Ken & I are grandparents, still working but approaching retirement age. We haven’t done much walking but do run quite a bit and have managed to complete a couple of half marathons. When we heard about the Two Saints Way, we were excited at the prospect of walking a long-distance path that went through our ‘own patch’. We loved the fact that the path has such a richness about it from retracing the footsteps of ancient pilgrims and getting a good view of the Staffordshire Hoard; exploring our  industrial heritage through the Potteries and the canals; having the opportunity to level in glorious countryside such as Cannock Chase and the Trentham Estate as well as exploring beautiful English cities, towns and villages.

So the decision was made to walk the way in six days, beginning on 1st April. We planned the route by comparing the draft guide book to Google Earth and an Ordnance Survey Street Atlas that we had. We booked a couple of B&Bs and contacted friends in Baddeley Green. David sent out a barrage of emails to let people know that we were on our way and four friends and their dog agreed to join us for the first day.

We had a thoroughly enjoyable time exploring Chester on Bank Holiday Monday, the highlight being a very informative tour of the Cathedral led by Nick Fry. The weather was dry and sunny albeit bitterly cold. We were very glad to stretch our legs and set off for Christleton. After having a good look round this pretty village we headed for The Cheshire Cat which backs onto the canal. We were superbly well looked after and would have no hesitation in recommending this excellent Innkeepers Lodge.

Tuesday was another dry, bright day with a cold wind. We set off towards Nantwich at a brisk pace which, sadly, we were not able to maintain throughout the day. Ken developed painful blisters on his heels and later in the day I too discovered a few problems with my feet. We lost our way for a time at Calveley when we couldn’t find any way markers to help us. We soon got back onto the canal towpath and continued on our way. To keep our spirits up, we found ourselves singing old hymns – fortunately, there were not many people around at that point! I think the highlight of the day must be limping into Nantwich, 11 hours after we set out, eating fish & chips from the shop on Chester Road. We stayed the night at The Crown Hotel, a bit pricey but a very welcome resting point.

We started Wednesday with a tour of the beautiful St Mary’s Nantwich, thanks to Alan Joslyn, and the purchase of every blister treatment in the town. So with Ken’s wounds dressed and new socks on, off we went again. We decided to walk as far as the village of Hough and then get a bus as Ken’s feet were not up to more than 7 miles. Another dry day saw us crossing fields and strolling along country lanes. We stopped for coffee at the Swan Inn at Wybunbury which was most welcome. You can see on the left the very first Two Saints Way signs to be erected and a new panel with the map also. We got a bus to Crewe, then to Hanley and then to Baddeley Green, where we passed a very comfortable night with friends.

On Thursday morning we were finally able to see the Staffordshire Saxon and the Hoard, at The Potteries Museum, having failed on a couple of previous occasions.  We were back on the bus and heading for home in Stafford by lunchtime. More blister treatment and a night in our own bed saw us ready to fight another day.

Intrepid explorer on Two Saints Way near Tixall!

The path goes through the centre of Stafford and out along the River Sow to the edge of Cannock Chase at Milford. That is about 6 miles from our house so our plan was to reassess our fitness when we got there. I’m pleased to say that were able to keep going and enjoyed a fabulous 17 mile walk across the Chase to Beaudesert where Angela Bickley very kindly met us with hot chocolate and biscuits. The last pull up a steep, snow covered trail in the woods was tough but it was well worth it for the views from Castle Ring, the Iron Age fort on the highest point of the Chase.

After another very comfortable night spent with John & Christine Polhill at Reflections, their retreat centre home, we were off again. Wonderful sunshine, no wind for the first time all week and snow stacked up against the hedges. It was a delightful 8 mile stroll into Lichfield. We met up with Lilas Rawling, who walked the last little way with us and before we knew it we were at St Chad’s Well with Mike Preston excitedly showing us the drawings of the archaeological digs on the site. It was a fantastic, heady moment and I felt as though I could have turned around and walked all the way back to Chester!

Mission accomplished!

Probably just as well that Ken was there to keep my feet where they belonged and Lilas very kindly offered us a lift back to Stafford.

Two Saints Way is a wonderful walk that I would recommend to anyone. We learned many lessons about our own capabilities, God’s provision and the beauty of creation and the importance of having the right equipment for the job. We would be happy to help anyone else who is planning to walk the way and can always offer a bed for the night in Stafford. Oh, and we do intend to go back and walk the missing 30 miles!

The group initially cared for the pilgrims who had reached Jerusalem following a long and arduous journey. However the order was soon extended into providing an armed escort to pilgrims. The escort soon grew into a substantial force. The Order of Saint John the Hospitaller included both knights and monks. The members of the Knights of the Order of Saint John the Hospitaller were both monks and knights. These men of the new order took the monastic vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience and they added a fourth vow, which bound them to protect pilgrims and fight the infidels.

Obviously there is a negative side here especially about ‘fighting the infidels’ and they were involved with the Crusades, but I am interested in the aspect of caring for the needs of pilgrims. Could we on the Two Saints Way have modern Knights Hospitallers who would be ready to help pilgrims in a variety of ways? Perhaps they could be called ‘Pilgrims’ Friends.’ Here are the sort of things I have in mind…

• B&B provision tends to change quite frequently and it’s difficult for oneperson to keep up to date with what is available in every place between Chester and Lichfield.
• Some people will be looking for simpler accommodation than what is provided in a B&B or hotel – several people want something that may be a little more akin to how it was in the Middle Ages. There will also be youth groups who would be looking for church hall floors or camping. The local Pilgrims’ Friend would be someone who knew what was available for those ona low budget.
• People from overseas can often find that there is something that puzzlesthem or is unfamiliar and it would be helpful if they knew there was someone nearby who could help them with their problem.
• Things are always changing on footpaths such as a new kissing gate
  replacing a stile or a new post being installed that doesn’t have a Two Saints Way marker on it. A Pilgrim’ Friend could walk their local section three times a year to check the situation and report any problems.

It would be good to find people who are interested in pilgrimage and also have a heart for hospitality. I am glad to say that already some people have offered to become Pilgrims’ Friends. If any of you reading this blog would be interested in becoming a Pilgrims’ Friend do get in touch with me via the contact page.

Pilgrims’ Friends along the Two Saints Way would be something personally very satisfying for me as I leave Stone and move to the Isle of Arran which has been much in the news of late because of the huge amount of snow it had recently and the days there without electricity. Some of you will have heard already about this move. We shall be getting involved with a fascinating new project at Sannox on the north east coast of the island. Take a look at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ix9D48XyRuQ & www.sannox.org to find out more.

Let me assure you that I shall be continuing my involvement with the Two Saints Way and also we have family in Stone so will be back from time to time. Thanks to the internet, it will not be difficult to keep things moving with the main things that need completing at this stage which are the interpretation panels and the guide book.

Other news
The new Two Saints Way leaflet has just been printed and you can download it from the home page. There has been an excellent 7 page article in the heritage tourism magazine ‘Discover Britain’. You can read it on page 16 here http://ow.ly/h3ZZP There is also an editorial about the Two Saints Way on page 3.

We started at the point where the Two Saints Way leaves the canal by Oliver’s Mill in Middleport. It’s a grade 2 listed building. In this photo you can see the red loading doors and at the far end are two calcining hovels with their contrasting shapes.

From there we walked along the site of the Burslem Arm which was a short section of canal into the heart of Burslem. It was closed by a breach in the canal in 1961. The Burslem Port Project is hoping to restore the canal. We trudged on through the snow into Grange Park. You can see a Two Saints Way sign in the photo above. It’s hard to believe you’re in the centre of a city as you walk through here!

Next we came to the intriguing 1986 Festival Garden site. You never know what you’re going to stumble upon next – a fine wooden bridge over a manmade ravine, a stone circle, a sculpture gradually getting lost in the trees, a slate path that was part of the Welsh garden - it’s a delight at any time of year! We exited Festival Park past the Etruria Hall and the brick sculpture of Josiah Wedgwood’s head before deciding to pause for a coffee from Costas at the Odeon Cinema.

Duly refreshed I then took Marg on to a secluded pathway which makes use of what was once the Potteries Loop Line. This is not yet officially part of the Two Saints Way as it is not a legal right of way yet although many people use it. I hope we will be able in due course to find some volunteers to make the necessary improvements because this really is an excellent green corridor leading up to Hanley. At the top of the path we turned right to Tescos – remarkably the only shop you pass directly on the route between Chesterton and Tittensor!

The next landmark was the Potteries Museum which is of course a special location for the Two Saints Way because of the Staffordshire Hoard being on display there. Before we crossed the Potteries Way, we enjoyed a very well preserved bottle oven in smart offices which used to be Smithfield Pottery.

Footpath on former Potteries Loop Line

Soon after passing the conspicuous City Central Mosque we entered Hanley Park where we struck up a conversation with two charming Africans who were busy making their first ever snowman! One was from Chad – I should have talked to him about St Chad! – and the other lived in Lisbon and had parents from Angola and Cape Verde Islands. Every time I walk through Stoke on the Two Saints Way I seem to add a new nationality to my list!

For our last stretch we slipped onto the Caldon Canal and enjoyed the mixture of ice and reflections in the water as well as the fading glories of the industrial heritage seen in such things as this attractive green loading door. We descended two locks to conclude our walk at Etruria where the Caldon Canal reaches the Trent and Mersey.

We strongly recommend this walk. It’s a wonderful introduction to fascinating Stoke-on-Trent which needs to stand up and be proud for being quirky and out of the ordinary! If you want to make it a circular walk you can simply walk on north up the Trent and Mersey from Etruria and return to Middleport. It’s a total of 5 miles. If you’d like maps of the route check my other blog about Stoke on June 4 2012.

Caldon Canal at Etruria

NB You might like to get a copy of the new issue of Discover Britain which has a 7 page article on the Two Saints Way. It can be found on line at http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/launch.aspx?eid=f98b10a4-d04d-499a-b65d-c0d523665415 It starts on page 16.

I started at Monument Lane Tittensor – I liked the post with its frosty pyramid.  The second image shows the sun breaking through as I got close to the Sutherland Monument.

This is a view looking north to King’s Wood and the Monkey Forest.

I just had to stop on my way home and take this one by Meaford Locks.

By the way, Trentham Estate is one of the few places where I didn’t put up the
waymarks. Because of the changes taking place with the Jubilee Diamond
Wood development, we discussed the signage in October and it was put up for
me a short while after. It was good to see the job done and Trentham Estates
have been excellent partners in the project.

Personally I think there is no better time to walk the Two Saints Way than a
frosty week in winter – especially after all the wet weather this year! I’d also
suggest that with the low sun at this time of year it’s better to follow the wild
Werburgh goose and walk from Lichfield to Chester. That’s a lot better for
views and a lot better than walking into the sun.

Finally, if you’d like to see a very good article about the Two Saints in the
Rambler’s Association Walk Magazine please go to
http://www.walkmag.co.uk/features/routemaster-in-depth-two-saintsway/

Christmas and New Year greetings to you all!

I like the way that this interpretation panel will have some especially good stories
connected with it! Money for the panel has been raised through a 13.5 mile sponsored
walk that took place on Saturday September 29th. John Cornell, a great enthusiast who I have met on some of my visits, lives by the chapel and was the sponsored person.

On the day, John (on the left in this photo) was accompanied by volunteers from the museum and other local people. It began appropriately at Mow Cop car park below the ‘castle’ folly. This is the particular place that will always be associated with the beginnings of the Primitive Methodist movement. It was here in 1807 that two significant camp meeting took place that provided the impetus for the rapid spread of the movement. Because of their practice of singing hymns in the streets the first Primitive Methodists were called ‘Ranters’ which is why John called his walk ‘Ranting Along.’ One of the founders of the movement, Hugh Bourne was a terrific walker – one of his boots is on display at the museum and it has a hole in it because of all the hundreds of miles he walked!

Forward again to 2012 and for those of you who know the area or like following maps
here’s the route the walkers took… They crossed into the High Street and then continued down the famously steep Top Station Road. Beyond the steepest part of the road they veered off to the left over a stile in the hedge, across a field and then it was downhill all the way to the A34 in Scholar Green. After carefully negotiating the main road they followedpaths and tracks leading to the Trent and Mersey Canal. Over the bridge, with a brief backward glance at the view of Mow Cop, they took to the tow path to Thurlwood Farm. It was then on to Lawton Heath, emerging through the ground of a small house onto Betchton Lane and finally after the challenge of further stiles and bridges they made it to

Halfway picnic

Pikemere Primary School gate. Hurrah they had made it to the halfway point! Packed
lunches were enjoyed and new walkers greeted ready for the remaining miles. After the hard slog of the roads they welcomed the new terrain of tracks and footpaths over the M6, where they momentarily forgot how footsore and weary they were and grateful not to be stuck in the traffic as they waved to those who were!

They followed the South Cheshire Way past Haslington Hall, Crewe Golf Course, and
across the busy Butterton Lane into a quieter pastures that led to a bridge crossing the Crewe to Alsager railway. Eventually a bridge crossing the A500 brought them towards the village of Barthomley. A final couple of miles and they were thankfully home to Englesea Brook for afternoon tea and cakes.

Thankfully the weather was fine and all that remained to do was enjoy a well earned soak in a hot salt bath and collect in the sponsorship money!

I think it is just perfect that money for this panel was raised by a walk following this historic route – perhaps it should become an official spur off the Two Saints Way sometime!?

I’m sure High Bourne himself would have been proud of all the walkers and what’s been achieved!

For more on Englesea Brook Museum see http://www.engleseabrook-museum.org.uk/

Jill Barber Project Director of the Museum displays the fruits of John Cornell’s efforts

Firstly, the Irish were known to be keen on pilgrimage and Chester was the most
important trading port between England and Ireland in that period. Surely if they
wanted to travel to Canterbury or even as far as Rome and Jerusalem, the most
obvious route connecting up significant shrines would include Chester, Lichfield,
Coventry, St Albans and London?

Secondly I knew that monks from Chester had spread the cult of St Werburgh into Ireland. In 1178 the Church of St Werburgh was built in Dublin and in 1183 Benedictine monks were sent to assist at Downpatrick Cathedral. There is also a St Werburgh’s Well pictured here near Dublin. The shrine of St Werburgh at
Chester would have provided an added impetus for pilgrims contemplating longer pilgrim journeys.

In May I stumbled across a fascinating blog by Edel Mulcachy about Medieval Irish pilgrimage see https://edelmulcahy.wordpress.com/about/ I emailed Edel and she soon supplied me with some concrete evidence of an actual pilgrimage journey in 1323 by a friar with the not very Irish sounding name of Symon Semeonis! In the account of his pilgrimage called Itinerarium Symonis Semeonis ab Hybernia ad Terram Sanctam he describes starting off from Clonmel and then journeying across the Irish Sea from Dublin to Chester where he celebrated Easter before journeying on via Stafford and Lichfield to London, Canterbury, Rome, across to North Africa and via Alexandria to Jerusalem!

What an extraordinary journey that was! I had previously thought that maybe Irish
pilgrims from the northern half of the island would have come via Chester, but
Clonmel is in the south west so it seems Dublin to Chester was the preferred sea
route for pilgrims.

Through my initial connection with Edel Mulcachy, I have also connected with
another Irish person Louise Nugent who also has a blog on pilgrimage at http://pilgrimagemedievalireland.com/ I had the pleasure of meeting her in person
recently when I was over in Ireland for a conference. She is particularly interested
in holy wells and it was she who told me about St Werburgh’s Well.

I very much hope that through these connections, we will hopefully unearth more
discoveries about Irish pilgrims of the past but also I very much hope there will soon
be another flow of Irish pilgrims following in Symon’s footsteps on the Two Saints
Way! May they find a warm and hospitable welcome. And in return, if you haven’t
explored some of the Irish pilgrimage sites, I can highly recommend them. My
favourites are the Skellig Islands, several sites on the amazing Dingle Peninsula
and Glendalough.

All hands on deck!

We began this round of signing in Acton on June 11th linking up the route between the Llangollen and the Shropshire Union canals. Rev Peter Lillicrap and churchwarden Charles Hull put up some waymarks at the start and then it was good to have Martinand Kitty Boot signing with us whom we had met on the pilgrimage. On June 13 TimSaxton and I drove out from Stone and met John Steadman in Wybunbury for a thoroughly good drenching! We signed around the village which we had planned to complete before their annual fig pie rolling event.

On June 18, Tim and I were joined by Ram and also Angela Bickley and Lilas Rawling to do the signage between Castle Ring and Farewell. It was incredible to notice the amazing difference between when we walked at the end of March when it was so dry.Watery Lane between Gentleshaw and Chorley had been only a little bit watery inMarch but was now quite a challenge to get through! So many places were overgrown.It gives us great admiration for those sturdy pilgrims who have continued to walk theroute after all this rain. Paul Graetz who came on the pilgrimage, recently did the wholeroute with a combination of biking and running in two days to raise funds for Douglas Macmillan Hospice!

On July 4 Ram brought Staffordshire University’s ViceChancellor Michael Gunn for a photo opportunity signingat Beacon Hill. Staffordshire University has of course beenan active partner and Ram had raised the money to adoptthe Beacon Hill mile. I had in mind to for Michael to signon the hillside so that we could get a good view ofStaffordshire University behind him, but when I saw him in his pinstriped suit and shiny black shoes I was not sure whether we would be able to do the deed! To the rescue came local farmer Richard Clarke and beckoned us into his 4×4 and drove us steeply up the hill and round to the stile with the perfect view. Fortunately this was a rare sunny day as you can see from the photo!

We drove up to Apedale Country Park on July 13 to meet countryside ranger Steve Spackman. We signed from their over to Audley in more normal rain! It was about this time that I started to sing:

I’m signing in the rain, just signing in the rain,What a glorious feeling I’m soaking again!

I’m sure one of you readers would like to have a crack at adding some more appropriate words!

Another soaking in Bunbury!

Our longest day of signing was across Cannock Chase on 14 Julyback from Castle Ring to Milford: Common. We even managed to doa little bit more back from Milford Common to St Thomas Priory at Baswich Lane but for our pains we got another tremendous soaking just before we finished!

On 16 July we travelled out to Bunbury and met Jill Robey and Amber Middlemiss. It was another day of pouring wet rain as we signed to Beeston but it didn’t dampen our spirits. There were quite a few places where sticky back markers were required but of course there was no chance of erecting them on a day like this so we have left them with Amber and Jill to put up which they may have done by now seeing summer has arrived!

Since summer has arrived, on July 22nd I actually went out without an anorak to sign between Stafford and Baswich Lane. The River Sow had flooded and it was not possible to get through, but I found another way round to complete signing. This time there was no soaking but I got a headache from the unaccustomed heat of the sun!

Many thanks to all those who have assisted with waymarking – it has been a very satisfying occupation.

Forward To The Ancient Future
Along The TWO SAINTS WAY
March 25 – April 1 2012

It is a 90 mile walk. The big question is whether I can finish all of it or just stop half way! I didn’t give up. I joined the walk with eleven others from different parts of the Lichfield Diocese. Revd. Philip Swan and I represented St. Bartholomew’s Church, Penn. We started our journey from Chester. It was a cold and sunny day. Coming from another part of the world, it was tough for me to cope with the situation. Half way through on the first day, I had bad cramp in my right leg and I again thought to myself whether I could really do it! I walked!!

At one point, our team leader, Mr. David Pott read a poem and asked us to quieten ourselves and reflect on the poem about our journey with God. I started to walk along the canal and ponder the poem. After a while walking, I noticed that I was no longer in the town area. All that I was aware of was water on my left and green fields on my right. There was no noise and it was silent, just the singing of the birds, scared ducks flying away, sheep, horses and cows looking at us. Wow!! What a lovely view around me and I felt energetic and I told myself, whatever happens, I am continuing the journey. I was told that 80% of the journey was to be along canals and fields.

Listening to some Christian songs using my MP3, saying some prayers and thinking back to what happened in the last few years in my life, was the best part of this journey. The prayers and meditations made me to forget about the world and its task for me. I surrendered myself to God in prayer, ONLY prayers. At the same time, we had the time to see and experienced the Mercian history, and as a person who comes from another country, I have seen a “real slice of England”. This experience of mine will never be forgotten.

On the last day, reaching Lichfield Cathedral, this phrase came into my mind. “I was lost and now I am found, amazing grace”. Yes, I was lost spiritually and this time of walking the pilgrimage, gave me the opportunity to be with God, forgetting all my problems, worldly desire and not thinking of what I am going to do tomorrow. All that I have done is to pray, enjoy nature, sightseeing in England and to make new friends. This pilgrimage walk was a great blessing for me to be part of walking and making history in my life. It was a solid time of reflection, refreshing and reconnecting with God. These are two important secrets that made me finish this journey – God and good fellowship.

Philip adds:‘
The Two Saints Way’ is a great resource. You might like to do even just one day’s walk on it. It was a wonderful experience walking with the group of eleven and then being joined by others each day. I had not been sure whether I would complete the walk but God’s Grace and Life somehow is passed on in this kind of experience and together we did it. Thanks be to God!

It was a great thrill that a St Chads Volunteer completed the St Chad’s Way – the name of the Two Saints Way from Chester to Lichfield; if you are walking the other way it is called the St Werburgh’s Way. So Anthony is the first St Chads Volunteer to complete this but surely not the last. Throughout the walk we heard many amazing stories about the saints of old and especially in the Saxon times, but none matched the breath-taking account we can now pass on to future generations of how our intrepid Anthony rugby tackled a wild wolf from Stoke (or was it a dog?) which was chasing three terrified sheep around a church yard. What a feat! What a man! Well done Anthony!

Anthony Jude Arul
St. Chad’s Volunteer (2012)

The first thing that drew me to Stoke-on-Trent was the fine piece of an old Saxon Cross at Stoke Minster. This spot in the middle of the pilgrimage route was just perfect. Secondly, I have always appreciated the concept of urban pilgrimage – I wanted the route to be a real slice of England and the urban was essential. In medieval times, pilgrims did not avoid cities, indeed they were often the most important places on the route. A third reason became apparent when it was decided that half the Staffordshire Hoard would be in display at the Potteries Museum. In addition to this, there are other interesting places to see, the Two Saints Way going through Stoke provides some great regeneration opportunities and last but not least, ‘Stokies’ are lovely folk!

I’ve been checking out the best route for a while now and after a helpful walk with the Rights of Way officer Paul Pearce on May 25th I think we are hopefully getting to a final agreed route…

From the northwest, the Two Saints Way arrives in Stoke via a footpath under the A500 to reach the Trent & Mersey Canal just south of Westport Lake. After walking past some fascinating places like Middleport Pottery, we  go off the canal at the Newport Lane bridge beside calcining bottle ovens at Oliver’s Mill. It then goes along the side of the former short stretch of canal called the Bursem Arm. The Burslem Port Project is aiming to restore the canal and the surrounding area and it will be good to support those developments.

The route then goes up into Grange Park. There is a pilgrimage link here in that this was the site of Grange Farm which supplied food for the monks at Abbey Hilton. Next is the amazing Festival Park. This was the site of the National Garden Festival in 1986 and has many interesting features including sculpture still in place in the natural woodland. When you leave the park you pass Etruria Hall and a brick statue of Josiah Wedgwood’s head. Next you cross over the A53 and walk up a delightful footpath which was once a section of the old Potteries Loop line.

The next highlight on the route is … Tescos! This will actually be very helpful as surprisingly there are no other shops directly on this route through the city. Soon after, you arrive at the Potteries Museum where as well as the Staffordshire Hoard, you can now see the 9 foot high Staffordshire Saxon statue by Andy Edwards which references the Hoard. After leaving the museum, you pass the new Central Mosque and go through Hanley Park to join the Caldon Canal where you turn west to rejoin the Trent & Mersey at the Etruria junction and from there head south to Stoke Minster.

I know that this route showcases the variety of interest in the middle of the city to great advantage. There is also the potential for an excellent 8 km / 5 mile circular walk using the Trent & Mersey Canal as the western section between Etruria Junction and Middleport. I am hopeful that the footpath improvements can mostly be achieved with voluntary help and that those costs will therefore be minimal. I anticipate that an overall budget of £5,000 will cover this project. I think you’ll agree that that will be an extremely cost effective way to bring benefits to this very special city.

Maps provided by OS OpenData

Chaucer’s famous Canterbury Tales begins with the pilgrims gathering at the Tabard Inn as the opening lines tell us:

Bifel that in that season on a day,
In Southwerk at the Tabard as I lay
Redy to wenden on my pilgrymage
To Caunterbury with ful devout corage,
At nyght was come into that hostelrye
Wel nyne and twenty in a compaignye
Of sondry folk, by aventure yfalle
In felaweshipe, and pilgrimes were they alle,
That toward Caunterbury wolden ryde.

All this changed at the Reformation in the sixteenth century when King Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries and pilgrimage ceased. The inns survived but to make sure they didn’t get closed they often changed their names, so the Ark became the Ship and St Peter’s became the Cross Keys!

There are some excellent pubs along the Two Saints Way. Sometimes pubs are right opposite churches along the route such as the Dysart Arms at Bunbury, the Swan Inn at Wybunbury and the Glebe opposite Stoke Minster. As I reflected on the way we are recreating the old pilgrimage route between Chester and Lichfield, I thought it would be good to also revive that ancient link between pilgrimage and pubs by inviting them to partner with us as we establish the Two Saints Way. I am delighted that already four pubs on the route,  the Dog & Doublet at Sandon, the Hollybush Inn at Salt, the Swan in Stafford and the Park Gate Inn at Cannock Wood have agreed to join the partnership and become our first “Pilgrim Pubs”.

It will take a while to get the scheme working properly as first of all we need to set up the Pilgrim’s Pass. This will probably include a transfer of the Two Saints Way logo which can be transferred to the forearm and will be evidence of having purchased the Pilgrim’s Pass. The idea is that the pilgrim pubs will give discounts to pilgrims and I’m hoping they’ll be offering a special “Pilgrim’s Pint”!  We will also have a special symbol in the maps in the guide book to indicate pilgrim pubs.

On the inaugural pilgrimage we stopped at the Hollybush Inn and we had a great meal at the Park Gate Inn. You can see how much we were enjoying ourselves in the photo here! So already these first pilgrim pubs on the Two Saints Way are benefiting from pilgrim visitors and we are confident that other pubs will be glad to partner with us too. If you have any recommendations do get in touch with me.

Photo Credit: Tim Saxton