The Winchester Route to Canterbury

ROUGH DRAFT ONLY

Winchester, the ancient capital of England

To Winchester Cathedral, with it's famous shrine of St Swithun, who was the the companion and tutor of King Alfred the Great. It was the longest Cathedral in Europe. Also into Winchester came pilgrim s from the West Country. The route from Winchester would have passed through Alresford, and on to Farnham. Many pilgrims would have rested at Waverley Abbey, the oldest Cistercian abbey in England, having been founded in 1128,some three miles to the south east of Farnham. It's ruins remain among the meadows by the river. Pilgrims would then cross the River Wey. On their way to Farnham some pil....

At Farnham .... // North Downs Way begins

Farnham to Guildford (10 miles)

Guildford to Gomshall (8 miles)

Gomshall to Westhumble (7 miles)

Westhumble to Merstham (10 miles)
Buckland, just before Reigate. Merstham: north of Nutfield (and Redhill).

Merstham to Oxted (8 miles)
Bletchingly The White Hart (In existence by 1388).

Oxted to Otford (12 miles)
Oxted The Crown, The Old Bell, / Limpsfield and at last into Kent; Chevening, Otford.

Otford to Wrotham (8 miles)
Kemsing. Wrotham (pilgrims crosses cut in the stonework under the church tower.

Wrotham to Cuxton (9 miles)
After Wrotham: (1) some N as far as Cuxton; OR: (2) N but cross the Medway at Snodland, and SE to Boxley; OR (3) to St Mary's Abbey at West Malling, then fording or bridging the river at Aylesford, and on to the Carmelite priory there; OR (4) to stay at the Inns of Maidstone, three miles to the south east. Here in 1261 Archbishop Boniface built a hospital on the banks of the river for pilgrims to Canterbury.

Cuxton to Boxley (10 miles)

Boxley to Hollingbourne (7 miles)
Snodland to Boxley: Boxley Abbey Cistercian house The Holy Rood of Grace, it's name taken from it's crucifix. / Thurnam. / A small priory at Hollingbourne.

Hollingbourne to Charing (8 miles)

Charing to Wye (7 miles)
Charing to Canterbury: 16m Pilgrims turn NE towards the line of the river Stour. Chilham.

Wye to Canterbury (14 miles)
Harbledown: meets the London road