ON February 20, Trevor Antill spoke about the interest in walking and history that led him to design the 610 Monarch's Way route. It goes from the Commandery and King Charles House, Worcester, via Boscobel to Stratford.
The story of Charles fleeing vengeful Parliamentary forces in 1651 as he journeyed through the Midlands is an exciting one.
Charles and companions like Chillington Hall's Charles Giffard and Richard Penderell of Hubble Grange were its heroes. They travelled at night on horseback and were in constant danger.
Trevor included not only Charles' documented route, such as the fact he entered Whiteladies together with his horse, but also the legends. He thinks Charles may have deliberately created fictitious routes to protect his followers.
He showed slides of Boscobel House, where Charles returned after sheltering in Madeley barn before the day he hid in Boscobel Royal Oak, together with other fine slides.
His three books on Monarch's Way include Part 1, which takes in the local area, including the lovingly restored Lovelyne Farm, as well as the picturesque Edgioake Cottage.
Charles went via Alcester, where there is a splendid Royal Oak Inn portrait of Charles, even if no documentation.
The final slides included Wootton Wawen, Snitterfield and Stratford, where the Royal party were lucky to evade capture and were able to continue on their journey to freedom.
The next talk takes the audience to Greenland when speaker Dr Paul Smith, cartographer, talks about Life on the Arctic Riviera, the East Greenland Alps.
It takes place at 7.30pm at Trinity High School. For more details, call 01386 792082.
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