Emma Sharp

Emma Sharp was an athlete famous for her feat of pedestrianism completing a 1000-mile walk in 1000 hours, the event first completed by Robert Barclay Allardice in 1809. She is thought to be the first woman to complete the challenge on October 29 September 1864 having started on 17 September that same year. She died in 1920.

She rested in the Quarry Gap pub in between walking approximately 2 mile stints every 90 minutes and completing 14,600 laps in total over the course of 1000 hours. It is reported that her food was drugged and people attempted to trip her to prevent her from finishing, for the last two days she carried a pistol to protect herself. Her journey was covered by Horrible Histories and broadcast on children's BBC.

Emma is reported to have used the proceeds of the walk who set up a rug making business in Perseverance works in Laisterdyke.

Married to miner John Sharp. Emma's granddaughter Ann Land retained her walking stick as a momento. Her Great Great granddaughter Kathy Nicol was interviewed on the subject of the 1000 mile walk in 2009. A distant relative, Val Moran, planned to match the achievement around Lennox Gardens, Adelaide Australia in 2009.

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