Emma Sharp walked 1,000 miles at Bradford's Quarry Gap pub

Fanny Hertz (1830-1908) came from a prosperous German family that happened to settle in Bradford. Highly educated for the time, and highly intelligent, she contrasts greatly with Emma Sharp - today’s subject - in terms of background and motivation.

We know much about Fanny Hertz because of her writings and profile in both Bradford and London society.

Emma Sharp walked 1,000 miles in 1,000 days - at a Bradford pub

We know nothing about Emma, not even her date of birth or death, except what comes entirely from one intriguing episode in her life that took place in the autumn of 1864 and lasted for six weeks.

On September 17, 1864 - 158 years ago - Emma Sharp set off in a most unusual sporting competition, to prove the point that “women can do what men think only they can”.

This was probably the only thing in common she had with Fanny Hertz, who in that decade was promoting the idea that women were entitled to the education that only men enjoyed.

On that September day, Emma took the first steps to being the first woman to walk 1,000 miles in 1,000 hours.

Around 100,000 people turned out to see Emma on her walk (Image: Submitted)

In the 19th century, competitive walking, or pedestrianism as it was known, was a popular spectator sport.

In 1809 Captain Robert Barclay made a 1,000 guinea bet with one of his rivals that he could walk 1,000 miles in 1,000 hours. He calculated that, if he walked back-to-back miles with 90-minute rests, he could complete this in around 42 days.

It worked. He completed the walk in July 1809. The feat became known as the ‘Barclay Match’.

Just walking at a leisurely pace may sound easy, but walking 1,000 miles in 1,000 consecutive hours does not just take a physical toll on the body. Constant walking in circles and the lack of regular prolonged sleep over a six-week period takes a major mental toll.

Women tried this challenge, too. When Emma, who was in her early thirties, heard that an Australian woman had just failed, she became interested.

Despite lack of training and also without her husband’s support, she secured the help of the landlord of the Quarry Gap Hotel, at Laisterdyke. He was keen to offer his grounds as the location for the walk. In exchange, he would receive a percentage of the ticket sales, and no doubt also do good business from spectators. A woman attempting the challenge would add to the interest.

Emma followed a roped-off course of 120 yards with 90-minute breaks every two miles. Walking day and night, she continued this routine for six weeks, until she completed her last mile.

As no women and few men had ever successfully completed this, her progress was widely reported and closely watched by the public. Many started making bets. Gradually, some tried to encourage Emma to quit by jeering, or worse. In the final days, the police had to protect her.

Emma herself walked the final two days with a pistol, which she had to fire in warning to ward off unruly spectators.

Despite all the aggravation, on October 29, Emma did become the first woman to complete the Barclay Match.

Some 100,000 people were estimated to have watched her at some time during the walk - with about 25,000 being present to watch her cross the finish line.

Locals celebrated her success by organising a band on her final day and roasting an ox in her honour.

Emma’s husband reportedly hid in the pub, embarrassed by his wife’s antics. He quickly got over his shame when he was able to use the substantial funds she earned from the ticket sales to quit his job at the Bowling Iron Works and open a rug-making business.

We have no way of knowing for sure, but Emma’s achievement probably had no lasting impact on other women’s lives. Almost certainly, she was not an educated woman and came from a working-class background.

So, it was all the more remarkable that she both spotted an opportunity for making her point about what women can do, and then made it happen in a very public way.

Emma Sharp is featured in Martin's book (Image: Submitted)

l Martin Greenwood’s book, Every Day Bradford, provides a story for each day of the year about people, places and events from Bradford’s history.

Every Day Bradford is available from online stores, including Amazon, and bookshops including Waterstones and Salts Mill.