Eadwig's Charter to Abingdon Abbey c.957
In a charter of c. 957 AD, King Eadwig (r. 955–959) granted twenty hides of land to Abingdon Abbey.[a]
aet Hengestesige , and aet Seofecanwyrthe , and aet Wihtham
Interpretation of place names :
- Hengestesige; Hinksey near the City of Oxford.
- Seofecanwyrthe; The deserted medieval village of Seacourt near the City of Oxford.
- Wihtham; Wytham near the City of Oxford.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/Eadwig_-_MS_Royal_14_B_VI.jpg/280px-Eadwig_-_MS_Royal_14_B_VI.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Abingdon_Abbey%2C_geograph.jpg/280px-Abingdon_Abbey%2C_geograph.jpg)
Background
Abingdon Abbey
The abbey had previously been destroyed by Danes of Viking origin at the beginning of the reign of Alfred the Great (r. 871–899).[b] In about 954 King Eadred appointed Æthelwold as its abbot.[c][d][f]
Danes in Oxford
It is known that there had been a population of Danes who had lived in the Oxford area prior to the St. Brice's Day massacre (AD 1002).[g] Many of those had become integrated with the native population and spoke a mix of Old English and Old Danish.[h] Place name evidence suggests that some of the land granted in the charter had previously been occupied by Danes of Viking origin.[i] The charter suggests anti Danish sentiment and a sense of purpose of retribution for the previous destruction of the abbey.
Interpretation of place names
Hengestesige
This has been interpreted as Hinksey near the City of Oxford.[7]
- (Hengeste..sige)
The name element hengeste is from Old English hengest ("stallion, steed, horse, gelding").[j]
The name element sige is from Old English sige ("victory, success, triumph").[k]
Toponym
- The place of horse breeding and racing.
- The victory of Hengist and Horsa.[l]
- The success of the Anglo-Saxons.[m]
Seofecanwyrthe
This has been interpreted as the deserted medieval village of Seacourt, near the City of Oxford.[10][n] The site is now mostly beneath the Oxford Western By-pass (A34), about 0.3 miles (0.48 km) south of the Seacourt/Hinksey Stream crossing.[11][o][p]
Name corruption
- (Seof, fecan, and wyrthe)
The element Seof is from Old Danish sef : ("sedge or rush").[q]
The element fecan is from Old Saxon fekan or Old English fâcen ("deceit, fraud, treachery, sin, evil, wickedness, crime").[r][s]
The element wyrthe is from Old English worðig : ("farm enclosure, homestead enclosure").[t][u]
- (Conclusion)
- The middle element fekan was not part of the actual name.[v]
- The actual name was probably Seof wyrthe
- The use of the word fekan was a reference to the Danish people who had previously lived there
- The use of the word fekan strongly suggests anti Danish sentiment
A possible explanation for the use of the fekan element might have been be to clarify which village was intended, since there were two villages with a similar name.[w]
Seacourt Domesday
There were two settlements with similar etymology recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086:
Modern name | Domesday | Part 1 | Part 2 | Interpretation 1 | Interpretation 2 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
SEACOURT[11] | Seuaworde[18] | Seva[x] | worde | English dialect seave.[y] | Old English worð[z] – worþ.[aa] |
SUGWORTH[19] | Sogoorde[20] | Sog | wrde[ab] | Middle English segge.[ac] | Old English worð. |
Name history
In the 10th century, a new variation of the name was recorded, that replaced the appendix 'worth' with the appendix court.[ad]
Seovecurt : (Seove-curt) 10th century[10]
The name element Seove is from local dialect seave : (" sedge, rush ").[ae][af]
The village name continued to change and evolve (with appendix court):
- Seove-curt (10th century).[10]
- Seve-curt (11th century).[10]
- Sewe-courte (16th century).[10]
- Sea-court (20th century).[10]
However the original version of the name (with appendix worth) continued to be used concurrently, but drifted towards using Old English secg : ("sedge, reed, rush, flag").[ag]
- Seof-wyrthe (c. 957).
- Seua-worde (Domesday 1086).[18]
- Sewke-worth (12th century).[10]
- Seuek-wrth (12th century).[10]
- Sevek-worth (13th century).[ah]
- Seck worth (15th century).[ai]
- Sek-worth (16th century).[10]
Archaeological evidence
Archaeological excavations at Seacourt[aj] found remains of wooden structures and several ditches that suggest evidence of a farm settlement with ditched animal enclosures and wooden byre's.[ak][al][am] A long and very narrow building was also discovered that was characteristic of a Viking long-house.[an][ao]
Dark red glass beads were found during excavations that had similar features to Viking glass beads found at York.[ap]
Danish origin
The Viking style long-house byre, the Viking glass beads, place name evidence and the anti Danish sentiment found in the charter, all point to the Danish origin of the deserted medieval village of Seacourt, Oxfordshire.
The archaeological evidence suggests that the Danish settlers were pastoral farmer's who continued to practice the traditional method's of summer transhumance farming that were customary in their Scandinavian homeland.[aq][ar]
It is envisaged that during the summer months livestock were grazed on summer pasture on the higher uplands of Wytham Woods, while the lower meadows were used for the production of hay.[as]
My Lady's Seat is an elevated summer pasture located at the head of the valley known as Wytham Park.[32][at][au] As of Summer 2021 sheep were grazed on My Lady's Seat while the lower meadows of Wytham Park were used for the production of hay.[av] It would be expected that the Danish settlers used the land in a similar way, but stayed in summer shielings (primitive dwellings) beside the sæter, in order to safe guard the animals day and night.[ax]
During the winter the livestock were moved back to the farm settlement where they were kept in wooden byre's and fed with hay from the summer hay meadows.[ay]
Farm settlement
Archaeological evidence suggests that the farm settlement consisted of ditched enclosures and wooden byre's for keeping livestock. It is envisaged that man made ditches (rather than hedges) were used to create animal enclosures, in order to keep animals safe. The shallow water was ideal for sedges to grow, which might have been intentional since they have many practical uses.
Practical uses for sedge and rush (seaves):
- Thatching.[az]
- Ground cover.[ba][bb]
- Pleated and woven products (mats, baskets).[bc]
- Rushlights.[bd]
Types of sedge and rush that prefer shallow water:
- Sedge family – Cyperaceae.
- Schoenoplectus lacustris.[be][bf][bg]
- Bulrush family – Typhaceae.
- Typha latifolia.[bh][bi][bj]
Types of rush that prefer water logged ground:
- Rush family – Juncaceae
- Juncus effusus.[bk][bl]
Wihtham
This has been interpreted as Wytham Village near the City of Oxford.
Wytham Village is on the lower slopes of Wytham Woods, above the floodplain of the River Isis and Seacourt Stream.[36]
- (Wiht-ham) (c. 957)
The name element Wiht is from Old English wiht : ("weight, land mass, the act of lifting").[bm][bn]
The name element ham is from Old English hâm ("dwelling, house, manor, estate, hamlet").[bo]
Toponym
- Small village that lifts up from the flood plain
- Small village that rises from the flood plain
Examples of place names with a similar etymology might include:
- Isle of Wight : The island that lifts up out of the sea
Anglicisation of Old Norse
Many Old Norse words became absorbed into the English language during the Viking Age.[bp][bq]
The local dialect word seave is an anglicisation of Old Norse sef : ("sedge or rush").[br][bs][bt][bu]
The local dialect word saeter is borrowed from Old Norse sætr : ("Upland summer pasture, a shieling or farmstead").[bv][bw][bx][by][bz][cb]
Place name examples (seave)
Place name examples in the English Lake District:
- Seathwaite, Borrowdale , Cumbria.[cc]
- Seathwaite, Duddon Valley, Cumbria.[cd]
- Seavy Side, Mosedale, near Haweswater Reservoir, Cumbria.[ce]
- Candleseaves Bog, Skiddaw Forest.[cf]
Place name examples in England:
- Seamore Tarn, near High Cup Nick, Cumbria.[cg]
- Seavy Rigg, Swindale Beck near Brough, Cumbria.[ch]
- Candleseaves Sike near Rogan's Seat, Swaledale, North Yorkshire.[ci]
- Seavy Sike near Tan Hill, North Yorkshire.[cj][ck]
Place name examples (saeter)
The local dialect word saeter is borrowed from Old Norse sætr.
Place name examples in the English Lake District :
- Seat Sandal : Sandulfr’s sætr or Sandal’s summer pasture or shieling
- Seatoller ('Seat-oller') : Olafr’s sætr
- Seatallan ('Seat-allan') : Aleyn's sætr
The name element seat is common in North Yorkshire (for fell summits), especially in the sheep-farming area's of the Yorkshire Dales,[cl] and especially in Swaledale[cm] :
- Hugh Seat, Mallerstang, on the border between Cumbria and North Yorkshire.
- Ravenseat Farm, Whitsun Dale at the head of Swaledale.[46]
- Robert's Seat (near Ravenseat Farm).
- Alderson Seat (near Ravenseat Farm).
- Satron (sætr, tûn)[cn] (village, side, moor, tarn) near Gunnerside, Swaledale.
- Rogan's Seat, Northern Dales, Stainmore Gap to Swaledale
- Great Pinseat near Reeth, Northern Dales, Stainmore Gap to Swaledale
- Lovely Seat (Lunasett) Northern Dales, Swaledale to Wensleydale
Chronology
Oxford in the Viking age
Timeline for Oxford and Abingdon Abbey in the Viking Age, in the context of other events.
8th century
Date | Event |
---|---|
700–750 | Start of the Viking Age.[co] |
793 | Lindisfarne Priory is destroyed during a Viking raid.[cp][cq] |
9th century
Date | Event |
---|---|
865 | The Great Heathen Army of Viking invaders lands in East Anglia |
865–871 | The reign of Æthelred I.[cr][cs] |
866–871 | Abingdon Abbey is destroyed by Danes of Viking origin.[ct][cu] |
871–899 | The reign of Alfred the Great.[cv] |
871–886 | The reign of Alfred the Great –– King of Wessex.[cw][cx] |
878–890 | Peace talks between Alfred the Great and the Danish king Guthrum.[cy] |
879 | Guthrum moves his large army across Oxfordshire en route from Cirencester to East Anglia.[cz] |
c. 879–880 | The Watlington Viking Hoard is buried in Oxfordshire.[db] |
886–899 | The reign of Alfred the Great –– King of the Anglo-Saxons.[dc] |
899–924 | The reign of Edward the Elder –– King of the Anglo-Saxons.[dd] |
10th century
Date | Event |
---|---|
924–939 | The reign of Æthelstan (disputed) –– King of the Anglo-Saxons.[de] |
927 | Æthelstan becomes the first King of the English.[df][dg] |
939–946 | The reign of Edmund I –– King of the English.[dh] |
946–955 | The reign of Eadred –– King of the English.[di] |
954 | The Northumbrians drive out their Norwegian Viking king Eric Bloodaxe and submit to Eadred. |
King Eadred appoints Æthelwold abbot of Abingdon Abbey.[dj] | |
955–959 | The reign of Eadwig –– King of the English.[dk] |
c. 957 | Eadwig's Charter to Abingdon Abbey.[dl] |
959–975 | The reign of Edgar the Peaceful –– King of the English.[dm] |
975–978 | The reign of Edward the Martyr –– King of the English.[dn] |
978–1013 | The first reign of Æthelred the Unready –– King of the English.[do] |
11th century
Date | Event |
---|---|
1002 | Æthelred the Unready orders the massacre of Danes in England (St. Brice's Day massacre). |
The massacre of Danes in Oxford[dp] | |
1002–1012 | Sweyn Forkbeard raids against England to avenge the massacre of Danes in England.[dq] |
1009 | Oxford is put to the torch in a revenge attack.[dr][ds] |
1013 | Æthelred the Unready escapes to Normandy and Sweyn Forkbeard becomes the first Danish King of the English.[dt] |
1014 | Sweyn Forkbeard dies and Æthelred the Unready regains tenure as King of the English.[du] |
1016 | Æthelred the Unready dies and is succeeded by Edmund Ironside –– King of the English. |
1017–1035 | The reign of Cnut the Great –– King of the English.[dv][dw] |
1018 | Cnut the Great is crowned at Oxford.[6] |
1035–1040 | The reign of Harold Harefoot –– King of the English.[dx] |
1040–1042 | The reign of Harthacnut –– King of the English.[dy] |
1042–1066 | The reign of Edward the Confessor –– King of the English.[dz] |
1066 | The reign of Harold Godwinson –– King of the English.[ea] |
Battle of Stamford Bridge, Gefeoht æt Stanfordbrycge |
References
Notes
- ^ DOCUMENTARY HISTORY (Martin Biddle) " The earliest mention of Seacourt occurs in a charter of Eadwig which grants twenty hides of land to Abingdon Abbey about 957. " - PDF page 11, actual page 79[1]
- ^ Sutton Courtenay and Abingdon Abbey (Arthur Preston) " ... the ravages of the Northmen in 866-71, when the monks were driven out and little of the abbey buildings left standing except the walls. " – PDF page 4, actual page 26.[2]
- ^ See Abingdon Abbey > Early history > By the 950s the abbey was in a decayed state, but in about 954 King Eadred appointed Æthelwold, later Bishop of Winchester, abbot. He was one of the leaders of the English Benedictine Reform, and Abingdon then became the second centre of the Reform (after Glastonbury).
- ^ Sutton Courtenay and Abingdon Abbey (Arthur Preston) " At the time Æthelwold (afterwards Bishop of Winchester) took charge, the abbey was in a ruinous and impoverished condition. " ... " In the course of Æthelwold's nine year rule, and as re-established and largely rebuilt by him, the abbey became the first of the Benedictine houses in England to undergo reform. " ... " From Æthelwold's time onwards its prosperous days may be reckoned, and during the next century or so great wealth was accumulated. In Domesday its possessions in Berks were given as second only in extent to the King's. " – PDF page 5, actual page 27.[3]
- ^ Eadgifu was Eadred's mother.
- ^ Conquest, Reform and the Making of England (Martin J. Ryan) " There Æthelwold founded – re-founded as he saw it – a monastery, staffed by former inmates of Glastonbury and clergy from London and Winchester, and was ordained its abbot. Abingdon subsequently received extensive grants of land from King Eadred and from Eadgifu[e] . " [4]
- ^ The Early Middle Ages. . . " There was a Danish community in Oxford by the end of the 10th century, perhaps of traders, but many of them were presumably killed in a massacre on St.Brice's day 1002, which culminated in the burning of St.Frideswide's church " . . .[5]
- ^ The day Oxford burned " Ironically, Oxford owed much of its prosperity to Danish settlers, many of whom were merchants with links to important British and overseas ports " [6]
- ^ See (Contents) > Seofecanwyrthe > Danish origin
- ^ Old English hengest : ” stallion, steed, horse, gelding ” [8]
- ^ Old English sige : ” victory, success, triumph ” [9]
- ^ The name element Hengest might be a reference to Hengist and Horsa, who are said to have led the Angles and Saxons into Britain in the 5th century
- ^ The name might suggest anti Danish sentiment
- ^ DOCUMENTARY HISTORY (Martin Biddle) " The earliest mention of Seacourt occurs in a charter of Eadwig... " PDF page 11, actual page 79[1]
- ^ The site is designated as Historic Statutory and Scheduled Monument (SHADED POLYGON)
- ^ The map also shows Port Meadow, Oxford to the east of the River Thames, also designated as Historic Statutory and Scheduled Monument (SHADED POLYGON)
- ^ Old Norse ' sef ' : " sedge, rush " [12]
- ^ Chapter 4. Personal Qualities: facen/fekan and husc—hosp/hosk[13]
- ^ Old English fâcen ['faken'] : " deceit, fraud, treachery, sin, evil, wickedness, crime " [14]
- ^ Old English worðig : " enclosed homestead, farm " [15]
- ^ Old English worðig : Place names in England
- Hurworth-on-Tees : " Fenced enclosure made with hurdles (wickerwork frame) " [16]
- Hollingworth, Greater Manchester : " Holly hedged enclosure " [17]
- ^ See (Contents) > Seofecanwyrthe > Name history.
- ^ See (Contents) > Seacourt Domesday
- ^ The handwritten 'u' is interpretated as 'v'.
- ^ WiKtionary : English dialect < seave >
- " A rush (the plant). "
- ^ WiKtionary : Old English < worð >
- " Alternative spelling of worþ ".
- ^ WiKtionary : Old English < worþ >
- " enclosure ".
- ^ The handwritten 'oo' is interpretated as 'w'.
- ^ WiKtionary : Middle English < segge >
- " A sedge (a plant of the family Cyperaceae. . .)
- ^ The name might have been changed to avoid confusion since there were two villages with a similar name. See (Contents) > Seofecanwyrthe > Domesday.
- ^ WiKtionary: < seave > From Old Norse sef, whence also Danish siv, Icelandic sef and Swedish säv (“club-rush”).
- ^ See (Contents) > Anglicisation of Old Norse
- ^ Old English secg : " sedge, reed, rush, flag "[21]
- ^ The priory of Studley " The next year and again in 1294 the bishop wrote to the prioress that the presence of John of Sevekworth ... " [22]
- ^ DOCUMENTARY HISTORY (Martin Biddle) In 1439 the Vicar reported " the church itself of Seck worth was collapsed " – PDF page 15, actual page 83.[23]
- ^ INTRODUCTION (Martin Biddle) " In 1954 the proposal for the Western By-pass was resuscitated and with it the necessity for a large scale investigation of the village. " . . . " Finally in March 1959 and the following months Fabian Radcliffe and the writer, assisted by Mr. P. V.Addyman, were able to record and partially excavate many structures revealed in the course of earth-moving in preparation for the new road, which now cuts across the site from north to south. " – PDF page 2, actual page 71.[24]
- ^ THE EXCAVATION'S (Martin Biddle) " The earlier (Period 1) consisted of traces of wooden structures and several ditches. " – PDF page 17, actual page 85.[25]
- ^ THE EXCAVATION'S (Martin Biddle) " ...but the northern projection may have been a byre, entered through the post-wall on the north and drained by the gully. " – PDF page 18, actual page 86.[26]
- ^ SITE PLAN (Fig. 3) The site plan shows several ditches that appear to be designed as enclosures for livestock. One ditch forms a semi-circle beside the Seacourt Stream. (Enclosure ditches should not be confused with drainage ditches). – PDF page 6, actual page 75[27]
- ^ THE EXCAVATION'S (Martin Biddle) " It was a long and very narrow building, only 4 ft. wide and some 25 ft. long internally. " – PDF page 19, actual page 89.[28]
- ^ THE EXCAVATION'S (Martin Biddle) " It is however clearly not a long-house; and the byre-Iike building A suggests itself as accommodation for cattle. One long side of this structure could well have been open, apart from the supports for the roof, for the entry of cattle: it is, in effect, a single row of stalls. " – PDF page 21, actual page 91.[29]
- ^ OBJECTS OF GLASS (Martin Biddle) " Dark red glass bead with central perforation. A large series of Viking and later glass beads has been published from York, where such beads seem to have been made, but none of them is red " – PDF page 117, actual page 185.[30]
- ^ See Transhumance > Scandinavian peninsula
- ^ Summer Transhumance : " We know from the evidence of Norse farming customs in north Scotland that Norse settlers in Britain continued the system of summer transhumance which was customary in their Scandinavian homeland. " [31]
- ^ The land to the east of Seacourt is on the floodplain of the River Thames.[11]
- ^ Directions : My Lady's Seat is located a short distance to the east of the main track at grid ref SP 463 078. There is a gated entrance with the name " My Lady's Seat " clearly shown on the gate. It is shown on the Wytham Woods Permit Holders Map as " The Dell " .
- ^ My Lady's Seat : The name element ' My Lady ' might be a reference to Abingdon Abbey and The Virgin Mary. If so then this would suggest ownership of the ' sæter ' by the abbey.
- ^ My Lady's Seat : The name element seat is probably from Old Norse sætr : " elevated summer pasture ". See (Contents) > Anglicisation of Old Norse.
- ^ LAKELAND DALES : (Robert Gambles) ". . .historical sites. . .Little Langdale. . .Seat Sandal " .[31]
- ^ Summer Shielings : The remains of structures have been found in the English Lake District that are assumed to have been summer shielings (high altitude dwellings) where people stayed during the summer months in order to watch over the animals.[aw]
- ^ See (Contents) > Seofecanwyrthe > Archaeological evidence.
- ^ Great fen-sedge or Saw-sedge.Cladium mariscus. . .The cut sedge was chiefly in demand as a thatching material. . .It is more flexible and durable than reed. . .[33]
- ^ During the medieval period it was common practice for rushes to be strewn on the ground, both indoors and outdoors, for insulation and cleanliness, and to help to prevent animals from churning up mud.
- ^ Common club-rush or Bullrush. Schoenoplectus lacustris. . .Club-rush is one of the species that gave the ceremony of rush-bearing its title.. . .Before the days of floor boarding and carpets, the stone or earth floors of churches . . .were strewn with a mixture of rushes, sweet-flags and scented herbs. . .this green carpet had to be renewed at least once a year. . .[33]
- ^ Common club-rush or Bullrush.Schoenoplectus lacustris . . .The rounded stems are straight and jointless, which makes them ideal for plaiting and weaving into baskets, mats. . .[33]
- ^ See also River Caldew > Source of river > . . .Candleseaves Bog.
- ^ Prefers shallow water[34]
- ^ Used for making pleated and woven products E.g baskets, mats.[34]
- ^ Used in medieval Europe for Rushbearing[34]
- ^ Prefers shallow water[35]
- ^ General construction material[35]
- ^ See also Bulstake Stream which joins the Seacourt/Hinksey Stream near North Hinksey.
- ^ Prefers water logged ground[34]
- ^ Used in medieval Europe for making rushlights[34]
- ^ Old English wiht : ” weight ” . Derived from Latin Vectis.[37]
- ^ Etymology in a nut shell
- Weight from Old English wiht equates to : ” land mass ”
- Lever from Latin vectis equates to : ” the act of lifting ” [38]
- ^ Old English hâm : ” dwelling, house, manor, estate, hamlet ” [39]
- ^ War and Peace in the Viking Age (Max Adams) " At least two Scandinavian language traditions arrived in the British Isles during the ninth century..." [40]
- Old West Norse from Norway
- Old East Norse from Denmark
- ^ War and Peace in the Viking Age (Max Adams) " Words loaned both ways between Old English and Old Norse " [40]
- ^ WiKtionary : < seave > From Old Norse sef, whence also Danish siv, Icelandic sef and Swedish säv (“club-rush”).
- ^ Yorkshire Dales – Seaves : (" rushes ").[41]
- ^ Lake District – Seeves, Sieves : (" rushes ").[42]
- ^ Old Norse ' sef ' (" sedge, rush ")[12]
- ^ WiKtionary : < English saeter > A Scandinavian mountainside meadow used during the summer for grazing milking cows or goats.
- ^ WiKtionary : < Old Norse sætr > (in Norway) mountain pastures, dairy lands.
- ^ Usage definition of saeter in the British Isles
- " A mountain pasture, a shieling " .[43]
- " Summer pasture " .[44]
- " Upland summer pasture or farmstead " .[45]
- ^ See Transhumance > Scandinavian peninsula
- ^ Summer transhumance " We know from the evidence of Norse farming customs in north Scotland that Norse settlers in Britain continued the system of summer transhumance which was customary in their Scandinavian homeland. " [31]
- ^ LAKELAND DALES (Robert Gambles) " ...historical sites ...Little Langdale ...Seat Sandal " .[31]
- ^ Summer shielings The remains of structures have been found in the English Lake District that are assumed to have been summer shielings (high altitude dwellings) where people stayed during the summer months in order to watch over the animals.[ca]
- ^ Seathwaite : " Clearing in the woods where rushes grow. " [12]
- ^ Seathwaite : " Clearing in the woods where rushes grow. " [12]
- ^ Seavy Side : " Summer pasture overgrown with rushes. "
- WiKtionary : < seavy > " overgrown with rushes ".
- ^ See River Caldew > Source of river
- ^ Seamore Tarn : " Small lake on the moor overgrown with rushes. "
- WiKtionary : < mor > Moor, mountain.
- WiKtionary : < tarn > A small mountain lake, especially in Northern England.
- ^ Swindale Beck is a tributary of the River Eden
- ^ Candleseaves Sike is a tributary of the River Swale
- ^ Seavy Sike : " Small stream overgrown with rushes. "
- WiKtionary : < sike > A gutter or ditch; a small stream that frequently dries up in the summer.
- ^ Seavy Sike is a tributary of the River Greta
- ^ See List of peaks in the Yorkshire Dales
- ^ See Swaledale > Agriculture and industry
- ^ A hybrid of Old Norse sætr and Old English tûn
- ^ See Viking Age > Historical context > " It was unlikely that the Lindisfarne attack of 793 was the first attack "
- ^ See Lindisfarne > History > Viking raid on the monastery
- ^ See Viking Age > Historical context > Viking attack of AD 793
- ^ See House of Wessex
- ^ See Æthelred I of Wessex > Background > Map of Southern Britain in the ninth century
- ^ See Abingdon Abbey > Early history > ...until its destruction by the Danes in the reign of King Alfred...
- ^ Sutton Courtenay and Abingdon Abbey (Arthur Preston) " ... the ravages of the Northmen in 866-71, when the monks were driven out and little of the abbey buildings left standing except the walls. " – PDF page 4, actual page 26.[2]
- ^ See Alfred the Great > Chronology
- ^ See House of Wessex
- ^ See History of Anglo-Saxon England > Viking challenge and the rise of Wessex
- ^ See Treaty of Alfred and Guthrum > The treaty > A 19th century map illustrating the boundaries of Alfred's territory (Pink) and Guthrum's (Blue)
- ^ See Taston, Oxfordshire > History > Danish Vikings.
- ^ The coin shows the heads of two people, who are assumed to be:
- Alfred the Great – ruler of Wessex.
- Ceolwulf – ruler of Mercia.
- ^ The Watlington Viking Hoard. . .the presence in the hoard of a single coin of Alfreds Two-Line type[da] suggests that the hoard was buried around the time that Alfred introduced that coinage in c.879-880. . .[47]
- ^ See List of English monarchs > House of Wessex
- ^ See List of English monarchs > House of Wessex
- ^ See List of English monarchs > House of Wessex
- ^ See List of English monarchs > House of Wessex
- ^ See History of Anglo-Saxon England > English unification (10th century)
- ^ See List of English monarchs > House of Wessex
- ^ See List of English monarchs > House of Wessex
- ^ See Abingdon Abbey > Early history > By the 950s the abbey was in a decayed state, but in about 954 King Eadred appointed Æthelwold, later Bishop of Winchester, abbot. He was one of the leaders of the English Benedictine Reform, and Abingdon then became the second centre of the Reform (after Glastonbury).
- ^ See List of English monarchs > House of Wessex
- ^
aet Hengestesige , and aet Seofecanwyrthe , and aet Wihtham
- ^ See List of English monarchs > House of Wessex
- ^ See List of English monarchs > House of Wessex
- ^ See List of English monarchs > House of Wessex
- ^ St. Brice's Day massacre " The massacre in Oxford is described in the chronicle of John of Wallingford. It is recorded that the city's Danish inhabitants attempted to claim sanctuary in St Frideswide Church (now Christchurch Cathedral) which was burnt down by the mob..." [6]
- ^ See St Brice's Day massacre > Background > There are historical records that state Gunhilde, the sister of Sweyn Forkbeard, the King of Denmark, was a victim...
- ^ The day Oxford burned In November 2009, to mark the 1,000 year anniversary of the event, the Oxford Times published an article in the Oxfordshire Limited Edition –– "Nicola Lisle talks to local historian Roger Jenkins about the destruction of Oxford by Viking raiders 1,000 years ago." [6]
- ^ The day Oxford burned " ...the infamous St. Brice's Day massacre, which led directly to the revenge attack of 1009 that saw the fledgling town razed to the ground." " The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is the only primary source, and this tells us that the siege happened in 1009 sometime between Christmas Day and New Years Eve." " It appears to have been carried out under the orders of Thorkell the Tall, a Viking warrior who later allied himself with King Canute in a bid to dethrone King Sweyn I." "Oxford's buildings at the time were built with timber frames, thatched roofs and mud walls, and stood no chance against the onslaught" [6]
- ^ See List of English monarchs > House of Denmark
- ^ See List of English monarchs > House of Wessex (restored, first time) (1014–1016)
- ^ See List of English monarchs > House of Denmark (restored) (1016–1042)
- ^ See History of Anglo-Saxon England > Rise of Cnut
- ^ See List of English monarchs > House of Denmark (restored) (1016–1042)
- ^ See List of English monarchs > House of Denmark (restored) (1016–1042)
- ^ See List of English monarchs > House of Wessex (restored, second time) (1042–1066)
- ^ See List of English monarchs > House of Godwin (1066)
Citations
- ^ a b Biddle 1962, p. 79.
- ^ a b Preston 1919, p. 26.
- ^ Preston 1919, p. 27.
- ^ Higham & Ryan 2015, p. 314.
- ^ Crossley & Elrington 1979, pp. 3–73.
- ^ a b c d e Lisle & Jenkins 2009, pp. 31–33.
- ^ Page_ & Ditchfield 1924, pp. 405–408.
- ^ Clark Hall 1916, p. 331.
- ^ Clark Hall 1916, p. 557.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Page & Ditchfield 1924, pp. 421–423.
- ^ a b c "MAGiC MaP : Seacourt DMV – Use Table of Contents for Colour Mapping ". Natural England - Magic in the Cloud Service.
- ^ a b c d Reaney 1969, p. 175.
- ^ Carlton 2019, pp. 137–138.
- ^ Clark Hall 1916, p. 212.
- ^ Clark Hall 1916, p. 758.
- ^ *"Key to English Place-Names : Hurworth-on-Tees". University of Nottingham. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
- ^ *"Key to English Place-Names : Hollingworth". University of Nottingham. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
- ^ a b *"SEACOURT". Open Domesday. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
- ^ "MAGiC MaP : Sugworth, near Kennington, Oxfordshire". Natural England - Magic in the Cloud.
- ^ *"SUGWORTH". Open Domesday. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
- ^ Clark Hall 1916, p. 549.
- ^ Page 1907, pp. 77–79.
- ^ Biddle 1962, p. 83.
- ^ Biddle 1962, p. 71.
- ^ Biddle 1962, p. 85.
- ^ Biddle 1962, p. 86.
- ^ Biddle 1962, p. 75.
- ^ Biddle 1962, p. 87.
- ^ Biddle 1962, p. 91.
- ^ Biddle 1962, p. 185.
- ^ a b c d Gambles 1997, p. 154.
- ^ "MAGiC MaP : My Lady's Seat – Use Table of Contents for Colour Mapping ". Natural England - Magic in the Cloud.
- ^ a b c Mabey 1996, pp. 389–391.
- ^ a b c d e Mabey 1996, pp. 387–392.
- ^ a b Mabey 1996, p. 400.
- ^ "MAGiC MaP : Wytham Village – Use Table of Contents for Colour Mapping ". Natural England - Magic in the Cloud.
- ^ Clark Hall 1916, pp. 740–741.
- ^ Reaney 1969, p. 71.
- ^ Clark Hall 1916, p. 314.
- ^ a b Adams 2017, p. 136.
- ^ Hartley & Ingilby 1985, pp. 201.
- ^ Rollinson 1981, pp. 222.
- ^ Reaney 1969, p. 174.
- ^ Rollinson 1978, p. 34.
- ^ Gambles 1997, p. 4.
- ^ "MAGiC MaP : Ravenseat Farm, Swaledale – Use Table of Contents for Colour Mapping ". Natural England - Magic in the Cloud.
- ^ Williams & Naylor 2016, pp. 29.
Sources
- Books
- Adams, Max (2017). Aelfred's Britain: War and Peace in the Viking Age. Head of Zeus. ISBN 9781784080310.
- Aveling, Francis (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 1 - Abbey of Abingdon. Catholic Encyclopedia.
- Clark Hall, John R. (1916). A Concise Anglo−Saxon Dictionary, Second Edition. The Macmillan Company.
- Gambles, Robert (1997). The Story of the Lakeland Dales. Phillimore & Co Ltd. ISBN 1-86077-033-9.
- Hartley, Marie; Ingilby, Joan (1985). Life and Tradition in the Yorkshire Dales. Dalesman. ISBN 0-85206-632-5.
- Higham, Nicholas J.; Ryan, Martin J. (2015). The Anglo-Saxon World. YALE UNIVERSITY PRESS. ISBN 978-0-300-21613-4.
- Lisle, Nicola; Jenkins, Roger (2009). The day Oxford burned (Oxfordshire Limited ed.). The Oxford Times.
- Mabey, Richard (1996). Flora Britannica. Sinclair-Stevenson. ISBN 1-85619-377-2.
- Reaney, P H (1969). The Origin of English Place Names. Routledge & Kegan Paul.
- Rollinson, William (1978). A History of Cumberland and Westmorland. Phillimore. ISBN 978-0-85033-315-2.
- Rollinson, William (1981). Life and Tradition in the Lake District. Dalesman. ISBN 0-85206-635-X.
- Williams, Gareth; Naylor, John (2016). King Alfreds Coins, The Watlington Viking Hoard. Ashmolean museum, University of Oxford. ISBN 978-1-910807-13-2.
- Online
- Carlton, David (2019). "Semantic Shift in Old English and Old Saxon Identity Terms". Western University. The University of Western Ontario: 137–138. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
- Crossley, Alan; Elrington, C R, eds. (1979). 'Medieval Oxford', A History of the County of Oxford: Volume 4. British History Online. pp. 3–73. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
- Biddle, Martin (1962). "The Deserted Medieval Village of Seacourt, Berkshire" (PDF). Oxoniensia. XXVI–XXVII. Oxford Architectural and Historical Society: 70–201. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
- Page, W.H.; Ditchfield, P.H., eds. (1924). Parishes: Seacourt, in A History of the County of Berkshire, Volume 4. Victoria County History. British History Online. pp. 421–423. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
- Page_, W.H.; Ditchfield, P.H., eds. (1924). Parishes: North Hinksey, in A History of the County of Berkshire: Volume 4. Victoria County History. British History Online. pp. 405–408. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
- Page, W.H., ed. (1907). A History of the County of Oxford, Volume 2. Victoria County History. British History Online. pp. 77–79. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
- Preston, A.E. (1919). "Sutton Courtenay and Abingdon Abbey" (PDF). Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire Archaeological Journal. XXV. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
- Attribution
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain
- Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Abbey of Abingdon". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
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