The Walk of Alfred

The Walk of Alfred - Saturday, 17th May 2025, 2pm - Meet 1:45pm outside The Retreat, Heslington Rd, YO10 5BN.

In 1877 at The Retreat, York, Alfred Smith writes a diary. He notes many things in detail. Like fixing his 8 day clock, seeing the new gas lights at the station, watching Fulford New Church go up in flames and buying a Portuguese onion. 'Awful accounts' from the Yorkshire Gazette about the battle of Waterloo, visits by government inspectors, New Lodge being built and a 'Racoon' in the back yard.

Alfred's diary also includes a number of walking routes that he took around the streets and pathways of York. To celebrate Alfred, and to explore his diary some more, we are retracing one of the walks he did.

The walk is approximately 2 miles, will take 2 hours, follow a level route and end back at The Retreat, Heslington Rd.

This walk is part of 'Stories of Mental Health from York: Past, Present, and Future', funded by 'Mentally Fit York' at the Borthwick Institute for Archives.  

Let us know if you can make it or if you want more information. Contact - Griselda [griselda.goldsbrough@gmail.com], or Stephen [hiya@stephenleehodgkins.net], 07951050153.