Despite being known as “The Blackheath Pedestrian”, George Wilson was actually born in Newcastle-on-Tyne in 1766 and was another with aspirations to prove their physical prowess by walking great distances in challenging conditions. He even had ambitions to pip Captain Barclay to the post by being the first to walk 1,000 miles in 1,000 hours, but his attempts came to naught. Still, he had caught the pedestrian bug and even when he was incarcerated for indebtedness, he would walk fifty miles in 12 hours around the small prison courtyard, winning enough in wagers to secure his release.
On September 11, 1815 at the age of 50 Wilson set out to walk 1,000 miles in twenty days around a mile long triangular course near the Hare and Billet public house at Blackheath. His plan was to walk fifty miles over a twelve hour period each day and was to lodge at the pub where the landlord would feed him. While walking his diet consisted of “fowls, jellies, strong broth, teas, milk, eggs, and a moderate quantity of Madeira wine”.
Wilson’s troubles began on the second night when he moved out of the pub complaining of the noise which affected his ability to sleep. On the sixth day he was jostled by members of the crowd who were betting against him and by the tenth day the dust from the watching crowd, estimated to be some 7,000, was so great that it was affecting his breathing, prompting some of his supporters to print handbills urging the crowd to give him room.
It was estimated that some 5,000 guineas was wagered on the outcome. Those who had bet against Wilson made determined efforts to foil him. A couple of men approached him with a glass of water which turned out to contain poison and upset his stomach. Then on the 11th day a couple tried to attack him and when Wilson fought back with his fists, the assailants tried to have him arrested.
For the publican of the Hare and Billet Wilson’s exploits turned into a goldmine, with 1,296 quarts of beer sold in a day. A Tartar fair was set up to entertain the crowd, there were circus acts including a trapeze and an elephant sat in front of the pub. The streets in the area were blocked, there were collisions galore as vehicles “pressed forward with an unwise impatience amidst the general crush. Friend and foes seem to have forgotten all the usual courtesies of good manners”.
The local authorities were forced to take action, banning alcohol outside the pub and clearing the booths away on the 12th day and issuing a warrant for Wilson’s arrest the following day, although it was not executed. The next day, a Sunday, Wilson was not allowed to walk in Blackheath and so his supporters took him to a nearby park where he could continue walking.
On the 16th day disaster struck when rumours circulated that a “posse of constables” were on their way to arrest him for disturbing the peace with a “very tumultuous assemblage of people from the surrounding and other parishes and occasioning a considerable interruption to the peace of the inhabitants”. Under virtual house arrest until the hearing Wilson had to abandon his attempt, although a public subscription raised his 100 guinea purse.
The case was eventually dismissed as a blank warrant for Wilson’s arrest had been signed by ten magistrates, with the details to be filled in later. He was “discharged and conducted home in triumph, decorated with ribbons, and accompanied by shouts of the multitude”. One of the magistrates, particularly unpopular, had to endure people banging on his door in the mornings, asking “if they might have permission to walk over the Heath on their way to town”.
Despite Wilson’s travails, publicans realized the profit to be gained from such events and many more pedestrians were keen to follow in his footsteps.
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