|
In the Footsteps of H.G.Wells
Woolbeding BridgeEditor's Introduction: My wife and I are keen walkers. Over many years we have explored the glorious countryside around Midhurst for as far as the eye can see. Although not especially au fait with H.G.Wells' works we have always been fascinated by Wells's early life at Uppark and Midhurst. Quite obviously Wells got in a lot of walking and cycling. When his mother was in service at Uppark, HG at the tender age of 15 had to walk to Cowap's Chemist Shop in Church Hill, Midhurst - now a NHS Dentist - where he was apprenticed and which took him 3 hrs. Presumably he had the return journey home in the evening as well, a round trip of 18 miles. Phew! Whilst at Cowap's the Chemist he attended evening classes at Midhurst Grammar to learn latin so he could deal with prescriptions. He must have arranged digs when he started his latin classes as he couldn't possibly have walked back to Uppark afterwards.
Tanya Wren informs me she has discovered HG had digs with Horace Byatt her great,great uncle, at his house No 89 South Street, Midhurst.This information is confirmed by the 1881 census. Horace Byatt was the Headmaster of MGC at the time and personally taught HG latin. If any reader knows more about HG's early life in Midhurst & Uppark please email me. john.truemanNOSPAM44@virgin.net. Remove NOSPAM and use Outlook Express manually as usual. I'm especially interested in his walking routes around South Harting and when he started his hobby of cycling. And how and when did he become familiar with Iping? Are there any letters or old diaries which reveal this?
Wells spent only about a month at Cowap's, dropped his apprenticeship and became a border at Midhurst Grammar
Whilst researching HG's walking and cycling habits we have decided to roll out a favourite circular route of ours so like-minded visitors to the area - or locals - may enjoy 'Walking in the Footsteps of H.G.Wells.' The route starts in Midhurst from Ye Olde Tea Shoppe, goes North via North Mill and the bridge over the River Rother, turns West into Hollist Lane and after several miles arrives at Iping having passed through Woolbeding and Stedham on the way. Wherever possible the route is over ancient public paths.
Woolbeding is a gem of a place, and a short diversion to Woolbeding Church opens up a secret world full of history.
Just walking down the church path with the topiary on either side, traversing the ancient leaning tombstones and finally coming to the church and its accompanying yew tree is breathtaking. Just standing there in the gentle June sunshine with bird song and the perfume of mock orange and old roses wafting passed your nose somehow connects you to the past and all the thousands of people who've passed this way before, the emigrant families, for example, on their way to a new life in Canada in the bleak 1830's.
The River Rother is never far from the path and when you're not actually walking on its banks you are often reminded of its presence by the rush of water falling over
weirs at Midhurst, Stedham and Iping.
We have taken pictures of the most iconic views and put them on a separate page. We decided on this first walk as Iping is mentioned in HG's Invisible man. Mr Marvel's Visit to Iping. And Mr Hoopdriver's visit to Midhurst in The Wheels of Chance.
Other walks will feature Uppark and South Harting.
Bridges of the Western Rother - 1936 Article.
[MIDHURST PAGES - MIDHURST TOWN & COMMUNITY] [IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF H.G.WELLS]
[THE IPING-MIDHURST WALK AND MAP]
[MORE PICTURES AMID H.G. WELLS QUOTABLE QUOTES]
[DOGGY DAYS OUT] [INDEX] [DOG WALKS] [ROTHER RAFT RACE]
