The Sourdough School

Centre of Research & Education in Nutrition & Digestibility of Bread & the Gut Microbiome

Learn how to bake and eat beautiful bread as lifestyle medicine. "Vanessa’s work on sourdough and the gut microbiome is changing the way we think of food, health and baking.” - Tim Spector
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Places to visit, things to do & our favourite pubs nearby  – Northamptonshire

Places to visit, things to do , and our favourite pubs nearby 

We’re very lucky to have some great places to visit close to the Sourdough School. If you’re staying over for a day or two when you come to the school for a course, or have family with you who will need entertaining while you are busy making dough, here are some ideas for days out, shopping trips and places to eat.

Stately Homes & Gardens

Althorp

Just a 10 minute drive from the school, Althorp has been home to the Spencer family for over 500 years. The house has endless rooms filled with fine furniture, ceramics and paintings, and an estate stretching to 550 acres. There are refreshments available at reasonable prices in Althorp’s café and a gift shop for mementos. The house and grounds are open to the public through the summer (check the website for dates before visiting). Other attractions include the Food & Drink Festival in spring and Literary Festival in autumn.

Website: http://spencerofalthorp.com/

Email: mail@althorp.com

Phone: 01604 770107

Twitter: https://twitter.com/althorpestate

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlthorpEstate/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/althorpestate/

Holdenby House

The 20 acres of gardens at Holdenby House are well worth a visit. Parts of the garden were replanted by the wonderful garden designer, Rosemary Verey. The estate is also home to Icarus Falconry, who offer you the chance of a one-to-one hands on experience with the birds. The gardens are open on Sundays and bank holidays during the summer, and private tours of the house can be arranged on weekdays. Check the website for the special events organised for this year.

Website: http://holdenby.com/

Phone: 01604 770074

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/holdenbyhouse

Twitter: https://twitter.com/holdenbyhouse

Cottesbrooke Hall & Gardens

A beautiful Queen Anne house which is home to the Macdonald-Buchanan family. A tour of the hall takes about 45 minutes and is always interesting. The inspiring gardens feature a statue walk, reflecting pool and Dutch garden. James Alexander-Sinclair and Arne Maynard are among the designers who have worked their magic in the gardens. There are refreshments available (the homemade cakes are good) from The Old Laundry. Check the website for opening times.

Website: http://www.cottesbrooke.co.uk/

Email: welcome@cottesbrooke.co.uk

Phone: 01604 505808

Castle Ashby Gardens

A lovely place for a day out, especially for families. There are 35 acres of gardens along with a tea room and plant centre. The menagerie and children’s play area are always a big hit with younger members of the family, and the seating around the play area offers a welcome sit down for weary parents. Picnics are allowed in the gardens.

Website: http://www.castleashbygardens.co.uk/

Email: markbrooks@castleashby.co.uk

Phone: 01604 695200

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CastleAshbyGardens

Coton Manor Garden

Coton Manor Gardens are just over 6 miles away. If I were to recommend one place not to miss, it is these beautiful gardens set on a hillside around the most gorgeous 17th century manor house. Coton Manor is built with mellow Northamptonshire stone and the garden, landscaped on different levels, has interest all year round. There are streams, fountains and a pond, as well as a magical five acre bluebell wood and colourful wildflower meadow, at its best in June & July.  There is an extensive nursery, the Stableyard Café with really delicious homemade cakes, and a garden shop. Coton Garden School offers a wide selection of horticultural courses thoughout the year.

Website: http://www.cotonmanor.co.uk/

Email: pasleytyler@cotonmanor.co.uk

Phone:  01604 740219

 

Pubs

The Althorp Coaching Inn, Great Brington

With oak beams, flagstone floors and a roaring log fire, The Althorp Coaching Inn is all you would expect from a traditional village pub. This 16th century coaching inn, just 7 miles from the school, is a listed stone and thatch building. It has a courtyard, an enclosed garden and a beautiful, vintage-style barn. The inn specialises in quality British food, real ales and fine wines. The menu ranges from bar meals to classic restaurant dishes, made from locally sourced ingredients wherever possible.

Website: http://www.althorp-coaching-inn.co.uk/

Phone: 01604 770651

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/althorpcoachinginnfoxandhounds

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlthorpInn

The Griffin Inn, Pitsford

The Griffin Inn is a proper village pub, and at the centre of our village community. A selection of local ales are served along-side delicious home-cooked pub favorites – they have a steak menu, chef’s specials boards, light lunch options, and then there’s the chef’s legendary traditional Sunday roast.

Website: http://griffinpitsford.co.uk/

Phone: 01604 880346

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PitsfordNorthampton

The White Horse at Old

Travel past Pitsford Water from the Sourdough School and you will arrive in Old, a small village with The White Horse at the centre. The seasonal menu offers a range of delicious dishes, with daily specials and plenty of choice for vegetarians. There are also artisan pizzas, baked in an outdoor wood-fired oven. Many of the dishes can be served in child sized portions for younger diners. The pub stocks a good range of craft beers and heritage ciders too. Check their website for details of the monthly quiz nights and live music.

Website: http://www.whitehorseold.co.uk/

Email: info@whitehorseold.co.uk

Phone: 01604 781297

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whitehorseold/

The Red Lion, Main Street, East Haddon

A cosy thatched pub in a peaceful, idyllic village surrounded by picturesque Northamptonshire countryside. The Red Lion specialises in serving great British food, cooked using local seasonal produce. The pub has an intimate lounge, a large dining room and manicured gardens, and is just 6 miles from The Sourdough School.

Website: https://www.redlioneasthaddon.co.uk/

Email: info@redlioneasthaddon.co.uk

Phone: 01604 770223

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Red-Lion-East-Haddon-148874411832224/

The Artichoke, Church Street, Moulton

The Artichoke is one of the closest pubs to the school. It specialises in food cooked using quality, local ingredients. Their meat is sourced from the local butcher’s, sausages from Mike’s pigs of Moulton, and the vegetables are delivered daily. This Grade II listed building dates back to 1680 and the owners think it was originally a farmhouse and village inn. It has a lovey, private and dog-friendly garden with plenty of seating for guests. There is regular live entertainment, including quizzes, jazz nights and fold nights.

Website: http://www.artichokemoulton.co.uk/

Email: kitsmith002@aol.com

Phone: 01604 643941

Activities

Fishing at Pitsford Reservoir

Another idea for an activity at Pitsford Reservoir. You can get day permits from the fishing lodge, and if you are new to fly fishing but want to give it a try, there are beginner courses run throughout the year.

Website: http://www.anglianwater.co.uk/leisure/water-parks/pitsford/fishing/

Email: fishing@anglianwater.co.uk

Phone: 01604 781350

Cycle Hire, Pitsford Reservoir

Pitsford Reservoir is practically on our doorstep and we often visit to walk or cycle. The reservoir trail is an easy seven mile track, with lots of benches for picnics and a café too. You can hire bikes from Pitsford Cycles to pedal around the reservoir, or venture further afield along the Brampton Valley Way between Northampton and Market Harborough (14 miles).

Website: https://pitsfordcycles.co.uk/pages/cycle-hire

Phone: 01604 881777

Golf

We’re lucky to have a number of golf clubs within easy driving distance of the school. The two listed below are the closest, and both welcome visitors. They do recommend that you contact them in advance to ensure that you’ll be able to get out on the course. Please note a valid handicap is required in order to play at both clubs.

Northamptonshire County Golf Club

Website: http://countygolfclub.org/

Email: clubmanager@countygolfclub.org

Phone: 01604 843025

Northampton Golf Club

Website: http://www.northamptongolfclub.co.uk/

Email: golf@northamptongolfclub.co.uk

Food & Drink

Fleurfields Vineyard

A small vineyard based just outside Brixworth, on south-facing slopes overlooking Pitsford Reservoir. Planted in 2002 by my parents and husband, the first wine was produced in 2005. It was an amazing moment, as we all tasted the sparkling, white and rose wines for the first time. I’m perhaps a little biased, but I think it’s the best wine in the country. And it’s not just me, wines produced at Fleurfields have won 12 of the most prestigious wine awards in the UK in the past 2 years alone… and the vineyard exports to France. Producing a range of wines including a white table wine, a rose, and several champagne-style which are made in the exact same way as champagne. If you would like to arrange a visit or tasting then phone (01604) 880197 to find out opening times.

Website: http://www.fleurfields.co.uk

Email: Info@fleurfields.co.uk

Phone: 01604 880197

Smiths Farm Shop, Chapel Brampton

This is a great place to buy local, seasonal produce, including pretty much anything you could want for a picnic lunch if you’re planning a day out. As well as fresh fruit and vegetables (some of them home grown during the summer), there’s a delicatessen counter offering a range of delicious treats, including cheeses and locally made cakes and brownies.

Website: http://www.smithsfarmshop.co.uk/

Phone: 01604 843206

Farndon Fields, Market Harborough

A good place to visit if you arrive early in the area and are looking for breakfast. Farndon Fields is a farm shop with a café. Both the breakfasts and lunches served in the café are made using as much local produce as possible. The shop stocks a range of fresh fruit and veg, bread, deli produce and locally made beers and wines.

Website: http://www.farndonfields.co.uk/

Email: hello@farndonfields.co.uk

Phone: 01858 464838

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/farndonfields/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FarndonFieldsFS

Instagram: https://twitter.com/FarndonFieldsFS

Cinema & Theatre

Royal & Derngate, Northampton

We’re lucky to have this great arts and entertainment venue in the centre of Northampton. It offers a varied a programme of plays, music and comedy – check their website for details of what’s on while you are in the area. The Royal & Derngate is also home to the Errol Flynn Cinema (see below).

Website: https://www.royalandderngate.co.uk/

Email: BoxOffice@royalandderngate.co.uk

Phone: Box office 01604 624811

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RoyalandDerngate/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/royalderngate

Errol Flynn Cinema

A great night out. Northampton’s arthouse cinema, showing everything from classic black and white films to the latest Hollywood blockbusters. Check their website for information on what’s on.

Website: http://www.errolflynnfilmhouse.com/

Email: info@errolflynnfilmhouse.com

Phone: Box office 01604 624811

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ErrolFlynnFilmhouse

Twitter: http://twitter.com/ErrolFlynnFilm

Other places we love to visit

Market Harborough

Just a short drive from the school, Market Harborough is a lovely town with a wide range of boutique shops, and lots of independent cafes and restaurants. There are small streets and yards to explore, and the historic market hall houses stalls selling everything from food to antiques.

Website: http://www.marketharborough.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marketharborough

J Gallery

A small gallery in Moulton, just a short drive from Pitsford. The gallery exhibits and sells original art work by contemporary artists. They also run workshops – check the website for details. If you’re in need of refreshment, there’s a coffee shop serving hot drinks, cakes, lunches and afternoon tea.

Website: http://www.jgallery.org.uk/

Email: sue@jgallery.org.uk

Phone: 01604 492192

Friends of All Saints Church, Brixworth

Just a few miles from the school, on the road to Market Harborough, the church at Brixworth is worth a stop. It dates from about 680AD and has been in continuous use as a place of worship since that time. Open to the public during the hours of daylight, step inside to view the stained glass windows. Guided tours are available if arranged in advance.

Website: http://www.friendsofbrixworthchurch.org.uk/

Email: brixworthfriends1@yahoo.com

 

 

THE GENDER GAP IN HEART DIAGNOSIS
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According to a report by the British Heart Foundation, more than 8,200 women died needlessly over a ten year period due to inequalities in the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. Concerningly, women fare worse at every stage in their health journey for heart disease globally. 
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DID YOU KNOW?
-	Women get half as much heart attack treatment as men 
-	Women are 50% more likely to receive a wrong initial diagnosis than their male counterpart, increasing the risk of death by as much as 70%
-	Women are less likey than men to recieve standard treatments such as bypass surgery
We can and must do better, starting by tackling the false- and deadly- assumption that women are not at risk of heart attacks. In reality, women are twice as likely to die from coronary heart disease than breast cancer.
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🌾Whole Grain Consumption And Heart Disease Protection
There is a robust body of evidence that suggests whole grains can protect against coronary heart disease, alongside obesity and colorectal cancer.
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❤️ According to a senior dietician at the British Heart Foundation: "Eating more whole grains is a simple change we can make to improve our diet and help lower our risk of heart and circulatory disease." Opting for wholemeal or granary in favour of refined white bread is a simple, effective way to increase your whole grain and fibre intake. #hearthealth #healthyheart #wholegrain #feedthecells #lifestylemedice #bake2give1 #wholegrainbread #internationalwomensday
A NEW APPROACH

👉🏻 For the past 3 years we’ve been working on something incredible … prescription sourdough bread making courses for our @sourdoughclub members 

📈We have had amazing advances in healthcare, but there is no pill to cure poor diet. The best medicine is prevention via a healthy lifestyle, and many studies have shown that people who eat healthily and exercise regularly sleep better, have less anxiety and depression, have more energy, and lower their risk of chronic illness overall.

🙌 Vanessa’s work on Bread & the Impact on the Gut Microbiome has been turned into something extraordinary. Prescription bread-making courses as a lifestyle intervention, and the Bread Protocol we teach here is designed to address the way you live, exploring behaviour related to nutrition, physical activity, stress management, sleep, social support and environmental exposures. These courses are 12 weeks long, and designed to maintain health and prevent disease not just in individuals bit in patients and populations, so we have 2 ways to enrol on a course: 

1️⃣ SOCIAL PRESCRIPTION 
If your doctor or healthcare practitioner is one of  our Sourdough School graduates and they feel that this bread-making prescription course is something that will improve your health, then they may can prescribe the course for you as a social prescription free.

2️⃣ SELF PRESCRIPTION 
You can self-prescribe these courses by enrolling yourself on a course to improve your health and wellbeing.

📰 If you are interested in learning more about the prescription courses then please sign up to the newsletters as we will be announcing their launch over the coming weeks and months. 

@vanessakimbell
@drmiguelmateas 
@dralexdavidson 
@dksherratt 

#lifestylemedicine #preventativemedicine #systemschange #socialprescribingday #socialprescribing
IN 2016 WE TESTED BLOOD SUGAR RESPONSE TO OUR PUMP IN 2016 WE TESTED BLOOD SUGAR RESPONSE TO OUR PUMPKIN SOURDOUGH IN THE  CLASSES

Our students measured their responses throughout the #breadandguts #sourdoughschool & @vanessakimbell wrote the recipe up in her bestselling Sourdough School book.

✨ So good to read that a recent 2021 study on Glycaemic and Appetite Suppression Effect of a Vegetable-Enriched Bread ( mentioned by @theguthealthdoctor today see last slide ) where researchers looked at the impacts of veg-enriched bread compared to  commercial white bread and commercial brown bread on the insulin levels of people participating. 

The results showed that when the participants ate the veg bread they reported feeling more satiation versus when they ate the white or brown bread. 

👆🏼They also experienced a lower insulin response with the vegetable bread. 
essentially translating this science into practice before it was trendy 😂👆🏼👍

This image is taken from the @sourdoughschool book by @vanessakimbell, produced by @kylebooksuk, with photography by @nassimarothacker, styled by @season_adam & with foreword by @richardhartbaker
DID YOU KNOW WE HAVE AN ONLINE SHOP & CAN PURCHASE DID YOU KNOW WE HAVE AN ONLINE SHOP & CAN PURCHASE MY WHITE SOURDOUGH STARTER?
(with worldwide delivery)
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I have several sourdough starters but The French white starter is one that I have been using since I was 11 years old and originates in the bakery I grew up baking within France. It takes a bit longer to reach it’s peak and is generally slower and sweeter, and much more forgiving of being neglected for a week, so the one I recommend for beginners. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
We have verbal confirmation that the starter originated over 115 years ago and If you swipe right in the video you can listen to me chatting to one of the older residents of the village confirming that bakery did not shut during the war either .. & it has been maintained ever since... it’s a lovely story. Although the microbes double every 20 – 30 minutes when they are refreshed ... so it is either over a century old or 30 minutes old depending on how you want to look at it. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
You can purchase a pot of my starter, along with a grey moon kilner jar & a mini video course on looking after your starter. 
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TAP THE PICTURE TO SHOP.
 
Swipe right to see the amazing video of the French bakery where the starter originated from @vanessakimbell has been baking with this starter for over 20 years … and first baked almost 40 years ago with it …#romantic 
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#breadbosses #breadporn #flourwatersalt #breadtalk #bread #breadstagram #sourdough #sourdoughschool #bread #sourdoughlove #sourdoughlover #naturalleavened #leavening #levain #realbread #breadmaking #bakebread #makebread #makerealbread #learntobakebread #breadmakingclass #sourdoughstories #bakingforlove #bakingtherapy #sourdoughbaking #bannetons #bakery
UNDERSTANDING SOURDOUGH … starts, not in the bak UNDERSTANDING SOURDOUGH …
starts, not in the bakery, but in the soil.
#sourdough
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