, so the restoration of 1996 was carried out by the same firm that built the memorial in 1921. The parish incorporates the villages of Northend and Knightcote. The memorial is exceedingly weather worn and could do with a refurbishment.

Avon Dassett Reading Room is owned and managed by the Parish Council. The Reading Room was given to the village as a gift from Thomas Perry the owner of Bitham Hall in 1898.

This well is a bit of an enigma, in the deserted Burton Dassett village in Northend, is found a substantial well head which has claims to be a ‘Holy Well’  although the provenance is unclear. Burgess (1876) in his Warwickshire History simply notes that it was used for baptism and immersion. Whilst Bord and Bord (1985) Sacred Waters appear to be earliest to refer to it as such stating: “the holy well with its stone cover will be seen on the left-hand side of the lane as you approach the church”.                                            The present stone well house is of a considerable size being constructed of local red sandstone around 1840 in a Grecian style. The central doorway is party below ground level and has steps down into a square chamber. Over the stone lintel but the worn instruction is an inscription with carved flowers. It possibly states 1534 but it was not clear. It is evident that the well was part of an estate improvement but when and by whom? And did it exist before? If it does say 1534 that is an early date for a landed estate improvement. It certainly is still visited by well wishers as coins are found in its waters. Sadly, despite a substantial water supply it did not stop the demise of the village and now only the substantial church remains, which incidentally is worthy of a visit.

A circular earthwork is clearly visible on the ground on Harts Hill. It measures approximately 15m internal diameter, the ditch is 2m wide and the entrance (facing SE) is 2.5m across.

There is documentary evidence for a windmill here from the Post Medieval period and possibly earlier. It was of the post mill type and was restored in the 1930s but blew down in the 1946. It was at Windmill Hill. The beacon is what is left.

The Peyto Gateway on the north side of St Giles Church, Chesterton, Warwickshire, England, used by the Peyto Family when their manor house was there. Gateway. Probably 1630's. For Sir Edward Peyto and copy of a design by Inigo Jones. English bond red brick with moulded, cut and rubbed brick. Classical style. Round arch with keyblock, pilasters, entablature and pediment. Pilasters, wall, and arch have intermittent rustication. It is likely that this gateway was built at about the same time as Chesterton Windmill (q.v.). It is a close copy, at about three-quarters scale, of one of the two churchyard gateways flanking Jones' St Paul, Covent Garden, of 1631, see Vitruvius Britannicus (ii, 1717, pl 21-2).