Walking. Gossip. Travel.

Author: admin

  • Old Catton – St. Margaret’s Church

    Old Catton – St. Margaret’s Church

    There’s something quite charming about Old Catton, a village with some character to it, but somewhat now part of Norwich’s urban sprawl. The village’s church of St. Margaret also clearly shows the signs of piecemeal additions over the centuries, no doubt required by changes in the size and needs of the congregation.

    The church’s quite modern lychgate doesn’t really seem big enough to shield a coffin in the rain, so I assume this is more decorative than functional.

    From the road, the original twelfth-century church is more visible, but from the rear (as in the above photo) the additions are more apparent.

    LIke the nave, the round tower is also from the twelfth century and, fortunately, the ivy which once covered it in the nineteenth century has been removed.

    The tower was modified in the fifteenth century and the octagonal top section added.

    Where the tower meets the nave, with numerous periods of building work evident. Churches are slowly re-opening at the moment, although this church is only open for prayer on a very limited basis, but I will hopefully be able to get back to look at what is apparently a mostly Victorian interior, albeit with a much older pulpit.

  • Skeyton – War Memorial (Lance Corporal Bernard Walter Hugh Doughty)

    Skeyton – War Memorial (Lance Corporal Bernard Walter Hugh Doughty)

    Bernard Walter Hugh Doughty is commemorated at Skeyton War Memorial, the son of James and Emily. Bernard was born in British Columbia, in Canada, in 1897.

    His family moved to the UK shortly after he was born, with the 1901 census noting James Doughty (born in 1852 in London), Emily Doughty (born in 1868 in Aylsham), Alan Doughty (born in 1893 in Canada), Bernard Doughty (born in 1897 in Canada) and Constance Doughty (born in Bradfield, Norfolk in 1900). The family lived in North Walsham and by the 1911 census, Alan was working as a coachbuilders apprentice, with Bernard still at school, with Doris Doughty also making an appearance, who had been born in 1904 in Skeyton.

    Bernard enlisted in the military in 1915, with service number 706030, going to fight on the Western Front. He died on 27 September 1918, fighting in G Company of the 47th battalion in the Canadian army as part of what became known later on as the 100 Days Offensive.

    Bernard is buried at Queant Communal Cemetery, in the British Extension, with Skeyton Church recently holding a service on 27 September 2018, 100 years on from his death, that commemorated him.

  • Norwich – Tree

    Norwich – Tree

    OK, this isn’t exactly fascinating content, I just liked how the tree roots had forced the concrete and bricks apart. I’m easily pleased….

  • Norwich – River Lane Tower

    Norwich – River Lane Tower

    When walking in the city yesterday, Ron pointed out a sign which marked the remains of one of Norwich’s defensive towers. Although I knew about the line of the city wall, evident in the above map, I hadn’t paid much attention to the tower itself.

    The tower, first erected in 1347, is just visible in this photo. It’s not known whether this tower pre-dates the wall behind it, as this was the final stretch of city wall that was completed and that work took place in the 1340s. It was likely they were constructed at the same time, and it would have been a boom tower which gave access to the walkway on the city wall.

    This is on the north side of the River Wensum, with the riverside footpath going through the former tower.

    I’d never noticed this sign before.

    Another view of the tower.

    It’s not possible to examine the rest of the city wall at the moment, as there’s a construction project going on along Barrack Street, but I imagine this will be treated sensitively as part of the works. There’s a lot more information about this stretch of wall at https://www.norwich.gov.uk/site/custom_scripts/citywalls/01/report.php.

  • Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue – Day Ninety-Nine

    Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue – Day Ninety-Nine

    The Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue was first published at the end of the eighteenth century, and given that the Coronavirus crisis is giving too much time to read books, I thought I’d pick a daily word from it until I got bored….

    Cup-Shot

    The definition for this is short and crisp, it means “drunk”. It’s slightly puzzling how this term fell out of usage, it was used from the mid-fifteenth century to the mid-nineteenth century, then other words for drunk (and there are no shortage of them) took over. The term is quite literal as well, ‘cup’ referring to the cup of drink and ‘shot’ referring to the cup being empy.

    I have decided though that this is one phrase that I might try and use, and it’ll also show me which of my drunken friends are reading this blog if they look knowledgeable about its meaning….

  • Norwich – Dolphin Bridge

    Norwich – Dolphin Bridge

    Long ago there was a ferry here, connecting what is now Heigham Street with Drayton Road, across the River Wensum. Initially, there were plans at the beginning of the twentieth century to build a roadway at this site, but the levels weren’t right and so a 6-foot wide pedestrian footbridge was installed instead.

    At 12 noon on 15 December 1909, Dolphin Bridge was opened by the city mayor Ernest Egbert Blyth.

     

    The views along the River Wensum from the bridge. The bridge takes its name from the nearby Dolphin Inn on Heigham Street, which was the former summer home of Bishop Joseph Hall, the then Bishop of Norwich who saw the puritans attack Norwich Cathedral. This rather grand property was used as an inn from the early seventeenth century and remained as a pub until 1999.

    In January 1932, Robert Nelson, a milk roundsman (a lovely word for someone who performed a milk round) from 53, Philadelphia Lane in Norwich was fined 2s 6d for cycling along the footbridge. This does seem slightly harsh, but perhaps they had a wave of cyclists upsetting pedestrians.

  • Skeyton – War Memorial (Private Frederick Horace Claxton)

    Skeyton – War Memorial (Private Frederick Horace Claxton)

    Frederick Horace Claxton is commemorated at Skeyton War Memorial, the son of George Philip Claxton (born on 2 January 1860) and Emily Claxton (born on 18 January 1863).

    This was a family of farm labourers, although there was a limited amount of other employment in the area that would give many other options. In the 1911 census, there were six people living in the Claxton household, George who was 51 at that time and Emily who was 48. Their children were Philip who was 18, Frederick who was 14, Ada who was 11 and there was also Emily’s mother who lived with them, Marie Saunders who was 79 and was born in Swanton Abbott. George, Philip and Frederick all worked at this stage as farm labourers. It was a large family though, at the 1901 census, the older children of George and Emily also lived with them then, Maud, Thomas and George.

    Frederick was born on 19 April 1896 and was baptised with that name on 22 April 1896, although he was listed as Horace in the 1901 census. When the First World War started, he signed up and perhaps was excited by the adventure and chance to be with his friends. He joined the Norfolk Regiment, before later transferring to the Northumberland Fusiliers, in the 1/4th Battalion.

    Frederick died on 29 October 1916 and his body wasn’t recovered, but he is commemorated at the Thiepval Memorial. This memorial in France commemorates the 72,315 men who died during the Battle of the Somme and whose remains weren’t found.

    The 1939 register shows that Frederick’s parents, George and Emily, were living on their own in Neatishead. Frederick’s father, George Philip Claxon, died towards the end of 1945 at the age of 85. I wonder what he thought about seeing another conflict break out across Europe, thinking about the loss of his son just under 30 years before.

  • LDWA 100 – Q & As with Chelle Armour

    LDWA 100 – Q & As with Chelle Armour

    This page is all part of my effort to walk the 2021 LDWA 100.

    The latest in my series of Q&As is Chelle Armour from Norfolk & Suffolk group, someone who I must confess seemed to have a walking ability beyond anything that I could ever imagine achieving back when I joined in 2011. And I look back and think how bloody right I was. Chelle just sails through walks, with an elegance to walking that I don’t have. I’m not sure that much fazes Chelle, whether it’s walking related, cooking things up in the kitchen when marshalling or dealing with her dog Fred when he sees a stile he doesn’t like.

    And, can I say, I very much like this line – “towards the end there is always some ache or blister to moan about”, Nathan and I were planning for something like this, as we both like others to know we might be slightly suffering. This will likely cheer us up, being able to moan about aches and blisters for miles. And, I hope to put weight on during the event too!

    On another point, I fully agree with Chelle about marshalling, it’s great fun to get involved and we welcome anyone who wants to come and help.

    Q. When was your first 100?

    2005, The Chiltern landmarks. I’d joined the LDWA in the November before and got a late entry to the Woldsman the month before for a qualifier and had no idea what I was getting myself into really….. I raised £1000 for arthritis research and finished hand in hand with a stranger who I’ve never seen again and 3 members of Norfolk and Suffolk group !!  🙂

    Q. When you finished your first 100, did you think you’d do another?

    I didn’t want to do another that’s for sure but as soon as the pain had gone (it took a while, i had blisters between every toe!) I found myself thinking about training for the next years and thinking of all the nice places I’d see !!

    Q. So, you’re 60 miles in, you’re tired, it’s wet, your foot feels like it might fall off. How do you keep going?

    I never think of the whole distance. It’s always one checkpoint at a time. Even at the beginning I think, it’s just 15 or 17 short walks… When you get to a checkpoint, it raises your mood…. you get fed, watered and looked after and then it’s off to the next one for more of the same………

    Q. What would you pick at a checkpoint, two vegan sausage rolls or one vegan steak bake?

    2 vegan sausages rolls and I would be ecstatic if there was brown sauce!!

    Q. You walked 50 marathon-length walks to mark your 50th birthday. What would you say to anyone thinking of doing the same?

    Go for it, its time consuming and hard work but its also brilliant fun, you meet some great people n see some beautiful things….. (I will add that I only walked in the rain twice and not for long… )

    Q. How important are the marshals to you at checkpoints on longer challenge events?

    Essential, I look forward to every cp, knowing that the marshals will give me some tlc and do their utmost to provide me with anything I need and then get me on my way again. They want me to finish as much as I do……

    I have marshalled on the hundred and other events too and it’s often as much as a challenge as doing the event!! I urge anyone to volunteer if they can. Events wouldn’t happen without the army of volunteers!

    Q. Have you hallucinated towards the end of a walk?

    Yes, on the Valleys 100 I saw baby dinosaurs ( I’ve since been told they were more likely to be baby dragons-as in Wales!) and also a giant football mascot swaying in the darkness. On Surrey Tops, I once had a soldier in full regalia and pointy hat on a horse next to me for what seemed like miles. Every time I looked left he was there….

    Q. Other than the Cheesy Feet you’re famous for making, what’s your favourite food at a checkpoint?

    It depends on the weather. I ate rather a lot of cucumber on the cinque ports but to be honest I just eat a lot on long events. I figure you need fuel but am probably one of the few that puts on weight during a hundred. I sometimes have 3or 4 sugars in my tea on the last quarter and I’m partial to a small beer (purely medicinal, helps the pain…. ) anything that slides down is good, rice pudding, tinned fruit, jacket spud. I had cheese, blackcurrant jam n jelly beans in between jacobs crackers once, that was lovely!!

    Q. If you walk with the same person for what is nearly 48 hours, what do you talk about? Is there lots of stunned silence when tiredness kicks in?

    There are silences, but towards the end there is always some ache or blister to moan about. Worst bit is in between about 60-80miles when I usually lose my sense of humour for a bit and struggle to think of anything to talk about. We talk a lot of rubbish, and play the A to Z of stupid subjects such as ailments you get on hundreds…. Aches, blisters, chaffing, dry lips, elephantitus, fat fingers……… or food you fancy avocado, bananas, chocolate, date balls, ecclescake…….

    Q. What one word or short phrase would you use to describe the LDWA chair, David Morgan?

    Committed!

    Q. What one word or short phrase would you use to describe the inspirational and vibrant Norfolk & Suffolk chair?

    Excitably enthusiastic…. 🙂

    Q. To those people who are thinking about taking part in their first challenge event, maybe just 18 miles, what advice would you give them?

    Enjoy yourselves….. 🙂

  • Skeyton – War Memorial (Private Percy Walter Allard)

    Skeyton – War Memorial (Private Percy Walter Allard)

    There are three brothers listed at the war memorial in Skeyton, Alfred Allard, Bertie Allard and Percy Allard. Sons of Edward John Allard and Ann Elizabeth Allard, Percy was the youngest of the family and at the 1911 census he was 11 years old and listed as being at school.

    Now, I have to say, the bravery of Percy becomes evident taking into account he was 11 at the census, but managed to join the British Army in 1915 despite not being 18. No doubt wanting the same excitement as his brothers, he signed up by giving a false age. The army found out in 1916 and he was kicked out and sent home, although there was clearly a blind eye turned to many of these youngers and in one case the army managed to recruit a 12-year old.

    Percy was though allowed to rejoin the army in late 1917 and this was despite knowing by then that his two older brothers had been killed. He joined the 6th battalion of the Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment and he went to fight on the western front. Percy took part in the Battle of Amiens, fought between 8 and 12 August 1918, but he was killed on 10 August at the age of 18.

    Percy is commemorated at the Vis-en-Artois British Cemetery in France, never knowing that the Battle of Amiens was a victory for the allies which was important in speeding up the end of the First World War. Seeing these names on war memorials is one thing, but discovering the bravery that someone like Percy showed is another. But at what a tragic cost to his parents, the third of their sons to be killed.

  • Skeyton – War Memorial (Driver Bertie John Allard)

    Skeyton – War Memorial (Driver Bertie John Allard)

    I posted earlier about Alfred Allard, one of three brothers killed during the First World War, and commemorated on the war memorial at Skeyton. Bertie’s parents were Edward and Ann, with the 1911 census showing him still living at home with them, whilst he worked as a farm labourer.

    Bertie John Allard entered the First World War with his service number of 85139, joining the 209th Field Company of the Royal Engineers. This company was one of three formed in Norfolk as a result of Kitchener’s request for more troops, with the three units becoming 34th division from 1915.

    Bertie died, aged 23, on 1 June 1916 as a result of shelling and he was buried at Buire-sur-l’Ancre Communal Cemetery in France, one of just six Commonwealth soldiers to be buried there. His brother Alfred died just five days later in Mesopotamia, so their parents would have likely found out about both deaths at around the same time.