After the departure of the Romans, the Saxons launched incursions into England. The Saxons were a Germanic people who migrated to and settled in what is now England during the early Middle Ages. They played a significant role in the history of Britain.
In the year 470, instead of merely plundering and departing, some Saxons chose to remain and establish a colony in Kent.
168 miles away, Derbyshire, situated in the heart of England, was among the last regions to be reached. It wasn't until the year 550, that large groups of Angles hailing from Schleswig-Holstein voyaged up the Trent and settled in the area.
In those times, it was common for the founder of a village to lend their name to it. For instance, Boul-ton (now Boulton) was originally Bola's village. Ceadd and his followers established themselves in a valley, or "den," near a forest stream, giving rise to Chaddesden – initially documented in the Domesday Book as "Cedesene." In a similar fashion, Mackworth signified Macca's homestead, and Bread-salt (now Breadsall) represented Braegd's retreat. In this vicinity during those days, individuals such as Ceadd, Bola, Alhwald (with Alvas-ton being Alhwald's village), and Braegd resided. Reflecting upon it, our Saxon ancestors' names may indeed strike us as somewhat exotic in the present day.
These Saxons and Angles, fair in complexion, tall in stature, possessing elongated heads, and robust in strength, were, despite their martial reputation, fundamentally farmers. They were pioneers originating from the forested regions of Europe. Accustomed to dense woodlands similar to those they encountered here, they carved clearings amid the trees and tilled the earth. Unlike earlier peoples, spanning from the Stone Age to the Iron Age, the Saxons predominantly settled in lowland areas, constructing their villages in valleys. Their realm in the Midlands bore the name Mercia. Notably, Repton and Tamworth, both of which housed Mercian kings and served as their final resting places, stood as its principal cities.
For a considerable period following their arrival, new farms continued to be established. An individual whose identity remains obscure selected a location for a farm (referred to as "worth" in the Saxon dialect) along the Markeaton Brook, precisely where St. Werburgh's Church now stands. This site offered water for their family and livestock, as well as a spot for a future mill. Significantly, it lay away from Roman Rykneld Street, reflecting the Saxon aversion to Roman remnants shared by their contemporaries.
Northworthy as it may have been in Saxon times, with its hall and wooden church of St. Werburgh.
This place, which he named Northworthy or "North Homestead," possibly due to its northward location in relation to his former residence, marked the second human settlement within our borders. The names of these villages offer insights into the landscape of that era and the valuable resources it offered. The term "ley," denoting a glade or clearing, suggests that Mapper-ley was a clearing where Maples thrived, and Dar-ley was renowned for its deer population. Borrow-ash was distinguished by the presence of ash trees. The finest structures had roofs constructed from split oak slabs or shingles, sourced from the oaks in Spondon (given that "don" means hill, and "Span" signifies shingle). In Wil-ne (Willow-island), willow trees could be harvested to create baskets for collecting grain and various household purposes.
Hand-mills, also known as querns, were extensively utilised in the period before water-mills were constructed. These querns were crafted from a suitable stone sourced from Quarn-don, (now Quarndon) which essentially translates to "Quernstone hill." On Sin-fin, (now Sinfin) known as the "broad fen," our ancestors engaged in hunting and trapping wild fowl, including ducks, geese, and snipe, which were abundant in the area.(Many people sadly still try and poach in Sinfin, this is illegal so if any readers are interested, do not try this.)
The initial action taken by this pioneering landowner, often referred to as a "Thane" in Saxon terminology, was to clear the underbrush along the Markeaton Brook and arrange for the felling of trees on the valley slopes. From the logs, he constructed a sizable one-roomed dwelling, akin to what might be described as "log cabins" resembling those crafted by the Pilgrim Fathers in the New England woods. For defensive purposes, a tall wooden fence, or stockade, was erected around the residence, which also housed barns, byres, and perhaps a sleeping hut for the women.
The Thane of Northworthy laid out his newly acquired estate in a manner that positioned meadows and pastures along the streams, with unfenced fields on the valley slopes for ploughing. Three fields were designated for this purpose: one extended nearly up to the Roman road and became known as Westfield, Southfield was located to the south of Bottle Brook, and Darley Field occupied the space between the Markeaton and the Derwent. Each year, one of these fields was left fallow, while the others were sown with barley, wheat, or oats. These fields were divided into quarter-acre strips, with the thane holding a significant number of them, while the remaining strips were allocated to the villagers, known as churls.
Cattle and geese grazed on the pastures and uncultivated land, while swine foraged in the oak woods surrounding the estate. The churls were responsible for tilling both the Thane's land and their own, utilising a large wooden plough pulled by eight oxen. They also harvested the crops, partly as a form of rent for their holdings and partly in exchange for protection, as turbulent times necessitated the support of a powerful figure for common folk.
Initially, the entire village inhabited the hall, using benches arranged along the walls as sleeping quarters. These walls also served as places to hang their spears, axes, and the trophies of deer hunted in the Darley region. All meals, which included beef (preserved through salting in winter), venison, and wildfowl sourced from Sinfin, were prepared over a central fire, with the smoke venting through the roof. Common folk sat on benches at long tables, while the thane, accompanied by his family, guests, and neighbors like the Ceadds from Chaddesden, or passing travelers, dined at a similar "board" or table positioned on a raised platform. During these gatherings, a minstrel regaled them with songs of deities, heroes, and victorious battles.
My drawing of how that could have looked
With the village's expansion, cottages were constructed for the commoners, located in proximity to the hall. These cottages were fashioned from materials obtained from the forest, employing wooden frames filled in with woven twigs (referred to as "wattle") and coated with mud (known as "daub"), ultimately thatched. They possessed a long, low profile, comprised of a single storey, featuring a living space for the family at one end and a byre for cattle at the other. The windows in these cottages were modest in size and lacked glass, instead relying on wooden shutters or a sheet of horn for closure.
Northworthy, similar to its counterparts, operated as a self-sustained entity. The commoners were responsible for constructing the hall, raising cottages, crafting ploughs and harrows, as well as producing furniture. In this setting, there was no concept of the "division of labour," and the only existing crafts were the traditional ones of blacksmithing, pottery, and weaving, though not every village boasted these trades. The women of Northworthy engaged in spinning wool sourced from the village sheep or flax cultivated near the river. They were also responsible for brewing mead using wild honey, a beloved beverage among our Saxon ancestors, and crafting salves and remedies from wild herbs.
Not too far away, an individual named Walda established a "wick," which was a dairy farm. Whether this occurred before or after the establishment of Northworthy remains uncertain, but the present-day Wardwick is a testament to Walda's dairy farm. If a lane connected it to Northworthy, our "Wardwick" stands as a Saxon thoroughfare and happens to be Derby's most ancient street.
The Wardwick Tavern on the Wardwick in Derby
The Saxon thanes exercised great care in demarcating the boundaries of their estates or manors, employing natural landmarks. Markeaton, for instance, denoted the village located at the "boundary island" (where "mark" signifies boundary, "ea" represents island, and "tun" signifies village). At one end of Æthelheard's property, a notable tree, presumably a majestic oak, existed, and this village is recognised today as Allestree or "AEthelheard's tree." In this manner, the land was separated from that of others in a time predating the creation of maps.
Christianity was introduced to Britain during the Roman era, and a distinct British Church persisted in Wales and Scotland. Meanwhile, the Saxons adhered to pagan beliefs, offering sacrifices to their deities, with Woden serving as their primary god. They conducted these rituals in wooden temples constructed in a manner reminiscent of "halls" situated within wooded areas. To bring about the conversion of the Anglo-Saxons residing in our region, the British Church dispatched missionaries from Lindisfarne Monastery in Northumberland. One notable missionary, Diuma, assumed the role of the first Bishop of Mercia. As a result of these efforts, a monastery was established in Repton, Derbyshire serving as the final resting place for Diuma and numerous Mercian monarchs. (I believe all that is known of Diuma's life is contained in a short account in Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People.)
The Repton bluff has long been the setting for human activity. The first traces appear in the fourth or fifth millennium BC. There is then a long gap in the evidence, but archaeological excavations in 2013 indicate that the site was continuously occupied from about the 4th or 5th centuries BC, with evidence of both Roman and Anglo-Saxon settlement. From the 7th to the 9th centuries, Repton (Hrewpandum) was a principal residence of the royal family of Mercia, at its greatest a very considerable region which stretched from the Ribble to the Thames, from the Humber to the (Bristol) Avon, from the fens of East Anglia to the Welsh marches. Timber buildings discovered north and south of the church may represent the halls and other structures of the estate centre. There were at least three stages of major timber structures before the first church was built, suggesting that the earliest may date back to around 600.
Northworthy people were converted about A.D. 700. The thane had a chaplain, who became the village, or "parish," priest. A wooden church was built by the Markeaton Brook (no longer there) and dedicated to the Saxon Saint Werburgh, a granddaughter of the great Mercian king, Penda. Having rejected the suit of her father's steward, she became a nun and afterwards a great abbess, so greatly venerated by the Anglo Saxons that many churches (three in Derbyshire) were dedicated to her. There are two left standing today as well as a school.
St Werburgh's, Derby City Centre.
St Werburgh's, Spondon, Derby.
A hundred years later, during the Danish incursions into the region, they killed Alkmund, who was the son of King Alcred from Northumbria. Subsequently, Alkmund was venerated as a martyr and saint. Fearing the arrival of the Danes, his remains were discreetly relocated from their original grave in Lilleshall, Shropshire, to Northworthy. They were positioned near a well, which has since been known as St. Alkmund's Well, until a church with a shrine dedicated to him was erected in close proximity. It was believed that this location was associated with the occurrence of miracles attributed to the saint's remains. Hence, in the ninth century, Northworthy was home to two churches, St. Werburgh's and St. Alkmund's. Sadly, St. Alkmund's Church was demolished in 1968, and the tomb of St. Alkmund was transferred to Derby Museum.
St Alkmund’s Well in Derby. St. Alkmund’s Well is an amazing survival and an unexpected surprise in this built-up part of Derby, twixt the multistorey block of flats and the houses. It is said that Miracle’s were experienced at this well and healing was done by the water. When St Alkund’s remains were moved, all miracles stopped.
St Alkmund’s Church being demolished in 1968, in the background is St Mary’s.
Anglo-Saxon social classes in Mercia had a military origin and were:
(1) The King of Mercia, who led the people in war. Under him were:
(2) Aldermen, or earls as they came to be called, who were the king's local officers. In our area, Aries-ton was the earl's-village, where he may have lived.
(3) Thanes, such as the thane of Northworthy, who had charge of the safety of their villages and followed the king to war.
(4) Churls, or villagers, peasant farmers obliged to follow their thane forty days in each year to war if needed. They formed a people's army, which later on was called the militia.
A Saxon village like Northworthy functioned as a free, self-governing community. Every commoner was a member of the village council, known as the moot, with the thane serving as its chairman. The moot held authority in matters related to agriculture, determining when the communal fields were to be ploughed, what crops were to be sown, and establishing the schedule for the harvest. Additionally, it ensured that everyone upheld the king's peace.
In Northworthy, a relatively small community of fifty to seventy individuals led somewhat constrained lives. Agriculture represented their sole occupation. The absence of consistent markets, limited trade opportunities, and a lack of well-established roads connecting to other places characterised their circumstances. Reading materials and books were virtually nonexistent, and literacy was a rare skill among the villagers. The religious ceremonies of remote temples played a small part in the affairs of a peasant, who seldom ventured beyond their village unless summoned for military service.
Men wore leathern breeches covered with a short woollen smock, trimmed for best wear with coloured braid. The women had a sleeveless dress, fastened at the shoulder by a brooch, and a girdle, decorated with coloured fringes, round the waist. They were fond of ornaments, hair-combs, necklaces and brooches. Both men and women were tall, fair-haired and blue-eyed.
After the conversion, religion entered the home. The priest conducted Church services and helped people in their daily affairs. For the first time a "book-learned" man came among them, and their outlook went somewhat beyond the village. The churl, his wife and children all went to church together. As babies they were christened in it; they were confirmed and married there, and when they died the priest buried them in its churchyard.
Sundays and the numerous Church holy days provided a break from labour in the communal fields, allowing the villagers to participate in what we might consider somewhat rugged sports on the village green. These activities included wrestling, single-stick fighting, cockfights, and events like bull and badger baiting. During the feast of the patron saint, St. Werburgh, or the local "Wakes," the village celebrated with merriment. During such occasions, fairs were organised in the churchyard, where itinerant merchants peddled various wares, trinkets, and merchandise.
The shrine of St. Alkmund attracted crowds of pilgrims, particularly from Northumberland. Even after the Reformation, it was noted that "north-country-men enquire for his tomb and rest their packs upon it." Thanks to St. Alkmund, Northworthy transformed from a tranquil village into a bustling place of pilgrimage. The commoners and their families interacted with the wider world and received news from it as never before.
Northworthy, with its thatched cottages clustered around the hall and wooden church, must have presented a picturesque village nestled within the trees. A commoner residing there participated in three primary activities: (a) toiling in the common fields, as laborers were not dispersed as they are on modern farms; (b) attending church services; and (c) engaging in discussions within the village moot, held beneath a tree or in the hall. Women, too, occasionally assisted with fieldwork, contributed to the harvest, gathered leftover crops, ventured into the woods to collect nuts, or gathered for gossip while doing their laundry in the Markeaton Brook. Everyone came together for seasonal festivities, such as the harvest-home celebration at the hall.
A remarkably well-preserved Anglo-Saxon dwelling and oratory, believed to originate from the early 9th century, has been uncovered in Derbyshire through the collaborative efforts of archaeologists from the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) and Wessex Archaeology.
Researchers from the RAU's recently established Cultural Heritage Institute, in conjunction with their peers from Wessex Archaeology, carried out a comprehensive examination of the Anchor Church Caves, a grade II listed site located between Foremark and Ingleby in South Derbyshire.
For an extended period, these caves, hewn into the soft sandstone rock, were commonly perceived as 18th-century 'follies.' However, a recent study, as documented in the Proceedings of the University of Bristol Spelaeological Society, has compellingly suggested that these caves are more likely to belong to the early Medieval era.
The Saxon crypt located within Repton Church, serving as the final resting place of King Wiglaf.
An early Anglo-Saxon cross-shaft adorned with intricate depictions of human figures and foliage.
