Cheltenham in Antarctica

This walk explores Cheltenham’s connections with Antarctic exploration, principally through one of its most famous sons, Edward Wilson (1872–1912), who perished with Captain Robert Scott (1868–1912) at the South Pole.

Edward Wilson, or Ted, as he was generally known, was a doctor, scientist, naturalist and artist, and a leading member of Scott’s Discovery (1901–4) and Terra Nova (1910–12) expeditions. He undertook important scientific work and was perhaps the last great practitioner of exploration art. He was one of the five men who reached the South Pole on 17 January 1912, only to discover that the Norwegian Roald Amundsen had arrived there five weeks earlier.

During the return journey, Edgar Evans (1876–1912) and Lawrence Oates (1880–1912) fell ill and died, and later, around 29 March, Wilson, Henry ‘Birdie’ Bowers (1883–1912) and Scott perished in their blizzard-blown tent, only 11 miles from their next food depot.

Friends of the Wilson support Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum by helping to fund major projects, exhibitions, and the purchase and conservation of items for its collections. We also act as ambassadors to promote The Wilson’s continued success and development. Click here to find out more.

Friends of The Wilson are grateful to David Elder for allowing us to reproduce his walk. David is a Gloucestershire-based writer and photographer and you can visit his website here.

The walk starts and ends at The Wilson, Cheltenham’s Art Gallery & Museum in Clarence Street. It is open daily from 9.30 a.m. – 5.15 p.m.