Delapré Abbey was renovated by Northampton Council and is normally open to visitors but is closed during lockdown. The grounds and surrounds are all still open to the public and with the golf course closed that too can be walked freely but once reopened the public footpath must be followed which reduces walking opportunities. The semi derelict building on the left of the roadway was presumably once an entrance lodge.
This is the entrance to Delapre Abbey on London Road with the roadway leading to the car park. Clicking on the picture takes you to Google Streetview.
If instead of heading east towards the Abbey you turn right there is a narrow spinney running south alongside the London Road. When I was young this was walled but the wall has been removed now. It is popular with dog walkers so take care….
This single path leads through the spinney from the entrance to Delapré Abbey uphill to the Queen Eleanor Cross.
This single path leads through the spinney from the entrance to Delapré Abbey uphill to the Queen Eleanor Cross.
Although the pictures appear to show woodland the spinney is quite narrow.
Although the pictures appear to show woodland the spinney is quite narrow.
Just to the right of the path is the London Road which outside lockdown can be very busy.
Just to the right of the path is the London Road which outside lockdown can be very busy.
Traffic noise makes this a less than tranquil route.
Traffic noise makes this a less than tranquil route.
To the left at various points you can access the Abbey fields and golf course.
To the left at various points you can access the Abbey fields and golf course.
This pond is accessible from the spinney and lies a little north of the golf course,
This pond is accessible from the spinney and lies a little north of the golf course,
At odd points the path splits in two but quickly reverts to a single track.
At odd points the path splits in two but quickly reverts to a single track.
Queen Eleanor cross stands alongside the London Road at the south end of the spinney. One of 3 surviving crosses from the 12 erected by Edward 1 between 1291 and 1295 to mark stopping places on his wife Eleanor's funeral route. This one has had some recent restoration work at the same time as Delapré Abbey.
Queen Eleanor cross stands alongside the London Road at the south end of the spinney. One of 3 surviving crosses from the 12 erected by Edward 1 between 1291 and 1295 to mark stopping places on his wife Eleanor's funeral route. This one has had some recent restoration work at the same time as Delapré Abbey.
On the approach to the Abbey you can either follow the roadway or instead take the fields to either left or right. The field to the left used to be home to an archery club in days gone by. There are a couple of lightning trees and a large felled tree but little else of note. To the right there are some large trees and permanent wooden horse jumps from the days when there was a riding school here.
One ot the two lighning trees
One ot the two lighning trees
The other lightning tree. These are close together and I imagine were both caught in the same storm.
The other lightning tree. These are close together and I imagine were both caught in the same storm.
These large trees provide a family with some shade on this sunny day.
These large trees provide a family with some shade on this sunny day.
A glimpse of the Abbey with its visitor car park to the left.
A glimpse of the Abbey with its visitor car park to the left.
Nearly there.
Nearly there.
The Abbey was unsympathetically extended to include the library wing seen on the right by the Bouverie family in the late 18th century.
The Abbey was unsympathetically extended to include the library wing seen on the right by the Bouverie family in the late 18th century.
