Isle of Axholme

Cycling UK Louth Ride Isle of Axholme Sunday 25th July 2021.

The club last visited the area back in 2019 when we toured Epworth Manor House to learn about the connections with the Wesley family. Today would be a gentle potter around the lanes of the Isle of Axholme. Reg Bagshaw had particularly looked forward to returning and is keen that the group explore areas away from home.

Tim Newbery and John Ambler had ‘reccied’ the route the previous week to make sure all was fit for today’s club ride, although earlier forecasts of rain, showers and thunderstorms with a yellow warning of heavy rain and flooding wouldn’t have inspired anyone to have gone out for a ride. The forecast had changed over the weekend but upon leaving Louth Tim had noted dark, foreboding skies which threatened rain.

Parking up near the small village of Root, it was quite a surprise to find that skies were turning increasingly blue and the sun was beaming down. Root, one of the original 8 parishes of the Isle of Axholme, as with most of the Isle, was owned in the 12th Century by the Norman Lord, Roger de Mowbray (one of the Barons entrusted with the enforcement of the terms of the Magna Carta).

Chris Owen and Tim Newbery headed off on schedule at 10.00 am for the short journey to Epworth. The bells of St Andrew were tolling as we arrived but we managed to weave our way through the parishioners on their way to the Sunday service to view the grave of Reverend Samuel Wesley, father of John and Charles; the founders of the Methodist Church. Interesting too that adjacent to the church once stood Epworth Manor House, the seat of the Mowbray family. Perhaps the best known of the family was John de Mowbray who in 1361 gave his subjects the right to dig on the moors and land for turf.

Time now for tea and coffee and we were delighted with the brilliant service provided by Mojo’s Coffee Lounge in the Market Place. Rather fine crispy bacon sandwiches which were highly rated by both John and Chris.

Refreshed, a somewhat longer ride now to our nominated lunch stop at the Haxey Gate Inn. A pleasant downhill route ensued all the way to Beltoft before turning east to West Butterwick and the River Trent. From here it was clear to see that Epworth had been built on an area of higher ground, once standing proud of the boggy marshes. The land was eventually drained by the Dutchman Cornelius Vermuyden in 1626. Epworth was one of the principal towns and it was also where King Charles I was Lord of the Manor. It was Charles I who commissioned Vermuyden to drain the land and money gained by the reclamation went directly into his purse!

Riding alongside the mighty Trent there was little to see of the waterway itself as the banks obscured our view. There are a few viewpoints, providing you can appease the landowners who claim it’s ‘private property’. Near Owston Ferry, Tim was reminded of the occasion back in 2019 where Reg Bagshaw, Barry Jordan and Rob Whitworth posed for a photograph by a large Yorkshire flag and had a pleasant conversation with the gentleman who owned the house. When John and Tim revisited a week ago, we were informed that, sadly, the gentleman had passed away shortly after our previous visit.

Weaving our way along the very quiet lanes (we were surprised at firstly; how good the road surfaces were and secondly; how little traffic there was) we came to the Warping Drain and a poignant reminder of the events of WWII. Here lies a memorial to Lancaster PB565 which crashed nearby on a training flight from RAF Sandtoft which is just a few miles away, on Sunday 15th April 1945. It appears that a fault developed on the ‘auto pilot’ and in spite of the best efforts of the crew, the aircraft pitched into a steep dive straight into the ground. All 8 crew were killed. The memorial dates to April 2020 and is set amongst wild flowers, including poppies. There were so many accidents at Sandtoft, it was given the unwelcome nickname of ‘Prangtoft’.

Continuing along Owston Ferry Road we would cross the North Lincolnshire boundary into Nottinghamshire and the North Carr Road. A different county but still very pleasant with the temperature by now a very comfortable 22 degrees Celsius. Light winds and sunny spells made for ideal cycling weather!

Onwards and over the railway line that runs between Gainsborough and Doncaster we were soon arriving at the Haxey Gate Inn alongside the River Idle. Time for lunch. Once again great service and good value for money. Nice just to sit and relax viewing the waters flowing under the old road bridge.

The final leg back into North Lincolnshire to Root and as were passing by the flood plains of the River Idle, Chris would remark that the high-quality turf had been used in the new Wembley Stadium. Quite an accolade. By now a few more cars on Idle Bank but we arrived back at the car park at 2.30 pm having enjoyed a super day out. 26 miles covered. Thanks for John’s company a few days ago and for Chris’ company today.