Newmarket

Station walk - by Michael Anderton

Background

Geographically, Newmarket holds an unusual position. As the most westerly of Suffolk's towns it is

nevertheless surrounded by Cambridgeshire parishes whilst still situated within the Suffolk county boundary. From the 17th century the town has become a metropolis of racing, home to the headquarters of the Jockey Club and boasting two racecourses on which many famous classic races are run.

However, the horse racing industry has had a substantial impact on the surrounding countryside with the needs of horses dominating the open spaces. Consequently there are no recorded Public Footpaths in the area that radiate from the town and this walk therefore concentrates on the town's history, with just one excursion into the countryside up Warren Hill and The Gallops.

Walk Route

From the station halt turn left along Green Road to the old red brick Newmarket Station building. The station and forecourt are no longer in use for railway purposes but have been incorporated into the horse racing industry's infrastructure.

Turn right down Station Approach, as you walk down into the town Tattersalls can be seen across the valley on the left, particularly the Fox Rotunda and Triumphal Arch, features that were moved from London. Turn left along The Avenue, a road constructed at the turn of the century as a more direct route to the station. Just before reaching the High Street turn left up a private road, a short way up the hill to Gibsons Saddlers, suppliers of jockey silks to the Royal Family.

Return to The Avenue and turn left past the picturesque Godolphin House and Scotch Tea Rooms on the left, just before the junction. Turn right along the main street, passing the White Hart Hotel, the original coaching inn of Newmarket at which up to 20 coaches a day stopped in the 19th century. Continue on past the imposing Jockey Club building and the National Horse Racing Museum.

Turn right into Kingston Passage, an area that once saw the original palace of James I who first started the improvement of the small market town into the centre of world horse racing of today. Continue through the passage to emerge by All Saints Church. Turn left and at the junction with All Saints Road cross to continue along Palace Street to the Palace House Mansion and Newmarket's Tourist Information Centre, linked to the original palace of King Charles II. Walk up the street past Nell Gwynne's House on the right to reach the Rutland Arms Hotel at the corner.

Turn right along High Street and right again into Rous Road to reach Old Station Road, an area of mixed architecture. Turn righ

t to the junction with Vicarage Road and the Rous Memorial Cottages, built in 1878 in memory of Admiral Rous, a prominent member of the Jockey Club. On the other side of the road are 18th century training stables attached to Wroughton House, and Cleveland House, built in 1820 by Lord Darlington for his jockey.

Walk on to the Machel Place Stables on the right where there is a fine view up the heath and Warren Hill. Continue on as far as a red Victorian Post Box in a brick wall on the right. This is the directly above the railway tunnel under The Gallops, the entrance can be viewed by walking down the path to the left. Return back down Old

Station Road and turn right through an alley between Nos. 13 and 15 to Sackville Street. Cross to the Moulton Road, opposite the farrier Curtis and Sons. Turn right to Heath House and the stables beyond, by glancing through the yard entrance you will see a creeper covered building in the centre. This is Fred Archer's sweat box, used by the world's most successful jockey to keep his weight down.

Beyond the stables there is another fine view over the heath and The Gallops. Walk the three quarters of a mile to the lay-by at the top of Warren Hill, either on the roadside verge or, if after 1 pm, over the The Gallops that are open to the public in the afternoons once the horses have been exercised. This area at the top of The Gallops was known as Kings Chair, a place where Charles II would watch the horses being trained from his shelter.

Return down Moulton Road to the clock tower, commemorating Queen Victoria's jubilee in 1887. Continue down the High Street on the right (no

rth) side and turn right into the pedestrianised Market Street to the Bushel pub. In the cellar are traces of a cock pit where cockfighting took place in the 17th century. Continue out to the northern corner of Market Place and turn left into Rowley Drive, noting the segregate horse walk between the pavement and road. Bear off left on the path at the green, past the 15th century St. Mary's Church, and on along Fitzroy Street past the King Edward VII Memorial Gardens.

Just before the junction with Black Bear Lane is a tall undistinguished building that houses a Real Tennis Court, the original game that led to the modern version that we know today. Turn left along Black Bear Lane past the Fitzroy Stables and out to the High Street. Turn right up the hill passing the creeper covered former Queensbury Lodge Stables, the second oldest stables in Newmarket.

Continue on to the Cooper Memorial, a drinking fountain and horse trough at the junction with Birdcage

Walk. Walk up Birdcage Walk as far as the first junction and turn left along Hamilton Road with a view over the hedge of the racecourse. Cross the Cambridge Road and turn left along the flint cemetery wall to an entrance gate. The cemetery was first opened in 1840 and containing the graves of many notable, owners, trainers and jockeys including that of Fred Archer. Follow the path left towards the Chapel and look for the tall white cross with a brass information plate against the hedge, adjacent to the Cambridge Road. Continue on down to the main entrance onto the Dullingham Road and on down the High Street.

Queensbury House on the right is a fine Edwardian structure that has housed a number of royal visitors. Continue on along The Terrace, a raised section of pavement where you will find the headquarters of Tattersalls and No. 121, once the home of Lord Lonsdale of boxing fame. Turn right into The Avenue and retrace your steps to return to the start of the walk at the station.

Thank you for taking the time to explore this walk. We would love to hear your comments about this site and about your day out.

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