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February 1, 2020

northernvicarwalks – January 2020 and the start of a Pilgrimage (to Etwall) – William Stanley Way 1

In 2017 I said I would try and walk 1,000 miles. I failed. In 2018 I said I would try and walk 1,000 miles. I failed again. In 2019 I kept quiet – then had to have a minor op in the autumn which meant I wasn’t in a fit state to do much walking. I did some academic work on pilgrimage to Lindisfarne, but lack of exercise meant my weight and my blood pressure increased. I signed up to try Nordic Walking, and enjoyed it. I purchased some poles for Christmas, and we’ll see how far we get...
Categories 1,000 mile walking/Derbyshire/Railway History Comments: 0
February 5, 2019

northernvicarwalks – Beside the Tyne to Dunston Staithes

After a morning in Newcastle we crossed the Tyne and had a late lunch at the Sage. Then Julie sat with a book, and I went for a walk. I did about 5 miles west along the river to Dunston Staithes and back. As I blog it I need to go back and add up what I really did in 2018 – and the total was 500 miles exactly. I last recorded it at the end of August when the total was 408. In September I managed 32 miles, October was 24, November 17 and December 19. That makes...
Categories 1,000 mile walking/Newcastle upon Tyne/Railway History Comments: 0
December 30, 2018

Derwent Valley Heritage Way 7 – Matlock to Whatstandwell

On Thursday 13 December I caught the 1259 from Duffield to Matlock to set off and do the next bit of the Derwent Valley Mills Trail. I avoided the railway bookshop at Matlock station, crossed the river, and walked through the park. A display board reminded me that this was the bottom of the Matlock Cable Tramway – this is an 1891 set of pictures licensed by Commons.wikimedia. It was opened up Matlock Bank in 1893 and lasted until 1927 – there was a continuously moving cable under the road and the trams had a speed of 5 mph....
Categories 1,000 mile walking/Derbyshire/Derwent Walk/Railway History/Trams Comments: 0
October 21, 2018

Cambridge – photos of Robinson and Selwyn Colleges

We had a day in Cambridge (Monday 17 September). Julie and Anne did Heffer’s and other bookshops. Rob and I had a walk. We called in at Robinson and Selwyn Colleges, both of which have been blogged before. Rob takes better photos than me, so we’ll add some of his photos to this blog (with my thanks). Let’s start with the Piper window in the chapel at Robinson. Selwyn remains very special – it is frightening to think it is 38 years since I met my beloved in this very chapel … We continued our walk down Church Rate...
Categories 1,000 mile walking/Cambridgeshire/Personal Comment: 1
September 28, 2018

Northernvicar Walks – July and August 2018

July – 43 miles. Not much of any excitement – walking in Norfolk, which was recorded with the churches I visited, and a trip to the Deanery BBQ in Mickleover. August started much better. A 6 mile walk to the Cathedral via visits, then the two Derwent Valley walks, and the Manchester, Astley Book Farm, and London walks I’ve already blogged. On Sunday 5 August I drove south to the Leighton Buzzard railway – website. My brother had his Fen End Pit layout there – see his blog. I had a train ride with my  nephew. On the way back...
Categories 1,000 mile walking/Manchester/Newcastle upon Tyne Comments: 0
September 21, 2018

Wall, Staffordshire – St John

I had been to Kidderminster on Monday 20 August to talk trams with an expert. On the way home I stopped at the village of Wall in Staffordshire and picked up a walk leaflet in their car park. The Romans constructed a marching camp here during AD 47-8, and soon a fort was built to defend the highway – this is the Watling Street, London to Chester. There would soon be a posting station, with an official hotel and fresh horses – one is mentioned as being here in the C3 Antonine Itinerary. A thriving settlement, the Vicus, grew...
Categories 1,000 mile walking/Roman Britain/Staffordshire Comments: 0
September 20, 2018

Derwent Valley Heritage Way 5, Calton Lees to Rowsley

On Tuesday 14 August I had a date in Sheffield to give platelets, and decided to drive. That was a mistake – Matlock Bath was a traffic jam. I stopped at the Calton Lees car park and did the next little bit of the Heritage Way. Not a walk with stunning views, not a walk with lots of history or things to point out … but a pleasant walk none the less. Rowsley was a major railway centre – and the stations have two pages on the Disused Stations site – website (lots of excellent history and good photos...
Categories 1,000 mile walking/Derbyshire/Derwent Walk/Railway History Comments: 0
September 19, 2018

Northernvicarwalks – Nuneaton, George Eliot, and Astley Book Farm

On Saturday 4 August I was a little bit shattered after a long drive yesterday, but Julie decided she wanted a day out. One does not argue with my wife – read her blog. Northernreader said we were going to Nuneaton to see what they have about George Eliot. Her MA consultation is with Elizabeth Gaskell’s House in Manchester, so it’s always good to get some ideas. The Museum is well signposted, and we parked nearby – nice park too. Website here. We started in the café, then the George Eliot gallery, then the art upstairs, then the local...
Categories 1,000 mile walking/Railway History/Warwickshire Comments: 0
September 19, 2018

Northernvicarwalks – Manchester buses, trams, metro and a signal box

Friday 3 August 2018 – Happy Birthday Me. Having left northernreader with our friend Sue, I caught the train from Northwich into Manchester, and the tram north to Queen’s Road. I walked along to Boyle Street bus depot, and photoed the War Memorial on the front, before going to the Greater Manchester Transport Society Museum at the back – website. Julie and I are both doing the MA in Public History and Heritage at Derby University –  website – and my Public History Consultation is to put together a paper for the National Tramway Museum at Crich – website...
Categories 1,000 mile walking/Manchester/Railway History/Trams Comments: 0
September 18, 2018

Derwent Valley Heritage Way 4 – Baslow to Calton Lees

On Thursday 2 August I finished my 55th year with a good walk – the next bit of the Derwent Valley Heritage Way. I parked at Baslow – SK 257722, crossed the Bar Brook, walked passed the thatched cottages and into the Chatsworth Estate – there is mega kissing gate as you enter to allow wheelchairs in. A blue plaque to Joseph Paxton, and some lovely views of the house. I shouldn’t admit that we’ve been in Derbyshire now for two years and have still not visited – website. I passed Queen Mary’s Bower. Tradition has it that this was...
Categories 1,000 mile walking/Derbyshire/Derwent Walk Comments: 0