Athelney: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Village in Somerset, England}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}} |
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|latitude= 51.0555 |
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|country = England |
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|coordinates = {{coord|51.0589|-2.9374|display=inline,title}} |
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|official_name= Athelney |
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|official_name= Athelney |
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|population = |
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|shire_district= [[Sedgemoor]] |
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|shire_district= [[Sedgemoor]] |
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|shire_county = [[Somerset]] |
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|constituency_westminster= |
|constituency_westminster= [[Bridgwater and West Somerset (UK Parliament constituency)|Bridgwater and West Somerset]] |
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|post_town= BRIDGWATER |
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|post_town= BRIDGWATER |
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|postcode_district = TA7 |
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|postcode_area= TA |
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|dial_code= 01278 |
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|os_grid_reference= ST348288 |
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'''Athelney''' is located between the villages of [[Burrowbridge]] and [[Lyng, Somerset|East Lyng]] in the [[Sedgemoor]] district of [[Somerset]], |
'''Athelney''' is a village located between the villages of [[Burrowbridge]] and [[Lyng, Somerset|East Lyng]] in the [[Sedgemoor]] district of [[Somerset]], England. The name is believed to be derived from the [[Old English]] ''[[Ætheling|æþeling]]'' meaning "prince" + -''ey'' meaning "isle".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000mk2z|work=[[BBC Radio 4]]|title=Ramblings - The Mendips with Professor Alice Roberts|date=17 September 2020}}</ref> The village is best known for once being the fortress hiding place of King [[Alfred the Great]], from where he went on to defeat the [[Great Heathen Army]] at the [[Battle of Edington]] in May 878. |
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[[File:King Alfred's Monument, Athelney 05.jpg|thumb|280px|King Alfred's Monument]] |
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==Isle of Athelney== |
==Isle of Athelney== |
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The Isle of Athelney |
The area is known as the Isle of Athelney, because it was once a very low isolated island in the 'very great swampy and impassable marshes' of the [[Somerset Levels]]. Much of the Levels are below the level of high tide. They are now drained for agricultural use during the summer, but are regularly flooded in the winter. |
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[[Archaeology|Archaeological]] excavations and written evidence indicate that at the time of Alfred the island was linked by a [[causeway]] to [[Lyng, Somerset|East Lyng]], with either end protected by a semi-circular [[stockade]] and ditch |
[[Archaeology|Archaeological]] excavations and written evidence indicate that at the time of Alfred the island was linked by a [[causeway]], known as [[Balt Moor Wall]], to [[Lyng, Somerset|East Lyng]], with either end protected by a semi-circular [[stockade]] and ditch; the ditch on the island is now known to date from the [[Iron Age]].<ref name="TimeTeam "/> It is therefore presumed that the island was known by Alfred to have been an ancient fort, and that its existing defences were strengthened by him. Evidence of [[metalworking]] on the site suggests that he also used the island to equip his army.<ref name="TimeTeam "/> When translated from the Anglo-Saxon, the name of the isle, ''Æthelinga īeg'', is often thought to mean the ''Island of Princes''; if correct this might suggest that the island had royal connections prior to Alfred. |
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To give thanks for his victory, Alfred founded a [[monastery]], [[Athelney Abbey]],<ref name="havinden">{{cite book|last=Havinden|first=Michael|title=The Somerset Landscape|publisher=Hodder and Stoughton|location=London|series=The making of the English landscape|pages=94|isbn= |
To give thanks for his victory, Alfred founded a [[monastery]], [[Athelney Abbey]],<ref name="havinden">{{cite book|last=Havinden|first=Michael|title=The Somerset Landscape|publisher=Hodder and Stoughton|location=London|series=The making of the English landscape|year=1981|pages=94|isbn=0-340-20116-9}}</ref> on the Isle in 888, which lasted until the [[Dissolution of the Monasteries]] under [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]] in 1539, when the value of the rubble was put at £80. |
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After Athelney Abbey was dissolved the monks |
After Athelney Abbey was dissolved, the monks built the church in the neighbouring village of [[Lyng, Somerset|East Lyng]]. |
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There are no remains of the monastery above ground, but investigations were carried out in the first episode of television archaeology programme ''[[Time Team]]'' in 1993. A decade later, in the one-hundredth episode, excavations were carried out. These revealed it as one of the only known Anglo-Saxon metalworking sites in the UK.<ref name="TimeTeam">{{cite episode |title=Back to Our Roots |series=Time Team |date=23 February 2003|series-number=10 |number=8 |network=[[Channel 4]] | url=https://www.channel4.com/programmes/time-team/on-demand/33104-008}}</ref> |
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There are no remains of the monastery above ground, but excavations were carried out as part of the 1st and 100th ''[[Time Team]]'' television archaeology programmes. |
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The monastery's location was |
The monastery's location was shown by a small monument on top of the isle in 1801 built by [[Sir John Slade, 1st Baronet]] of the [[Slade Baronets]], on the site of a stone vault.<ref>{{cite book |last=Adkins |first=Lesley and Roy |title=A Field Guide to Somerset Archaeology |year=1992 |publisher=Dovecote Press |location=Wimborne, Dorset |isbn=0-946159-94-7 }}</ref> It is a [[Scheduled Ancient Monument]] (Somerset County No 367) and Grade II [[listed building]].<ref>{{NHLE|desc=King Alfred's Monument with railings |num=1173838 |access-date=2007-02-09 }}</ref> The monument is now on private land belonging to Athelney Farm and is accessible via a permissive path past the farm. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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{{Commons category|Athelney}} |
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* A History of the County of Somerset: Volume 2: (1911) at British History Online [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=40922 Athelney] |
* A History of the County of Somerset: Volume 2: (1911) at British History Online [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=40922 Athelney] |
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[[Category:Villages in Sedgemoor]] |
[[Category:Villages in Sedgemoor]] |
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[[Category:Somerset Levels]] |
[[Category:Somerset Levels]] |
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[[Category:Hill forts in Somerset]] |
[[Category:Hill forts in Somerset]] |
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[[Category:Former islands of England]] |
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[[ang:Æðelinga īeȝ]] |
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[[es:Athelney]] |
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[[eo:Athelney]] |
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[[pl:Athenley]] |
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Revision as of 08:39, 20 May 2024
| Athelney | |
|---|---|
  Athelney Location within Somerset | |
| OS grid reference | ST348288 |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Land | England |
| Sovereign state | Vereinigtes Königreich |
| Post town | BRIDGWATER |
| Postcode district | TA7 |
| Dialling code | 01278 |
| Police | Avon and Somerset |
| Fire | Devon and Somerset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| UK Parliament | |
Athelney is a village located between the villages of Burrowbridge and East Lyng in the Sedgemoor district of Somerset, England. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English æþeling meaning "prince" + -ey meaning "isle".[1] The village is best known for once being the fortress hiding place of King Alfred the Great, from where he went on to defeat the Great Heathen Army at the Battle of Edington in May 878.
Isle of Athelney
The area is known as the Isle of Athelney, because it was once a very low isolated island in the 'very great swampy and impassable marshes' of the Somerset Levels. Much of the Levels are below the level of high tide. They are now drained for agricultural use during the summer, but are regularly flooded in the winter.
Archaeological excavations and written evidence indicate that at the time of Alfred the island was linked by a causeway, known as Balt Moor Wall, to East Lyng, with either end protected by a semi-circular stockade and ditch; the ditch on the island is now known to date from the Iron Age.[2] It is therefore presumed that the island was known by Alfred to have been an ancient fort, and that its existing defences were strengthened by him. Evidence of metalworking on the site suggests that he also used the island to equip his army.[2] When translated from the Anglo-Saxon, the name of the isle, Æthelinga īeg, is often thought to mean the Island of Princes; if correct this might suggest that the island had royal connections prior to Alfred.
To give thanks for his victory, Alfred founded a monastery, Athelney Abbey,[3] on the Isle in 888, which lasted until the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII in 1539, when the value of the rubble was put at £80.
After Athelney Abbey was dissolved, the monks built the church in the neighbouring village of East Lyng.
There are no remains of the monastery above ground, but investigations were carried out in the first episode of television archaeology programme Time Team in 1993. A decade later, in the one-hundredth episode, excavations were carried out. These revealed it as one of the only known Anglo-Saxon metalworking sites in the UK.[2]
The monastery's location was shown by a small monument on top of the isle in 1801 built by Sir John Slade, 1st Baronet of the Slade Baronets, on the site of a stone vault.[4] It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument (Somerset County No 367) and Grade II listed building.[5] The monument is now on private land belonging to Athelney Farm and is accessible via a permissive path past the farm.
Athelney is around 6 miles (9.7 km) from North Petherton, where the Alfred Jewel (an Anglo-Saxon ornament dating from the late 9th century) was discovered in 1693.
See also
References
- ^ "Ramblings - The Mendips with Professor Alice Roberts". BBC Radio 4. 17 September 2020.
- ^ a b c "Back to Our Roots". Time Team. Series 10. Episode 8. 23 February 2003. Channel 4.
- ^ Havinden, Michael (1981). The Somerset Landscape. The making of the English landscape. London: Hodder and Stoughton. p. 94. ISBN 0-340-20116-9.
- ^ Adkins, Lesley and Roy (1992). A Field Guide to Somerset Archaeology. Wimborne, Dorset: Dovecote Press. ISBN 0-946159-94-7.
- ^ Historic England. "King Alfred's Monument with railings (1173838)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 February 2007.
External links
- A History of the County of Somerset: Volume 2: (1911) at British History Online Athelney
- The Somerset Urban Archaeological Survey: Lyng and Athelney by Miranda Richardson