Westbury Walkers – August Walk

TWELVE members of the Westbury Walkers enjoyed an 8 mile walk from the small village of Pitton which lies on the edge of the Clarendon Estate north-east of Salisbury, on Sunday 12th August 

It was a damp, drizzly August day as the group, led by Brian and Teressa Mitchard, walked through the village and soon had to tackle a steep incline to reach field paths leading to Church Copse, from where they followed a clear track directly into the village of Farley, noted for its classical church built of country brick in the style of Christopher Wren.  

The church and fine almshouses were commissioned by Sir Stephen Fox who was born of poor parentage in the village and rose to become Paymaster General to Charles II.  He was also a major contributor to the cost of Chelsea Hospital, at which time he became a close friend of Wren.  

The group walked on though more fields and along woodland paths to eventually arrive at the ruins of Clarendon Palace, once one of the finest royal houses in England built in the reigns of Henry II and III.  The walkers stopped here for lunch and were joined by a group of lamas. They then followed the Clarendon Way, back to Pitton. 

Report by Teressa Mitchard.