Wallington, Shaw Green and Redhill
Animal Farm - A walk around the setting of George Orwell's satirical novel
Google Maps Open Source Maps| Statistics and Files | ||
|---|---|---|
| Start: Wallington | Distance: 3.7 miles (5.9 km) | Climbing: 65 metres |
| Grid Ref: TL 29246 33532 | Time: 2 hours | Rating: Easy |
| GPX Route File | Google Earth File | About George Orwell |
| Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Start: Wallington | Distance: 3.7 miles (5.9 km) |
| Climbing: 65 metres | Grid Ref: TL 29246 33532 |
| Time: 2 hours | Rating: Easy |
| GPX Route File | Google Earth File |
Ordnance Survey Explorer Map (1:25,000)
The Walk: Wallington is a small village tucked away in the folds of Hertfordshire. Its chief claim to fame is its association with the writer George Orwell, though it is known locally for its duck ponds. Its church, the 15th century St Mary's, has retained much of its original structure, including a north aisle roof which is held up by carved Angels, a wooden screen and stained glass showing the arms of the Priscot family in the north chapel above a table tomb. sir John Priscot, who died in 1460, was Judge of Common Pleas and Lord of the Manor of Wallington.
St Mary Church, Wallington
George Orwell's cottage in Wallington
The walk leaves the church and goes along a wooded green lane to reach Wallington Common Nature Reserve, an ancient wood where Roe Deer can often be seen. It is a fascinating area of ancient trees, adorned with violets, primroses and bluebells in spring. Dog's mercury grows in abundance.
On the wall of the old forge in Redhill there is a plaque commemorating the 19th century sickle manufacturer James Field. The almost hidden burial ground on the right is the site of the earliest non-conformist chapel in Hertfordshire, dating from 1720.
The writer George Orwell moved to a 300 year old cottage in Kits Lane, Wallington, from lodgings in Wigan in April 1936. It had formerly been the village shop and he reopened the shop to help pay the rent. The mornings were reserved for writing. He lived there on and off for four years. 'The Road to Wigan Pier', Orwell's study of northern working-class life, and 'Homage to Catalonia', describing his few months fighting in the Spanish Civil War, were written during this time. In June 1936 he married Eileen O'Shaunessy in the local church.
Acknowledgment: Text derived from the Out and Out Series; Discovering the Countryside on Foot. Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia.
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