Discover Roade: Churches, Railway History and Trails

Roade is a destination for travellers who do not look for local history only in dates. Churches, railway construction, a longer circular route and local community activities offer different options for planning your trip. Anyone looking for a holiday apartment or holiday house in Roade can choose between culture, outdoor activity and community experiences.

Historical Traces Around Roade

St. Mary’s Church is a Grade II* listed building within the Roade Conservation Area. The church is also the starting point of the Roade–Cosgrove circular walk: the 16-mile (25.6 km) route begins at the car park of St. Mary’s Church in Roade. This makes it possible to combine a look at the village character with a clearly described walking route, without losing sight of the route’s length.

Another prominent testament to the region’s history is the Roade Aqueduct. It dates from around 1837 and has sandstone piers and a cast-iron trough. Roade is even more closely connected with the development of the railway. Roade Cutting was excavated through limestone over clay in 1838 to carry the London and Birmingham Railway. In 1875, the cutting was deepened and widened for additional tracks on the Northampton Loop. It was the last completed section of the London and Birmingham Railway, which opened in 1838.

Churches and Historic Details of the Village

Roade Baptist Church was built in 1736–1737 for a congregation that had already been founded around 1688. Inside, it retains a gallery on slender columns and plain pews throughout. The building also includes a baptistry for full immersion. A schoolroom and vestry dating from the early 19th century were added to the church. For visitors interested in culture, this combination offers several specific details through which the development of the village can be traced.

The Old Forge on Roade High Street dates back to the late 17th century and now consists of two cottages. Together with the churches and traces of railway construction, it creates a village setting in which sacred architecture, residential buildings and transport history offer different perspectives on Roade.

Walking, Football and Time Outdoors

If you would like to include a longer walk in your trip, you should allow for the 16 miles, or 25.6 kilometres, of the Roade–Cosgrove circular walk when planning your day. For a stay involving a stroll, football or a quieter break, there is a playing field behind Roade Village Hall. There, you can go for a walk, play football or sit and enjoy the Roade countryside.

Roade FC also offers its own way to take part in local activities. The club provides football training for age groups from under six to adults and invites new players to weekday training sessions. Spectators are welcome at junior and adult football matches on Saturdays and Sundays. Depending on the time of your trip and your personal interests, local sport can therefore play a role alongside the village’s history.

Roade as a Starting Point for Planning Your Trip

The Roade Local History Society documents in a book the impact of the railway on Roade’s social and economic development from the 1830s to the present day. Anyone interested in this connection can combine the historic buildings and local history in their mind as a focus of their own. For other travellers, the circular walk may be the main attraction, while the playing field or a football match provides a less route-oriented addition to their stay.

When looking for accommodation in Roade, it is therefore worth deciding first what type of trip you want. For culture-focused days, the churches, The Old Forge and the railway history can provide the framework. If physical activity is more important, the full length of the circular walk should be factored into your plans. Families and groups with different interests can also switch between walking, football and historical discoveries without every activity having to be of the same nature.

If you would like to compare other destinations in addition to Roade, you can also explore Byfield, Woodford, Weedon Bec, Castle Ashby, Oundle, Ashby Saint Ledgers, Kettering and Hardingstone.

For the broader travel overview: Northamptonshire.