Pilgrimage Gallery

Longest Day at Stonehenge, Wiltshire

People gathering at Stonehenge, Wiltshire on the longest day of the year, on or near 21 June 1912. This photograph shows a daybreak pilgrimage by members of The Universal Bond of the Sons of Men, or Church of the Universal Bond. This was a religious group founded in Britain in the early 20th century by George W MacGregor Reid, promoting socialist revolution, anti-imperialism and sun worship. By 1912 Reid was becoming attracted to Druidism, especially as Stonehenge was at the time regarded as a solar temple. His church began holding rituals there, and this continued until the site was given to the state in 1918. When the growing Stonehenge free festival caused the monument to be closed at midsummer in 1985, the Church faded into obscurity but has maintained a presence at the reopened solstice festivities since 2000

© Mary Evans Picture Library

Coventry, Warwickshire, England - The Pilgrims Rest Inn

Coventry, Warwickshire, England - The Pilgrim's Rest Inn on the corner of Pamer Street and Ironmonger Row. A hostel was erected in Palmer Lane for the lodging of pilgrims by the Benedicitne Priory of Coventry, bearing in mind that the first floor rooms over the west range of the Priory would have been used for the guest accommodation for the better class of pilgrims. This original Pilgrims Rest was demolished in 1820 and replaced by a new brick public house (pictured here) together with two dwelling houses. On the corner house a tablet was fixed saying: PALMER LANE - Upon this site stood the Western part of a large and very Ancient Edifice called THE PILGRIMS REST. It was supposed to have been the Hostel or Inn for The Maintenance and Entertainment of the Palmers And other Visitors to the Priory of Benedictine Monks which stood near to the Eastward. It became ruinous and was taken down AD MDCCCXX when this house was erected..... (this sign can be seen in the centre of the postcard). Demolished in 1936. Date: circa 1905

© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection

The Leaders of the Leicester Unemployed Pilgrimage to London

The Leaders of the Leicester Unemployed Pilgrimage to London (Mr George White, Rev F Lewis Donaldson and Mr Amos Sheriff). On 4th June 1905, 497 unemployed men from the city of Leicester marched to London to protest against the lack of employment opportunities; one of the most momentous events in the history of the city's working class. Two of the three men pictured on this card went on to be hugely successful. Amos Sherriff would become Mayor of Leicester in 1922 and the Rev Donaldson, vicar of St Mark's Church, became a Canon of Westminster Abbey. The other march-leader was George Sticky White, secretary of the Unemployed Committee, called Sticky because he walked everywhere with a stick. Despite his disability, he walked all the way to London with the others but for reason unknown he only received little fanfare when he returned to Leicester. He sadly committed suicide in the 1920s. In relation to the march, The Times newspaper rather savagely reported: A walk to London, especially if food and shelter on the way are provided free, will always be attractive to the restless, the shiftless, or the simpletons among the unemployed and unemployable. This form of menace must be resisted. They must be assured their walk proves nothing. !! Date: 1905

© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection