05/02/2022 - Bring me the head of Theophilus Broome

Distance - 8 Miles

Geocaches - 10

Walk Inspiration - Walks in Mysterious Somerset, Walk 25

Spooky Somerset goings on.  A weekend away, based on the story of a screaming skull from the English Civil War. 

The Roman Town of Ilchester provides the start for my walk, providing the following;

• Free Parking
• Cafe Opposite the car park - Full English, toast and tea, £8
• Two pubs.  

The walk follows the Monarch's Way and Leland Trail.  Dull agricultural fields on the way out and skirting the edge of the Naval Air Station at Yeovilton.  Criss Crossing the River Yeo, provided you are prepared the ignore the "Dangerous Bridge" signs.  The locals certainly are.  All fencing pulled down.

Path Markings

Yeovilton Naval Air base

It's Chilton Cantelo that we need to rush to - for this is the resting place of Theophilus.  If you haven't watched all the YouTube video, the Church has an information sign in the porch.  Alas, the door was locked, so I cannot bring you a photo of where the majority of him lies.

St James Church - Chilton Cantello

Church promoting superstition

My guide book is 23 years old and suggests if you want to view the skull, you can write in advance (and enclose an SAE) to the owners of Higher Farm. I can't imagine that they would be that pleased with a procession of rambling ghouls, who want to investigate their cupboards.

Fortunately, we can all live vicariously and virtually through the Internet. It's a wonder I ever leave the house.

Would I have shouted "Show us your Skull?" to anyone gardening

Probably not - but maybe "where's his jawbone?"

Other questions need answering......  A Twitter follower wants to know how he was fatally wounded but died another 20 years after the end of the Civil War.  Family members are asking me what the hell I do at weekends.

And in all the spooky excitement, I nearly forgot to tell you about the pubs.  Not that there is much to write home about.

The Ilchester Arms promises Craft Beer from the external chalkboards - but on entrance, I could see no logical bar and just a bunch of tables setup for dining.  Lets blame the Covid one way system and a rambling multi-roomed hotel for that.  

The Bull Inn on the opposite looked more down to earth - although, along with flat roofs, pubs with cartoon signs are usually best avoided by the experienced pub ticker.

In One.... The Bull Inn, Ilchester

My local team, Kidderminster, are 2 minutes from FA Cup Glory.  But everyone else is in for the Rugby, so no point asking for the even one of the TVs to be channel changed.  

So I improvise with an ice cold, keg St Austell Proper Job.  Something I have never encountered before.  Certainly a much different experience to cask.

Declan Rice about to break Kidderminster hearts