Past Times - Nocton Hall

In the last Past Times, we finished with a view of the East Ride of lime trees. If you look back at that photograph, you will see a path running at right angles to the one with the urns leading away from the east elevation of Nocton Hall.

The next photograph is a view down that path, looking towards the south (if you look carefully, you can see one of the urns on the right hand side).

Nocton Hall - east garden

The next photograph is taken from much further back on the east side of Nocton Hall (you would be standing somewhere in the area of where the old RAF Hospital is now). You can see the path mentioned above in the middle ground, and to your left you can see the beginning of the lime tree 'ride'.

Nocton Hall - East 'Ride'

The next photograph is taken even further back. This clearly shows the ornamental lake that used to exist in the grounds, before it was filled in and levelled to build the RAF Hospital site.

How I wish I had lived in Lincolnshire during the time of Nocton Hall's heyday, being given permission to wander the grounds and enjoy the surroundings of a lovely country estate.

Nocton Hall - The Lake

Now we must return to the gates of the old RAF Hospital and walk back down the road alongside the cherry blossom trees on your right, that box the lawn just below the south wing. When you get alongside the centre of the south elevation, you will note a path on your left leading down into the woods. I believe this was one of the Laurel Walks. You will see the laurel bushes have been allowed to naturalise.

When I first moved to the village in 2005 and started to explore the area, this path laid unforgotten and blocked with vegetation. Over many months, I started to cut a way through and then used to walk the dogs regularly down this path (secateurs in my pocket). It has now become one of the many well-used paths for enjoyment of the woods, by local residents and visitors alike. The next photograph shows this path when the estate was managed and maintained.

Nocton Hall - Laurel Walk (south)

This next photograph is a view looking up this path towards the Hall.

Nocton Hall - Laurel Walk (south)

Finally for today, if you were to walk down the Laurel Walk to the end, you would come to another path that runs to the left and to the right. If you turn right, this will take you to Bottom Lodge situated on the Nocton Estate road (to feature in the next Past Times). If you turn left, this will take you back towards the boundary fence of the old RAF Hospital site. I believe the next photograph is an image of this path heading towards Bottom Lodge (which cannot be seen), with open fields on the left.

Laurel Walk