Before visiting the Olde Watermill at Barton-le-Clay I again hiked to the nearby springs at Barton Hills Nature Reserve. My step sister Claire joined me.
It was winter the last time we had visited the springs but this visit happened in early June and the chalk downs were now plush with every shade of green in full and vibrant expression.
Hawthorns had only recently finished flowering and the white bloom baton passed on to blossoming hogweed, cow parsley and Elderflowers, the latter contributing sweetly heady perfume to the air.
We topped up our water bottles with clean water filtered from the chalk spring.
After a hike we headed over to the Olde Watermill, which has been restored and converted into a shopping arcade and antique centre complete with a restaurant, tea room and café.
The Olde Watermill’s website notes that the watermill is one of the oldest overshot watermills in the country. There’s been a Watermill on the site since 1086 and it is mentioned in the Domesday book.
Claire and I wandered around the various shops in the arcade. I bought some foliage begonias at a plant shop that I hope to include in my indoor window box of vibrant foliage joy.
We then drank beer and cider at the Tea Room and Café and then I went in search of someone to send me to my next pocket of Luton.
I approached the two women working behind the counter at the café and told them about what I was doing. Annie lives in Luton and after some thought sent me to meet ‘Luton’s Deadpool’. She said that he’s a local character she’s noticed around Luton. She also told me that he has an Instagram Account I may be able to contact him on.
For the montage she wrote out her name on an orange ‘Saturday’ label – as it was a Saturday that day.
Pocket Number 24: Luton’s Deadpool at St George’s Square >>
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