Folksworth and Washingley

Civil Parish in Huntingdonshire Huntingdonshire

England

Folksworth and Washingley

Wheat field and Ringmoor Spinney Credit: Jonathan Thacker

Folksworth and Washingley is a civil parish located in the district of Huntingdonshire, in the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It is situated approximately 8 miles west of the city of Peterborough and 4 miles east of the town of Yaxley. The parish covers an area of about 5 square miles.

The two villages, Folksworth and Washingley, are small and rural with a combined population of around 800 residents. They are predominantly residential areas, with a mix of houses and cottages, surrounded by picturesque countryside. The landscape is characterized by vast expanses of farmland, green meadows, and small woodland areas.

Folksworth and Washingley have a long history, with evidence of human habitation dating back to the prehistoric period. The villages were mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, and several ancient buildings and structures still stand today, including St Helen's Church, which dates back to the 12th century.

The parish is well-connected by road, with the A1(M) motorway running nearby, providing easy access to other towns and cities in the region. Despite its rural setting, the area benefits from good transport links and is within commuting distance of Peterborough and other nearby employment centers.

Folksworth and Washingley offer a peaceful and tranquil environment, making them popular with those seeking a quieter way of life. The villages have a close-knit community, with a local pub, a primary school, and a village hall serving as social hubs. The surrounding countryside provides ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as walking, cycling, and horse riding.

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Folksworth and Washingley Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 52.493455/-0.327455 or Grid Reference TL1389. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Wheat field and Ringmoor Spinney

Jonathan Thacker

Harrowed field and Ongutein Manor

Jonathan Thacker

Harvest time near to Lutton

Bikeboy

Dead tree on a corner

Bikeboy

Gates to Washingley Hall Farm

A deserted medieval village and a mote and bailey castle are both marked on the map. Today, apart from this pair of gates, there isn't a lot happening here.

Bikeboy

Beware of deer on Washingley Lane

Robin Webster

A growing crop and a spinney

Folksworth Spinney is across the field.

Robin Webster

Washingley Lane at the end of Bullock Road

David Howard

Kenny's Oak

On Redhill Road, with a view down to Caldecote. The oak is marked on the OS 1887 map. But who was Kenny? An article in the Waterbeach Community Association's 'Beach News' of September 2012 suggests that the oak was "... reputed to have been used as a gallows by a young boy when he committed suicide." Link

Tim Heaton

Entering Caldecote

Caldecote: "a place name found in various counties, meaning ‘cold cottage(s)’, with reference to poor construction, exposed situation, or clay soil ..." [A Dictionary of British Place Names]. I don't know why clay soil would make somewhere cold, but this area's geology is dominated by the Oxford Clay mudstones.

Tim Heaton

Caldecote; area of deserted village

Looking towards the former Church of St Mary Magdalene (bellcote on horizon); now a private house.

Tim Heaton

Partially mown verge, Caldecote Road

It is estimated that roadside verges account for about 1,000 square miles of land in the UK, and that less frequent mowing would bring a range of environmental benefits [The Guardian, 26 May 2021]. The section on the left has been mown to improve visibility from the junction of Washingley Road just behind the camera.

Tim Heaton

Cycle Route 12 on Caldecote Road entering Stilton

Tim Heaton

Sunset at Ongutein Manor

The sun was setting behind the slightly sinister looking Ongutein Manor at the time this picture was taken. Ongutein Manor is marked as 'Ogerston' on old maps. Ogerston was a property of the Knights Templar but there is nothing now left of it.

Marathon

Sunset at Ongutein Manor Farm

The sun was just setting as this picture was taken from Bullock Road alongside Ongutein Manor Farm.

Marathon

Sunset across the valley of the Billing Brook

The sun was just disappearing over the horizon as this picture was taken and within 15 minutes it was getting dark. The footpath leads away from Bullock Road, down into the valley and up the other side to the village of Lutton in Northamptonshire.

Marathon

Sunset across the valley of the Billing Brook

The sun was just disappearing over the horizon as this picture was taken and within 15 minutes it was getting dark. At this stage though it is bright enough to blot out the bases of the electricity pylons. The footpath leads away from Bullock Road, down into the valley and up the other side to the village of Lutton in Northamptonshire.

Marathon