Cycling Into History: A Ride to Huddington and the Forgotten Soldier of the Battle of Worcester

 

Cycling into History

The forecast for the week was not great - only Thursday showed a glimmer of hope for good weather. Blue skies overhead, the autumn sun still holding some warmth and a quiet sense of calm before the arrival of Storm Claudia the following day. The invite was too much - I had to roll out my trusty single-speed road bike and head for history.

I set off towards Huddington from the centre of Worcester, but first a brief stop at the excellent Springridge Nurseries at Crowle to fuel up. They sell the finest coffee and walnut cake that money can buy. From there it is a short one mile hop to the first port of call - Huddington Court.

A Soldier, a Sanctuary, and an Unmarked Grave

Picture it: 3rd September 1651. A young soldier, Scottish, wounded and terrified, flees the Battle of Worcester. He cuts across the fields towards Huddington Court, a striking fortified manor house that served as a Catholic sanctuary in a fiercely Protestant world. Catholic families hid priests here, tucked away in secret holes carved into the house itself. To be caught harbouring one was ruinous, even deadly.

The soldier arrives, bleeding through his tunic, desperate for refuge. The family takes him in, but his injuries are too severe. By evening, he dies far from home, hundreds of miles south of where he grew up. And in a county now controlled by the ruthless Parliamentarian forces, the Lord of the Manor faces an impossible decision: they cannot be seen aiding a Royalist. So they bury him quietly, in an unmarked grave in the churchyard, hoping the earth will keep its secret.

Centuries pass. Then in 1903, two grave diggers preparing a plot uncovered bones, scraps of cloth, and a purse containing French, English, and Scottish coins. A forgotten Royalist soldier. A young man whose name never made it into the records. The now owner of Huddington Court, moved by the discovery, gathers the remains and sees them properly reburied beneath a yew tree, marking the spot with a stone slab and a cross.

It’s rare, extremely rare, to find a marked Civil War grave. Most of the war dead were swept into mass pits, unrecorded and lost to time. But here, in a quiet corner of Worcestershire, one young Scot has been remembered.

Huddington Court: History Wrapped in Black-and-White Timber

Upon arrival, the imposing gates and the tiny bridge over the stream gives a feeling of a private bastion, hidden from the gaze of the world. Visiting the site almost feels intrusive. You pass through the gates of Huddington Court and follow a tree-lined avenue that spills you out at this beautiful black-and-white 15th century house, full of stories, secrets, and centuries-old Catholic devotion. Just across the lawn sits St James’s church, small, intimate, and deeply atmospheric.

The grave lies just inside the churchyard: a low mound, a yew tree leaning gently overhead, and the cross placed there in 1903. People still leave offerings. Coins. Small pieces of tartan. A quiet nod of respect to a young man who died here long before Worcestershire became the peaceful county we pass through today.

Making the Trip on Two Wheels or Two Feet

If you’re into history, this spot alone is worth the ride. But even if you're not, the journey is pure joy. Worcestershire really does lend itself to exploration on two wheels or two feet - rolling lanes, open farmland, tiny villages that feel preserved in time.

From Huddington you can loop out towards Himbleton via Shell Ford and Stock Green, crossing the old pack horse bridge at Shell or sticking to the quiet back lanes. The fields stretch wide, the hedgerows hum with wildlife even in autumn and you really get that feeling of travelling through hidden gems with soul.

Head into Stock Green to view the tiny Baptist Chapel. It is very much in the tabernacle style and it holds congregations for up to 14 people. It was built in 1846 and is a rarity for baptist chapels as it has its own graveyard

And if you’re the kind of person who enjoys a good refreshment stop (who isn’t?) - The Galton Arms at Himbleton offers real ales, a proper fire and hearty food that makes the perfect end to a day’s wandering.

A Pilgrimage Worth Pedalling

There is plenty to see and do in an area steeped in Catholic defiance and historical gems. If you are on foot, start in Crowle, head out to Huddington, on to Stocks Green and return to Crowle via Himbleton. The walking is excellent.

On two wheels, the riding is easy with only the odd bank to negotiate. The lanes are quiet and largely traffic-free corridors through the fabulous Worcestershire countryside. From Hanbury in the north to Grafton Flyford in the south, there are a myriad of quiet lanes to explore - all have hidden secrets waiting to be discovered.

So why not make an afternoon of it? Travel through one of the most notorious passages of our history, pay your respects to the forgotten Scots soldier, soak up the peace of St James’s and the tiny Baptist chapel, and finish with a pint by the fire.

Worcestershire isn’t just a place to ride or walk - it’s a place to discover. A county where the scenery is beautiful, the stories are deeply embedded in the landscape, and the area feels made for cyclists and walkers. Days like this remind me why I love exploring it so much - and why I have made it my mission to publicise my love for this very special corner of England.