A Very English Pilgrimage

In ‘A Very English Pilgrimage’, Richard delves into the history of the Pilgrims’ Way as it takes the modern-day walker from Winchester to the shrine of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury. Thomas was murdered by four knights in 1170 who believed they were carrying out the orders of King Henry II. This companion guide explores the life and death of Thomas, alongside the lives of two historical figures who are also linked with Winchester and Canterbury: Alfred the Great and Saint Augustine. The book also investigates the ancestry of the Pilgrims’ Way which leads all the way to Stonehenge and a 4000 year old mystery.

The Way traverse’s beautiful English countryside and the guide describes the natural world from rivers and hills to flora and fauna that can be found along the track. This book is written for anyone interested in uncovering more of the history and geography of the Pilgrims’ Way as it makes its way through the countryside and villages of southern England.

The book is available in local books shops and from Amazon. 

Wokingham: A Potted History

Wokingham sits on the edge of Windsor Great Forest. Originally settled by the Wocingas, an Anglo-Saxon tribe, the town grew steadily – but its early prosperity was cut short when half of the houses were destroyed during the English Civil War. Wokingham has hosted bull-baiting, highwaymen and a multitude of beer houses. The town’s people have played their part in both world wars. Its rich history is interwoven with the history of England: a story of good times and bad, from the Iron Age people to the Victorians to the present day. Wokingham is the quintessential English county town.

The book is available in store at Waterstones and W H Smiths in Wokingham or online at Amazon.

Reference copies are available at the Library, and the Information Centre in the Town Hall also has copies for sale alongside other local history material.