An ordnance depot at Weedon Bec was authorised by an Act of Parliament in 1803. This was mainly built between 1804 and 1816. It was built for the Board of Ordnance to provide a secure inland store for gunpowder, firearms and other military stores. These could be transported by the nearby Grand Junction Canal. The original buildings included eight storehouses, four magazines, two lodges, accommodation for the Board’s officials and a canal basin. Four storehouses were converted to a barracks and two into a military prison. The outbreak of the First World War saw several new storehouses and workshops added to the depot and the prison was closed. The depot was gradually emptied after World War Two and closed in 1965.
This weeks ride out will be weather dependent but is planned for Market Harborough.
Meet at Silver Ball, 09:30 onwards for 10:00 departure.
The lunch stop will be at The Waterfront, Market Harborough.
A halfway coffee stop is planned at Olivers, Kimbolton.
Routes as shown on attached map and gpx files. Outbound trip is approx. 77 miles, return approx. 60 miles.
The return shown is a quick route using A14 & A1198 (approx.1 hour) however there is an option to leave the A14 after 7 miles and head for Finedon and then Kimbolton and St Neots (approx. 1.5 hours)
Once again a good day’s riding for 14 members with only a few drops of rain to worry about. Normal start from Silver Ball Café to The Oval Café at Harpenden for coffee stop. After coffee we continued through Whipsnade, Ashridge, Aldbury and Tring to the Startops End Café on the Grand Union Canal at Marsworth.
Nice lunch as usual at Startops End followed by a more direct ride home via Ivinghoe, the edge of Dunstable and Houghton Regis, Hitchin, Baldock and on to Royston. Nice dry roads including some narrow country lanes to keep us on our toes.
Startops End Café has new owners is called Waters Edge, Marsworth and the menu has changed.
The excellent all day breakfast was a favourite with our group.
The new owners were keen to have a group photo of the bikes and bikers and we were happy to pose for them.
