A walk to find a grade 1 listed church, a bee shelter and some hard pears

By:  Blue Badge Tour Guide - Anne Bartlett

Most people have heard of Hartpury Agricultural College which is about 5 miles north of Gloucester and has an international reputation for its range of farming related courses. So today I’m going to recommend a circular walk from the village of Hartpury, starting at the Village Hall.

Walk along Danesford Lane, then take the path through the fields in the direction of the village church where there is an interesting collection of historic buildings to discover, and some fine views to enjoy.

The name Hartpury is probably a derivation from a Saxon name for the village sounding something like Hardipiry meaning hard pear. In the church yard there’s a collection of pear trees that grow inedible fruit but which produce a surprising amount of juice that makes the most delicious drink called Perry. I understand that there are over 100 different perry pear varieties in Gloucestershire with the most amazing names: such as Merrylegs; Mumblehead; Lumberskull; Drunkers and of course Stinking Bishop. made famous by the cheese that’s washed in perry pear juice, and so enjoyed by Wallace and Gromit

St Mary’s Church is listed as grade 1 which shows that it is of exceptional interest. It dates back to Norman times, with many alterations in the 14th century including the addition of its tower.

In the churchyard is a very special beehive. It’s not your ordinary beehive, its more like a 4 star bee hotel which, I hasten to add is completely unoccupied. It has 28 identical “rooms” and five extra in the basement and would, “when in business” have housed 33 working skeps or coiled straw hives that were used by bee keepers before wooden hives were invented.

This bee shelter as it’s called, is quite unique, was made in Gloucestershire and curiously has links with the houses of Parliament.

The shelter is a 19th century stone building which was found in a garden in Nailsworth and was restored in 1968, before arriving in the churchyard behind Hartpury church and is now under the care of their historic buildings trust.

Why has it links with The Houses of Parliament? – well the mason and quarry owner Paul Tuffley who lived at Nailsworth supplied the stone to architect Charles Barry’s senior mason who supervised all the sculpture work . So the same Cotswold stone that was used to make this bee shelter is in the interior of the new houses of parliament.

Honey seems to have been used as a currency here at Hartpury, because Gloucester Abbey, who owned the land, leased it, in return for an annual payment of 24lbs of honey. Honey in medieval times was used to sweeten food and to make the alcoholic beverage Mead.

There’s a restored chapel to see, originally built by nuns who came to England having escaped from the French Revolutionary forces that invaded Brussels in 1793. They lived at Hartpury Court for 45 years and occupied themselves with farming, building the chapel and they also ran a school for girls between the ages of 6 and 12 years old.

Before you leave here look at the roof of the 15th century tithe barn. It has a carved stone Welsh dragon at one end looking in an easterly direction towards England and a stone carved English Lion looking the other way over towards Wales.

A short walk down the road takes you to view a very attractive 18th century watermill built of soft red brick standing alongside the River Leadon.

I hope that you’ve enjoyed this interesting stop. From here you can head back to Danford Lane or head on towards Hartpury College which you will see in the distance or turn right and go south towards the River Leadon and follow it to Barbers Bridge or Rudford.

Hartpury Parish Council have produced a leaflet containing information about all the walks around their parish and there is further information on their website.