2025 marks the 1100th anniversary of the coronation of Athelstan, the first King of England, in Kingston-upon-Thames. He was the first of seven Saxon Kings of England to be crowned in this Thames-side town.
Visit All Saints church in Kingston now to see magnificent embroideries of Athelstan and the six Saxon Kings. These colourful life-size panels were created by contemporary embroiderers Jacky Puzey and Beatrice Mayfield based on an original design by Sophie Pearson.
The Thames Path National Trail is part of a pilgrimage route between Malmesbury in north Wiltshire and Kingston. The Athelstan 1100 Pilgrim Walk with a crown will arrive in Kingston on 4 September, on the anniversary of Athelstan’s coronation in 925.
The walk will start in Malmesbury on 18 August and follow the North Wessex Way to Cricklade where it will join the Thames Path National Trail and continue to Newbridge.
The organisers have chosen a cross-country route to Abingdon where they rejoin the Thames Path and continue to Wallingford via Dorchester Abbey.
They take a route though the Chiltern Hills to Henley-on-Thames. Here they rejoin the Thames Path to walk through Marlow, Windsor, Hampton Court and arrive at Kingston-upon-Thames on 4 September.
The celebration of Athelstan’s coronation day will be a highlight of Kingston2025, a wonderful cultural celebration, which began in May. https://www.kingstonheritage.org.uk/Kingston2025
The Athelstan 1100 Pilgrim Walk is being organised by Kingston-upon-Thames’ Athelstan Coronation team including the Rev William Allberry, with Malmesbury’s Athelstan 1100 and the North Wiltshire Athelstan Pilgrim Way groups.
Information about the Athelstan 1100 Pilgrim Way to Kingston https://www.athelstan1100.co.uk/
