Dolebury Warren Circular Hike Including Burrington Part III, The Ruins of Mendip Lodge--a brief Look
Channel: semw52
Date: 2023-06-06

After leaving 'The Loop' I shut a large gate and come across huge  muddy  tread tracks of  some enormous forestry vehicle--not working on this day---the land here carved up big time as the  woodmen hunt for the Ash Die back trees that are to be felled and removed--- other shruba and trees  are caught in the firing line and  some damaged by these monsters as they plough thru on their quest....very few signs here folks but instinct guides me and some knowledge of the wider area----So I head down for a short while aware not to go too far otherwise noisy busy roads will greet me and the peace of the quiet tracks gone--- So the only option to Burrington was to look and find the  path---I do find it--not sign posted and  almost hidden but before I continued my venture I come across ruins--overgrown with natures vines----later I would discover these to be the ruins of a 17th 18th mansion of a Rev. Dr Sedgewick Whalley--  well knowm personality of his time who purchased a 1000 acre site above Burrington and named it Mendip Lodge and it was well used and lived in by family and new owners in time  but sadly lost in Time and abandoned to the hills and woods--loads of history here and ghosts no doubt---whow How I love exploring---adventures still possible----I got the feeling during the walk of the existence of an old landscaped garden of rhododendrons and designed pathways--apparently the Italinante Mansion had an enormous veranda  85ft long built by the 'spendthrift' Whalley---he did fall eventually on hard times and moved abroad--buried abroad---the house was derelict by  the 1950s so did last a while----it cost Whalley £ 60,000 and today £ 95 Million,Whalley was a known character and friends with William Wilberforce and Hannah Moore and others.Apparently there were 52 Grottos scattered  about--some still hidden no doubt...Anyway on this hike I stumbled across a Round Tower with rooms underground---others have made spooky videos  here---I will need to return again and wander more in the ruins--------