02/06/2026
WALKING DAY - A TRIP BACK IN TIME
There's been a lot of talk about Walking Day recently with the historic event entering a new era and period of change.
In light of financial pressure, Warrington Borough Council is no longer able to fund and organise Walking Day.
But thankfully the tradition will continue thanks to the 'Walking Day Reborn Group' - a coalition of church leaders and community members - who will present the reimagined event on July 4.
π As Walking Day starts a new chapter, the news has inspired us to dip into the Archives - so here's a taste of what it was like in 1910!
After the Walking Day procession, most Sunday Schools originally went off for an afternoon of sports and, of course, tea! β
Preparations for the celebratory picnic had often begun the day before as the Warrington Examiner reported in 1928: "The local bakeries had prepared their thousands of meat pies and guard was being kept in many a distant field in the neighbouring countryside where piles and piles of good things were nestling under marquees ready for the enjoyment of scholars after their walk on Friday morning.β
For many children who took part in either the main town Walking Day or one of the district walks, the real excitement was taking their Walking Day pennies to spend at the fair.
With the arrival of motor vehicles in the early 20th century it was possible to travel further afield with some Warrington families visiting the fair at Southport in the afternoon.
