Bishop’s Castle to Ratlinghope

Becoming a group – the Lone Pilgrim of yesterday morning has now two companions – and they are ‘despatched’ from the Lych gate at Bishop’s Castle Parish Church by a passing cyclist – who also happens to be an Anglican Cleric

Along the Montgomery Rd – and over the shoulder of hill separating ‘The Castle’, from the Camlad valley.

And into Lydham – where other pilgrims were waiting

Lydham is settled at the head of the Camlad valley and probably had ancient significance as a crossing point between the valleys of Camlad (leading to the Upper Severn Valley and Onny (leading east to Ludlow). At at a time when Bishop’s Castle had no existence (Domesday Book) Lydham had a mill and probably a ‘canal’ feeding it with water from the Onny at More.

The group then crossed the fields between Lydham and More. The footpath route allows for appreciation of the likely significance of this area; More Castle – now merely undulations in a field, is very extensive – maybe indicating an attempted town?

Following a brief stop to view More Church (and the curiosities of the More chapel) they passed along lanes pausing briefly within sight of Linley Hall.

The on to Norbury – which had just celebrated a school Harvest festival

Norbury Church-yard has an unusual feature, built into the wall – a bier house. The bier was a frame on which a body or coffin is placed prior to and during the funeral service. Wheeled biers in the C19th century were well constructed and many survive (one was seen in Clun Church on this pilgrimage). The bier house was the storage place for the bier and usually has access to the road (rather than facing into the churchyard) to ease the process of pulling it to the house of the deceased, from whence it carried the coffin to the Church.

The morning was completed with a climb from the valley of the East Onny river to Wentnor.

Here the pilgrims had lunch in the Crown Inn – some delighting in working their way through a very filling and delicious rabbit pie. Before leaving they were all required to stand in line outside the Parish Church – the group now being joined by the local vicar, The Revd. Prebendary Norman Morris

Leaving Wentnor the group ascended their final hill – Adstone Hill. As all pilgrims and other walkers fully comprehend, the journey over hill and through dale can present a variety of difficulties, not all of them fully expected. Even highly experienced walkers can be challenged in ways that maybe surprise:

On such occasions, sensitive companions can become essential supporters. RL Stevenson wrote: …’the best we find in our travels is an honest friend. He is a fortunate traveller who finds many. We travel, indeed, to find them. They are the end and the reward of life….’ (Travels with a Donkey)

The group survive their difficulties pass over the hill and reach their destination – Ratlinghope Church and the grave of the last sin eater in Shropshire.