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Harlow: A walk to a 12th century chapel

Difficulty Easy Access

Walking time 28 minutes

Length 1.5km / 0.9mi

Route developer: Joan Miller

Route checker: Geoff Sharman

Start location Old Harlow Health Centre
Route Summary A circular walk through residential streets then across grassy fields, passing a 12th century chapel, then returning through a narrow alleyway.
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Getting there

Buses 8, 47, 59 and 147 stop nearby in High Street. Ask for the Victoria Hall stop.

There are several car parks nearby with the first hour free.

Description

[1] Leave the Health Centre by the main entrance and turn left towards the road. There is a car park opposite you. Cross the road, turn left and walk to the end of the road. Turn right and follow the pavement until you reach the T junction with St Johns Avenue with the Victoria Hall Theatre opposite you.

[2] Cross the road carefully and turn left. Shortly you will come to a side turning, also called St Johns Avenue.

[3] Turn right here and walk along the right hand pavement which has mature lime trees planted in it.

[4] The road bends round to the left follow it, keeping to the same pavement, until you reach another side turning on the right, again called St Johns Avenue.

[5] Turn right and follow the road a T junction with a main road, Old Road.

[6] Carefully cross Old Road and turn left. Keep the hedge on your right until you come to a post box by a roundabout. Stop here to read a sign about Harlowbury Chapel.

[7] Turn right at the roundabout. Just around the corner is a 5 bar gate with a footpath sign. Go through the small gate at the left of the large gate and into the field. Follow the path diagonally across the field towards an old building. This is the chapel. Behind it, through the hedge, you can see Harlowbury Manor.

[8] When you have looked at the buildings, turn right to step over a low stile into the next field. Take care here as it may be muddy. The step over is less than knee high. There are firm supports to hold and it may be possible to sit on parts of the stile whilst lifting legs over. If you are unable to cross the stile, or walk over the grassy field, take the alternative route. Once over the stile, turn left and walk towards a raised path. Turn right onto this and follow it to the road.

Alternative route. Leave the chapel to return to the gate that you came through. Go through the gate and turn left, then turn left again at the roundabout. Follow the hedge until you come to a bus stop by a gate. Rejoin the main walk at [9]

[9] Cross carefully over the road. Opposite is a path marked by a footpath sign and a sign with a cycle in a red circle, between numbers 27 and 29. Take this path and follow it as it bends left. It is a long narrow path which will take you all the way back to the Victoria Hall Theatre.

[10] As you leave the path, turn left towards the theatre and stop to look at the what’s on board. Cross the road carefully, turn right then, immediately, left to walk along the left pavement of Garden Terrace Road, which is opposite the theatre, until you reach the Health Centre on your left.

POI information

A.Harlowbury Chapel is Harlow's oldest building built in 1180 The chapel was beautifully restored mid 1980s by English Heritage.  Original windows and doors survive Though originally a chapel, it was used as a granary and the grain hoist is still usable. The chapel is open for Heritage Open Day in mid September  with free entry

B. A former church, Victoria Hall has been transformed into a well equipped theatre seating over 100. The programme offers a variety of events from traditional theatre through adaptations of fiction to musicals. These are mainly put together by talented members of the community in Harlow and surrounding areas.

Notes No details available.
Acknowledgements No details available.
  • 12th Century Harlowbury Chapel
    12th Century Harlowbury Chapel
    By - Joan Miller
  • View near Harlowbury Chapel
    View near Harlowbury Chapel
    By - Joan Miller
  • Narrow path back to Victoria Hall
    Narrow path back to Victoria Hall
    By - Joan Miller
  • Victoria Hall Theatre, Old Harlow
    Victoria Hall Theatre, Old Harlow
    By - Joan Miller
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