St Mary Redcliffe Pipe Walk

[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.

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 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.

[1] On Wednesday 5 December 1928 an article appeared in the 'Local Notes and News' section of the Western Daily Press, which quoted the following from on an article in the 'Redcliffe Parish Magazine' for December - "The editor, being something of upstart, and not before encountered this important piece of parochial observance, nor having heard it named, has somewhat irreverently given it a title reminiscent of the Cake Walk.

"[6] This quote suggests that the custom was not that well known, as the editor of the parish magazine had not previously heard of it, and may point to the fact that the title dates to this time.

The unknown author of the article also then goes onto report on previous walks, which they remembered from their childhood - "One's memory goes back to a time when this was an annual Redcliff custom.

The article records that the marker stones were engraved with "R.P", and that the route was preserved even "underneath the boundary wall and railings [of Victoria Park], and provision has been made for the iron bars to be unscrewed.

In lieu of this out-of-date dissipation, om Saturday the company enjoyed a very acceptable cup of tea in the Athletic Association's pavilion, and watched the younger parishioners indulging in a game Rugby football."