It is known that there had been a population of Danes who had lived in the Oxford area prior to the St. Brice's Day massacre (AD 1002).[g] Many of those had become integrated with the native population and spoke a mix of Old English and Old Danish.[h] Place name evidence suggests that some of the land granted in the charter had previously been occupied by Danes of Viking origin.[i] The charter suggests anti Danish sentiment and a sense of purpose of retribution for the previous
destruction of the abbey.
The element fecan is from Old Saxonfekan or Old Englishfâcen
("deceit, fraud, treachery, sin, evil, wickedness, crime").[r][s]
The element wyrthe is from Old Englishworðig: ("farm enclosure, homestead enclosure").[t][u]
(Conclusion)
The middle element fekan was not part of the actual name.[v]
The actual name was probably Seof wyrthe
The use of the word fekan was a reference to the Danish people who had previously lived there
The use of the word fekan strongly suggests anti Danish sentiment
A possible explanation for the use of the fekan element might have been be to clarify which village was intended, since there were two villages with a similar name.[w]
Seacourt Domesday
There were two settlements with similar etymology recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086:
However the original version of the name (with appendix worth) continued to be used concurrently, but drifted towards using Old Englishsecg: ("sedge, reed, rush, flag").[ag]
Archaeological excavations at Seacourt[aj]
found remains of wooden structures and several ditches that suggest evidence of a farm settlement with ditched animal enclosures and wooden byre's.[ak][al][am]
A long and very narrow building was also discovered that was characteristic of a Viking long-house.[an][ao]
Dark red glass beads were found during excavations that had similar features to Viking glass beads found at York.[ap]
Danish origin
The Viking style long-house byre, the Viking glass beads, place name evidence and the anti Danish sentiment found in the charter, all point to the Danish origin of the deserted medieval village of Seacourt, Oxfordshire.
The archaeological evidence suggests that the Danish settlers were pastoral farmer's who continued to practice the traditional method's of summer transhumance farming that were customary in their Scandinavian homeland.[aq][ar]
It is envisaged that during the summer months livestock were grazed on summer pasture on the higher uplands of Wytham Woods, while the lower meadows were used for the production of hay.[as]
My Lady's Seat is an elevated summer pasture located at the head of the valley known as Wytham Park.[32][at][au]
As of Summer 2021 sheep were grazed on My Lady's Seat while the lower meadows of Wytham Park were used for the production of hay.[av]
It would be expected that the Danish settlers used the land in a similar way, but stayed in summer shielings (primitive dwellings) beside the sæter, in order to safe guard the animals day and night.[ax]
During the winter the livestock were moved back to the farm settlement where they were kept in wooden byre's and fed with hay from the summer hay meadows.[ay]
Farm settlement
Archaeological evidence suggests that the farm settlement consisted of ditched enclosures and wooden byre's for keeping livestock. It is envisaged that man made ditches (rather than hedges) were used to create animal enclosures, in order to keep animals safe. The shallow water was ideal for sedges to grow, which might have been intentional since they have many practical uses.
DOCUMENTARY HISTORY (Martin Biddle) " The earliest mention of Seacourt occurs in a charter of Eadwig which grants twenty hides of land to Abingdon Abbey about 957. " - PDF page 11, actual page 79[1]
Sutton Courtenay and Abingdon Abbey (Arthur Preston)
" ... the ravages of the Northmen in 866-71, when the monks were driven out and little of the abbey buildings left standing except the walls. " – PDF page 4, actual page 26.[2]
Sutton Courtenay and Abingdon Abbey (Arthur Preston)
" At the time Æthelwold (afterwards Bishop of Winchester) took charge, the abbey was in a ruinous and impoverished condition. "
... " In the course of Æthelwold's nine year rule, and as re-established and largely rebuilt by him,
the abbey became the first of the Benedictine houses in England to undergo reform. "
... " From Æthelwold's time onwards its prosperous days may be reckoned, and during the next century or so great wealth was accumulated. In Domesday its possessions in Berks were given as second only in extent to the King's. " – PDF page 5, actual page 27.[3]
Eadgifu was Eadred's mother.
Conquest, Reform and the Making of England (Martin J. Ryan)
" There Æthelwold founded – re-founded as he saw it – a monastery, staffed by former inmates of Glastonbury and clergy from London and Winchester, and was ordained its abbot. Abingdon subsequently received extensive grants of land from King Eadred and from Eadgifu[e] . " [4]
The Early Middle Ages. . . " There was a Danish community in Oxford by the end of the 10th century, perhaps of traders, but many of them were presumably killed in a massacre on St.Brice's day 1002, which culminated in the burning of St.Frideswide's church " . . .[5]
The day Oxford burned " Ironically, Oxford owed much of its prosperity to Danish settlers, many of whom were merchants with links to important British and overseas ports " [6]
See (Contents) > Seofecanwyrthe > Danish origin
Old English hengest: ” stallion, steed, horse, gelding ” [8]
Old English sige: ” victory, success, triumph ” [9]
The name element Hengest might be a reference to Hengist and Horsa, who are said to have led the Angles and Saxons into Britain in the 5th century
The name might suggest anti Danish sentiment
DOCUMENTARY HISTORY (Martin Biddle) " The earliest mention of Seacourt occurs in a charter of Eadwig... " PDF page 11, actual page 79[1]
The site is designated as Historic Statutory and Scheduled Monument (SHADED POLYGON)
The map also shows Port Meadow, Oxford to the east of the River Thames, also designated as Historic Statutory and Scheduled Monument (SHADED POLYGON)
The priory of Studley " The next year and again in 1294 the bishop wrote to the prioress that the presence of John of Sevekworth ... " [22]
DOCUMENTARY HISTORY (Martin Biddle)
In 1439 the Vicar reported " the church itself of Seck worth was collapsed "
– PDF page 15, actual page 83.[23]
INTRODUCTION (Martin Biddle) " In 1954 the proposal for the Western By-pass was resuscitated and with it the necessity for a large scale investigation of the village. " . . . " Finally in March 1959 and the following months Fabian Radcliffe and the writer, assisted by Mr. P. V.Addyman, were able to record and partially excavate many structures revealed in the course of earth-moving in preparation for the new road, which now cuts across the site from north to south. " – PDF page 2, actual page 71.[24]
THE EXCAVATION'S (Martin Biddle) " The earlier (Period 1) consisted of traces of wooden structures and several ditches. " – PDF page 17, actual page 85.[25]
THE EXCAVATION'S (Martin Biddle) " ...but the northern projection may have been a byre, entered through the post-wall on the north and drained by the gully. " – PDF page 18, actual page 86.[26]
SITE PLAN (Fig. 3) The site plan shows several ditches that appear to be designed as enclosures for livestock. One ditch forms a semi-circle beside the Seacourt Stream. (Enclosure ditches should not be confused with drainage ditches). – PDF page 6, actual page 75[27]
THE EXCAVATION'S (Martin Biddle) " It was a long and very narrow building, only 4 ft. wide and some 25 ft. long internally. " – PDF page 19, actual page 89.[28]
THE EXCAVATION'S (Martin Biddle) " It is however clearly not a long-house; and the byre-Iike building A suggests itself as accommodation for cattle. One long side of this structure could well have been open, apart from the supports for the roof, for the entry of cattle: it is, in effect, a single row of stalls. " – PDF page 21, actual page 91.[29]
OBJECTS OF GLASS (Martin Biddle) " Dark red glass bead with central perforation. A large series of Viking and later glass beads has been published from York, where such beads seem to have been made, but none of them is red " – PDF page 117, actual page 185.[30]
Summer Transhumance: " We know from the evidence of Norse farming customs in north Scotland that Norse settlers in Britain continued the system of summer transhumance which was customary in their Scandinavian homeland. " [31]
Directions: My Lady's Seat is located a short distance to the east of the main track at grid ref SP 463 078. There is a gated entrance with the name " My Lady's Seat " clearly shown on the gate. It is shown on the Wytham Woods Permit Holders Map as " The Dell " .
My Lady's Seat: The name element ' My Lady ' might be a reference to Abingdon Abbey and The Virgin Mary. If so then this would suggest ownership of the ' sæter ' by the abbey.
My Lady's Seat: The name element seat is probably from Old Norsesætr: " elevated summer pasture ". See (Contents) > Anglicisation of Old Norse.
Summer Shielings: The remains of structures have been found in the English Lake District that are assumed to have been summer shielings (high altitude dwellings) where people stayed during the summer months in order to watch over the animals.[aw]
See (Contents) > Seofecanwyrthe > Archaeological evidence.
Great fen-sedge or Saw-sedge.Cladium mariscus. . .The cut sedge was chiefly in demand as a thatching material. . .It is more flexible and durable than reed. . .[33]
During the medieval period it was common practice for rushes to be strewn on the ground, both indoors and outdoors, for insulation and cleanliness, and to help to prevent animals from churning up mud.
Common club-rush or Bullrush.
Schoenoplectus lacustris. . .Club-rush is one of the species that gave the ceremony of rush-bearing its title.. . .Before the days of floor boarding and carpets, the stone or earth floors of churches . . .were strewn with a mixture of rushes, sweet-flags and scented herbs. . .this green carpet had to be renewed at least once a year. . .[33]
Old English wiht: ” weight ” . Derived from Latin Vectis.[37]
Etymology in a nut shell
Weight from Old Englishwiht equates to: ” land mass ”
Lever from Latinvectis equates to: ” the act of lifting ” [38]
Old English hâm: ” dwelling, house, manor, estate, hamlet ” [39]
War and Peace in the Viking Age (Max Adams) " At least two Scandinavian language traditions arrived in
the British Isles during the ninth century..." [40]
Old West Norse from Norway
Old East Norse from Denmark
War and Peace in the Viking Age (Max Adams) " Words loaned both ways between Old English and Old Norse " [40]
WiKtionary: < seave >
From Old Norse sef, whence also Danish siv, Icelandic sef and Swedish säv (“club-rush”).
Summer transhumance " We know from the evidence of Norse farming customs in north Scotland that
Norse settlers in Britain continued the system of summer transhumance which was customary in their Scandinavian homeland. "
[31]
Summer shielings The remains of structures have been found in the English Lake District that are assumed to have been
summer shielings (high altitude dwellings) where people stayed during the summer months
in order to watch over the animals.[ca]
Seathwaite: " Clearing in the woods where rushes grow. " [12]
Seathwaite: " Clearing in the woods where rushes grow. " [12]
Seavy Side: " Summer pasture overgrown with rushes. "
Sutton Courtenay and Abingdon Abbey (Arthur Preston) " ... the ravages of the Northmen in 866-71, when the monks were driven out and little of the abbey buildings left standing except the walls. " – PDF page 4, actual page 26.[2]
The Watlington Viking Hoard. . .the presence in the hoard of a single coin of Alfreds Two-Line type[da] suggests that the hoard was buried around the time that Alfred introduced that coinage in c.879-880. . .[47]
St. Brice's Day massacre " The massacre in Oxford is described in the chronicle of John of Wallingford. It is recorded that the city's Danish inhabitants attempted to claim sanctuary in St Frideswide Church (now Christchurch Cathedral) which was burnt down by the mob..." [6]
The day Oxford burned
In November 2009, to mark the 1,000 year anniversary of the event, the Oxford Times published an article in the Oxfordshire Limited Edition ––
"Nicola Lisle talks to local historian Roger Jenkins about the destruction of Oxford by Viking raiders 1,000 years ago." [6]
The day Oxford burned " ...the infamous St. Brice's Day massacre, which led directly to the revenge attack of 1009 that saw the fledgling town razed to the ground." " The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is the only primary source, and this tells us that the siege happened in 1009 sometime between Christmas Day and New Years Eve." " It appears to have been carried out under the orders of Thorkell the Tall, a Viking warrior who later allied himself with King Canute in a bid to dethrone King Sweyn I." "Oxford's buildings at the time were built with timber frames, thatched roofs and mud walls, and stood no chance against the onslaught" [6]
