Dear All, I am not sure if anyone can help me here but I will explain and then you will be able to see why I am on this board, I have been tracing my family tree and have found out that in the mid 1800's my grt grt grandfather was a famous Pedestrian called John Mountjoy, I have been able to find out trough old articles and books that he often carried out walks (for wagers) around the area of Speen, I have found out in one book called The Bath Road by Charles Harper (1890's) and this was what was in it, The road ascends to Speen, or, as it is often called, "church Speen". the present writer was climbing an old Toll-house between Newbury and Hungerford when he overtook a countryman in a smock-frock, to whom the steep gradient was evidently anthing but welcome. "You're a regular Mountjoy, a' b'lieve" said the countryman, puffing and blowing. "A regular What?..."A Mountjoy - a walker, but there you hain't Newbury?...I told him I certainly was not a native of that town "Well" said he, "You won't never have head of iin, p'raps"...It seem, then, that about fifty years ago (1840's) Newbury boasted a pedestrian of that name, who obtained such a great local reputation that he has become proverbial with the country people, so that a "regular Mountjoy" is any one who possesses good walking powers.
Also I found another article about him, again in the same area and it reads "The accomplishments of the pedestrian Mountjoy in 1851, when he walked from the Angel at Andover to the Bacon Armns in Speenhamland and back again twice a day for a week, caused great excitement at the finish, as he entered the Angel gateway at the last lap on Saturday as the church clock was striking midnight.....Can anyone please tell me if the Bacon Arms is still there and if so does it have any old memories on the walls, I am desperate to find a picture of my Pedestrian so am probably clutching at straws....I would really apprecaite if anyone could help me that lives in the area ...thanks Gina |
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