Saxon Churches

[hilary]

I have just joined the group. I am researching on a very informal
basis what I think is the site of one of the first Saxon bishop's
seats in the country, Its called Elmham Cathedral and its in North
Elmham near Dereham in Norfolk. However, because all that is in
evidence is the later Norman Chapel on the site, English Heritage
signs only talk about the Norman period. A book I have on the subject
claims that Elmham Cathedral was in Suffolk.

Apparently the other bishop's seats (cathedra) went on to become
cathedrals as we know them but for me this is much more interesting
and a bit of a puzzle. Does anyone know anything about Saxon churches
and possible digs?

[Michael G Shapland]

A good place to start for the Elmham problem is Heywood's article in the
Journal of the British Archaeological Association 135 (1982). If you try
James Campbell's 'The Anglo-Saxon State' from p.110 there are other
references there, and more recently I imagine it's discussed in Blair's
'The Church in Anglo-Saxon Society'. Hope that is of some help.

[Alan Newham]

Volume 1 (of three) Anglo Saxon Atchitecture by H.M.Taylor and Joan Taylor
1965, still a standard work, devotes three pages to Elmham p.228 - 231. The
intro states: "Ruins of a complete church, consisting of a west axial tower
with south turret -stair; a nave flanked by two small towers; transepts; and
a small apsidal chancel: period C2 = 1000 - 1050AD; possibly rebuilt on
ruins dating from period A2 = 650 - 700AD" ( the periods are Baldwin Brown`s
tweaked by Taylor ). Assuming you have not read Taylor and can't find the
volume I can scan the pages and send via e mail. Do let me know.

Good luck
Alan Newham.

[hilary]

Thanks very much to Gill, Michael and Allen

There is a lot to take in here and I will need to keep a record of my
activities, hours spent etc for the Discovery award. I feel that is a
useful framework. Actually it is as much to limit the time I spend as
to be organised. I have a variety of interests and priorities and this
is supposed to be a 'hobby', but as you know 'hobbies' can easily
become 'hobby horses'which are hard to get off! I am hoping to drop in
to the North Elmham Festival on Saturday for a little look around the
village to who is there. Our Methodist circuit no longer has a chapel
there.

Best wishes

Hilary

On Aug 24, 10:54 pm, "Alan Newham" <a...@maxim-gorky.fsnet.co.uk>
wrote:

> > and possible digs?- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[Penny Wallis]

Dear Hilary,

Sorry I have not contacted you before this, but I have been away and i am
sure that others have provided you with a good deal more information than
this!

There is also a South Elmham which is in Suffolk; this has a Saxon church,
in ruin, which Pevsner (Buildings of England : Suffolk p. 427 ; South
Elmham St Cross)) calls a 'Minster'. It is ages since I have seen it, but
as far as I can remember its plan is like that of Reculver and St Pancras,
Canterbury, i.e. the 'Kentish' plan. However, the church at North Elmham
was the Cathedral.

There is an article by S.E. Rigold in Medieval Archaeology for 1962-3 vols
VI-VII. and it was the subject of the Reginald Taylor Prize Essay in 1981
(by Stephen Heywood).

Best wishes

Penny Wallis

[A Hilary Pegg]

Dear Penny

Thanks for this. The original book I read, which a Junior Heritage Book my
mother used as a primary school teacher years ago by Edmund Vale mentionned
Elmham in Suffolk

I live in Dereham which is properly speaking East Dereham. People coming to
see us have several times thought East and West Dereham would be close
together and the 'satnav' system has got it wrong! They are miles apart as
the name refers to a large deer park that once existed. I haven't checked
what Elmham means yet but it is presumably a similar thing. The bishop's
seat was I think moved to Thetford because it was more populous.

I now have a lot of stuff to sort out!

Best wishes

Hilary

[ke1...@aol.com]

Hi Hilary

The books I have refering to English Place names all translate Elmham as the '...homestead where the elm trees grow...' or ' the house/homestead made from Elm'.  The earliest reference that they all seem to quote is from c.1035 being AElmham (the A and E being joined - sorry my email wont let me do that).

 

Gill 

-----Original Message-----
From: A Hilary Pegg <hilar...@tiscali.co.uk>
To: churchar...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Fri, 28 Aug 2009 10:06
Subject: [SCA] Re: Saxon Churches

 ...I haven't checked what Elmham means yet but it is presumably a similar thing...