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We took an afternoon jaunt along the A5 to visit Venture Caravans and Motorhomes at Watford Gap, just to get a first hand view of some of their Redline VW Van conversion, which are mighty impressive. we did decide that the VW camper idea though was just not for us, although we were quite taken with the Caravelle they had with the Camper Pod (Fridge, 2 ring hob and Sink unit) and expandable roof installed, making a very spacious interior. We also checked out a few of the caravans which gave us some food for thought…
Anyway, enough of my camper and caravan rambling and on to the subject at hand.
Whilst heading back along the A5 towards Hinckley, we decided on an impromptu detour off the A5 and found ourselves in Ashby St. Ledger. it turned out to be a true hidden gem of the Northamptonshire countryside, that warranted some closer inspection.
The Manor house was a sight to behold, originally the home of the infamous Robert Catesby, it is said to be where the Gunpowder Plot to kill King James 1st was hatched and planned. Of course, we all know about Guy Fawkes, but Robert Catesby was the mastermind behind the plot to destroy the Houses of Parliament, and the conspirators are reported to have met and planned their dastardly deed in the Gatehouse of Ashby Manor.
The 10 bedroom Ashby Manor House has been extensively refurbished, and includes extensive grounds and gardens, boasting a swimming pool and its own tennis court. The house and grounds, including all facilities are available for hire, and believe it or not, they can be found on Airbnb. So if you have a spare £4500 per night, plus an Airbnb service fee of circa £1200, you could play Lord of the Manor for a day or whatever your bank balance can sustain.
We had to make do with a walk around the external areas, including the Ashby St. Ledger Parish Church, which houses some fine examples of uncovered Catholic wall paintings and some original well worn Church Pews (Sorry no internal photos, but worth checking out if you are interested).
Whilst the Manor House and the Church are the obvious attractions, a walk around the village itself is highly recommended, with its beautiful thatched Northamptonshire sandstone cottages and quaint main street.
The village is impeccably maintained with neat and well kept flower borders, which looked stunning in the bright sunlight and gave us a perfect view of the quintisential English village, that all tourists are yearning to see.
We could have spent a lot more time just wandering the Main Street and taking in the scene, which includes a converted barn that now houses the Village hall and an amazing row of thatched cottages built by the celebrated architect Edwin Lutyens, but time was not on our side, so that will have to wait for another day.
We did not find any shops, but whilst exiting the village we noticed The Olde Coach House, Inn and Restaurant, where you could happily wet your whistle and grab a bite to eat on your way out of Ashby St. Ledger, a place that is most definitely worth a visit.