Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2017 | Page 23

Prestige Property
The charm of Chillerton
The lovely old ford at Brook
Lane, Chillerton, is still in daily
use, as can be clearly seen by
the recent car tyre tracks in the
photo looking south, writes
James Spence.
The adjacent footbridge has great
charm too as it arches over Chillerton
Brook, a crystal-clear chalk spring
tributary of the River Medina.
Brook Lane is a quiet but rather
bumpy road, and turning is a problem
so it is better not to drive through this
ford. With care, however, it can be done,
and it is part of a lovely walk on the
lane uphill to the west ( a few yards to
the south and opposite Highwood Lane
where it joins the Chillerton Main Road/
New Road and then south around the
back of Sheat Manor to the ford. This
lane opposite Highwood is described
on the street-sign.
fords which lie close by, to the south
and south east of Chillerton, but those
lie on bridlepaths crossing the Medina
and a tributary, so while horses, cyclists
and walkers can cross those, they are
not accessible by car.
Chillerton has a further attraction
in that the village has an excellent
Community Reading Room with
a small bar. It is open at 8pm on
Saturdays and Mondays throughout
the year, as well as on the days when
snooker or other events are being
hosted, and you can call in with guest
membership for some refreshments.
You will certainly be given a warm
welcome by the volunteer staff at the
Reading Room.
During the Scarecrow Festival and
other community events, it doubles
up as the Gallybagger Inn and can be
found a few hundred yards south, and
on the same side of the main road as
the village primary school.
Leading to Brook Lane
There are three more little-known
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