A pilgrim walk to Padley down memory lane

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A pilgrim walk to Padley down memory lane

Therese Cawley • November 15, 2023

The Hallam Pilgrim Way was a nostalgic journey for my husband Patrick and me.

A two hour drive from Northamptonshire meant a very early start for us as we wished to start our pilgrimage with 8.00am mass at St Marie's Cathedral. We parked in the Nunnery Square Park and Ride and caught the first tram to the city centre. The other option for Park and Ride is Meadowhall but there wasn't any transport early enough to get to the Cathedral in time. I found the Cathedral more beautiful than I had ever noticed in the past and we received a warm Yorkshire welcome.

I had previously attended Sunday Mass there in the 1970s. I also sometimes attended weekday mass when on the days I was at the Northern General Hospital an early bus left me in Sheffield centre with time to spare. We sat near the Blessed Sacrament chapel where weekday Mass was said and I remembered how a random lady had given me a nurses prayer plaque and nurses dictionary, which I still have. Beside the chapel was a kneeler, the plaque said it had been donated by the Sisters of Notre Dame on closure of the Cavendish Street section of the school in the 1980's. This was my old school. This gave me a theme for my pilgrimage, to pray for those that had gone before us, inspiring us with their deep faith and leaving us with a great legacy.

After Mass we started the walk and passed the building at the top of Norfolk Row that had housed Georgian Goldsmiths where my wedding ring was purchased in 1979. The walk through the centre was a little disappointing with little sign of the splendid shops that once filled it (likely due to Meadowhall). No 'Hole in the Road' anymore: where ever do people meet each other now without the 'fishtank'? We called at The Anglican Cathedral hoping to obtain a stamp for our Pilgrim passport but this was kept in the shop which, being Sunday, was not yet open.

We passed the City Hall with memories of school prize giving, dancing in Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat in the school production and meeting Bishop Gerald Moverley then Auxiliary Bishop in Leeds before the creation of the Hallam Diocese. We also saw Suzi Quatro and Elkie Brooks there. Across from the City Hall, Cole Brothers sadly looked quite derelict . I remembered sharing tea with my fellow trainees, served in a silver teapot, on a table with a white linen cloth by a lady in full waitress uniform. We then walked past the site of the old Royal Hospital and the site of Cavendish street school. Nothing left now, just a street named Convent Walk. I unsuccessfully went hunting for Pollard's coffee shop that filled our mornings with the smell of roast coffee beans. Later in the day I found the shop had moved to Ecclesall Rd, which runs parallel to Endcliffe Park, and we could have called in if we had known.

The walk though Endcliffe Park was very busy with runners but great to see so many people out having fun. A bacon sandwich big enough to sustain a marathon runner in Endcliffe Park set us up for the rest of the day. As we walked up the valley we called at a museum that used to be a knife sharpening workshop, interesting to see the conditions with my Occupational Health hat on and learn that the life expectancy of the workers was 35 years. Apparently this was tolerated as knife sharpening was a special skill and they received higher pay than workers in less skilled roles. The valley would have been filled with this type of workshop related to the cutlery industry all making use of the water power of the rivers that fed Sheffield.

We carried on and came to Ringinglow, a first Geography field trip in the 1970s. The Roundhouse, an old Toll House being prominent, with the Norfolk Arms looking out over the City, such spectacular views! The walk then moves on to moorland and it was lovely to feel the Millstone Grit beneath our feet again. Our first walk together was along Burbage Edge and back. Such lovely memories. Views of the Toads Mouth stone through the trees along Padley Gorge made us smile as we always did when we spotted it when driving along the road in the past. It was lovely to be greeted by a passing gentleman with 'na then, luv' in his best Yorkshire accent.

Pat remembered how he had been taken to Padley with an old Priest in the parish and they made tea on a stove, he later gave Pat the kettle and we still have it, a bit battered but still functional. We received a great welcome at the chapel being given a guided tour by one of the volunteers. Again we learned of those that went before us marked with the sign of faith. The volunteers were full of apologies for not having a pilgrim stamp for our passports but filled our hands with other gifts.

Grindleford Station Café provided very welcome refreshments before a train ride back into Sheffield and walk back to Nunnery Square completed our pilgrimage. It would never have occurred to us to walk from the City centre into Derbyshire but it was such a great walk. What an amazing day we had, and I will now rename it; 'Therese's Nostalgia Walk'!

Therese Cawley

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New St Matthew's Way (West)

By Phil McCarthy • March 20, 2025

St Matthew's Way The western Pilgrimage of Hope Way from St David's Cathedral in Cardiff to St Barnabas' Cathedral in Nottingham via St Chad's Cathedral in Birmingham and the Shrine of St Chad in Lichfield. Patron: St Melangell (c 7th or 8th Century) Welsh hermit, consecrated virgin and abbess. According to her hagiography, Melangell was a princess who fled an arranged marriage and became a consecrated virgin in the wilderness of Powys. She saved a hare from a prince's hunting dogs and is associated with protection of wildlife. Her feast is celebrated on 27th May. Overview: The Way starts at St David's Cathedral in Cardiff. The route soon joins the Welsh Coast Path to Newport and then Chepstow. Here the Way turns inland following the Offa's Dyke Path through the Wye Valley to Monmouth. The route follows the Wye Valley Walk to Ross-on-Wye where the Way joins the Herefordshire Trail to Ledbury. The Geopark Way and the Three Choirs Way (3CW) are followed over the Malvern Hills. After Malvern the Way continues on the 3CW until the River Severn is crossed and followed to Worcester. The Monarch's Way is followed to Droitwich Spa and then the John Corbett Way to Bromsgrove. Here the Monarch's Way is regained until just before Illey the Way diverts into central Birmingham along the Illey Way. From the Cathedral of St Chad in Birmingham the Way follows the St Chad's Way , at first along canal towpaths. The Way passes through Sutton Coldfield before joining the Heart of England Way to Lichfield. The route joins the Trent & Mersey Canal towpath to Burton upon Trent and then on to Sawley. Here the Way diverts to Long Eaton and then follows the Way of Blessed Cyprian Tansi along the Broxtowe Country Trail and finally the Beeston Canal towpath to central Nottingham and the Cathedral of St Barnabas. Essential facts: Route length: 215.6 miles Ascent: 11,178 ft Peak elevation: 1,378 ft Average walk day length: 14.5 miles Average walk day duration: 6 hours First walking day: Thursday 28th August 2025 Number of walking days: 14.5 Number of rest days: 1.5 End date: Saturday 13th September 2025 at St Barnabas' Cathedral, Nottingham Pilgrims are invited to join the Solemn Mass for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross at 11.15 on Sunday 14th September at St Barnabas' Cathedral. Details of the day pilgrimage stages will be available when day pilgrimage booking opens in April 2025. See the route below.

New St Mark's Way (North)

By Phil McCarthy • March 20, 2025

St Mark's Way The northern Pilgrimage of Hope Way from the Cathedral Church of St Anne in Leeds to St Barnabas' Cathedral in Nottingham via the St Marie's Cathedral in Sheffield and the Chapel of the Padley Martyrs. Patron: St Hilda of Whitby (c. 614 – 680) abbess and key figure in the Anglo-Saxon Church. Hilda founded and was the first abbess of the monastery at Whitby which was the venue for the Synod of Whitby in 664. She was widely recognised for her wisdom and learning and trained five bishops. Her feast is celebrated on 17th November. Overview: The Way starts at Leeds Cathedral and follows the Transpennine Trail (TPT) SE beside the Aire & Calder Navigation to Mickletown. Here the path veers SW to continue on the TPT along a disused railway line and then the River Calder to Wakefield. The Way follows the TPT again beside the former Barnsley Canal and then along a disused railway to Wombwell. The route turns SW along the Barnsley Boundary Walk to Elscar, and then across farmland to briefly join the Old Salt Rd, beside the A629. The Way soon joins the Sheffield Country Walk and follows this beside the Sheffield Canal to reach St Marie's Cathedral in central Sheffield. From here the Way joins the Padley Martyrs Way , leaving the city through Endcliffe Park and then climbing Houndkirk Moor to arrive at the Chapel of the Padley Martyrs. The path then follows the River Derwent to Matlock. The Way leaves the Derwent at Ambergate and turns E, through Ripley and then along the former Cromford Canal to Eastwood. Here the route joins the Robin Hood Way to Strelley where the Way veers E to Kingsbury and finally reaches St Barnabas' Cathedral, central Nottingham. Essential facts: Route length: 107.6 miles Ascent 3,615 ft: The route is mostly flat with the only significant climb on Day 4 over Houndkirk Moor Peak elevation: 1,388 ft Average walk day length: 13.5 miles Average walk duration: 5-6 hours First walking day Sat 6 September 2025 Number of walking days: 8 Number of rest days: 0 Last walking day: Saturday 13 September: arrival at St Barnabas' Cathedral Nottingham for evening prayer and social celebration Sunday 14 September, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross: pilgrims are invited to join the 11.15 Solemn Mass at St Barnabas' Cathedral Details of the day pilgrimage stages will be available when day pilgrimage booking opens in April 2025. For a detailed map of the route click the button below.

New St Luke's Way (East)

By Phil McCarthy • March 20, 2025

St Luke's Way The eastern Pilgrimage of Hope Way from the Cathedral Church of St John the Baptist in Norwich to the Cathedral Church of St Barnabas in Nottingham via the National Shrine of Our Lady at Houghton St Giles and the Pontifical Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham at King's Lynn. Patron : Julian of Norwich (c. 1343 – after 1416) English anchoress, mystic and theologian. Julian's writings, now known as Revelations of Divine Love, are the earliest surviving English-language works attributed to a woman. They are also the only surviving works by an anchoress in English. Her feast is celebrated on 13 th May. Overview The Way starts at the Cathedral and leaves the city along a disused railway line. The route follows the Walsingham Way along lanes to Great Ryborough. The path then follows the Way of the Annunciation to Fakenham and onto the National Shrine to Our Lady at Houghton St Giles and then Walsingham. The Way follows lanes to Dersingham and soon joins the Norfolk Coast Path to King's Lynn. The Way continues to Wisbech, Spalding, Bourne and then crosses farmland to join the Danelaw Way. The route continues along paths and tracks to Grantham. From there the route crosses farmland to Bingham and soon after joins the Trent Valley Way to central Nottingham and finally St Barnabas' Cathedral. Essential facts: Route length: 158.7 miles Ascent: 1,886 ft Peak elevation: 443 ft (the route is generally flat) Average walk day length: 15.8 miles Average walk day duration: 6 hours First walking day: Tuesday 2 September 2025 Number of walking days: 10 Number of rest days: 1 End date: Saturday 13th September 2025 at St Barnabas' Cathedral, Nottingham Pilgrims are invited to join the Solemn Mass for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross at 11.15 on Sunday 14th September at St Barnabas' Cathedral. Details of the day pilgrimage stages will be available when day pilgrimage booking opens in April 2025. For a detailed map of the route click the button below.

New St John's Way (South)

By Phil McCarthy • March 20, 2025

St John's Way The southern Pilgrimage of Hope Way from Southwark and Westminster Cathedrals in London to St Barnabas' Cathedral in Nottingham via the Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate & St Thomas of Canterbury in Northampton. Patron : St Anne Line (c. 1563 – 1601): English married lay woman, convert and martyr. After the death of her husband, who had been banished for attending Mass, Anne was active in sheltering clandestine Catholic priests. Finally arrested, she was condemned to death and executed at Tyburn. She was canonised in 1970. Her feasts are: 27th February (individual), 25th October (with the Forty Martyrs of England & Wales), 30th August (with SS Margaret Ward and Margaret Clitherow). Overview The Way starts at the Cathedral of St George in Southwark and crosses the River Thames to reach Westminster Cathedral. It then passes through Royal parks to the Shrine of the Tyburn Martyrs. At Paddington the Grand Union Canal is reached. Apart from optional diversions to churches the Canal arm is followed to Northolt where the Way joins the Dog Rose Ramble and then the Hillingdon Trail. At Bayhurst Woods the Way diverts W to Harefield and soon rejoins the Grand Union Canal. Apart from diversions to Rickmansworth, Abbots Langley (birthplace of Adrian IV, the only English pope), and Leighton Buzzard the Canal is followed to Newport Pagnall. After the town the route follows the Three Shires Way, then the Midshires Way, the Northamptonshire Round and finally the Nene Way to Northampton Cathedral. The path leaves the city and rejoins the Midshires Way to Arthingworth and soon after follows the Brampton Valley Way to Market Harborough. The Way continues N on the Rutland Way and then the Leicestershire Round. Where this bends W the path follows the Jubilee Way to Melton Mowbray. The Way crosses farmland to reach Willoughby-in-the-Wolds where it breifly re-joins the Midshires Way before diverting to Keyworth. The Way heads towards Nottingham, briefly following a disused railway line, to finally reach Nottingham Cathedral. Essential facts: Route length: 173.3 miles Ascent: 4,931 ft - the route is mostly very flat Peak elevation: 656 ft Average walk day length: 14.9 miles Average walk day duration: 6 hours Number of walking days: 11.5 Number of rest days: 1.5 Start date: Monday 1st September at St George's Cathedral, Southwark, London End date: Saturday 13th September 2025 at St Barnabas' Cathedral, Nottingham Pilgrims are invited to join the Solemn Mass for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross at 11.15 on Sunday 14th September at St Barnabas' Cathedral. Details of the day pilgrimage stages will be available when day pilgrimage booking opens in April 2025. For a detailed map of the route click the button below.