Guildford WalkFest Well Under Way With More To Come

Published on: 9 Sep, 2018
Updated on: 9 Sep, 2018

Guildford Walkfest 2018 is under way with a varied programme of walks in both the countryside and in town attracting a good number of participants.

The Mayor of Guildford, Mike Parsons, cuts a ribbon to launch Guildford Walkfest 2018, in the garden of the Percy Arms pub, Chilworth.

The 12th annual festival was launched on Saturday last week (September 1) with a walk around the Chilworth Gunpowder Mills and back, via St Martha’s Hill. The Mayor of Guildford, Mike Parsons, was on hand to cut a ribbon to open the festival and wave off those going on the walk, led by Pete Lambert.

This Saturday (September 8) included two guided walks focusing on local history, and in particular events in Guildford around 100 years ago.

Taking the form of a march, a group walked up Guildford High Street wearing green and purple rosettes and carrying banners with the slogan ‘Votes for Women!’ The walk celebrated and honoured the women of the past and present who have fought courageously for our human rights.

The walk included the site of what had been the Guildford Suffrage Shop at the bottom of The Mount, which was a meeting point for the Great Suffrage Pilgrimage which passed through Guildford in July 1913.

The walk for suffrage in Guildford High Street.

This time, marchers and passers-by were asked to nominate the most influential women in their lives by writing a postcard and adding it to a display board. Local historian Carol Brown was also on hand to talk to people about Guildford’s history of involvement in the suffrage movement.

Whether inspired by one of the great figures of the past, or simply a family member, it was an opportunity for the people of Guildford to recognise the women who have been most important to them.

It is hoped that the cards might be displayed the in and around Guildford in the coming weeks.

On Saturday afternoon about 34 walkers gathered at Cardwells Keep in Stoughton, formerly Stoughton Barracks, for a walk focusing on the barracks and the Queen’s Regiment that was once based there, as well as a tour of Stoughton itself, looking its development over the past 100 years.

The walk was led by The Guildford Dragon NEWS’ editor Martin Giles and writer and local historian David Rose.

Walkers gather at Cardwells Keep at the start of the Stoughton walk on Saturday, September 8.

Martin, who served in the Queen’s Regiment, gave an outline of how a typical barracks operated and a brief history of the depot in Stoughton, and in particular at around the time of the First World War. Some of the original buildings remain, while the rest of the site was developed for housing in the 1990s.

Walkers were reminded of the Stoughton in the Great War free community event taking place on the green at Cardwells Keep this coming Saturday, September 15.

The walk then went through Cardwells Keep to Grange Road. Here David Rose spoke about the farm that was once here and showed vintage pictures of the 18th-century timber barn. It has recently been pulled down with the site having planning permission for houses. The barn had been the oldest surviving building in Stoughton.

The walk continued along Grange Road, Manor Road, up Woodbridge Hill, Worplesdon Road, through Stoughton recreation ground, Barrack Road and back to Cardwells Keep. Lots of historical points of interest were pointed out on the way with David passing around copies vintage pictures showing how these streets once looked.

He told the walkers: “I probably have more old pictures of Stoughton than anyone else in the world! That may be because no-one else has wanted to collect as many as I have.”

The chairman of Guildford Walkfest, Christine Howard, was on both the walk for suffrage and Stoughton walks. Speaking about this year’s Guildford Walkfest, she said: “What stands out to me is the variety of walks and the wide range of organisations that are involved this year.

“For example, the Guildford Town Guides are offering to exercise the mind as well as the body during an educational stroll around the town to learn about Georgian or Medieval Guildford, interesting characters of the town, or the military history of the area. These walks are repeated throughout the month at different times, so if you miss it the first time you may be able to make the next one.

“At the other end of the spectrum are some of the long walks on offer that will take most of the day to complete. This can include either a packed lunch or pub lunch along the way.

“The Guildford Ramblers in particular are a group of people who are passionate about walking and want to encourage more people out into the wonderful countryside of Guildford borough. They provide guided walks all year round, but are very keen to come together with all the other walking groups to celebrate and promote walking to a wider audience.

Walkers enjoy a ramble over Puttenham Common during the Guildford Walkfest 2018.

“Their walks this year include exploring the Hog’s Back from Wood Street Village, exploring from Compton to Hurtmore, and the Four Hills around Guildford, all of which include some of the best views in Surrey. They are also providing some morning walks, which includes a geological tour around Newlands Corner, and a walk around West Clandon.

“Another regular group set up to encourage people to get out walking to improve their wellbeing is Walking for Health. This organisation is set up nationwide with a very active group in Guildford. They are offering short walks of about an hour and are perfect for people wanting to get started with this enjoyable and free activity. They are offering walks all month as part of the festival.

The chairman of Guildford Walkfest, Christine Howard.

“Special highlights for the 2018 festival include a First World War tour of Guildford borough war memorials on Saturday, September 22.

“Our special guest walk this year is with Richard Fox, originator of the Fox’s Way – a 39 mile circuit around Guildford Borough. We will be walking with Richard on a seven-mile section from Godalming to Wanborough on Thursday, September 13.

“My only dilemma is trying to squeeze in all that’s on offer during September. There is so much to choose from!”

All the guided walks in the festival are free and open to everyone. The event is run by a team of volunteers, but is grateful for support from Experience Guildford, Guildford Borough Council, Bevan Wilson Physiotherapists, Hill Clements Estate Agents, the Mandolay Hotel and The Guildford Dragon NEWS.