May 2020

Update 30th May

2nd May

Now May is here I’ve been trying to walk a few more miles again. Because of COVID-19 and social distancing, the mileage I was doing has slipped a little. In the last two days I’ve started to get back on track - 3.5 miles yesterday and again today. Just for a change, today I decided to have a discovery walk, went off route to look at some allotments, a real pleasure to see so many vegetables growing.

On the walk back home I took some photos of flowers growing against a wall!

8th May VE Day

Wonderful day for a walk in the sunshine. Not only saw wildflowers, but also lots of bunting. Walked for over an hour with lots of stops to take photos, walked about four miles.

10th May Walk

This morning I walked by this plaque, erected in January 2018. When I was on the Colchester Civic Society executive committee, one of my jobs was to research and arrange for the erection of plaques around the town. This plaque and the one on Mersea Road were erected at the same time. The wording for this particular plaque was extremely difficult because over time this area had many uses. The other plaque on Mersea Road commemorates two of the former garrison barracks, Hyderabad and Meeanee. Apart from researching the history, I organised the making of these plaques and their erection. Also liaised with Taylor Wimpey who paid for them.

I continued on to St John's Green today via St John's Gate, pictured here. This gate is all that is left of St John's Abbey. Just one of the gems Colchester has to offer. Walked 4.5 miles today.

Update late May
Since my last update I’ve been trying to increase my daily steps. Rather than make regular posts, I thought it better to keep some notes and update the page towards the end of May. COVID-19 hurled a huge spanner into the works of my fundraising walk, postponing it until goodness knows when! Consequently, this blog has had to be extended. It should have concluded at the beginning of this month, but until I can actually walk Peddars Way, I’ve decided to add a few snippets of interest as I pace around the neighbourhood.

From 13th May it's made a big difference being able to exercise with a friend but still keeping a safe distance away from them, quite a boost when you have been seeing out this crisis alone. Well, not quite alone as I have Minnie my cat for company!

Over the last few weeks I’ve left the safety of Abbey Field because I wanted to up my mileage. On 14th May my route took me via Camp Folley South, passing the two signs I’d been instrumental in having reinstated. They had disappeared when Hyderabad and Meeanee Barracks were being redeveloped for housing. Getting the signs replaced was a long-winded process as sometimes these things are. Eventually with the advice of the Colchester planning department and help from Taylor Wimpey - the developers - the signs were replaced.

There are two footpaths or 'folley’s' which run either side of the old barracks, ‘Camp Folley North’ and ‘Camp Folley South’. They were a shortcut to the huge former Garrison Church, which dates from 1856. This massive building was constructed with a timber frame covered in weatherboards. It’s now the Russian Orthodox Church.

I thought it so important to have the signs put back at each entrance because without them, the name and it’s Colchester history would soon be forgotten. Whenever I walk along Camp Folley South I think about of all those soldiers who have trodden willingly or unwilling along it.

On another occasion my route took me along ‘The Avenue’ with its lovely large houses standing back from the road. One of these houses was the birthplace of Archibald Percival Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell. He was born on the 5th May 1883. A few years ago I had to research Earl Wavell’s life and career, when the British Forces Radio Service -BFBS - asked me to contribute to the programme they were making about local military hero’s.

On the 20th May I retraced my steps again, walking under St John’s Gate. As it was such a hot day I decided to linger in its shade. It gave me time to really study some of the ancient carvings in stone and wood - quite incredible!

Tomorrow morning, 30th May, Rina and I will start to walk together again. We are planning a 3 plus mile walk around Layer de la Haye!

30th May
What a joy to walk through Layer de la Haye via ‘Blind Knights‘, Abberton Reservoir, and then on to Layer Churchyard! Even heard the Cuckoo! Total mileage
back to our starting point - 3 miles.

If you’d like to donate, this is the link to my Just Giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/rosemary-peddars-walk
For cash and cheques:
Lings have kindly offered to accept the cash and cheque donations. Cheques can be made payable to Rosemary Jewers.

Lings Country Goods,

Lynn Lane,

Gt Massingham,

King’s Lynn PE32 2HJ

My walking companion, Rina and I welcome all who would like to join us walking sections of this route. The image below gives contact details, dates and times of where we will be and when we start each day. Click on the image below to enlarge it.

Comments

My Research - Locating Peddar's Way

Two updates, one on 29th April - the location of the village of Chelsworth. The other on 24th April, writings and research by Rev. H. Copinger Hill. If you have stumbled across this research and wondered how and why it came about, I thought I should offer an explanation. From an early age I’ve been keen to follow up a story handed down through some four generations of my family, that Peddars Way went all the way from Colchester to the Norfolk coast. Having been born and raised in a West Norfolk village where Peddars Way runs, this family story really resonated with me. On 22nd September 2020 I’ll be leaving Colchester on a charity walk, raising funds for Little Massingham Church. More details at the foot of this page. Anyone walking north from Colchester would encounter one major problem, water! The more maps I studied, the more areas of water I saw! The River Stour and Box and other rivulets dominate the border area between north Essex and Suffolk, this would definitely influ

September 2020

Link to my research page Update October 2nd September 2020 At 10.30 am on the 22nd September we will be leaving Balkerne Gate, Colchester to walk to the Norfolk coast, some 90 miles. The High Steward of Colchester, Sir Bob Russell will be walking with us to the Suffolk border. The most important thing about the event is that I will be raising much needed funds to help restore the roof of St Andrew's Church, Little Massingham, Norfolk. If you can help by donating, that would be wonderful. All details are shown below. It is almost a year since I first had the idea to undertake this charity walk. Originally this should have taken place in April, but because of Covid-19 it was put on hold. At long last I will be able to set off with my walking companion Rina Adams. If you would like to join us as we walk sections of this route or if you need to contact me about anything else to do with the walk, please see the blogger contact link - top right of page. Once we begin our journey I wi

My Journey - from 3000 steps a day to a 252,418 step trek across three counties

What’s this all about you may ask yourself? As a child, living in Norfolk I frequently walked sections of the Peddars Way, a famous Roman or perhaps pre-Roman road which runs from Holme-next-the-Sea, through my childhood home village of Little Massingham and onto Knettishall Heath, Suffolk. However, I had always been told it actually went all the way to Colchester in Essex. In my youth I quite often walked it, but there were occasions when it was because I was in some sort of trouble with my parents. I would usually be found escaping - with my dog and small suitcase - along this route, and when I was challenged, I’d climb into my father's car and be driven home. I think there was a strong element of Dick Whittington about me as I knew that if I walked for long enough, I would get to London. Seventy years on and having moved to Colchester, I was still fixated by this road and realised time was running out if I wanted to finally try to prove that the Peddars Way really did go all the

March 2020

Only a few weeks until the start of the trek from Colchester to Holme, Norfolk. Yesterday we completed our Tuesday walk. Disappointed that it was only 8 miles it felt like much more. I was so tired after I arrived home I had to have a long snooze! The plus side is I'm drinking more water! WEDNESDAY 4th March Fitted in another training walk today. Walked 6 or so miles. Rina was fascinated by the size of this oak tree. It was only after 18 months of losing weight, that I thought I might be able to do this walk. It will be easier if I can lose more weight before 27th April... and the beginning of our trek north. Yesterday I received an award from my Slimming World group for being their ‘Greatest Loser 2020’! This week I’m finding I’m in a lot of pain, I need to investigate how I can manage it better. I think it’s sciatica in my hips and legs! I need to find some treatment soon... although I do find it does help a bit when I’m exercising at the gym. I’ve also been writing

February 2020

11th February Update Over the last two weeks we have been walking closer to home because it's been so wet and muddy under foot. Today we walked around the outskirts of the town. Found it rather annoying that cycle routes give estimated distances but nothing for walkers! Walked a fraction under 6 miles today, very windy, needed my hat. Saturday 15th February Update This week I’ve tried to get in more walking and exercise at the gym. This morning went out before Storm Dennis arrived as I’d heard that one of the old military gates along Butt Road, Colchester had be restored. Over several years I’ve been campaigning to see these gates refurbished - lovely to see this one in place! Tuesday 18th February Our weekly walk really went into overdrive because we walked just over 9 miles today! No wonder several parts of my body were hurting. Muscles and hips aching and I thought I’d not make it home! This morning in Head Street we had a little fun when a man saw us using o

Peddars Way Blog

Hi, I thought I’d tell you why I’m writing this blog. Well it’s because I’m hoping to raise £5000 or more to help St Andrew's Church in Little Massingham, Norfolk. All the money I raise will go towards restoring the church roof after lead was stolen. You may ask when and why am I doing it... Next Spring I'll be walking from Colchester, Essex to the North Norfolk coast. I'll be trying to trace the ancient Roman route from Colchester and join the known Peddars Way in Suffolk. From an early age I’ve been keen to follow up a story handed down through some four generations of my family, that Peddars Way went all the way from the Norfolk coast to Colchester. Having been born and raised in a West Norfolk village where Peddars Way runs, this family story really resonated with me. At long last I have a very good reason for trying to solve this mystery. When I leave Colchester I will try to follow a possible Roman route joining the known Peddars Way. Whilst walking I hop

July 2020

Updated - 23rd July 9th July When I met up with Rina yesterday we decided to walk a 'dry route', owing to the rain we have had in the last few days. I had planned to use the map device on my Fitbit and post it to this blog, at the time I was rather puzzled why it wouldn't work. Later I remembered my phone can't receive a signal when I'm in Layer. Walked down to just beyond the reservoir. Not may birds about, but spotted a couple of Grebe. On our return we crossed the road and walked up to a farm and then along through wheat and barley fields. Last time I was there these fields were still green. Walked back towards the church and village on a slightly muddy route, it was quite a job to remove all the mud from our shoes. We discussed when we might be able to start our walk to Norfolk. Hope it will be September. Total mileage, a fraction over 6 miles. 11th July Joined my family bubble today for a walk at Anglesey Abbey. Lov ely 3 mile walk in the sunshine. I notice

June 2020

Updated 28th June 2nd June Having arranged to walk with Rina in Layer de la Haye the following day, this sparked a chain of events. I decided I couldn’t leave it any longer before I filled up my car with petrol. Normally buying petrol is no big deal, but as this was the first time I'd had to buy any since the 'lockdown', I decided I could no longer put off making a journey to the petrol pumps... something I wasn’t looking forward to! I had already decided that I would try to pay at the pump, even though I’d never done it before. I thought, it couldn’t be that difficult. When I arrived at the petrol station, I was confronted by signage asking me to use the ‘pay at pump’ facility rather than go into the shop. I donned my mask and my rather conspicuous blue gloves and got out of the car. At first it was difficult to read the instructions because the mask was making my glasses steam up! Eventually I managed to scan my loyalty card, having first tried it one way and t

April 2020

Thursday 2nd April I’m still exercising on Abbey Field. I’m not trekking the longish distances that I was, but at least I’m walking! In the last few days I’ve been writing up much of the research I’ve undertaken, looking into the history, maps and the possible routes of Peddars Way. Friday 3rd We were all social distancing on Abbey Field today! I think my new little friends managed a few more steps than me! Wednesday 8th April I’ve continued to exercise on Abbey Field, but didn’t get in too many steps because it was much warmer. Stopped to take this photo of blossom on one of the cherry trees. Tuesday 14th April Over Easter, some days I managed to get in more steps and a few more miles, but it meant having to leave the safety of Abbey Field! The bonus - I've found there are slightly less people exercising later in the day! Tuesday 21st April As the month draws on, I’m finding it more and more difficult to motivate myself and walk longer dista

Peddars Way Charity Walk - Colchester to the North Norfolk Coast

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