That was incredible, Tweedy! What an amazing tribute you have paid to Mr. Stiff by making this video and helping to preserve his story for posterity. Not only was the research really impressive, but that mathematical analysis to determine the reason for his targeting of the 26th milestone earns you full kudos. The only disappointing aspect to this investigation, was the discovery that 59 was considered a “great age”. At 56, it has induced a feeling of melancholy. Possibly a little despair, too! Phenomenal work here and I will give it a power boost by sharing it with my 152 followers on Facebook.
Thank you Mr. WC21! There were so many appealing aspects to the newspaper article that I felt it deserved a fuller treatment than the usual 30 seconds or so these things get in Tweedy Pub videos. Mr. Stiff really struck a chord for me somehow, I suppose partly in the way this story spanned two of the things I like most (old pubs and long walks!), but also I imagine him as a man of quiet determination and perhaps a bit of an eccentric. The revelation about the magic number 59 was very satisfying as I only reached that point as a result of all of the other research - those burial records and Mr. Stiff's will to establish his age, and it took a while of poring over John Rocque's maps before I figured out his most likely route, and therefore the overall distance he would have walked. Of course it could just be a coincidence but if so why make it the 26 mile stone? I originally had an extended segment about infant mortality in the 18th century, given that quite shockingly 22 of the 40 burials on that page of the parish register had the age entered as "inf"... but I thought that was a bit too depressing! Anyway I think the "great age" comment reflects this rather harsh reality of the time - of those 40 people only 5 made it into their 50s! Although a few were vaguely entered as just "pensioner". Those unfortunate others would likely have succumbed to things which would be easily treated today. The 1760s was the big peak of smallpox in London, for example. Tuberculosis had hit its peak just before that. So not to worry, you have hit on a very good strategy for a long and healthy life - being born in this period of history! Thank you very much for posting this on your Facebook page. I'm quite pleased with this funny little tangent of a video - once again it's nice to have this "misc" channel to indulge these whims!
@@TweedyMisc I am wondering if another of the Tweedies (Outdoors, presumably?) might try to walk this route before they get to a "Great Age"? It would be interesting to see how many of the milestones are still in situ. And one might possibly be able to visit inns along the route that Samuel may have sought refreshment at. The infant mortality rates are astonishing. One had to be tough to try parenting at that time. I'm sure the WC21 Facebook community will be here soon!
Hi Tweedy. At the location of the 26 mile stone in Maidenhead is situated Sainsbury’s. Perhaps he was tasked with buying a pint of milk! 🤔😳 I enjoyed this tale on your pub channel and this was an unexpected extra delight. Your research is exemplary. 👏👏👍😀
Good story, and thanks for the follow up. Coincidentally, recently a 59 year old American woman set the woman's record for push-ups, after previously set the record for planking.
Very cool Tweedy! Wow what a long way, and I can imagine back in 1767 the roads would have been less than desirable for long distance walking. Great bit of history. Thanks.
Hi John, this was excellent, what a great story amplified through the maps. An excellent piece of investigation I'm really well impressed, brilliant, well done. And narrated from your favourite tree (or at least one of them anyway). Totally agree with your reasoning as to why it was the 26 milestone. I couldnt tell but could there be a leyline there?!!!!! You can tell Mr WC not to be melancholic about 59, I can confirm that it is truly a great age and I only dispair that I only have 154 days left to enjoy of it!! I can hear rumblings already that people do not believe it to be possible and that a re-run should take place, or at least a trip to see how many milestones are still in place. Great video well done. I can see why you were so upbeat in the Alain Maurice Gavignet review All the best!!
Mr Stiff must have been quite a tough guy. And it's amazing what you found out about him, Tweedy. My initial thought about the distance was that it might have something to do with the marathon distance of 26-odd miles, but it seems unlikely that the legend of the messenger of Marathon was common knowledge at that time. The relation with the publican's age is more logical. Wikipedia mentions challenges of walking X miles in X hours becoming popular in the late 18th century, a sport named "pedestrianism". So Mr Stiff might have been a trendsetter with his quirky endeavour.
I'd have literally needed to 'flop at houses' too aged 59 doing that walk ...I realised later it was 'Stop' ...No surprise he was stiff, either the distance involved and muscle aches.. or possibly if he'd travelled the red light zones on the way...the name is apt ...(Blame Mr WC21, Tweedy) ...He pointed me here. Brilliant vid.
I'm 47, so if I were starting at the Ship in Talbot Court, I'd "only" need to walk to the 20 mile stone, around Upton, which I think nowadays has been consumed by Slough. I can't say it's a very appealing prospect!
Thanks Mike! I really don't think I could manage a 59 mile walk in a 24 hour period. The most I've ever done in that space of time is probably about half that distance, and I was barely able to stand by the end of it! I think in terms of the practicalities of the route, it probably would be more difficult today. Once you get out of central London there would be lots of busy main roads, and I'm not sure all of them would have pavements.
@TweedyMisc I also don't think I would manage it either! I'd love to come to London one day to see some of these great pubs and places you share, Cheers!
Fantastic. I love that you mapped his route and even have a theory as to why he chose that destination. Great stuff. I'm 58 and I am pretty sure I could run from The Ship to Maidenhead and back then stand on my head while drinking a pint. Anyone want to take that bet? 🐵
I've heard this story, and I thought it was one of those made-up stories of those times - after all, an aged character being called "Mr. Stiff" seems sort of obvious.
That was incredible, Tweedy! What an amazing tribute you have paid to Mr. Stiff by making this video and helping to preserve his story for posterity.
Not only was the research really impressive, but that mathematical analysis to determine the reason for his targeting of the 26th milestone earns you full kudos.
The only disappointing aspect to this investigation, was the discovery that 59 was considered a “great age”. At 56, it has induced a feeling of melancholy. Possibly a little despair, too!
Phenomenal work here and I will give it a power boost by sharing it with my 152 followers on Facebook.
Thank you Mr. WC21! There were so many appealing aspects to the newspaper article that I felt it deserved a fuller treatment than the usual 30 seconds or so these things get in Tweedy Pub videos. Mr. Stiff really struck a chord for me somehow, I suppose partly in the way this story spanned two of the things I like most (old pubs and long walks!), but also I imagine him as a man of quiet determination and perhaps a bit of an eccentric.
The revelation about the magic number 59 was very satisfying as I only reached that point as a result of all of the other research - those burial records and Mr. Stiff's will to establish his age, and it took a while of poring over John Rocque's maps before I figured out his most likely route, and therefore the overall distance he would have walked. Of course it could just be a coincidence but if so why make it the 26 mile stone?
I originally had an extended segment about infant mortality in the 18th century, given that quite shockingly 22 of the 40 burials on that page of the parish register had the age entered as "inf"... but I thought that was a bit too depressing! Anyway I think the "great age" comment reflects this rather harsh reality of the time - of those 40 people only 5 made it into their 50s! Although a few were vaguely entered as just "pensioner". Those unfortunate others would likely have succumbed to things which would be easily treated today. The 1760s was the big peak of smallpox in London, for example. Tuberculosis had hit its peak just before that. So not to worry, you have hit on a very good strategy for a long and healthy life - being born in this period of history!
Thank you very much for posting this on your Facebook page. I'm quite pleased with this funny little tangent of a video - once again it's nice to have this "misc" channel to indulge these whims!
@@TweedyMisc I am wondering if another of the Tweedies (Outdoors, presumably?) might try to walk this route before they get to a "Great Age"? It would be interesting to see how many of the milestones are still in situ. And one might possibly be able to visit inns along the route that Samuel may have sought refreshment at.
The infant mortality rates are astonishing. One had to be tough to try parenting at that time.
I'm sure the WC21 Facebook community will be here soon!
Do the walk, Tweedy!!!! :)❤
Yeah, to Maida Vale and back in a day.
Hi Tweedy. At the location of the 26 mile stone in Maidenhead is situated Sainsbury’s. Perhaps he was tasked with buying a pint of milk! 🤔😳
I enjoyed this tale on your pub channel and this was an unexpected extra delight. Your research is exemplary. 👏👏👍😀
Good story, and thanks for the follow up.
Coincidentally, recently a 59 year old American woman set the woman's record for push-ups, after previously set the record for planking.
Very cool Tweedy! Wow what a long way, and I can imagine back in 1767 the roads would have been less than desirable for long distance walking. Great bit of history. Thanks.
Hi John, this was excellent, what a great story amplified through the maps. An excellent piece of investigation I'm really well impressed, brilliant, well done. And narrated from your favourite tree (or at least one of them anyway).
Totally agree with your reasoning as to why it was the 26 milestone. I couldnt tell but could there be a leyline there?!!!!!
You can tell Mr WC not to be melancholic about 59, I can confirm that it is truly a great age and I only dispair that I only have 154 days left to enjoy of it!!
I can hear rumblings already that people do not believe it to be possible and that a re-run should take place, or at least a trip to see how many milestones are still in place.
Great video well done. I can see why you were so upbeat in the Alain Maurice Gavignet review
All the best!!
Excellent research as usual.
I reckon the Mr. Stiff required a beer or a stiff drink once he made Maidenhead. I wonder what pub he imbibed at, prior to his return.
All well and good, but does the 26th mile stone at Maidenhead have a larvikite pilastered frontage?
Mr Stiff must have been quite a tough guy. And it's amazing what you found out about him, Tweedy. My initial thought about the distance was that it might have something to do with the marathon distance of 26-odd miles, but it seems unlikely that the legend of the messenger of Marathon was common knowledge at that time. The relation with the publican's age is more logical. Wikipedia mentions challenges of walking X miles in X hours becoming popular in the late 18th century, a sport named "pedestrianism". So Mr Stiff might have been a trendsetter with his quirky endeavour.
I'd have literally needed to 'flop at houses' too aged 59 doing that walk ...I realised later it was 'Stop' ...No surprise he was stiff, either the distance involved and muscle aches.. or possibly if he'd travelled the red light zones on the way...the name is apt ...(Blame Mr WC21, Tweedy) ...He pointed me here. Brilliant vid.
Once again, excellent sleuthing.
These challenges were by a group of britishers called the fancy ,one of the most celebrated was captain Barclay allardice
Whato Tweedy,
If you were in the City, to which place would you have to walk (and back again) to equal your age and are you going to do that?
I'm 47, so if I were starting at the Ship in Talbot Court, I'd "only" need to walk to the 20 mile stone, around Upton, which I think nowadays has been consumed by Slough. I can't say it's a very appealing prospect!
I wonder... do you think you could do the same walk in this day and age Tweedy 🧐 an interesting story from the past for sure, cheers Mike in NZ
Thanks Mike! I really don't think I could manage a 59 mile walk in a 24 hour period. The most I've ever done in that space of time is probably about half that distance, and I was barely able to stand by the end of it!
I think in terms of the practicalities of the route, it probably would be more difficult today. Once you get out of central London there would be lots of busy main roads, and I'm not sure all of them would have pavements.
@TweedyMisc I also don't think I would manage it either! I'd love to come to London one day to see some of these great pubs and places you share, Cheers!
Fantastic. I love that you mapped his route and even have a theory as to why he chose that destination. Great stuff. I'm 58 and I am pretty sure I could run from The Ship to Maidenhead and back then stand on my head while drinking a pint. Anyone want to take that bet? 🐵
Give it a go John ?
I've heard this story, and I thought it was one of those made-up stories of those times - after all, an aged character being called "Mr. Stiff" seems sort of obvious.
Did he need a stiff drink uopn his return!
I suspect he had a few along the way!
And a stiff one in his back passage!