St Mary Redcliffe Pipe Walk
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St Mary Redcliffe Pipe Walk is an annual tradition which sees participants follow the route of a conduit that runs from a water source in the Knowle area of Bristol to the church of St Mary Redcliffe, a distance of approximately 2 miles. New participants on the walk are traditionally 'bumped' on marker stones that record the route of the pipe. The tradition of the walk may date back to 1190 when Robert de Berkeley donated the water to the people of the parish. It has been called "the oldest observed custom of its kind".[1]
The church of St Mary Redcliffe is a Grade I listed building, and although the earliest surviving fabric of the building dates back to the late 12th century,[2] it is likely that these has been a church on the site since Saxon times. The area of Redcliffe is now part of the city of Bristol, however historically it was outside the city boundaries and a strong local rivalry developed between inhabitants of the two areas. Despite their close geographical locations the relatively deep River Avon, Bristol, now part of Bristol Harbour, historically separated the two.
Redcliffe was historically part of the manor of Bedminster, Bristol which was held by the Earls of Gloucester. However, Robert Fitzharding, the first feudal baron of Berkeley, Gloucestershire was able to purchase the land from Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester some time before his death in 1170.[3][4] His descendant is named on a brass drinking fountain (installed in 1932) set into the south end of a wall that runs along Redcliffe Hill[5] as the person who gave the water and conduit to the parish. The translated inscription reads -
“For the health of the soul of Robert de Berkeley, who gave to God and the church of St. Mary Redcliffe and its ministers the Rugewell and conduit. AD 1190 Erected 1932. ELA Hertslet Vicar.”
It is unclear when the tradition started but the present day walk follows the original route of the pipe in order to check for damage. The pipe may originally have been wooden, before being made of lead,[6] and finally being replaced by a metal pipe at an unknown time[1] When the New Cut, Bristol was constructed between 1804 and 1809 the pipe was diverted to cross the cut via Bedminster Bridge.[7]
The present pipe runs under a railway line, and it is believed that in the early 20th century any group surveying the pipe had the power to stop trains to allow them to cross.[1]
A newspaper article from December 1928 records that at that time the water from the pipe was not suitable for drinking -
"It regrettable to know that the old water supply has fallen on evil times. The fountain on the hill has ceased to provide thirsty travellers with a cool drink. Exactly what happens to the water no one seems to know. It still flows from the spring, we believe; its course through the old leaden pipes is still unimpeded, but somewhere, somehow its purity has become contaminated. The blame has been laid on the allotment holders; it has quite naturally been stoutly denied by these residents of Knowle, and business people under the shadow of the old church have been given the responsibility for closing down a supply which had been used for drinking purposes for 700 years."[6]
The pipe was damaged by a bomb in World War II.[1] The present day pipe is believed to end in Spring Street.
