Out on the course - Packington

An attractive and interesting village at 1 mile, and you pass through twice more. Just before turning right into a narrow Mill Street is the mid-18th Century Village Lockup. Its octagonal, made of brick and has a pyramid-shaped roof. The village constable used it for drunks and miscreants. Shame it's not still in use. You will see it twice more but on your right as you come up the main road.

Mill Street is very attractive, so enjoy the quaint village buildings. There's a couple of mill stones outside houses, the mill on your right as you cross the little bridge over the stream which runs by the lane. Many buildings are listed here. Note the manor house, the rectory and typical Victorian village school.

In 1200 a village landowner and the priory were disputing land ownership, most unusually to be decided by 'trial by combat'. Although we don't know the outcome, a year later the landowner was granted use of different land by the priory for a rent of a pound of pepper a year (hence 'peppercorn rent').

More combat was around 600 years later. A French prisoner of war in Ashby, a captain, (from the Napoleonic Wars) was buried in Packington Church, killed in a duel by a sword through heart and lungs. His body was found, still warm, covered by his coat with his waistcoat and handkerchief nearby. Nothing else is known about the duel.

As you leave the village the 13th Century Church is on your right. Inside it has a 13th century chest made from a single baulk of oak.

You now carry on through mainly open countryside of fields and meadows, turning left and immediately left again into Gallows Lane. You can imagine how it received its name. Enjoy the views.

One of our sponsors, Champney Springs Health Farm is along Gallows Lane on the left.