The Canterbury Tales

The Pilgrims Way is very old. Chaucer wrote a book about some pilgrims on the Pilgrims Way in the 1300s. I have an extract.

The Canterbury Tales – Prologue
Whan that Aprill with his shoures soote
The droghte of March hath perced to the roote,
….
Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages,
And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes,
To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes;
And specially from every shires ende
Of Engelond to Caunterbury they wende,
The hooly blisful martir for to seke,
That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke.

Did you understand that? I do have it in more modern English

The Canterbury Tales – Prologue
When April with his showers sweet with fruit
The drought of March has pierced unto the root
….
Then do folk long to go on pilgrimage,
And palmers to go seeking out strange strands,
To distant shrines well known in sundry lands.
And specially from every shire’s end
Of England they to Canterbury wend,
The holy blessed martyr there to seek
Who helped them when they lay so ill and weak.

So pilgrims used to like to go on a Pilgrimage to Canterbury because of the holy blessed martyr who could help them when they are ill. They could go to get healed. Do you know who the holy blessed martyr is?

Saint Thomas Becket

‘The holy blessed martyr’ is Saint Thomas Becket: He became engaged in a conflict with Henry II, King of England, over the rights and privileges of the Church

He was murdered by followers of the King in Canterbury Cathedral in 1170.

After his death, his shrine with its relics became a focus for pilgrimage.

Soon after his death, he was canonised by Pope Alexander III and became Saint Thomas Beckett.

Another King Henry, Henry VIII, destroyed St Thomas Becket’s shrine and banned pilgrimages to a priest who defied the King.

The Pilgrims Road’ by Frank Elliston-Erwood

In the 1790s an antiquarian identified some stretches of the Pilgrims Way. It was explored by others in Victorian times and a way named The Pilgrims Way was put on OS Maps. Roads and paths were named Pilgrims Way or Road. Books about The Way were published. I have ‘The Pilgrims Road’ by Frank Elliston-Erwood (1910).

Walking the Pilgrim’s Way by Leigh Hatts

But for my walk I will use the Walking the Pilgrim’s Way by Leigh Hatts in 2017, which is excellent.

I also use OS maps, and sometimes, Google Maps on my phone.

The Pilgrims’ Way has two possible starting points: Southwark Cathedral in London or Winchester Cathedral. The two paths join at Otford in Kent.

Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales followed the route from Southwark Cathedral.

I chose to walk from Winchester to Canterbury as this is the route I knew from childhood. I grew up near Reigate and often saw a ‘Pilgrims Way’ sign. People said it went to Canterbury. But to me as a child, it was a mystery. What was the Pilgrim’s Way? Did pilgrims still walk it?

My Planned Route

One week from now, I will set off on a pilgrimage from Winchester to Canterbury using a route from the Leigh Hatt’s book.