Market Harborough is a market town in Leicestershire in an area which was once part of the Rockingham Forest, a royal hunting forest used by the medieval monarchs starting with William I.
The centre of the town is dominated by the church of St. Dionysius which sits right on the high street amongst the shops and there is no church yard. It has a superb 160 feet high spire to be seen for miles around. Its origins go back to the 14th century.
Next to the church stands the Old Grammar School, a small timber building dating from 1614.
There are modern shopping areas, wide streets and pedestrianised parts, a quiet Memorial Garden where we sat with an ice cream and some old Georgian inns and offices at the upper end.
The Sainsbury’s supermarket in the modern shopping centre has a reminder that the cattle market used to be in this area of the town. Marked by a clever sculpture work in the brick wall.
A hidden gem is Joules yard, tucked behind the high street shop, an eclectic mix of eating house, cafe, antiques and collectibles which also hosts musical evenings through the summer, where you can hear local musicians whilst sitting out with your drinks, nibbles and food from the barbecue.
On our way back along the arm from Market Harborough Jumble suddenly came to the front of the boat, standing up on the seat with his nose in the air………
We were just passing the dog biscuit factory! Any taste testing jobs going?
We stopped at Fleckney, where we had a lovely walk around the village as the sun went down, and where we also went to church this morning at the Baptist Church. A lovely modern building with good facilities used for a pre-school group, children’s clubs, a holiday club as well as other church activities.
Our journey today has again been in wonderful hot sunshine, it’s so good to feel the sun on our skin, even if working locks gets a bit hot. We just need lots to drink and Jumble takes lots of swims.
Saturday and Sunday
Market Harborough – Kilby Bridge 14 miles, 12 locks
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