1940: Over 500 men between the ages of 20 and 23 registered for 'call-up' at the Peterborough Labour Exchange on this Saturday. Of these only five registered a conscientious objection. In the end 490 actually signed up. 64 with the Navy and 130 with the RAF. The rest offered no definite preference. Not surprisingly, bearing in mind the industrial landscape of Peterborough, there was more than the usual number of recruits who were in reserved occupations - mainly engineering. (Gray, David, Peterborough at War 1939-1945, David Gray, 2011)
Taken from The Peterborough Book of Days by Brian Jones, The History Press, 2014.
Much of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, our key source for early medieval English history, was written at Peterborough Abbey in this period – today preserved in the Peterborough D and E Manuscripts. Another chronicle was written here by a monk called Hugh Candidus, telling the story of the abbey. One tale he told was of a corrupt abbot, Henry d'Angély, who was a rather godless and worldly man who planned to loot Peterborough of its wealth. As a result a dread portent followed in the form of a spectral 'wild hunt' sent to terrorise the area. 'In the very year in which he came to the abbey, marvellous portents were seen and heard at night during the whole of lent, throughout the woodland and plains, from the monastery as far as Stamford. For there appeared, as it were, hunters with horns and hounds, all being jet black, their horses and hounds as well, and some rode as it were on goats and had great eyes and there were twenty or thirty together. Many men of faithful report both saw them and heard the horns...'
A fire breaks out, destroying much of the monastery and town, seemingly from an unattended fire in the Abbey's bakery. The Anglo- Saxon Chronicle says “all the minster of Peterborough burned, and all the buildings except the chapter-house and the dormitory; and besides, the most part of the town also all burned. All this happened on a Friday; that was 4 August…”
The Anglo Saxons originated from northern Germany, Denmark and northern Holland. The Venerable Bede who wrote the first history of England in the 8th century tells us they were made up of three tribes called the Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes. They invaded Britain in the 5th and 6th centuries, crossing the North Sea in wooden boats. In their earliest invasions Britain was part of the Roman Empire and the Romans erected defences against the raiders and built signal stations along the south and east coast to warn against attacks (Image 1). After 410 AD the Romans left Britain and the Anglo-Saxons began to raid and settle in greater numbers.
They settled in different parts of Britain, the Angles in Mercia and Northumberland, the Saxons in East Anglia and the Jutes in Wessex (Image 2). They controlled a lot of England, but did not conquer Scotland, Wales or Cornwell.
Why did the Anglo Saxons invade Britain? It was probably because they wanted somewhere to settle and farm, in lands that were better for growing crops. They were able to because the absence of the Romans meant that there was little organised opposition to their arrival
References:
Multiple sources including Peterborough Museum
Images:
Cover image Hedda Stone Peterborough Cathedral
Roman watch tower: https://archaeologydataservice...
Anglo Saxon settlements
Most Anglo-Saxons lived in small communities or isolated farms. There were few towns of any size.
A Saxon 'village' consisted of several single-roomed buildings. These were grouped together around a large hall or meeting house where the family would have lived, eaten and slept.
Buildings would have been timber-framed, probably infilled with wattle panels daubed with clay to make them weatherproof and with thatched roofs. The houses had a central hearth for heating, cooking and light. Anglo-Saxon families were large—everyone lived under the same roof, from the main family to extended family such as grandparents, unmarried siblings and children.
Today Anglo-Saxon settlement sites are hard to find as very little survives. Archaeological excavation can detect the differently coloured soil fills of post-holes and trenches left by rectangular buildings and fenced enclosures.
Technology
The Anglo-Saxons were highly skilled at many and varied crafts. We can begin to understand their technology by studying the objects that we find on their settlements and buried with their dead.
Pottery
Saxon pottery was made by hand. The clay pots were left to dry then baked in an oven or bonfire to harden them. Pottery could be decorated in many ways. Lines and drawings were made in the surface of the unfired clay with antler or wooden tools.
Bone Working
Many objects were made out of bone and horn. This was a very specialised craft. Various objects such as combs, rings, needles and pins were manufactured. Some of the larger items like combs may have been made out of whale bones.
Jewellery
Jewellery was a common part of Saxon costume. Most jewellery was made of bronze although gold or silver was used for richer examples. Brooches were often cast in separate pieces and soldered together.
Metalwork
A blacksmith would have been available at most villages. Blacksmiths would have made spades, ploughs, weapons, locks and jewellery. Most of a smith's everyday work would have been repairing broken objects. Metalwork was often decorated with patterns. Many designs were simply punched onto metalwork.
References:
Multiple sources including Peterborough Museum
Images:
Anglo Saxon house at Butser taken by the author
Anglo Saxon horn platter, bowl, drinking horn and spoon and bone needles and comb (replica)
Bone Needles (replica)
Cover image Hedda Stone Peterborough Cathedral
Much of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, our key source for early medieval Eng…
A fire breaks out, destroying much of the monastery and town, seemingly…
The Anglo Saxons originated from northern Germany, Denmark and northern…