Deadman’s walk

You are now walking alongside a portion of the 13th-century defensive wall that once surrounded the medieval city. As you walk up on your left, you’ll see what’s known as a bastion. It was built protruding from the wall so that those inside could shoot at attackers coming from all directions. Is this the reason why the path you’re using is called Deadman’s Walk? Perhaps it’s because it was the route taken by funeral processions of the Jewish community towards the former cemetery, now occupied by the Botanic Garden. Or maybe the name Deadman’s Walk comes from the legend of the ghost of Francis Windebank. This Royalist colonel was captured and executed here during the English Civil War. Apparently, his ghost is only seen from the knees up, as the ground level has significantly risen over the centuries. That being said, rest assured, no new sightings have been reported for a long time. In any case, the wall is Grade 1 listed, meaning it’s of national importance for its architecture and history.