Past Walks

2025 Winchelsea

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Winchelsea, an historic Cinque Port and one of the best preserved medieval planned towns in the country was the location for the Centurion’s early summer social walk. Situated on the south coast between Hastings and Rye, the town was founded in the late thirteenth century as a port by King Edward I, replacing Old Winchelsea which was swept away by storms and the rising sea.

Starting at the Queens Head Public House on the edge of town, the early part of the walk followed well marked paths through fields, railway crossings and lanes through the countryside into Winchelsea. An ancient stone cherub was spotted dumped in a skip. It would be a crime for this to end up in landfill, but it was too heavy for the boot of a car. Kim was to resolve this dilemma later by speaking to a local church warden who was going to retrieve said cherub with the help of a friend.

Good deed done it was time for coffee, and a visit to the church of St Thomas. Famed as the final resting place of comic Spike Milligan. The church is one of the finest in Sussex, planned to cathedral proportions. The ravages of the Hundred Year War has left part of the outer building in ruins but the present church has remarkable stained glass windows design in the early twentieth century by Douglas Strachan.

Our walk continued, leaving the town and passing ‘New Gate’, at one time, the only way in to Winchelsea by land, providing a defence against invading forces, finally arriving at the Charles Palmer Winery. There, samples were enthusiastically consumed and further bottles purchased. The adjacent Wickham Manor dating from the sixteenth century was used as the film set of Mr Holmes (2015), and as Lord Snowdon’s family home on the Crown (Netflix, 2019).

A short walk led back to the pub, where good food and ale was served as a pleasant conclusion to our day.

Thanks to Kim Howard C1020 for leading the walk, and those attending.

Photo by Brian Boggenpoel

2024 Brentwood Country Park

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2024 Brentwood Country Park

The Centurions Social Walk on May 4th saw a double-digit turnout, including Centurions Social Walks Secretary Steve Kemp and walk organiser Kim Howard, both Essex-based Centurions. John and Shaheda Arthur joined the group after completing Billericay’s 9am parkrun. The walk itself was an enjoyable occasion, part of a long-established programme of Centurions social walks open to all, including families and dogs (three of which attended). The route wound around the picturesque Brentwood County Park, starting and finishing at “The Olde Dog Inn” in Herongate village, on the outskirts of Brentwood.

Image from the Centurions walk in Brentford country park

Other aspects of the walk contributed to its enjoyable nature. The weather was good, and the walk led through attractive scenery, as evidenced by Brian Boggenpoel’s photograph. Upon returning to “The Olde Dog Inn,” a table had been booked for a pleasant lunch in “olde worlde” surroundings, with options ranging from bar snacks to full meals, and the availability of a large beer garden for dining. Sadly, one walker suffered a nasty fall and had to return to the start, but was greatly heartened by flowers sent by the Social Walks Secretary and messages from well-wishers.

Overall, the walk was well-received, with Centurions Secretary Chris Flint praising and thanking Steve Kemp and Kim Howard for their efforts.  Despite the unfortunate fall, the general sentiment was positive, as Chris Flint commented, “It was a most enjoyable walk in good weather and through attractive scenery… We all hope bruising will fade soon. Thank goodness it was not more serious.”

2023 St Albans Green Ring

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Chris Flint, Brian Boggenpoel and Steve Kemp set off from the Old Town Hall in the heart of St Albans on a warm Saturday morning with the adjacent market bursting into life. Cobbled streets led past the historic clock tower c1495 towards the Cathedral and Abbey Church which dominates the skyline. Pauses were taken at the Verdun tree, planted in the aftermath of the First World War, Vintry Park, once the burial ground for local monks, and the Cathedral itself, where a University Graduation Ceremony was in full swing.

Past the Old Gate House, once used as a jail, and the Ye Olde Fighting Cocks, reputedly the oldest public house in the country, the seventy-seven hectares of Verulamium Park opened up in front of us, exposing the fine remains of the Roman City Walls and mosaics (now covered for preservation). The local Beer and Music festival taking place in the park grounds provided entertainment as we continued our walk across the park towards the west side of the city. But, before leaving the park, we were surprised to find that the Roman Museum was offering free entry for one day only as part of a heritage day. So another lengthy but worthwhile pause. The museum contained a fine collection of Roman mosaic floorings, wall coverings and coins.

The western section of the walk highlighted more of the shallow chalk streams that run through the city, followed by a mix of residential areas until reaching the high ground of Bernard’s Heath. The area is most famous for hosting the second Battle of St Albans c1461 during the War of the Roses, but has also hosted gallows, windmills and was a previous home to Hertfordshire County Cricket Club. This heath proved an ideal location for lunch, so shade was sought from the near 30 degree heat, refreshments consumed, and thirty minutes later with ice creams in-hand we were ready to continue.

The northern and eastern sections of the Green Ring are a mix of quaint cottages and luxury residential, converted buildings and private schools, before joining the Alban Way, a traffic free route along the former railway line joining St Albans with Hatfield. The disused railway path was followed south, display boards informing us of the stations which had once served the line. Salvation Army Halt is one such station, with platform still visible amongst the vegetation, it served the printing works that produced the Salvation Army official newspaper, War Cry, from 1924.

Continuing along the pathway, we paused again at the Watercress Beds, a local nature reserve tucked between the path and River Ver. A little further on, we paused once more to appreciate magnificent views of the Cathedral perched high on the skyline, with allotments and streams in the foreground. We then turned north towards Sopwell Ruins, known as ‘The Nunnery’, the ruins are thought to be the remains of a Tudor Mansion built on the site of a nunnery following Henry VIII’s dissolutions.
We left the Green Way at this point, following the National Cycle route back into the city, back to the Old Town Hall c1826, where tea and cake provided a perfect ending to the day. The Old Town Hall had a dual function as a place of governance and a jail. There was just time to explore the court room and cells before bringing the day to a close.

Numbers were down on previous social walks with just three taking part, others unable to partake for reasons of extremely hot weather, upcoming race preparation, holidays and other commitments.

Our schedule of 2024 social walks will be circulated before the 2024 AGM in January.