THE TWO SAINTS WAY his superb new guidebook is as clear and colourful as it is A pilgrimage route between the cathedral cities of Tfull of detail. It will enable users to get the very best out Chester and Lichfield By David Pott of every section of the route, whetting the appetite of those planning a trip, and serving as a souvenir for those looking back on the experience. The Very Revd Dr Pete Wilcox, Dean of Liverpool Cathedral (formerly Canon Chancellor, Lichfield Cathedral) he Two Saints Way guide is beautifully presented, with a Twonderful range of interesting and inspiring content. Catherine Clarke, Professor of Medieval Literature and Culture, University of Southampton The Way of St Chad from Chester to Lichfield The Way of St Werburgh from Lichfield to Chester www.twosaintsway.org.uk The Two Saints Way is a new 92 mile pilgrimage route between the Available cathedral cities of Chester and Lichfield. Its historic sites, beautiful OCTOBER scenery and hidden treasures provide a perfect opportunity to connect with the past, and find peace in the present. 2015 The accompanying 144 Acknowledgements CONTENTS Introduction 4 Planning your Journey 6 page guide, written by the I would like to thank the following people for their help in the production of this guidebook: Accommodation 7 Gordon Emery for his contributions about Chester Two Saints Way Stages 8 and the Chester Canal and for proof reading the first part of the publication; Eric and Margaret Harding Waymarking and Signage 11 route's creator David Pott, who provided much helpful information about Visiting Sites 12 public transport and accommodation; David Haden for the points of information in North Staffordshire; Additional Advice and Stephen Spackman, the site Ranger for the Apedale the Countryside Code 12 Community Country Park, for information about The Two Saints’ Way is a is packed with pictures, the park; John Sparshatt of the Long Distance The Story of the Two Saints Way 13 Walkers Association for providing accurate Who were the Two Saints? 15 information on distances; and Amanda Kay of Copsewood Editorial Services Ltd for copy-editing Connecting Medieval and the manuscript; Richard Merritt and his team at Contemporary Pilgrimage 20 "remarkable achievement: Spark Design and Communication who have worked facts, and maps that make The Cathedral Cities 22 tirelessly on the design of this guide and been so consistently helpful. Extracts are taken from Christleton St James’ Church part-long distance footpath, The Way of St Chad (Chester to Lichfield) by David Cummings, published by the author for St walking the route easy James’ Church (2007). Section 1 Chester to Nantwich 30 Information on religious houses is from Monastic Staffordshire by John L. Tomlinson published by part-pilgrim trail; full of Section 2 Nantwich to Stoke 44 Churnet Valley Books (2000). and informative. Section 3 Stoke to Stafford 66 Section 4 Stafford to Lichfield 92 history and natural beauty. The Way of St Werburgh (Lichfield to Chester) The Very Revd Dr Pete Wilcox " Chester as a pilgrimage city Section 4 Lichfield to Stafford 112 Chester also has two perfectly straight In medieval times, Chester became a streets intersecting like the blessed cross, Section 3 Stafford to Stoke 120 Dean of Liverpool (formerly Canon Chancellor, Lichfield Cathedral) pilgrimage city on two counts. Firstly, which form four roads, culminating Chester Stoke to Nantwich 128 St John’s Church, the Mercian minster, at the four gates, mystically revealing Section 2 the marvellously innate grace of the THE CATHEDRAL CITIES became the city’s first cathedral. It was Section 1 Nantwich to Chester 138 believed to hold a piece of the true cross Great King, who, through the four (the Holy Rood) and was much visited, evangelists, showed the twin law of the in particular by Welsh pilgrims. Professor old and new testaments to be completed Catherine A.M. Clarke of the University through the mystery of the holy cross of Southampton comments that ‘many ... anyone standing in the the middle Welsh poems about Chester are satirical of the marketplace, may turn his face SECTION 1 Chester to Nantwich 23.5 miles STAGE 1 Chester to Waverton 4.4 miles SECTION 2 Nantwich to Stoke 25.5 miles STAGE 8 Bradwell to Stoke Minster 7.8 miles SECTION 3 Stoke to Stafford 23 miles STAGE 11 Stone to Sandon 4.9 miles and hostile, reflecting the status of to the east and examine the position of Chester as a colonialist city involved in the churches noting John, precursor of the Lord, in the east, Peter the apostle the control and oppression of Wales. Murhall St r Yet the poems relating to the relics of in the west, Werburgh the virgin in the ee t reet B5051 S s you start your journey along The next lock is Tarvin Road with its you reach the canal. Go over the bridge urn right and then cross over the Before you make your right turn you Hall Stpen A5271 s St Pepper S t lace r Cr eet t P the cross show that Chester had a very north, and Michael the Archangel in the t ree Bl oss S eet eet ak Swan Nile St l St r e St Marke r a Str e St treet e h Ln n the canal, you soon come to characteristic lock cottage and unusual and through the gate on your right. A34 at the lights into Bradwell may wish to walk a few yards up the trt tle et eet eav re a eet ueen S Birch eat ee eet as r a r Square re Ellgr u H C Church Sq Str eet wc Bridge L A T Sant St Dale St ndhurst St B5051 eel Str St t south. There is nothing truer than this P Ne wat ee powerful spiritual pull – and the power of er St Bou Chatterle Clos Billinge e reet Shirle B5051 eet lobe Str rnes Ba Villag G r r Hoole Lane Lock. On the opposite circular Lengthsman’s Hut, one of Turn right again under the bridge and Lane. Take the third road on the left – canal to Westport Lake where there eet ell Str Bradw eet Upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, I eet W t Str oodbank verse: nk pilgrimage and spirituality to transcend t iffe e Rd Stree cl w tree reet L S St Duncalf side is a small chapel with an three still in existence on the Chester continue along the towpath. On your Bursley Way. Eventually you come to is a visitor centre with good facilities ongbridg ngsha Newcas eet W Str Lo re t tle Str Lo eet treet Rake Station Str w ist S e have appointed watchmen [Isa 62:6]. eet Stree N er Cr pt eet Hadder Ba political difference and division’. Christleton e Ha Str Cro L cas o ss le wpo Hill ongpor a ft u B5051 Lane et V S A brief history Longport L attractive little spire, now converted Canal. Next you pass under the A41 right between here and the next village a school on your left. Go straight over and refreshments available. tr es Roa re Port Chester has some fine medieval t rt Dain St t idge eet A500A500 S Lan ee n t Ro S o co reet Co r t Str d t eet Nothing is sweeter than this evidence tati ad h S t Lid e eet ane icable S into houses. This was a chapel of ease (bridge no. 122B) and the canal then of Waverton is Rowton Moor which was the roundabout into Chatterley Close. g Enoc alk Ro A timber-framed buildings and The second reason why Chester Porthill unction ett Maddock Str Road nna W R eet urlong L A wton B This area is called Longport and L that God gave us such guardians: it ong oad t ee hester was founded by the r rton Str Plea ueen por vigation Por av Mo ra Str for St Paul’s Church Boughton, called crosses over the railway. After passing the site of one of the last battles in the A few yards before the end of the road, Na sant Str eet although a number of the black and t Road e tr Leono developed as a pilgrimage site was A5271 rs St S t S the other ports nearby – Westport, eet r oolrich is a sacred offering and charming th eet W ve ridg Hillp swa tr Su ro Romans who built a large fort ort A eet eet pr St Paul’s Mission, and it was probably under the A55 (no. 122A), go up Civil War. It took place on 24 September take the footpath ahead of you which ace venue white buildings in the centre are ee otterill G of course because of the shrine of St Plough Lane ess Str C t Pl n Str C e Rd Middleport and Newport indicate Burg re mystery. It comforts men’s spirits and nna C scent eet e e et used as an outreach to boatmen and onto the next bridge (no. 122) and 1645 and was decisively won by the descends steeply through woods to an Melvn there called Deva Victrix in AD 79. Victorian reconstructions, many of Werburgh at the church which was Cand Lane A527 vigation Str a E that this was where the wharfingering Na a W irst A s encourages contemplation. sla t Staf ngels Vie A ter s their families. Just past the Water turn left on the road into Christleton. Parliamentarians with 600 Royalists underpass at the A500.