Worship, Newington

Start : St Mary the Virgin car park, Newington. (ME9 7JX) Grid ref. TQ 862 653
The first part of the walk is on rural roads with no pavement. Take care and walk in single file on the right-hand side.

(S/E) Leave the car-park via the entrance, return to the public road and turn right. At the first turning, Wardwell Lane, turn right (North-East). After 300m, where the road bears left, turn along the footpath on the right to walk behind the church (A). At the end of the footpath, turn right. This brings you back onto a rural road - take care.

(1) After 50m on the road, carefully cross by the house called Snakesbury and take the footpath on the right. Follow it over the railway line. Listen and look out for trains before crossing. On the other side, take the footpath diagonally right across a field and through the hedge. The footpath goes straight ahead along a small ridge but you'll see a new footpath is being formed by people walking down the hill to the temple at the bottom.

(2) Follow this new path to visit the temple (B).

(3) Return to the top of the ridge, retracing your steps to cross the railway line.

(4) This time, turn along the footpath immediately left - there is an initial steep section that may be slippery when wet. When you reach the road, turn left and then right onto the private road to return to the church. (S/E)

Start : St Mary the Virgin car park, Newington. (ME9 7JX) Grid ref. TQ 862 653

Parking : The walk begins at St Mary the Virgin. There is a free car park at the church but it is also less than 10 mins of easy walking from Newington rail station and from bus routes along the A2.

Terrain : Part of this walk is on rural roads. Wear clothing that is easily visible, walk in single file and on the right-hand side.
Particularly in summer and autumn, you may encounter brambles and stinging nettles. In winter, paths may be muddy. please dress accordingly.

Facilities : The church is usually open during daylight hours and welcomes respectful visitors. There is drinking water and an accessible toilet in the kitchen area. Please leave any area you use clean and tidy.

(A) St Mary the Virgin has its origins in the 12th century when it was founded by Richard de Lucy, Henry II's most trusted advisers and one of the wealthiest men in England. It has unique remains of 14th century wall-paintings, interesting memorials and a permanent display giving brief information about Newington's history and heritage. It also has the unusual shrine of St Robert le Bouser, a local 15th century saint who was credited with many miracles.

As you leave the car-park at the beginning of the walk, note the 'Devil's Stone' on the left hand side. The legend of the stone has been passed through generations of local children. It seems the Devil, incensed by the ringing of the church bells, clambered up the tower to silence them. Stories differ about whether he jumped or fell but, either way, he left a footprint in the stone, which used to be on the village green.

Walking along the footpath behind the church gives superb views of its flint walls. You'll also see, on the left hand side, the remains of a building that was once part of a World War One inland defence system that put Newington on a potential front line.

(B) The remains of the Roman temple were uncovered during an excavation prior to the building of the homes you see next to it. It was found just 70m from where it is now. The recreation is the exact size and in the same orientation as the original and uses flints from the original. The building is the result of a unique project between Newington History Group and the archaeological team who carried out the excavation, SWAT Archaeology. and is located here with the kind permission of Persimmon Homes. An interpretation board gives more information about Roman religion and the amazing discovery of where the temple was located.