Walk No 6: Starting from Bracebridge Pool

Suggested route about 0.5 miles (0.5 hours)

To download a copy of the route map - please click here or on the image of the map below

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Bracebridge Pool was built in the 15th century as a fishpond. In 1577 permission was given to build a watermill (to visit the pool walk along the tarmac road).

Walk along the path down the hill.

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Marker no 6.1 is beside the path

The bank and ditch (woodbank) was constructed around Darnel Hurst in the 16th century to keep grazing animals out of coppiced wood. You can also follow the bank and ditch up the hill on the other side of the road. 

Walk back to the tarmac road and through the car park.

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Marker no 6.2 is on the grass down the slope just beyond the car park

Trenches dug for military training, probably during the First World War, are visible as slight hollows running in zig zags so that there was no direct line of fire along the trench..

Following the path along the slope, the slight hollows on each side were more practice trenches. The railway at the base of the slope was constructed in 1879.

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Marker no 6.3 is beside the path near trees.

The hollows and mounds of the “Ancient Encampment” may be the remains of gravel digging or military training relatively recently, but the ditch at the base of the slope may be much older.

Follow the path to your left along the edge of the Ancient Encampment to a gap in the trees with a view down the slope to your right.

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Marker no 6.4 is beside the path

The brick wall on the far side of the road at the bottom of the hill was built in 1858 around the grounds of Four Oaks Hall. This land was originally part of Sutton Park.

Continue along the path back to the car park.