ROUTE 1066: Tuesday 20 October 2026
In my last Blog, ‘Steppin’ Out’, I said a little about the ‘whats’ and ‘hows’ of my planned ROUTE 1066 walk as I follow the 360 miles of William the Conqueror’s campaign trail. Today I want to talk about the ‘why’ piece – the reason that I am going to all of this effort.
The tree-lined grasslands of Castle Fields comprise a slope of 30 acres directly to the east of the extensive earthworks that encircle the ruins of Berkhamsted Castle – an ancient fortress that dates originally from Norman times. The Fields themselves have quite a history: in 1216, during the siege of the town by the French army of Prince Louis (later Louis VIII) Castle Fields is thought to have witnessed the first use on English soil of the counterweight trebuchet, a catapult siege-engine that forced the defenders of the Castle to surrender after a fortnight of bombardment (though the Castle was recaptured the following year as Louis’ men were expelled by forces loyal to Henry III). Nowadays the location is mercifully more serene, providing a vital haven for local wildlife and a precious retreat that is enjoyed by Berkhamsted’s visitors and residents alike, as they wander the paths that cross-cross the slope and take in some fabulous views over the town and the surrounding Chiltern Hills. Connection with the past and a wonderful escape to nature, all in one!
Most of you will already be familiar with the SAVE CASTLE FIELDS appeal that was launched last year by the Berkhamsted Castle Trust. The challenge is to raise £500,000 by the Summer of 2027 to purchase Castle Fields, and so to save the land from building development and secure the legacy of this historic site now and for future generations. The appeal has already raised nearly £290,000 towards the target, and the number of subscribers to the campaign team’s regular updates runs into the thousands. This is an extraordinary achievement by a dedicated group of campaigners and an awesome army of supporters who are rallying to the cause of securing this important part of our heritage.
I have become involved at this relatively advanced stage of the fundraising campaign, and it has been a pleasure putting together my walking challenge with the help and support of the team at Berkhamsted Castle Trust. I hope that my ROUTE 1066 walk can raise further awareness of the cause and assist in the ultimate goal of generating the vital funds required to SAVE CASTLE FIELDS. Thank you to all those who have supported me to date, and please spread the word so that others can follow my journey through this Blog.
Thank you for following my ROUTE 1066 journey – re-tracing the steps of William the Conqueror in 1066 on his 360-mile campaign trail from Pevensey Bay, via Berkhamsted, and on to Westminster Abbey. If you are following my Blog, enjoying the ramble, and would like to help us to SAVE CASTLE FIELDS for future generations by pledging £39 to sponsor a 3×3-metre square of the land, then please click on this link:
THANK YOU ALL FOR SUPPORTING MY ROUTE 1066 WALK, AND FOR HELPING TO PRESERVE THE LEGACY OF CASTLE FIELDS
My Blog heading today will be familiar to many, as the title of a Beatles’ song credited to Lennon-McCartney, but very much a John Lennon piece. The number does not feature on an album, but was released in early 1967 as a Double-A-side’ backed with Paul McCartney’s ‘Penny Lane’: both songs harking back to the two bandmates’ upbringing in post-war Liverpool. Strawberry Fields was the garden of a Salvation Army children’s home that was, strictly-speaking, out-of-bounds, but became a special place where Lennon would hang out with childhood friends.
