On a dull overcast day I was pleased to see a number of familiar faces at Cobham. Fuzz, still nursing his foot (recent operation) was treating it warily for a while and would not be joining me. It was nice to see Mark Roy again, but he and Bill (the calligrapher) both felt they could not come on today’s run.
So it was that nine of us, Lynda, Beryl, new member Gilbert, Roger, John C, Bill P, Norman, Les Johnston and yours truly left RBL making our way along Downside Bridge Road, over the bridge and right into Plough Lane. We took the usual route to West Horsley passing The Black Swan and continuing along Ockham Lane to reach the sad looking boarded up Hautboy Hotel and into Alms Heath. All the buildings and walls in this area have the hallmark of the Lovelace Estate in their design and patterned brickwork, I understand that The Hautboy is a Grade II listed building so any development could be a bit restricted.
There is a CTC connection with The Hautboy which some members may have heard of. Back in the 1890s cycling was really taking off with the development of the pneumatic tyre, and many ladies had taken up the hobby. In 1898 one formidable lady cyclist, Viscountess Florence Harboton called into The Hautboy, wearing her cycling knickerbockers, seeking some refreshment. The landlady refused her entrance to the tearoom thinking her dress unseemly. She said that Florence should go into the public bar but Florence did not fancy the public bar so she left. The CTC decided to prosecute The Hautboy on behalf of the Florence. I do not know the outcome but I understand that CTC members boycotted the hotel. If anyone happens to know the outcome, or can correct me on any points of detail I should be interested to hear from them.
At the end of Alms Heath we turned left into Ockham Road North and right into Long Reach. It was then along Long Reach to The Street West Horsley and lunch at The Barley Mow. I think we all gave our thumbs up to the Barley Mow. The food was good, as was the service, and the staff pleasant and accommodating.
After lunch we made our way in a slight drizzle, over The Drift to Effingham Junction. The sunshine of Sunday and Monday had, when planning the run, made me consider leading the troops across Banks and Bookham Commons but a quick recce on Monday afternoon persuaded me that this would not be a good idea (the bridleway was very very muddy),so we made for Effingham, Bookham and tea at the Leatherhead day centre, just five of us, three of our number having peeled off on the way.
After tea we all made our separate ways home, in all we were lucky with the weather, the sun did try to shine from time to time but not for long, a run of just under 15 miles from elevenses to tea, not bad for a dull February day.
Mike Withers
So it was that nine of us, Lynda, Beryl, new member Gilbert, Roger, John C, Bill P, Norman, Les Johnston and yours truly left RBL making our way along Downside Bridge Road, over the bridge and right into Plough Lane. We took the usual route to West Horsley passing The Black Swan and continuing along Ockham Lane to reach the sad looking boarded up Hautboy Hotel and into Alms Heath. All the buildings and walls in this area have the hallmark of the Lovelace Estate in their design and patterned brickwork, I understand that The Hautboy is a Grade II listed building so any development could be a bit restricted.
There is a CTC connection with The Hautboy which some members may have heard of. Back in the 1890s cycling was really taking off with the development of the pneumatic tyre, and many ladies had taken up the hobby. In 1898 one formidable lady cyclist, Viscountess Florence Harboton called into The Hautboy, wearing her cycling knickerbockers, seeking some refreshment. The landlady refused her entrance to the tearoom thinking her dress unseemly. She said that Florence should go into the public bar but Florence did not fancy the public bar so she left. The CTC decided to prosecute The Hautboy on behalf of the Florence. I do not know the outcome but I understand that CTC members boycotted the hotel. If anyone happens to know the outcome, or can correct me on any points of detail I should be interested to hear from them.
At the end of Alms Heath we turned left into Ockham Road North and right into Long Reach. It was then along Long Reach to The Street West Horsley and lunch at The Barley Mow. I think we all gave our thumbs up to the Barley Mow. The food was good, as was the service, and the staff pleasant and accommodating.
After lunch we made our way in a slight drizzle, over The Drift to Effingham Junction. The sunshine of Sunday and Monday had, when planning the run, made me consider leading the troops across Banks and Bookham Commons but a quick recce on Monday afternoon persuaded me that this would not be a good idea (the bridleway was very very muddy),so we made for Effingham, Bookham and tea at the Leatherhead day centre, just five of us, three of our number having peeled off on the way.
After tea we all made our separate ways home, in all we were lucky with the weather, the sun did try to shine from time to time but not for long, a run of just under 15 miles from elevenses to tea, not bad for a dull February day.
Mike Withers
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