CanterburyPilgrims
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The Pilgrim's Way -
London route from Southwark
The London section of the Pilgrims' Way may have just followed the Roman road straight down to Canterbury, through the Medway towns. Indeed, Chaucer mentions the town of Sittingbourne in the prologue to the Wife of Bath's Tale.
"...If I can't think of several tales to tell
About the friars which will make you mourn
Before we get as far as Sittingbourne."
The Canterbury Tales II - Translated into modern English by Nevill Coghill. Folio Society. London. MCMLXVI
Pilgrims, however, might also have diverted off to Lesnes Abbey in Erith, dedicated to Becket. Beyond Dartford pilgrims would have turned South to join the Winchester Pilgrims' Way at Otford, through the Darenth Valley where Becket owned land. This is the modern route of the London Pilgrim's Way today.
Contact
Visit the Pilgrims' Way website opposite, and read the Cicerone guidebook by Leigh Hatts. It provides a "detailed route description accompanied by 1:50,000 OS mapping, advice on making the most of a trip and information on the historical background to the pilgrimage, key historical figures and local points of interest. Accommodation listings and details of facilities and transport links can be found in the appendices".
Leigh has also provided an amazing resource for the
Pilgrims' Way here, where you can buy his book:
