Mediaeval Pilgrimage to Walsingham
10 - 14 September 2007
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I will be turning my back on the 21st century to become one of a band of 14th century pilgrims, departing Norwich for Walsingham; one of the great pilgrim centres of medieval England.
We will begin with a medieval Latin blessing in Norwich cathedral, before making our way out through the cloisters and down to the River Wensum. There, a replica medieval boat will be waiting to ferry us upstream through the city centre to New Mills, where we'll disembark and break our fast with ale and bread.
From there, shouldering our packs, we'll begin the walk along Norfolk byways. Overnight accommodation will be basic, in barns and churches.
4 days on the road will bring us to the Slipper Chapel at Houghton St Giles, the final staging post. From there we will walk the final mile (some of us barefooted) to Walsingham where we will be joyously received with a feast, followed by a medieval mass in the Abbey grounds for the feast of the Holy Cross on 14 September.
PLEASE SPONSOR ME!
I am aiming to raise at least �100 for The Mediaeval Trust. If sponsor pledges reach this total I will walk barefoot from the Slipper Chapel, for the final mile of the pilgrims' way.
If you would like to sponsor me: come and find me and my sponsorship form in person; or add a message to my guestbook here; or email me. Actual payment can be in cash, by cheque, or by online transfer
� 193 (& 40 Euros) sponsored - Thank You: 18 Sept 07
The Medieval Trust are a Norwich based charity who aim to set up a Medieval Life Centre to educate and entertain future generations in all aspects of our medieval history. The first phase will be the building of a small yeoman tenant farm of the late 14th century. As well as education, they have specific aims around promoting and sustaining traditional crafts, skills and materials and helping disadvantaged local people.
Of course, I will be doing this dressed from top to toe in medieval clothing and without modern accoutrements or comforts. No 3-season sleeping bags or snugly PJs for us, but rather bedding down on straw and wrapped in a cloak for warmth.
The pictures here give an idea of what I'll be wearing: a linen smock, under a woollen cote (dress). On top of that I'll have a sideless surcote. I'll have woollen hose covering my lower legs (tied on with garters) and flat-soled ankle boots on my feet. My hair will be out of sight under a wimple and veil.
Apart from the clothes I'll be standing up in, my packing list includes a spare smock and spare hose, a cloak, an eating knife, bowl, cup and spoon, my rosary, a purse, my comb (made of horn), a leather flask, some soap, a linen towel and a large linen sack for stuffing with straw to sleep on (so we don't make a mess of the church floor).
I will confess to also planning on taking a toothbrush and toothpaste, a smidgen of sunblock, wet wipes and loo roll, but that's the extent of my concession to modernity.
At this stage I think the thing I'm going to miss most is my morning coffee. And I really hope it doesn't rain!
http://www.walsingham.org.uk
