Long distance walkers will use canal towpaths and rights of way to retrace the journey of 500 men, women and children who walked from Loughborough to Tiverton in 1816, to save their jobs.
Lacemakers in Leicestershire were caught up in industrial unrest when Luddites burnt down John Heathcoat’s factory in Loughborough. Heathcoat set up a new factory in Devon, and the lacemakers and their families made the long trek to the West Country using the canal towpaths.
The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust is pleased to welcome the long distance walkers to our patch over the weekend of July 2nd to 4th.
Tim Pyatt who is organising our own Towpath Challenge 2017, will join them and guide them through our area.
For more information, contact Tim on: tim.pyatt@wbct.org.uk
