Chelmsford 100 – Walking

100 miles of circular walks

Chelmsford 100 Festival – 100 Silks for Chelmsford

Chelmsford 100 is a truly mobile art installation. It is not meant to be static, stagnant, or packaged away.

Over the summer and autumn of 2022, the flags were carried by volunteers over 100 miles of newly-mapped walking routes which criss-crossed the entire Chelmsford district. They took in towns, villages, green spaces, waterways, and landmarks with each walk highlighting a specific flag and story.

The purpose of the walks was to reveal and publicise accessible routes, encourage people to get moving, raise awareness of the importance of caring for our green spaces, and most of all, to get people talking.

More stories surfaced as we walked and talked, and more people joined us on walks as we went. It was fascinating, and often emotional, to be able to hold up a flag at the site that inspired it and hear its story firsthand from its artist.

Alongside the 100 miles were a series of installations, where all 100 flags were planted in the ground and left to flutter in the breeze so that people could wander through them and admire the collection in full. Such installations were held at Hylands House, RHS Hyde Hall, Chelmsford Museum, The Wilderness Foundation, and Writtle University College.

The walks, installations, and events will continue to grow and expand, ensuring that Chelmsford 100 becomes a kinetic part of Chelmsford’s cultural heritage, and firmly embedded in our beautiful local landscapes.

Come and see the Flags!

Upcoming:

21st, 22nd, and 23rd August 2024 – The Willow Set at Papermill Lock

Past Installations:

Saturday 16 July 2022 – Writtle College

All 100 Flags were installed on the grounds of this beautiful campus.

Thursday 25 August 2022 – Hylands Estate

All 100 Flags were installed at this historic house

Thursday 1 September 2022 – RHS Hyde Hall

100 Flags were displayed throughout the sunning gardens

January to April 2023 – Essex Railway Stations

The Community Rail Network featured large scale photographs of the flags, participants, and installations a series of railway stations in Essex.

These could be viewed at Chelmsford, Althorne, South Woodham Ferrers, Burnham on Crouch, Southminster, Braintree, Braintree Freeport, and Chelmsford.

January to March 2023 – High Chelmer Shopping Centre

All 100 flags were suspended from the ceiling of High Chelmer Shopping Centre in central Chelmsford.

25 March to 4 June 2023 – Chelmsford Museum

A special exhibition telling the full story of Chelmsford 100, was held in Chelmsford Museum, from 25 March to 4 June 2023.

2nd July 2023 – Chelmsford Carnival

All 100 flags were carried by volunteers in Chelmsford Carnival

100 Miles for Chelmsford – Walk with Us?

Please do join us on a series of circular walks that will take us from one part of Chelmsford to another, encompassing many of the areas that our flag designers used for inspiration.

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Chelmsford 100 Walking Festival

Our first 100 miles are now complete. However, please sign up to our mailing list, or keep checking back on this page to learn about future walks.

2022 Walks – COMPLETED:

New Date to be Confirmed – Danbury Common and Lakes circular walk 

New Date to be Confirmed –  Downham and Ramsden Heath circular walk 

Thursday 7 JulyChannels Estate and Little Waltham circular walk

Saturday 9 JulyChelmer and River circular walk

Thursday 14 JulyChelmsford to Writtle then Writtle back to Chelmsford

Saturday 16 JulyWrittle College Flag Installation and walk around campus

Thursday 21 JulySandford Mill to Papermill Lock 

Thursday 28 July Papermill Lock and Blakes Wood circular walk 

Saturday 30 July A circular walk taking in the Priory in Bicknacre 

Thursday 4 AugustBoreham to Papermill Lock Loop 

Saturday 6 AugustSouth Woodham Ferrers marsh

Thursday 11 August Hanningfield Leisure Park circular

Saturday 13 August Chatham Green 

Thursday 18 August – A walk around the beautiful gardens and walkways of Broomfield Hospital

Saturday 20 August Writtle to Hylands 

Thursday 25 August Hylands Estate  Flag Installation and walk 

Saturday 27 August Terling circular walk 

Thursday 1 September RHS Hyde Hall Flag Installation and circular walk 

Saturday 3 September Galleywood circular walk 

Thursday 8 September South Woodham Ferrers circular walk 

Saturday 10 September Chelmsford CVS to Chelmsford Museum walk then flag Installation