On 3rd June 1324 the body of a traveller, known only as ‘William’, was found by the side of the Pilgrim’s Way, just east of the river crossing between Strood and Aylesford.
It was obvious that William had been bludgeoned to death, though the few coins he owned were still on the body, as was a set of amber rosary beads and the white metal cross held on the chain.
It is unrecorded where William had travelled from, though the route he was taking (presumably to Becket’s shrine at Canterbury) was the favoured route of pilgrims travelling from the west country (the more famous route, as taken by Chaucer’s pilgrims, set out from London and followed the old Roman road of Watling Street – the modern A2).
Analysis showed the rosary beads were made from amber that had travelled from afar – somewhere on the eastern Mediterranean. The Holy Land.
Swallows and Martins are starting to arrive about this time of year – nesting under the rooves and eaves of barns and sheds. The spring time insects are just coming out, and these prove to be well-needed nourishment after their long flight. There’s that dense hum when the world is silent and calm and the buzz of insects goes unchallenged.
Other pilgrims are also on the Way during June. Those with the money or connections will stay under shelter at places like nearby Boxley Abbey, where the brothers do well from the pilgrim trade. On 3rd June they are unaware of William’s fate, spending their time tending sheep and cattle, making rooms ready for other pilgrims, enjoying the warmer winds and the clouds rolling over the green hills, watching the swallows snatch the gnats and flies.
Above the abbey there’s a drover’s path cutting through the chalk Downs, a deep and impressive holloway flanked by chalk cliffs and yew trees whose roots protrude like a cage, just dripping down through the Downs, flowing and running. This path comes out by the village church, another important stopping point for pilgrims. Along this track are moving cattle, heading south to the markets in the Medway valley.
There’s more passage taking place across the North Downs on this day. More flying pilgrims – Hobbies are coming in, also after the insects. Falconers try to snare the small birds for sale. The Hobby is one suitable for a young man, someone like William. We will never know if he flew such a bird when alive.
Travelling the hills are the carts and wagons full of goods heading for the same markets as the cattle. Wheels need repairing – a smith sets up a roadside anvil to re-shod a damaged cart. Children cry, mothers try to soothe them, men lead their trains. From east and west they come. Only three days ago a ship docked at Dover, the crew pleased to finally set foot on land after their long journey from the coast of Italy, their hold full of valuable trade goods – spices, salt, cloth, pottery. But most of all, the amber used to make rosary beads to sell at Becket’s shrine.
Heading east to west, moving, moving…moving. All this on one day.
It was obvious that William had been bludgeoned to death, though the few coins he owned were still on the body, as was a set of amber rosary beads and the white metal cross held on the chain.
It is unrecorded where William had travelled from, though the route he was taking (presumably to Becket’s shrine at Canterbury) was the favoured route of pilgrims travelling from the west country (the more famous route, as taken by Chaucer’s pilgrims, set out from London and followed the old Roman road of Watling Street – the modern A2).
Analysis showed the rosary beads were made from amber that had travelled from afar – somewhere on the eastern Mediterranean. The Holy Land.
Swallows and Martins are starting to arrive about this time of year – nesting under the rooves and eaves of barns and sheds. The spring time insects are just coming out, and these prove to be well-needed nourishment after their long flight. There’s that dense hum when the world is silent and calm and the buzz of insects goes unchallenged.
Other pilgrims are also on the Way during June. Those with the money or connections will stay under shelter at places like nearby Boxley Abbey, where the brothers do well from the pilgrim trade. On 3rd June they are unaware of William’s fate, spending their time tending sheep and cattle, making rooms ready for other pilgrims, enjoying the warmer winds and the clouds rolling over the green hills, watching the swallows snatch the gnats and flies.
Above the abbey there’s a drover’s path cutting through the chalk Downs, a deep and impressive holloway flanked by chalk cliffs and yew trees whose roots protrude like a cage, just dripping down through the Downs, flowing and running. This path comes out by the village church, another important stopping point for pilgrims. Along this track are moving cattle, heading south to the markets in the Medway valley.
There’s more passage taking place across the North Downs on this day. More flying pilgrims – Hobbies are coming in, also after the insects. Falconers try to snare the small birds for sale. The Hobby is one suitable for a young man, someone like William. We will never know if he flew such a bird when alive.
Travelling the hills are the carts and wagons full of goods heading for the same markets as the cattle. Wheels need repairing – a smith sets up a roadside anvil to re-shod a damaged cart. Children cry, mothers try to soothe them, men lead their trains. From east and west they come. Only three days ago a ship docked at Dover, the crew pleased to finally set foot on land after their long journey from the coast of Italy, their hold full of valuable trade goods – spices, salt, cloth, pottery. But most of all, the amber used to make rosary beads to sell at Becket’s shrine.
Heading east to west, moving, moving…moving. All this on one day.
