The modern town of Cannock sits in an interesting position in the heart of the Anglo-Saxon territory of Mercia, on the important Roman road of Watling Street, and only a few miles from the find-site of the Staffordshire Hoard. Although the oldest part of the oldest building in the modern town (St Luke's Church) dates to 1100 AD, the parish and its surroundings are steeped in earlier history.
The Thegns have been proud to be involved, this year, in helping St Luke's Church to communicate and promote Cannock's rich history as part of their 900-year anniversary celebrations.
As part of this effort, the Thegns were commissioned to produce a special reconstruction to mark the 900 year anniversary.
The Thegns have been proud to be involved, this year, in helping St Luke's Church to communicate and promote Cannock's rich history as part of their 900-year anniversary celebrations.
As part of this effort, the Thegns were commissioned to produce a special reconstruction to mark the 900 year anniversary.
| Although the earliest mention of the settlement of Cannock, by name, in historical documents appears in the late 11th century Domesday Book (then referred to as 'Chenet') an earlier and extremely locally significant document makes explicit and detailed reference to the area. Charter S1380 marks the transfer of a large area of land from Lady Wulfrun (earlier granted to her from a pre-existing royal estate) to the church at Hamton (now Wolverhampton) in the late 10th century. |  Witness list on the reconstructed charter (click to enlarge). |
In this charter, the parishes which were transferred were first listed, and then their boundaries were described in detail. One of these parishes; Hagethorndune (Hawthorn Hill, now Hatherton) almost certainly included the area of the modern town of Cannock.
This important piece of local history was chosen to be reproduced for St Luke's by the skilled hand of Thegns-of-Mercia and English Companions member Harry Ball; a specialist in Anglo-Saxon texts and their reproduction with authentic techniques.
Although the charter's authenticity has been questioned, it does refer to a real event, and the boundaries described are from a genuine pre-Conquest survey. However, as the form in which the text comes down to us is itself a copy-of-a-copy (produced by the 17th century antiquarian Dugdale) the original form of the charter is not known.
With reference to other, more provenanced charters (including, in particular, the contemporary charter S878 for nearby Abbots Bromley) Harry has reproduced the relevant parts of the charter (the overview, description of the bounds of the Hatherton parish, and the witness list) in insular minuscule script handwritten by quill on high-quality sheepskin parchment, producing a result close to how the original may have looked when it was first produced.
This important piece of local history was chosen to be reproduced for St Luke's by the skilled hand of Thegns-of-Mercia and English Companions member Harry Ball; a specialist in Anglo-Saxon texts and their reproduction with authentic techniques.
Although the charter's authenticity has been questioned, it does refer to a real event, and the boundaries described are from a genuine pre-Conquest survey. However, as the form in which the text comes down to us is itself a copy-of-a-copy (produced by the 17th century antiquarian Dugdale) the original form of the charter is not known.
With reference to other, more provenanced charters (including, in particular, the contemporary charter S878 for nearby Abbots Bromley) Harry has reproduced the relevant parts of the charter (the overview, description of the bounds of the Hatherton parish, and the witness list) in insular minuscule script handwritten by quill on high-quality sheepskin parchment, producing a result close to how the original may have looked when it was first produced.
It is hoped that this reproduction will raise awareness of the detailed local history of the area dating back to the latter parts of the Anglo-Saxon period. While the introduction to the charter mentions nearby town names including Bilston, Willenhall, and, significantly, Ogley (Hay) where the famous Staffordshire Hoard was found, the more detailed parish-boundary description for Hatherton contains a wealth of detail about the landscape which local people may still be able to recognise. Finally, the detailed witness-list (including Æthelred, king of the English, and each archbishop and senior bishop in Anglo-Saxon England at the time) highlights that in the 10th century, this land transfer was sufficiently significant for the most important folk in the land to take an interest in the Cannock area.
It is fortuitous, to say the least, that our ancestors chose to write their records on a material which if properly prepared and treated well can last over a thousand years, and therefore that these important pieces of local history have not been lost. There is no reason why this reconstruction might not last equally long, and we hope that, in the keeping of Cannock's central church and oldest historic building, it might serve to help future Cannock residents feel connected with their area's rich heritage.
Reconstructed 10th century charter for Hatherton, produced for St Luke's Church, Cannock, by Thegns of Mercia member Harry Ball. (Click to enlarge)
In Christ. This be the land boundary that Wulfrun has done into the minster of Hamton*, and the town names that this privilege about speaks. First from Arley and Ashwood and Bilston and Willenhall and Wednesfield and Pelsall and Ogley** and Hilton and Hatherton and Kinvaston and the other Hilton and Featherstone.
This is the boundary of Hatherton. First from Sarebrook ford on to the hollow way, and from the way onto the long street***, and from the street to the boundary hedge ford. Along hedge to three boundaries, and from three boundaries to Ethelwey's hedge on to the open field on to the low and thence to the ditch at the shaw, along ditches at the valley against the mast oak. Along the valley, up on the river and eastward to the valley, after the valley on to the white stanes. And then on the street that shoots from the miry place, along the street by the enclosure hedge. After the street in to the white ditch, after the ditch on to the white nook, and there on to the brook. Along the brook and then in Sarebrook even further along the brook again to the ford, which hither from went.
(Witnessed by) |
|
And many good men also with these both ecclesiastics and laymen. ****
*Hamton - Settlement which at some time after this land transfer became known as "Wulfrun's Hamton" and today known as Wolverhampton.
** Ogley - Now known as Ogley Hay -nearest known settlement from Anglo-Saxon times to the find-site of the 7th century Staffordshire Hoard.
*** Long Street - Phrase usually used in relation to old Roman roads, and in this case almost certainly referring to Watling Street, now the A5.
**** The copy of the charter from which this replica is based included a further 26 additional witness names, which are glossed here using this familiar phrase borrowed from charter S1459.
** Ogley - Now known as Ogley Hay -nearest known settlement from Anglo-Saxon times to the find-site of the 7th century Staffordshire Hoard.
*** Long Street - Phrase usually used in relation to old Roman roads, and in this case almost certainly referring to Watling Street, now the A5.
**** The copy of the charter from which this replica is based included a further 26 additional witness names, which are glossed here using this familiar phrase borrowed from charter S1459.
RSS Feed