Frittenden is a small rural village located between Headcorn and Staplehurst. With the expectation of finding the ‘treacle mines’ (or the New Year’s resolution of getting more exercise) a record breaking eleven of us set off on a chilly Saturday morning in January, all wrapped up well against the weather.
The walk itself took us through fields and country lanes and was very easy and flat (with a few stiles!) We stopped halfway at Sissinghurst gardens to sample the warming soup, tea and cake. After refreshment we made our way back to Frittenden.
An amusing anecdote about Frittenden comes from the 1930’s when many visitors from London came down to the area in their new-fangled motor cars. One local decided that these ‘Tourists’ should visit the Treacle Mines at Frittenden which were reported to produce much of the worlds treacle supply. So many Londoners were sent into the country lanes of Kent on a wild goose chase. Rumours of the Frittenden Treacle Mines were started by locals in the 1930s at the expense of gullible Londoners who would tour the area in their newly acquired motor cars, eager to visit the source of much of the world’s treacle.
We didn’t find the ‘treacle mines’ but hope that Liz had more luck locating the geocache as she was last seen heading off to find! Unfortunately, this walk didn’t include the customary stream for Sue to paddle in. Sorry Sue, hopefully there will be one on the next walk.
Thanks go to Sally H for organising the walk. Many of us are logging our 2019 walks for the new Kent Weald Walking Scheme. So, we have started the year with this 9-kilometre walk. Will you be joining us too next time too? They are great fun, we have lots of laughs on the way and they are not strenuous! Our next walks will be 22nd -24th February (Walking Weekend), 9 th March,13th April and many more…
Ros
Kent Weald Walker
