Old Warden and Shuttleworth

To begin with, the walk skirts Old Warden airfield, home of the Shuttleworth Collection. This museum of early aircraft is a memorial to Richard Ormonde Shuttleworth of nearby Old Warden Park, who was killed in World War Two. The public footpath leads through the middle of farmland, bordering a small stream. The stream runs from the fishing lake of the neighbouring estate of Southill Park, home of the Whitbread brewing family.

After passing through the woods of Warden Warren, you arrive in the village street of Old Warden. Here, the influence of two families who owned the estates in Old Warden is visible in the decoration of the former estate houses - the cottages are stylized and ornate, built with a variety of ornamental touches such as decorative thatch or ridge tiles, bargeboarding and fancy porches. Most of the early cottages were built by the family who were in residence at Old Warden Park from the late 17th to the late 19th centuries. Lord Ongley required his tenants to wear tall hats and red cloaks to add to the picturesque nature of the scene.

The estate was sold in 1971 to the Shuttleworth family, whose influence lasted until World War Two. They replaced the old house in 1872 with the Mansion House in the park designed by Clutton (now Shuttleworth College), which can be seen at various points on the walk.

The walk leaves the village street along the footpath that leads to St Leonard's church. Originally the church was attached to Wardon Abbey, a Cistercian foundation on the outskirts of the village, famous for its Warden pears. This mainly 14th century building has 12th century work at bottom of the tower. The interior is full of magnificent carved woodwork, brought back by the third Lord Ongley from his travels in Europe. Some of the woodwork marked with the initials AC under a crown, is said to have come from Anne of Cleaves chapel in Bruges. The first Baron of Ongley of Old Warden, ennobled because of his political career, left money for a substantial family mausoleum to be built in the churchyard. Nearby is the Shuttleworth family vault.

The fitting end into this walk is a visit to the Swiss Garden, now linked to the Shuttleworth Collection, House and Lakeside Parklands - an admission fee is payable. The Swiss Garden was created in the early 19th century around a Swiss chalet, rumoured to have housed a Swiss mistress. The eight acres of the gardens are designed in the romantic style with shrubberies, aerial trellises for climbing plants, ponds, arbours, glades and winding paths leading to various Victorian features, including a grotto and fernery, a chapel or garden house, a summer house and a well. The Shuttleworth family further developed the garden and now the interesting trees and shrubs play host to a wide variety of wildlife.